DAMARISCOTTA — On Saturday, December 20th at 2 pm and again at 7 pm, Lincoln Theater in downtown Damariscotta will proudly re-create, live on stage, The Lux Radio Theater version of The Miracle on 34th Street. With thanks to HM Payson, the show is the theater’s 2014 holiday gift to the community. All are invited to find out if Kris Kringle is indeed Santa Claus.
Lux Radio Theatre was a long- run classic radio anthology series broadcast from 1934 through 1955. Initially, the series adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films. These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences. The series became the most popular dramatic anthology series on radio, broadcast for more than 20 years and continued on television as the Lux Video Theatre through most of the 1950s.
Lux Radio Theatre strove to feature as many of the original stars of the original stage and film productions as possible. In 1936, when sponsor Lever Brothers ( who made Lux soap and detergent) moved the show from New York City to Hollywood, the program began to emphasize adaptations of films rather than plays. One of its most popular, the Miracle on 34th Street, was first broadcast on December 22, 1947, and performed again Christmas week 1948. It featured the film’s original stars, including Maureen O’Hara, John Payne and Edmund Gwenn.
While the event is free, tickets may be picked up in advance at the theater office (open Tue-Fri 11 am to 2 pm) and will be available at the door on a first come, first served basis. For additional information, please call the theater at 563- 3424. Please come enjoy this family friendly holiday classic and celebrate the season at Lincoln Theater.
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