What happens
Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland star in this Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of Merton of the Movies, broadcast on November 17, 1941. Merton Gill, a young grocery clerk in a small Midwestern town, is obsessed with the movies and dreams of becoming a film star. He practices acting in the storeroom and sends away for lessons, much to the annoyance of his employer, Mr. Gashweiler. After Merton quits his job and travels to Hollywood with his savings, he begins looking for work as an extra. There he meets Phyllis Wayne, an aspiring actress who is also struggling to find roles, and their friendship develops as both face the difficulties of the film business.
A small town in the Midwest, including the Simsberry general store, and later Hollywood film studios.
Characters: Merton Gill, Mr. Gashweiler, Tess Groshrie, Elmer, Phyllis Wayne, Mr. Waller, Charlie, Mr. Mac
Listen for: Merton's determination to become an actor and his first unsuccessful attempt at a speaking role on a film set.
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.