The Smiths of Hollywood

This show had a great cast, starring Harry Von Zell as attorney Bill Smith, Brenda Marshall as his wife Nancy, and featuring British star Arthur Treacher as Sir Cecil Smythe, their snooty British relative. Jan Ford played daughter Shirley, better known as Bumps.

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The Smiths everyday adventures are a little more fantastic than a real average family's are, since being in Hollywood naturally means that such stars as Lucille Ball, William Holden, and Ann Sheridan are prone to drop by. But they're just plain folk off-screen, just like you or I. Good thing there's a solid cast of veteran radio professions to make it funny! They did, and The Smiths of Hollywood is solid radio comedy entertainment.

Harry Von Zell became the announcer on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show TV Show beginning in 1951. He also starred in the memorable films "Boy, Did I Get the Wrong Number", "U.S.S. Tea Kettle", "I Can Get It For You Wholesale", Where There's Life", and "Son of Paleface." Bob Hope fans will recognize that at least three of these are Hope movies. "I Can Get it For You Wholesale" is a fine, serious film, with Von Zell doing his best acting along with a great cast.

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Brenda Marshall was a film actress who isn't so well remembered today. She did all her work in little more than ten years, throughout the 1940s, beginning with good films like "The Sea Hawk" and "Footsteps in the Dark", both opposite Errol Flynn. She starred in "Strange Impersonation", an Anthony Mann directed Noir classic in 1946 the same year The Smiths of Hollywood was first produced. She was married to William Holden, and their rocky private life added a certain backstory that was the antithesis of The Smiths of Hollywood.

Jan Ford was the stage name for the young actress Helen Koford, who was affectionally kowns as Bumps on the show. "Bumps" in real life grew up to be Terry Moore, the Howard Hughes "managed" screen siren of many trashy, treasured films and later photography exposure in Playboy. Arthur Treacher was to continue his manner of mirth on the Jimmy Durante Show.

For more radio fun with the family, please see The Aldrich Family, Easy Aces, Life with Luigi, Ozzie and Harriet, Fibber McGee and Molly, Life of Riley, The Goldbergs, Our Miss Brooks, Burns and Allen, Jack Benny, My Favorite Husband, Dennis Day Show, Mel Blanc Show, Halls of Ivy, and finally stop off at Duffy's Tavern for a nightcap.