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The Sealtest Village Store

Sealtest Icecream tried to attract patrons to the fountain at The Sealtest Village Store.

Sealtest Village Store

24 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 11 hours, 2694 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
12 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from June 06, 1945:

"Bonds Screen Test"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Sealtest Icecream Logo

Joan Davis

When the Standard Brands Company (Fleischmann's Yeast and Royal Gelatin) dropped their sponsorship of The Rudy Vallee Show in 1939, Vallee's services were pitched by the network to the Sealtest Dairy Company. After years of hosting a variety show, Vallee found himself leading a situation comedy that would become The Sealtest Village Store.

Rudy's character on what was still The Rudy Vallee Show was a crooner who now owned a village general store which, as discussed earlier, was the center of its little town. In 1941 he was joined by former vaudevillian and B-Movie comedienne Joan Davis. "Man Hungry" Joan's character becomes the manager of Rudy's store ad she works her way into most of the jokes.

The War would bring changes to everything. Notably o the program, Rudy's vocal quartet, The Sportsmen became The Sealtest Fountaineers and presented a new patriotic number each week praising a different Service branch. The biggest change came in 1943 when Rudy volunteered for the U.S. Coast Guard. While Lt. Vallee was serving his country, ownership of The Village Store fell to Ms. Davis, and "Tin Man" Jack Haley came in as the new manager.

Best remembered for stepping into Buddy Ebsen's role as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939, MGM) after Ebsen had a severe reaction to the character's makeup. Haley had previously hosted The Log Cabin Jamboree in 1937. As the store manager, Haley often served as the straight man to Joan's silliness. Village Store was a ratings hit for NBC, helped in part by Joan's behind the microphone contributions. These "contributions" were not always welcomed by producer Tom McAvity, who left the show.

The sponsors were probably not as appreciative as they should have been, as well. When the time for her contract to be renewed approached, Joan's agents began contacting other potential sponsors. Sealtest saw this as disloyal, even though, as Joan pointed out, she had turned down a substantially more lucrative offer from the American Tobacco Company the year before. Joan moved to CBS for the 1945 Fall season on Swan Soap's Joanie's Tea Room.

Eve ArdenJack Haley became the new owner of the Village Store and wise-cracking comedienne Eve Arden was brought in for the manager role. The first and second banana roles seemed more balanced between Haley and Arden, with both getting laughs. Fans of Eve's future role on Our Miss Brooks will appreciate hearing her develop that character's style here.

This may have been the show's funniest period, however, another shake-up was in the works. Jack Haley, who was under contract with RKO Studios, refused a part in an upcoming film, leading to a suspension. After almost three decades, Jack essentially retired from show business (and do very well in Southern California real estate). To replace Haley, Jack Carson was brought in, but the 'manager becomes the owner' model would be abandoned.

The 1948 season opened as The Sealtest Village Store "starring Jack Carson… featuring Eve Arden".  Any pretense of running the store was also dropped. The new comic situation became a bachelor living in Hollywood, still plenty for Carson to work with but leaving Eve as the second banana.

The Sealtest Village Store closed in the spring of 1948. Eve Arden went on to the career-defining role of Connie Brooks, and Jack Carson would enjoy success as a character actor on the big screen. The customers of The Sealtest Village Store probably began shopping at the new big-box store down the road.

See also: Sealtest Variety Hour (starring Dorothy Lamour).

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

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    COMMENTS

    Love these recordings. What great service. I ordered two to send one to my kid in Kentucky. I laughed so hard today. Many thanks.

    Dennis

    I saw my good friend for his Saturday Afternoon a few days back… He was Vibrating with unbridled Joy! These radio shows now has one more newly committed fan-fanatic! He was So Very Hyped up about the C.D. discs you sent him that he was physically unable to sit still. I fancy myself a writer, but I must be a pretty damn bad one… because I don’t have the words to describe the Thanks I feel for this. The discs you sent will make a huge difference to his life, and the other 3 MP3 discs you sent will help too. I donated them to the local school, where my boy goes, and once I explained What they were, and showed them some pictures of the radio stars; they were all hot to borrow the set! There’s now a cue of over 30 kids, most of whom have never heard a radio play ever before!

    Bob

    Kind of fun

    Thomas 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.



    24 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 2694 min
    24 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 11 hours, 2694 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 24 shows – total playtime 11 hours, 44 minutes
    2. Rudy Vallee 420813 Reh Village Store.mp3
    3. Rudy Vallee 421015 Reh Village Store - Ransom Sherman.mp3
    4. Sealtest Village Store 430909 010 Frank Sinatra.mp3
    5. Sealtest Village Store 431028 017 Rudy Back Coast Guard.mp3
    6. Sealtest Village Store 440120 029 Gold Mine.mp3
    7. Sealtest Village Store 440309 036 Income Tax Afrs 66.mp3
    8. Sealtest Village Store 440323 038 George Raft Afrs 27.mp3
    9. Sealtest Village Store 440406 040 Wants To Join Waves Afrs.mp3
    10. Sealtest Village Store 440427 043 Research Ancestors Afrs.mp3
    11. Sealtest Village Store 440803 049 Picnic With Penny Afrs 46.mp3
    12. Sealtest Village Store 440817 051 Buying Engmnt Ring Afrs 48.mp3
    13. Sealtest Village Store 441026 061 New Hairdresser Afrs 58.mp3
    14. Sealtest Village Store 441109 063 Borrow Jacks Car Afrs 60.mp3
    15. Sealtest Village Store 450118 073 Inherited Property Afrs 70.mp3
    16. Sealtest Village Store 450517 090 Jack Has 500 Afrs 87.mp3
    17. Sealtest Village Store 450607 093 Bonds Screen Test Afrs 90.mp3
    18. Sealtest Village Store 451115 G.Raft Jack Needs New Suit.mp3
    19. Sealtest Village Store 470320 Vincent Price Music Lessons.mp3
    20. Sealtest Village Store 470515 Eve Tries to Book a Comic.mp3
    21. Sealtest Village Store 470703 Eve Is Working On July 4th.mp3
    22. Sealtest Village Store 471030 Home Life Of Al Jolson.mp3
    23. Sealtest Village Store 480506 Yacht Sailing.mp3
    24. Sealtest Village Store 480513 The Big Clock.mp3
    25. Sealtest Village Store 480527 Jack To Buy Radio Station.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    24 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 2694 min
    24 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    323 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 44 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 24 shows – 323 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 44 minutes
    2. Rudy Vallee 420813 Reh Village Store.mp3
    3. Rudy Vallee 421015 Reh Village Store - Ransom Sherman.mp3
    4. Sealtest Village Store 430909 010 Frank Sinatra.mp3
    5. Sealtest Village Store 431028 017 Rudy Back Coast Guard.mp3
    6. Sealtest Village Store 440120 029 Gold Mine.mp3
    7. Sealtest Village Store 440309 036 Income Tax Afrs 66.mp3
    8. Sealtest Village Store 440323 038 George Raft Afrs 27.mp3
    9. Sealtest Village Store 440406 040 Wants To Join Waves Afrs.mp3
    10. Sealtest Village Store 440427 043 Research Ancestors Afrs.mp3
    11. Sealtest Village Store 440803 049 Picnic With Penny Afrs 46.mp3
    12. Sealtest Village Store 440817 051 Buying Engmnt Ring Afrs 48.mp3
    13. Sealtest Village Store 441026 061 New Hairdresser Afrs 58.mp3
    14. Sealtest Village Store 441109 063 Borrow Jacks Car Afrs 60.mp3
    15. Sealtest Village Store 450118 073 Inherited Property Afrs 70.mp3
    16. Sealtest Village Store 450517 090 Jack Has 500 Afrs 87.mp3
    17. Sealtest Village Store 450607 093 Bonds Screen Test Afrs 90.mp3
    18. Sealtest Village Store 451115 G.Raft Jack Needs New Suit.mp3
    19. Sealtest Village Store 470320 Vincent Price Music Lessons.mp3
    20. Sealtest Village Store 470515 Eve Tries to Book a Comic.mp3
    21. Sealtest Village Store 470703 Eve Is Working On July 4th.mp3
    22. Sealtest Village Store 471030 Home Life Of Al Jolson.mp3
    23. Sealtest Village Store 480506 Yacht Sailing.mp3
    24. Sealtest Village Store 480513 The Big Clock.mp3
    25. Sealtest Village Store 480527 Jack To Buy Radio Station.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



    24 recordings on 12 Audio CDs. Total playtime 11 hours, 44 min
    24 recordings on 12 Audio CDs
    total playtime 11 hours, 44 min

    Sealtest Village Store Disc A001

    1. Rudy Vallee 420813 Reh Village Store
    2. Rudy Vallee 421015 Reh Village Store - Ransom Sherman

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A002

    1. Sealtest Village Store 430909 010 Frank Sinatra
    2. Sealtest Village Store 431028 017 Rudy Back Coast Guard

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A003

    1. Sealtest Village Store 440120 029 Gold Mine
    2. Sealtest Village Store 440309 036 Income Tax Afrs 66

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A004

    1. Sealtest Village Store 440323 038 George Raft Afrs 27
    2. Sealtest Village Store 440406 040 Wants To Join Waves Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A005

    1. Sealtest Village Store 440427 043 Research Ancestors Afrs
    2. Sealtest Village Store 440803 049 Picnic With Penny Afrs 46

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A006

    1. Sealtest Village Store 440817 051 Buying Engmnt Ring Afrs 48
    2. Sealtest Village Store 441026 061 New Hairdresser Afrs 58

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A007

    1. Sealtest Village Store 441109 063 Borrow Jacks Car Afrs 60
    2. Sealtest Village Store 450118 073 Inherited Property Afrs 70

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A008

    1. Sealtest Village Store 450517 090 Jack Has 500 Afrs 87
    2. Sealtest Village Store 450607 093 Bonds Screen Test Afrs 90

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A009

    1. Sealtest Village Store 451115 G.Raft Jack Needs New Suit
    2. Sealtest Village Store 470320 Vincent Price Music Lessons

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A010

    1. Sealtest Village Store 470515 Eve Tries to Book a Comic
    2. Sealtest Village Store 470703 Eve Is Working On July 4th

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A011

    1. Sealtest Village Store 471030 Home Life Of Al Jolson
    2. Sealtest Village Store 480506 Yacht Sailing

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Sealtest Village Store Disc A012

    1. Sealtest Village Store 480513 The Big Clock
    2. Sealtest Village Store 480527 Jack To Buy Radio Station

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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