Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol - Part 1

[dahsuerk]

Another listen, but still prefer Ronald Colman. Wish he had done a movie version. Love his voice.

[MGSRaiden1232]

you probably grew up listening to the RONALD COLEMAN recording "In 1941, Ronald Colman portrayed Scrooge in a famous American Decca four-record 78-RPM album of "A Christmas Carol" with a full supporting cast of radio actors and a score by Victor Young. companion piece on LP, Mr. Pickwick's Christmas, narrated by Charles Laughton.

[MGSRaiden1232]

this is a different recording than the one I grew up with..........

[Jacks9nn]

is the 3 parts of this equal to the charles dickens book? Lovely recording by the way great to listen to in bed

[JCole1369]

This was recorded in 1947 and released as a set of 78 records with the catalog number MGM-16. The part of of Scrooge is played by Lionel Barrymore while the narrator is Richard Hale. It was reissued in 1950 as E-520 as a set of 45 rpm records, and then reissued again in 1956 as an LP LION L70124. The LION LP was eventually reissued as MGM PM-20 in the 1960's, which is the version I had as a kid. The B-side contains Christmas Music performed by the Canterbury Choir conducted by Macklin Marrow.

[norichesney]

This is amazing! My family listened to this exact recording every Christmas when I was young. I have been looking for this for years! Thank you so much for posting it - is there any way I can purchase the CD?

[imothra]

@norichesney You could check Amazon for a CD, but meanwhile, this and other great classic media are available free on internet archive dot org.

[robothedgehog]

thats one nice dial

[jenny55103]

Thank you so much for posting these! For the last 55 years my family always listens to this particular recording on Christmas Eve. This year we are cancelling that because of snow, but we can all still listen, thanks to you. Thank you so much!

[fromthesidelines]

This partuicular recording, however, seems to be the December 1953 performance Barrymore appeared in- his last, before his death in November 1954- for the "HALLMARK HALL OF FAME" (in which he also served as host), the body of which was later released on MGM records in late '54. Richard Hale is the narrator; musical settings are by Samuel {"Popeye the Sailor Man"} Timberg...Dailey Paskman adapted and directed this version.

[sphinxrising58]

Wow, 3 full years efore I was ever thought of, lol

I have heard of pre-Tv days from my parents, great stuff:)

[jjobie]

Old Time Radio is AMAZING stuff. You should check out some more of it, some of the writing and acting is superb.

[al1936ful]

@fromthesidelines I don't think he ever appeared on "Hallmark Hall of Fame". That's a television program.

[fromthesidelines]

Lionel Barrymore appeared yearly on radio as "Ebernezer Scrooge" from 1934 until the early '50s; in the '30s, he appeared on Campbell Soup Company's annual productions of "A Christmas Carol" (some versions on their "HOLLYWOOD HOTEL" program)- the one you mentioned, 'mrs', is the famous 1939 edition presented on Orson Welles' "CAMPBELL PLAYHOUSE" [probably THE finest of all of the productions]. During the '40s, Lionel reprised the role in the Christmas editions of his "MAYOR OF THE TOWN" series..

[99range70def]

@fromthesidelines

I HAZ A POTATOES!

YESH, I HAZ A POTATOES!

[arch829]

thanks, merry christmas to you and to all

[adenamc]

I have looked everywhere for THIS version!!! where can I get it?  Thanks!

[mrsmagloo]

I have a cassette of Barrymore playing Scrooge, with Orson Welles introducing. Is this also Welles, because it doesn't sound like it. The one I have says it is the fifth anniversary of him reading it, so this must be an earlier version.