What happens
Oliver Niles, a film producer, recounts the story of Esther Blodgett, an aspiring actress who arrives in Hollywood hoping for a break. She meets Norman Maine, a popular romantic leading man, when she works as a waitress at a party. Norman arranges a screen test for her, and she is renamed Vicki Lester and rises to stardom. Meanwhile, Norman's drinking and failing career become a growing concern for those around him. The episode is part of the Screen Guild Theater anthology, broadcast on November 17, 1940, with Loretta Young, Adolphe Menjou and Burgess Meredith in the leading roles.
Hollywood, California, in the film industry
Characters: Oliver Niles, Esther Blodgett, Norman Maine, Vicki Lester
Listen for: Oliver Niles's narration as he introduces Esther and Norman and recounts how Norman's career declines
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.