Lux Redux: Hollywood's Timeless Theater

The Boss: Power, Pride, and a Woman’s Heart

In The Boss: Power, Pride, and a Woman’s Heart, Lux Radio Theatre explores ambition and its emotional toll in a compelling drama starring Edward Arnold and Gloria Stuart. When political kingpin Matt Brady rises to dominate his city through sheer will and cunning, he encounters an obstacle he can’t outmaneuver: the woman he loves. Gloria Stuart plays the spirited socialite whose loyalty is tested as Brady’s unchecked power begins to unravel both his public and private life. Adapted from the successful stage play, this taut character study mixes romance with political intrigue and moral complexity. Featuring a strong supporting cast and a score that underscores the high-stakes drama, The Boss asks what happens when love clashes with the thirst for control—and whether redemption is still possible when the empire begins to crumble. Cast Members: Edward Arnold, Gloria Stuart, Frank Nelson, Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guest: William Keighley (Film and stage director)

Poppy: A Carnival Con, a Curious Heiress, and the Road to Love

In Poppy: A Carnival Con, a Curious Heiress, and the Road to Love, Lux Radio Theatre presents a whimsical tale brimming with charm and deception, led by legendary funnyman W.C. Fields and the radiant Rochelle Hudson. Set against the lively backdrop of a traveling carnival, the story follows Professor Eustace McGargle—a lovable con artist—and his ward, Poppy, as their lives are turned upside down when Poppy’s true parentage is called into question. Full of comic twists, heartfelt moments, and fast-talking schemes, this delightful episode brings the magic of the midway to life while asking whether love and truth can outshine a lifetime of clever cons. With a colorful cast of characters and a heartfelt father-daughter bond, Poppy proves that sometimes family is more than flesh and blood—especially under the big top. Cast Members: W.C. Fields, Rochelle Hudson, Jack Mulhall, Frank Nelson, Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guest: Robert Riskin (Screenwriter and playwright)

Forsaking All Others: A Wedding, a Wreck, and a Second Chance

In Forsaking All Others: A Wedding, a Wreck, and a Second Chance, Lux Radio Theatre brings sizzling wit and tangled emotions to the airwaves with a romantic comedy that walks the fine line between heartbreak and hilarity. Betty Davis stars as the strong-willed Mary Clay, jilted at the altar by the man she loves—only to find solace, and maybe something more, in the steadfast devotion of her lifelong friend, played by Joel McCrea.Based on the Broadway hit, this episode dives into a love triangle full of glamorous parties, missed connections, and the enduring tug of true affection. With Anderson Lawler reprising his stage role and a sparkling script full of zingers, it’s a spirited look at love gone wrong—and how sometimes, second chances come from the most unexpected places.Cast Members: Betty Davis, Joel McCrea, Anderson Lawler, Frank Nelson, Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guest: Mervyn LeRoy (Hollywood director and producer)

Romance: Love and Redemption in the Shadows of the Past

In Romance: Love and Redemption in the Shadows of the Past, Lux Radio Theatre revisits Edward Sheldon’s timeless Broadway triumph in a passionate performance starring Madeline Carroll and Herbert Marshall. When a young clergyman falls in love with the enigmatic opera star Rita Cavallini, the boundaries between duty and desire blur, leading to a heartrending struggle between the soul’s yearning and the past’s heavy burden.Set against the backdrop of 19th-century New York and rich with introspective beauty, this evocative drama explores whether true love can transcend scandal and shame. With Ralph Morgan and Claire Dodd adding depth to a stellar cast, this anniversary revival reveals the haunting power of memory, forgiveness, and the sacrifices made in the name of love.Cast Members: Madeline Carroll, Herbert Marshall, Ralph Morgan, Claire Dodd, Frank Nelson, Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guest: Walter Wanger (Hollywood producer)

Brief Moment: Nightclubs, Nobility, and a New Dawn

In Brief Moment: Nightclubs, Nobility, and a New Dawn, Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. light up the Lux Radio Theatre stage in this stylish and moving romantic drama adapted from S. N. Behrman’s celebrated stage play. When Abby Fane, a tough yet tender nightclub singer, catches the eye of wealthy playboy Roderick Dean, their whirlwind romance clashes with questions of class, ambition, and authenticity.Abby’s gritty past and Roderick’s uncertain future come head to head in a love story that’s anything but simple—challenging the idea of success, worth, and whether two very different people can build a shared life. With sparkling repartee, emotional depth, and a cast including Nigel Bruce and Louis Calhern, this tale deftly explores whether love born in a brief moment can last a lifetime.Cast Members: Ginger Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Nigel Bruce, Louis Calhern, Paul Harvey, Frank Nelson, Lou Merrill, Grace Kern, Inez Seabury, David Kerman, Mary Smith, James Eagles, Frank Nelson, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guest: Jimmy Starr (Hollywood columnist)

Anna Christie: Love, Secrets, and the Sea

In this stirring adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Lux Radio Theatre presents Anna Christie: Love, Secrets, and the Sea, starring Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy. When Anna reunites with her estranged father, a coal barge captain, the sea carries not only the scent of reconciliation but also the weight of Anna’s hidden past. As a shipwrecked sailor named Matt Burke falls for her, Anna faces a heart-wrenching choice: reveal the truth about her life or risk a future built on secrets.Set against the gritty backdrop of the East River and brimming with raw emotion, this tale of redemption, love, and identity explores how even the most troubled hearts can find harbor. George Marion Sr. and Marjorie Rambeau round out a powerhouse cast in this unforgettable performance of emotional depth and theatrical legacy.Cast Members: Joan Crawford, Spencer Tracy, George Marion Sr., Marjorie Rambeau, Frank Shannon, Frank Nelson, Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guest: Albert McCleary (Broadway columnist for Stage Magazine)

Green Light: A Doctor’s Honor, A Daughter’s Forgiveness

In Lux Radio Theatre’s stirring medical drama “Green Light: A Doctor’s Honor, A Daughter’s Forgiveness,” Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland headline a gripping tale of ethics, love, and redemption. When Dr. Newell Page shoulders the blame for a tragic surgical mishap to protect an aging mentor, he resigns in disgrace and vanishes into medical research. As he quietly risks his life in Montana to test a dangerous new vaccine, the daughter of the woman who died under his scalpel arrives, seeking answers—and ultimately, healing.Based on Lloyd C. Douglas’s best-selling novel, this emotional journey explores the price of sacrifice and the courage it takes to forgive. With a distinguished supporting cast including C. Aubrey Smith, the drama elevates a story of personal failure into one of spiritual triumph and the enduring power of truth.Cast Members: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, C. Aubrey Smith, Frank Nelson, Polly Ann Young, Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guests: Alton Cook (Radio Editor, New York World-Telegram), Dinty Doyle (Radio Editor, New York Journal-American)

Clarence: A Butler’s Charm, A Family’s Secret

In Lux Radio Theatre’s charming comedy “Clarence: A Butler’s Charm, A Family’s Secret”, Josephine Hutchinson and Edward Everett Horton lead the cast in a witty, heartwarming tale of mistaken identity, romance, and domestic upheaval. When a mild-mannered man named Clarence shows up at the Wheeler household looking for work, he’s mistaken for a servant—and soon becomes an unlikely confidant to every member of the quirky family.But Clarence is more than he appears, and as secrets surface and hearts intertwine, he just might bring more order—and affection—than anyone expected. Adapted from Booth Tarkington’s beloved stage play, this delightful episode blends sharp humor with gentle insight, proving that sometimes the quietest people make the loudest impact. Cast Members: Edward Everett Horton, Josephine Hutchinson, Marjorie Gateson, Frank Nelson, Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille Special Guest: Harry Joe Brown (Hollywood producer)

Disraeli: A Statesman’s Gambit for Empire and Love

In Lux Radio Theater’s commanding broadcast “Disraeli: A Statesman’s Gambit for Empire and Love”, George Arliss reprises his iconic role as British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli—a man whose intellect, charm, and ambition helped shape the destiny of an empire. Set during the 1870s, this historical drama follows Disraeli’s covert political maneuvering to secure control of the Suez Canal for Britain—while fending off betrayal from within his closest circle.Blending diplomacy, espionage, and wit, this riveting story explores Disraeli’s balancing act between power and principle, statecraft and sentiment. Arliss is joined by Florence Arliss as his devoted wife Mary, offering a rare glimpse at the heart behind the headlines. With its stirring themes of loyalty, national pride, and political cunning, this performance is a shining jewel in the crown of radio drama.⸻Cast Members: George Arliss, Florence Arliss, Ivan Simpson, Leonard Mudie, Eric Snowden, John Merton, Lou Merrill, Gerald Mohr, Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMilleSpecial Guest: William Dieterle (director)

Enter Madame: Opera, Romance, and a Flame Rekindled

In Lux Radio Theater’s elegant and effervescent “Enter Madame: Opera, Romance, and a Flame Rekindled”, Grace Moore stars as Lisa Della Robbia, a world-renowned opera diva whose whirlwind marriage to American businessman Gerald Fitzgerald, played by Basil Rathbone, is as dramatic as any aria she performs. After Gerald saves Lisa from a fire during her performance, their romance takes off like a crescendo—but when her relentless tour schedule threatens their happiness, the couple must decide whether love or ambition takes center stage.With sharp wit, heartfelt emotion, and delightful performances by William Frawley and Sharon Lynn, this romantic comedy-drama hits all the right notes. Can Lisa balance her passion for opera with the demands of marriage? Or will fame pull them apart for good? Filled with fiery confrontations, sweet reconciliations, and even a jealous dog named Toto, this episode is pure theatrical joy from start to finish. Cast Members: Grace Moore, Basil Rathbone, Sharon Lynn, William Frawley, Edward Arnold (guest producer), Louis Silvers, Cecil B. DeMille (remote), Lyle Saxon (guest), Gene Ellis (guest)