Genre | Children's radio serial |
---|---|
Running time | 15 minutes |
Country of origin | United States |
Language(s) | English |
Home station | Mutual Broadcasting System |
Syndicates | CBS |
Starring | Franklin Adams, Jr. Francis Smith St. John Terrell |
Announcer | Dwight Weist |
Original release | January 11, 1932 March 29, 1935 [1] | –
Sponsored by | Wheaties, Phillips' tooth paste [1] |
Skippy was an American children's radio serial based on the popularity of the comic strip Skippy. It was broadcast on CBS Radio from January 11, 1932 to March 29, 1935.[2]
Skippy has been called the first radio serial for children, though the radio serial Little Orphan Annie (1930-1942) has also been given that honorific title.[3]
In 1931 Franklin W. Adams was chosen to play the part of Skippy. Initially the show ran for 13 weeks locally in Chicago on WBBM Radio before being picked up for 2 years on NBC Radio followed by 2 more years on CBS Radio five days a week coast to coast.[4]
As the principal player Adams was paid $75 per week at the beginning then raised to $100 per week when the show went national.[4]
While on NBC the show was produced at 4:15PM and 5:15 PM in Studio B at Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Later it was produced on CBS in the Wrigley Building[4]
"Skippy Day" was celebrated at the Chicago "Century of Progress" World's Fair in 1933. Skippy (Franklin Adams) and Sooky (Francis Smith) "gave a show at the amphitheater constructed next to the Burnham Lagoon".[4]
Note; There is an erroneous ledger reference online that refers to the character of Skippy as being spoken by Franklin Adams, Jr.. Franklin W. Adams who portrayed Skippy was not a junior. In fact his father's name was Elmer.[4] This was presumably mistyped at the time.