Big Sister (radio)
Encyclopedia
Big Sister was a daytime radio drama series created by Lillian Laugerty and broadcast on CBS
from September 14, 1936 to December 26, 1952. It was sponsored by Lever Brothers (Rinso) until 1946 when Procter & Gamble became the sponsor.
Set in the fictional town of Glen Falls, the program dramatized the life of Ruth Evans who sacrificed her own happiness to care for her younger sister Sue and their crippled brother Neddie. After Sue married reporter Jerry Miller, Ruth continued to care for Neddie. She fell in love with Neddie's doctor, John Wayne, who cured Neddie. Ruth and John married on October 19, 1939, but during World War II, John was held in a Japanese prison camp. He returned to Glen Falls suffering from shell-shock.
The actresses who portrayed Ruth over the decades were Alice Frost, Nancy Marshall, Marjorie Anderson and Mercedes McCambridge
. Sue was played by Haila Stoddard, Dorothy McGuire
, Peggy Conklin and Fran Carlon. Michael O'Day was heard in the role of little Neddie Evans.
The popularity of this program led to a spin-off radio series, Bright Horizon, which CBS began broadcasting in 1941. To assure its success, Alice Frost appeared on Bright Horizon for a short while in her role of Ruth Evans Wayne.
Announcers for the program were Fred Uttal, Jim Ameche
and Hugh Conover.
Organist Richard Leibert furnished the background music and the opening theme, "Valse Bluette".
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from September 14, 1936 to December 26, 1952. It was sponsored by Lever Brothers (Rinso) until 1946 when Procter & Gamble became the sponsor.
Set in the fictional town of Glen Falls, the program dramatized the life of Ruth Evans who sacrificed her own happiness to care for her younger sister Sue and their crippled brother Neddie. After Sue married reporter Jerry Miller, Ruth continued to care for Neddie. She fell in love with Neddie's doctor, John Wayne, who cured Neddie. Ruth and John married on October 19, 1939, but during World War II, John was held in a Japanese prison camp. He returned to Glen Falls suffering from shell-shock.
The actresses who portrayed Ruth over the decades were Alice Frost, Nancy Marshall, Marjorie Anderson and Mercedes McCambridge
Mercedes McCambridge
Carlotta Mercedes McCambridge was an American actress. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest living radio actress."-Early life:...
. Sue was played by Haila Stoddard, Dorothy McGuire
Dorothy McGuire
Dorothy Hackett McGuire was an American actress.-Career:Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she began her acting career on the stage at the Omaha Community Playhouse...
, Peggy Conklin and Fran Carlon. Michael O'Day was heard in the role of little Neddie Evans.
The popularity of this program led to a spin-off radio series, Bright Horizon, which CBS began broadcasting in 1941. To assure its success, Alice Frost appeared on Bright Horizon for a short while in her role of Ruth Evans Wayne.
Announcers for the program were Fred Uttal, Jim Ameche
Jim Ameche
James Ameche was a familiar voice on radio, including his role as radio's original Jack Armstrong on Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy....
and Hugh Conover.
Organist Richard Leibert furnished the background music and the opening theme, "Valse Bluette".