Let's Pretend

It was simple concept, but it made for a revolutionary format in children's radio. If the stories were for children, kids should be reading them. That was the concept for Nila Mack's Let's Pretend, and the show aired for two decades.

70 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 30 hours, 25 min)
available in the following formats:

2 MP3 CDs
or
32 Audio CDs

Choose your CD format
or order disks individually: Add to Cart

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Play a sample episode from August 23, 1947:

"Mell A Lot"

... or click here to save the Mp3 file to your computer

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Lets Pretend Outstanding Children's Theater (1929 - 54)

"Heel-looo, Pretenders! Helllloooo, Uncle Bill!"

Let's Pretend started radio life as The Adventures of Helen and Mary in 1934 when it was transformed by Nila Mack into the show that would last for two decades until 1954. Mack believed that, if the stories were for children, then children should tell the story.

Nila Mack used a core of regular children's actor's including Sybil Trent, Arthur Anderson, Jack Grimes, Miriam Wolfe, Gwen Davies and Michael O'Day. Anderson went on to write a book about his time on the show called Let's Pretend and the Golden Age of Radio. Mack died in 1953 and the show lasted one more year under the direction of Jean Hight.

The Peabody award-winning show was broadcast with an audience full of children beginning with Uncle Bill Adams' salutation, "Hello Pretenders!" followed by the response "Hello, Uncle Bill!". After some back and forth with the kids, the show would launch into an adaptation of a classic children's stories and fairy tales like Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, Thumbelina and many, many more.

For other great Children's show see also: Howdy Doody Time, Minnesota School of the Air, Cinnamon Bear, Wormwood Forest, and Children's Collection.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

MP3 CD Standard Audio Cd Instant Download Review

Show Rating

8

6 2

COMMENTS

Hard to believe it's been almost 3 years since we have been in touch. I hope you are well. I am pleased to see that you still are in business. The quality of your OTRadio shows is superb. I am going to order a few programs, including Let's Pretend for my wife. She heard it and loves the series.

Joe Verified Purchase

Reply

What a wonderful website. I can spend hours 'looking' through all the titles. I'm enjoying "Let's Pretend" on my iPod .... I grew up (in the 40s) listening to that program every Saturday morning...before I got out of bed! Thanks for a great site.

Judy Verified Purchase

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I was listening the other night to a beloved Saturday morning series called "Let's Pretend". It was directed nearly all of its 20 year run by Nila Mack. It originated in March 34 till October 54. There was a series of children's programs in that time slot until Nila Mack originated Let's Pretend. Their long time sponsor was Cream of Wheat and their cast stayed remarkably the same almost throughout the run, and it was on for the entire run for CBS. Mention the program to any child of the 40s and their eyes will light up.

Walter Verified Purchase

Reply

Think we must have discussed this before, I totally LOVE LOVE LOVE let's pretend. Not so fond of the cream of wheat years, firstly because the 'games' have a rather staged feel, and second because I know it led to cuts in the actual stories. I would just about kill for more stories from before the sponsorship, when Gwen was more-or-less in charge, with 'Mr. Carnova?' on a watching brief haha. Our own Jerry Hendages, (apologies Jerry if spelling is wrong), has supplied me with a few I have not seen elsewhere, but my apetite still remains insatiable haha. One of my favourites is The Elves and the Shoemaker. I love how Nila Mac expanded the story, and what she did with the elves. The Enchanted Frog is a pretty good one too, that's post cream of weat I think. I'm sorry to say I never really took to 'uncle Bill', guess I thought he was a bit... affected, to use a modern word I actually hate haha. Gwen has to be my favourite pretender, but Miriam Wolfe had remarkable voice talent. Betty Jane Tyler is totally cute. Somehow the male pretenders don't stick in my mind so much, except for Arthur Anderson. The amazing thing is that I rarely know until the end who is playing who. They were an amazingly talented group of young people, and the stories are what I call 'straight across', they're not dumbed down or condescending like so much produced for children today, nor do they have any agenda but to entertain. It's a gem that, in my opinion, should be up there with the likes of Fibber MacGee, Gildersleve and Jack Benny, but is sadly not so well known among fans. Of course this is because its target audience was young children, and because far fewer episodes survive. Just yesterday I saw a collection on archive.org, sadly not very well organised, that seems to have some I don't have. This will be more thoroughly investigated later. So remember boys and girls, every Saturday at 11:30, Gwen, Arthur, Jack, Sybil and the whole gang will be waiting...

Dan Verified Purchase

Reply

Didn't they have a Saturday show with the same cast called "No School Today"?

Joe Verified Purchase

Reply

When I was a kid, I had a friend called Tommy O'Grady. He liked Smilin Ed McConnel's program and I liked "Let's Pretend", and they were on at the same time. We would interrupt our play and retire to our prospective houses when they came on and then reappear back outside when they were over.

Walt Verified Purchase

Reply

Aah Smilin' Ed. I quite liked that too, but I think LP was far superior.

Dan Verified Purchase

Reply

I love listening to lets pretend! Stories told and acted out by children. So glad someone told me about this. Susan

Susan Verified Purchase

Reply

"Cream of Wheat is so good to eat. We eat it every day. This wonderful song will make us strong." Well-acted and produced Saturday kids radio show.

Joey Verified Purchase

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MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.

70 recordings on 2 MP3 CDs for just $10.00
total playtime 30 hours, 25 min

Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart
Print

Click here to see disc contents

Volume 1 - 37 shows - total playtime 15 hours 27 minutes

MP3 CD
Volume 1: 5.00
Add To Cart
1. Lp 410419 Juniper Tree.mp3
2. Lp 420822 Why Sea Is Salty.mp3
3. Lp 420829 Little Mermaid.mp3
4. Lp 420905 Elves And Shoemaker.mp3
5. Lp 420912 Water Of Life.mp3
6. Lp 421219 Prince Gigi And Magic Ring.mp3
7. Lp 421226 House Of World.mp3
8. Lp 430123 Golden Touch.mp3
9. Lp 430320 Princess Moonbeam.mp3
10. Lp 440305 Frog Prince.mp3
11. Lp 460727 Yellow Dwarf.mp3
12. Lp 460803 692 Goose Girl.mp3
13. Lp 460810 Faithful John.mp3
14. Lp 461026 Jack And Beanstalk.mp3
15. Lp 461102 705 Puss In Boots.mp3
16. Lp 470607 Six Swans.mp3
17. Lp 470621 Bluebeard.mp3
18. Lp 470628 Thumbelina.mp3
19. Lp 470705 Brother And Sister.mp3
20. Lp 470712 Brave Little Tailor.mp3
21. Lp 470719 Rapunzel.mp3
22. Lp 470726 Chinese Nightingale.mp3
23. Lp 470816 Youth Who Learned to Shiver Shake.mp3
24. Lp 470823 Melilot.mp3
25. Lp 470830 Aladdin And Wonderful Lamp.mp3
26. Lp 470906 Twelve Months.mp3
27. Lp 470913 Donkey Table And Stick.mp3
28. Lp 470920 Enchanted Frog.mp3
29. Lp 470927 Cinderella.mp3
30. Lp 480918 048 Princess on the Glass Mountain - AFRS.mp3
31. Lp 490403 Princess And Pea.mp3
32. Lp 490416 Snowdrop And Seven Dwarves.mp3
33. Lp 490709 Tinderbox.mp3
34. Lp 510210 177 The Fisherman And His Wife.mp3
35. Lp 510224 172 Hop O My Thumb - AFRS.mp3
36. Lp 520816 White Cat.mp3
37. Lp 521129 One Eye Two Eyes Three Eyes.mp3
Volume 2 - 33 shows - total playtime 14 hours 58 minutes

MP3 CD
Volume 2: 5.00
Add To Cart
1. Lp 521213 Snow Queen.mp3
2. Lp 521220 Twas Night Before Christmas.mp3
3. Lp 521227 Husband Who Was To Mind House.mp3
4. Lp 530207 Two Dancing Princesses.mp3
5. Lp 530611 Cinderella.mp3
6. Lp 531128 Ceres And Proserpina..mp3
7. Lp 531212 Snow Queen.mp3
8. Lp 531219 Night Before Christmas.mp3
9. Lp 540109 Robin Hood.mp3
10. Lp 540410 Magic Cuckoo.mp3
11. Lp 540605 Beauty And Beast.mp3
12. Lp 540612 1097 Tinder Box.mp3
13. Lp 540619 Andine.mp3
14. Lp 541002 King Arthurs Son.mp3
15. Lp 541009 Hansel And Gretel.mp3
16. Lp 541023 Jorinda And Joringal.mp3
17. Lp Alice In Wonderland.mp3
18. Lp Bremen Town Musicians.mp3
19. Lp Dick Wittington And His Cat.mp3
20. Lp Douban Physician.mp3
21. Lp Emperors New Clothes.mp3
22. Lp Gingerbread Man.mp3
23. Lp Gullivers Travels.mp3
24. Lp Jason And Golden Fleece.mp3
25. Lp King Midas And Golden Touch.mp3
26. Lp King Thrushbeard.mp3
27. Lp Magic Carpet.mp3
28. Lp Man On Corn.mp3
29. Lp Pinocchio.mp3
30. Lp Sleeping Beauty .mp3
31. Lp Tubby Tuba.mp3
32. Lp Ugly Duckling.mp3
33. Lp Uncle Bill Interview.mp3
MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!

70 recordings on 2 MP3 Collection Downloads for just $10.00
total playtime 30 hours, 25 min

Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart
Print

Click here to see disc contents

Volume 1 - 37 shows - total playtime 15 hours 27 minutes

Instant Download
Volume 1: $5.00
Add To Cart
1. Lp 410419 Juniper Tree.mp3
2. Lp 420822 Why Sea Is Salty.mp3
3. Lp 420829 Little Mermaid.mp3
4. Lp 420905 Elves And Shoemaker.mp3
5. Lp 420912 Water Of Life.mp3
6. Lp 421219 Prince Gigi And Magic Ring.mp3
7. Lp 421226 House Of World.mp3
8. Lp 430123 Golden Touch.mp3
9. Lp 430320 Princess Moonbeam.mp3
10. Lp 440305 Frog Prince.mp3
11. Lp 460727 Yellow Dwarf.mp3
12. Lp 460803 692 Goose Girl.mp3
13. Lp 460810 Faithful John.mp3
14. Lp 461026 Jack And Beanstalk.mp3
15. Lp 461102 705 Puss In Boots.mp3
16. Lp 470607 Six Swans.mp3
17. Lp 470621 Bluebeard.mp3
18. Lp 470628 Thumbelina.mp3
19. Lp 470705 Brother And Sister.mp3
20. Lp 470712 Brave Little Tailor.mp3
21. Lp 470719 Rapunzel.mp3
22. Lp 470726 Chinese Nightingale.mp3
23. Lp 470816 Youth Who Learned to Shiver Shake.mp3
24. Lp 470823 Melilot.mp3
25. Lp 470830 Aladdin And Wonderful Lamp.mp3
26. Lp 470906 Twelve Months.mp3
27. Lp 470913 Donkey Table And Stick.mp3
28. Lp 470920 Enchanted Frog.mp3
29. Lp 470927 Cinderella.mp3
30. Lp 480918 048 Princess on the Glass Mountain - AFRS.mp3
31. Lp 490403 Princess And Pea.mp3
32. Lp 490416 Snowdrop And Seven Dwarves.mp3
33. Lp 490709 Tinderbox.mp3
34. Lp 510210 177 The Fisherman And His Wife.mp3
35. Lp 510224 172 Hop O My Thumb - AFRS.mp3
36. Lp 520816 White Cat.mp3
37. Lp 521129 One Eye Two Eyes Three Eyes.mp3
Volume 2 - 33 shows - total playtime 14 hours 58 minutes

Instant Download
Volume 2: $5.00
Add To Cart
1. Lp 521213 Snow Queen.mp3
2. Lp 521220 Twas Night Before Christmas.mp3
3. Lp 521227 Husband Who Was To Mind House.mp3
4. Lp 530207 Two Dancing Princesses.mp3
5. Lp 530611 Cinderella.mp3
6. Lp 531128 Ceres And Proserpina..mp3
7. Lp 531212 Snow Queen.mp3
8. Lp 531219 Night Before Christmas.mp3
9. Lp 540109 Robin Hood.mp3
10. Lp 540410 Magic Cuckoo.mp3
11. Lp 540605 Beauty And Beast.mp3
12. Lp 540612 1097 Tinder Box.mp3
13. Lp 540619 Andine.mp3
14. Lp 541002 King Arthurs Son.mp3
15. Lp 541009 Hansel And Gretel.mp3
16. Lp 541023 Jorinda And Joringal.mp3
17. Lp Alice In Wonderland.mp3
18. Lp Bremen Town Musicians.mp3
19. Lp Dick Wittington And His Cat.mp3
20. Lp Douban Physician.mp3
21. Lp Emperors New Clothes.mp3
22. Lp Gingerbread Man.mp3
23. Lp Gullivers Travels.mp3
24. Lp Jason And Golden Fleece.mp3
25. Lp King Midas And Golden Touch.mp3
26. Lp King Thrushbeard.mp3
27. Lp Magic Carpet.mp3
28. Lp Man On Corn.mp3
29. Lp Pinocchio.mp3
30. Lp Sleeping Beauty .mp3
31. Lp Tubby Tuba.mp3
32. Lp Ugly Duckling.mp3
33. Lp Uncle Bill Interview.mp3

Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players

70 recordings on 32 Audio CDs
total playtime 29 hours, 14 min

Add Collection on Audio CD to Cart
70 recordings on 32 Audio CDs
$160.00

Or buy individual audio CDs below:

Lets Pretend Disc A001 Lp Bremen Town Musicians Lp Dick Wittington And His Cat Lp Douban Physician	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A002 Lp Emperors New Clothes Lp Gingerbread Man	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A003 Lp Gullivers Travels	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A004 Lp Jason And Golden Fleece Lp King Midas And Golden Touch	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A005 Lp King Thrushbeard Lp Magic Carpet	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A006 Lp Man On Corn	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A007 Lp Pinocchio	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A008 Lp Sleeping Beauty Lp Tubby Tuba Lp Ugly Duckling Lp Uncle Bill Interview	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A009 Lp 410419 Juniper Tree Lp 420822 Why Sea Is Salty	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A010 Lp 420829 Little Mermaid Lp 420905 Elves And Shoemaker	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A011 Lp 420912 Water Of Life Lp 421219 Prince Gigi And Magic Ring	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A012 Lp 421226 House Of World Lp 430123 Golden Touch	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A013 Lp 430320 Princess Moonbeam Lp 440305 Frog Prince	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A014 Lp 460727 Yellow Dwarf Lp 460803 692 Goose Girl Lp 460810 Faithful John	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A015 Lp 461026 Jack And Beanstalk Lp 461102 705 Puss In Boots	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A016 Lp 470607 Six Swans Lp 470621 Bluebeard Lp 470628 Thumbelina	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A017 Lp 470705 Brother And Sister Lp 470712 Brave Little Tailor Lp 470719 Rapunzel	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A018 Lp 470726 Chinese Nightingale Lp 470816 Youth Who Learned to Shiver Shake Lp 470823 Melilot	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A019 Lp 470830 Aladdin And Wonderful Lamp Lp 470906 Twelve Months Lp 470913 Donkey Table And Stick	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A020 Lp 470920 Enchanted Frog Lp 470927 Cinderella	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A021 Lp 480918 048 Princess on the Glass Mountain - AFRS Lp 490403 Princess And Pea	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A022 Lp 490416 Snowdrop And Seven Dwarves Lp 490709 Tinderbox	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A023 Lp 510210 177 The Fisherman And His Wife Lp 510224 172 Hop O My Thumb - AFRS	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A024 Lp 520816 White Cat Lp 521129 One Eye Two Eyes Three Eyes	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A025 Lp 521213 Snow Queen Lp 521220 Twas Night Before Christmas	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A026 Lp 521227 Husband Who Was To Mind House Lp 530207 Two Dancing Princesses	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A027 Lp 530611 Cinderella Lp 531128 Ceres And Proserpina.	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A028 Lp 531212 Snow Queen Lp 531219 Night Before Christmas	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A029 Lp 540109 Robin Hood Lp 540410 Magic Cuckoo	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A030 Lp 540605 Beauty And Beast Lp 540612 1097 Tinder Box	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A031 Lp 540619 Andine Lp 541002 King Arthurs Son	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
Lets Pretend Disc A032 Lp 541009 Hansel And Gretel Lp 541023 Jorinda And Joringal	Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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Let's Pretend

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MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.

Click here to see disc contents

MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!

Click here to see disc contents

Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players

LISTENERS WHO ENJOYED THESE RECORDINGS ALSO COLLECTED