What if the love of your life turned out to be the greatest mistake you never made?
In 1936, Lux Radio Theatre brought American listeners One Sunday Afternoon, the bittersweet story of Biff Grimes, a small-town dentist who has never quite forgiven the world—or his old rival—for the girl who got away.
Biff has a loving wife, a respectable profession, and a perfectly good life. Unfortunately, he’s spent years dreaming about a different one.
And therein lies a story Hollywood couldn’t resist telling again and again.
Welcome to Lux Radio Theatre Companion, a new Chesterton Radio original series exploring the extraordinary stories behind Hollywood’s greatest radio dramas.
In our premiere episode, we travel from Broadway in 1933 to Paramount Pictures, from Gary Cooper and Fay Wray to the August 24, 1936, Lux broadcast starring Jack Oakie and Helen Twelvetrees. Along the way, we discover how this seemingly modest romantic comedy became The Strawberry Blonde, the beloved 1941 film starring James Cagney, Rita Hayworth, and Olivia de Havilland.
We’ll explore the stars, the studios, the magic of live radio, and the remarkable world of Hollywood during the Great Depression.
But there’s something more beneath the laughter and nostalgia.
One Sunday Afternoon asks a question as old as romance itself: Are we happier pursuing the life we imagine—or learning to appreciate the life we’ve been given?
Listen to the original Lux Broadcast here:
It’s a delightful journey through Hollywood history, lost love, second chances, and the surprising wisdom of an ordinary Sunday afternoon.
And this is only the beginning.
Each installment of Lux Radio Theatre Companion will take you behind the microphone and beyond the silver screen to rediscover the people, productions, and unforgettable stories of radio’s golden age.
Made Possible by Our Subscribers
Lux Radio Theatre Companion is sponsored by the paid subscribers of Chesterton Radio.
No corporate gatekeepers. No expensive subscriptions required to enjoy our programs. Just independent radio, great stories, and listeners who believe this remarkable entertainment deserves to live on.
If you enjoy what we’re creating, please consider becoming a supporting subscriber.
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And whenever you’d like to step back into radio’s golden age, visit The Open Door, our free, 24-hour live stream of classic entertainment, music, drama, and discovery.
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Chesterton Radio — Stories. Ideas. Wonder.
The golden age of radio lives on.
