This series began as a kind of book-of-the-week show. Popular modern authors were asked to select their best writings, which were created into radio scripts. In 1945, Orson Welles took over the show, directing, acting, narrating, and adapting scripts to his liking.
14 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 6 hours, 33 min)
available in the following formats:
1 MP3 CD
or
7 Audio CDs
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This is My Best began as a kind of book-of-the-week show. Popular modern authors were asked to select their best writings, which were created into radio scripts. Many authors chose works that were not well known, and had not been dramatized before. Authors such as John Steinbeck and Thornton Wilder were guest authors on the show.
In 1945, Orson Welles took over the show, directing, acting, narrating, and adapting scripts to his liking. He changed the format of the show, insisting that they only recreate classics such as Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Welles, notoriously stubborn and difficult to work with, was criticized by the network for changing the concept of the show and making it too highbrow. He was also criticized for using the show to further his own career by doing one show that he was interested in making into a movie, even though the bigwigs insisted he not do so.
Orson was fired April 24, 1945 after only a little over a month on the show. At this time it became a vehicle for Hollywood movies - potential big movie productions were tried out on this program to gauge audience approval.
These classic recordings are available in the following formats:
Show Rating
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COMMENTS
This is my Best. Music composed and conducted by Bernard Katz. (My Father)
Nolan Katz
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I don’t know what is different on this updated version. As I mentioned to you in the past, my Father, Bernard Katz, wrote the music and directed the orchestra on these radio programs. I attended most of the live shows when I was growing up in L.A. They never allowed recordings on the radio at that time so the show was presented to the East Coast at 5:00 p.m. then done again at 8:00 p.m. for the West Coast. I saw almost all the shows live sitting in the sponsor’s booth above the control room. Between shows we ate at the Brown Derby in Hollywood. Paul Gulgiano was our Maiter’D and hand tossed the Caesar Salad at the table for us. At that time I was 10 years old. Paul used to do walk throughs on TV because he looked like Harry Truman. Also, Mel Blanc is my first cousin (once removed). My Father also did the music on The Mayor of the Town with Lionel Barrymore, and Point Sublime with Cliff Arquette and Mel Blanc.
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Nolan Katz
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