The Cinnamon Bear - Episode 7 - Presto, The Magician - Kids Christmas Radio Adventure

The Cinnamon Bear is an old-time radio program produced by Transco (Transcription Company of America), based in Hollywood, California. The series was specifically designed to be listened to six days a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It was first broadcast between Friday, November 26 and Saturday December 25, 1937. Some markets like Portland, Oregon jumped the gun, debuting the program on November 25, Thanksgiving Day. In the first season, Portland broadcast the program on two stations, KALE at 6:00pm and KXL at 7:00pm.

When syndication problems arose at Transco, the program was not officially broadcast in 1940, although some stations might have aired previous transcriptions. No program aired in Portland that year. In 1941, Transco programming was sold to Broadcasters Program Syndicate, and The Cinnamon Bear was on the air nationally once again. In the 1950s, syndication was taken over by Lou R. Winston, also based in Hollywood.

An original Lipman-Wolfe & Company newspaper ad from the Portland Oregon Journal, November 25, 1937 read:

Introducing Paddy O'Cinnamon, Santa Claus's right-hand man! Meet him with Santa in Toyland at Lipman's... and don't miss his exciting adventures with Judy and Jimmy (two of the nicest playmates you could ever want). and some nights you'll be so anxious to hear how they got the Silver Star back from the wicked Crazyquilt Dragon that you'll listen twice! And here's a secret... the Cinnamon Bear is just as excited about meeting you as he can be.

The story focused on Judy and Jimmy Barton who go to the enchanted world of Maybeland to recover their missing Silver Star that belongs on their Christmas tree. Helping on the search is the Cinnamon Bear, a stuffed bear with shoe-button eyes and a green ribbon around his neck. They meet other memorable characters during their quest, including the Crazy Quilt Dragon (who repeatedly tries to take the star for himself), the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant and Santa Claus.

Episodes began at Thanksgiving and ended at Christmas, with one episode airing each night. The show was created by a group of merchants as an advertising promotion, and was recorded in only a few weeks. It was produced by Lindsay MacHarrie, who also provided the voice of Westley the Whale and several other characters.

Cast and crew
The voice of The Cinnamon Bear was provided by Buddy Duncan, a little person and vaudeville comedian. Many notable radio voices lent their talents, including:

Barbara Jean Wong as Judy Barton
Walter Tetley as Jimmy Barton[1]
Joseph Kearns as The Crazy-Quilt Dragon
Verna Felton as Judy & Jimmy's mother
Lou Merrill as Santa Claus
Martha Wentworth as The Wintergreen Witch
Gale Gordon as Weary Willie the Stork and Oliver Ostrich
Rosa Barcelo as Queen Melissa
Elvia Allman as Penelope the Pelican
Joe DuVal as Fe Fo, the Giant
Frank Nelson as Captain Tin Top
Hanley Stafford as Snapper Snitch, the Crooning Crocodile
Howard McNear as Samuel the Seal and Slim Pickins, the Cowboy
Cy Kendall as Captain Taffy, the Pirate, and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer (Indian Chief)
Ted Osborne as King Blotto the Third and Professor Whiz, the Owl
Elliott Lewis as Mr. Presto the Magician
Ed Max as the Inkaboo Assistant Executioner
Dorothy Scott as Fraidy Cat
Lindsay MacHarrie as Wesley the Wailing Whale, the Grand Wunkey, and others
Eddie Collins as Rhyming Rabbit

(Wikipedia)