T H E C I N N A M O N B E A R ----- --------------- ------- 1937? First Show: Nov ??, 1937 (?) Last Show: Dec 24, 1937 (?) Number Shows: 26 Audition Show: Nov ??, 1937 (?) Series Description: The CINNAMON BEAR is the classic story of Judy and Jimmy Barton who search for the family's Silver Star which goes on top of their Christmas tree. They discover the star has disappeared from the attic. Then they meet The Cinnamon Bear, and fly to Maybeland in his Soda Pop Airplane in pursuit of the Crazy Quilt Dragon, whom they believe took the ornament. They meet a host of characters, including Crazy Quilt Dragon, The Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant, and even Santa Claus. Each amazing adventure is a cliffhanger. Several times they recover the star, only to lose it again. Eventually the star is found for good and they return home just in time for Christmas. This classic story was written by Glan Heisch, inspired by the stuffed bear of his boyhood, for his daughter, Catherine. Radio historians differ on the year of the first broadcast. Some say 1937, others say 1943. It would seem that it was "heard" several years before it was transcribed for broadcast. Airplay would start just after Thanksgiving and run until Christmas Eve. Production: Writer: Glanville Heisch Director: Lindsay MacHarrie Music Composer: Don Honrath Orchestra: Felix Mills Singers: Paul Taylor Quartet Recorded at: Radio Recorders Cast of Characters: Paddy O'Cinnamon: Buddy Duncan (The Cinnamon Bear) Mother: Verna Felton Judy: Barbara Jean Wong Jimmy: unknown Crazy Quilt Dragon: Joseph Kerns Snapper Snick Crocodile: Hanley Stafford Samuel the Seal: Howard McNear Slim the Cowboy: Howard McNear Penelope the Pelecan: Elvia Allman Mr. Presto, The Magician: Elliot Lewis Santa Claus: Lou Merrill Captain Tintop: Frank Nelson Captain Taffy, The Pirate: Cy Kendall Indian Chief: Cy Kendall Weary Willie, The Stork: Gale Gordon Oliver Ostrich: Gale Gordon King Blotto: Ted Osborne Professor Whiz, The Owl: Ted Osborne Fe Fo, The Gentle Giant: Joe DuVal Wintergreen Witch: Martha Wentworth Fraidy Cat: Dorothy Scott Assistant Blotto Executioner: Ed Max Mudley: Elliot Lewis or Ed Max Narrator: Bud Heistand Snowman: Bill Thompson Log Comments: The introductory information (Show Description, Production, Cast above) came from Ken Piletic, who posted it to the Internet Digest Volume 95: Issue 348 on October 25, 1995. Show descriptions came from a friend's OTR list. I had already started a log, when the digest containing Ken's post arrived. Since it had so much good information, I included it here. These shows did not have titles for the episodes. Titles from various references varied wildly. Most of the titles used here are Ken's titles or close to it. All sources offered the full series (except University of Memphis, which offered only episode 1 and 2). In addition, an audition show is offered by Shawn Wells (see "References" section). Chronological Log: Num Episode Title and Description --- --------------------------------------------------------------- Aud Audition for series 1 Paddy O'Cinnamon Judy and Jimmy write letters to Santa. The Silver Star Christmas ornament is missing and the kids go up to the attic to find it. They meet Paddy O'Cinnamon (the Cinnamon Bear) who tells them the Silver Star was taken to Maybeland by the Crazy Quilt Dragon. 2 Weary Willie Paddy O'Cinnamon shows Judy and Jimmy how to de-grow so they can follow the Crazy Quilt Dragon to the Lollipop Mountains. They climb into Paddy's Soda Pop Airplane and fly through the tunnel. 3 Crazy Quilt Dragon Feeling remorseful for drinking their Soda Pop and stranding them in Looking Glass Valley without fuel, Weary Willie the Stork fly's them out on his back. They catch Crazy Quilt but he drops the Silver Star in the Root Beer Ocean. 4 The Inkaboos While they try to find the Silver Star, they are captured by the Inkaboos. King Blotto is insulted and sentences them to die in the Immense Inkwell. 5 Wesley, The Wailing Whale Crazy Quilt Comes to the rescue, and they escape to the Root Beer Ocean and see the Star floating on the Root Beer Ocean. 6 Samuel Seal Wesley the Wailing Whale swallows the Silver Star. Samuel Seal recovers the Silver Star from Wesley the Wailing Whale only to have Penelope the Pelican carry it off. 7 Presto, The Magician Judy and Jimmy meet Presto the Magician who pulls Penelope The Pelican from his hat but she had dropped the Silver Star on the island of Obi. 8 Candy Pirates The kids are captured by Captain Taffy and his pirates. They take the kids to the magic island and loan them a rowboat. 9 Roly-Poly Policeman The kids are on the magic island where the Roly Poly Policeman has taken their star for his uniform. But before they can get to him, Crazy Quilt Dragon runs off with it again. 10 Professor Whiz Cinnamon Bear has disappeared and the kids are chasing Crazy Quilt Dragon to get their star. Professor Whiz tells them about the Wintergreen Witch. They follow Crazy Quilt into the Picture Forest, where they meet Fraidy Cat. 11 Fee Foo, The Gentle Giant Fee Foe shows the kids the Goody-Goody Grove and invites them for lunch. Then they start to follow Crazy Quilt when it suddenly gets very, very dark. 12 Rhyming Rabbit The kids meet up again Crazy Quilt who says the Wintergreen Witch forced him to steal the Silver Star. While trying to find their way back to the Wintergreen Witch's house, they encounter the Rhyming Rabbit. 13 Wintergreen Witch The Wintergreen Witch tries to take the kids' Silver Star and change them into mice, but they get away. After their hurried flight, Crazy Quilt sits on the Silver Star and breaks it. 14 Queen Melissa Crazy Quilt suggests they all visit Melissa, the Queen of Maybeland, who can tell them how to fix the Silver Star. 15 Snaper Snick, The Crocodile The kids learn that they can only read Melissa's magic instructions in total darkness, which only occurs in the Wishing Woods. On the way they meet Snapper Snick, The Crooning Crocodile, who swallows the magic instructions. 16 Oliver Ostrich Snapper Snick explains that he reads by eating and that's how he is able to read in the dark. The kids learn that the instructions send them to the Wishing Well. On the way they meet Oliver Ostrich who eats alarm clocks. Oliver directs them to the Wishing Well and Paddy O'Cinnamon falls in. 17 The Muddlers The kids use their one wish from the Wishing Well to get Cinnamon Bear out of the Wishing Well, and now they can't fix their star with the Wishing Well's magic. While trying to get out of the Wishing Woods, they encounter the Muddlers and the River of Mud. 18 Cocklebur Cowboys Slim Pickens and the Cockleburr Cowboys of the Purple Plain come to the rescue of the kids, Cinnamon Bear and Crazy Quilt, pulling them from the mud. 19 Wooden Indian The kids are being chased by Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, a wooden Indian who wants Crazy Quilt's pelt for his girlfriend Many Happy Returns. Judy trades her looking glass to him instead. After he leaves, they encounter the Wintergreen Witch again in the Golden Grove. 20 Flying Hat The Grand Wonky arrives in the nick of time to banish the Wintergreen Witch to Looking Glass Valley. While searching for the Singing Tree, they find the Flying Hat and it has a mysterious note attached. 21 Snowman The note invites the crew inside where they find chairs just the right size for all of them. The Flying Hat carries them to the Land of Ice and Snow to get the star fixed. They ask the snowman how to find Nicki Froodle, as Melissa told them. Nicki turns out to be an Elf, and he takes them to see Santa Claus. 22 Santa Claus Santa welcomes the kids and introduces them to Jack Frost who repairs the Silver Star only to have it vanish again. 23 The Bad Dolls The Bad Dolls have stolen the Silver Star. Santa orders out the Tin Soldiers to capture the Bad Dolls and return the Silver Star. 24 The Parade The Wintergreen Witch appears again aiding the Bad Dolls in defeating the Tin Soldiers. Santa orders out reinforcements while Judy and Jimmy watch the Christmas Parade. After the Parade Captain Tintop brings back the Silver Star. 25 Captain Tintop Captain Tintop tells how they defeated the Wintergreen Witch and then the group goes to a grand banquet hosted by Santa Claus. After the banquet Crazy Quilt runs off with the Silver Star once again. 26 North Pole (Last Episode) Crazy heads for the North Pole with Santa, Jimmy Judy and Nicki Froodle in chase. They catch Crazy Quilt and tickle him to recover the Silver Star. Then they wake up in the attic in time to decorate the Christmas Tree. References: * "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514 * OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites: * University of Memphis Radio Program Archive, Microforms Dept., McWherter Library, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 * North American Radio Archives, 134 Vincewood Dr., Nicolasville, KY 40356 * The Old Time Radio Shop, Shawn A. Wells, 606 Bigelow Road, Mansfield, OH 44907 * Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety And Comedy, PO Box 7177, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7177 * Radio Historical Association of Colorado, PO Box 1908, Englewood, CO 80150 * Radio Spirits, PO Box 2141, Schiller Park, IL 60176-2141 Other Logs or Books: * CINNANON BEAR log, Jerry Haendiges Productions, 13808 Sunset Dr., Whittier, CA 90602 (http://www.otrsite.com) * CINNANON BEAR log, Audio Classics Archive, Terry Salomonson, P.O. Box 347, Howell, MI 48844-0347 (http://www.audio-classics.com) Last Update: May 20, 2004 This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from authorized dealers. The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis. Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M. Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).