MIRACLE ON 34^TH STREET by Carol Kaufman Segal      

            In honor of its 70^th anniversary and to celebrate the season, the Pasadena Playhouse presented the original 1947 radio play, Miracle on 34^th Street.   The “live radio play” was written by Valentine Davies, and directed by Cameron Davies.

            In 1947 the head of 20^th Century Fox made the decision to make the film, Miracle on 34^th Street in May.  It was written and directed by George Seaton, based on a story by Valentine Davies and was extremely popular, winning several awards.  Seven months later, December 22, 1947, Lux Radio Theatre broadcast this adaptation of the film.  The Pasadena Playhouse production staff says, “Seventy years later, the eyes of our audience get to watch what went into producing the performance live, which its original listeners never got to see.”   

            I have to add how much fun it was to watch this wonderful production at this propitious time of year with a quality cast that seemed to enjoy every minute of putting on this live radio play.  The cast included Peri Gilpin (Doris Walker), Beth Grant (Charlene and Others), Alfred Molina (Kris Kringle), Yvette Cason (Singer and Others), Michael Chieffo (Host and Others), Jeff Gardner (Foley Artist and Others), Ryan Johnson (Piano Player and Others), Larry Poindexter (Fred Gailey), Jim Rash (Mr. Sawyer and Others), and Ceilia Witt (Susan Walker).  They all needed to be mentioned because they all made us feel as if we were really at a radio station watching Miracle on 34th Street being performed over the air by the Lux Radio Theatre.