Radio Broadcast of The Night Before Christmas – December 24, 1945

I imagine that when most of you saw the title of this post, you immediately thought of Clement Clarke Moore’s classic Christmas poem.  Sorry to disappoint you!

This story is based on an incident from The Blue Carbuncle and was broadcast on Christmas Eve 1945 during The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Watson.  By now, this series was airing on the Mutual Radio System.  Harry Bartell served as the announcer and music was by Dean Fosler.  This episode was written by Dennis Green and Anthony Boucher.  Boucher would later become a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, becoming investitured in 1949 as The Valley of Fear.

Listen carefully to the story.  There is a small numismatic aspect to the story.

For three seasons, starting in 1943, the radio broadcasts were sponsored by Petri Wines.

To everyone reading this, best wishes for Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!