Theater of Romance

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Romantic drama (1944-48)

Romance was a 30-minute schedule filler old time radio show which ran for over 12 years between 1943 and 1956.  The show substituted for a number of shows including Gunsmoke, Life with Luigi, and Lux Radio Theater, The show changes drastically with content, producers, directors and performers throughout its broadcast history, but all the episodes fall under the broad category of "romance." 

Hit yourself on the head with Theater of Romance and become star struck! Gregory Peck, Ida Lupino, Edward G. Robinson, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart and more! Also, cream of the crop radio actors Elliott and Kathy Lewis, Peter Leeds, Lurene Tuttle, Lou Merrill and Gerald Mohr. Frank Graham hosted the show for most of its years.

Colgate factory, 1919

Born and raised in New York, the this romatic dream of a show moved to Hollywood in the summer of 1945. A live audience and movie starts galore graced its stage. The stars played in classic romantic stories from the movies and historical fiction. Movie tie-ins abounded in Theater of Romance with a slew of Hollywood stars and starlets. Now Theatre of Romance was the Colgate Company's half-hour version of the inimitable Lux Radio Theatre.Some notable actors appear in this series including Bob Bailey, Richard Crenna, Barbara Jean Wong, and many more.  Two rare shows from the 1943 - 44 run survive in this collection.  This show offers a more somber drama version of romance and is announced by Frank Gallop.  Earlier versions of this show (not included in this collection) stared Shirley Temple, Humphrey Bogart, Henry Fonda, Errol Flynn when the show was sponsored by Colgate Tooth Powder in the years 1944-1946. 

So Theatre of Romance, like a good romance, kept getting better and better. And finally, Theatre of Romance was nearly as beloved by its fans as Lux Radio Theatre! It was only a half-hour show, but nearly always had a happy ending, as all good romances have.

For other romantic series, see also: Curtain Time, Theater of Romance, Grand Marquee, Romance of Helen Trent, Bride and Groom , and Valentine's Day Collection.

For more romance, see also: Curtain Time, Bride and Groom, Grand Marquee, and Romance of Helen Trent.