Last week I had the unique and enjoyable experience of appearing as Margaret (the mother) in Father Knows Best for the AFTRA Radio Play Series. The series honors the Golden Age of Radio, presenting original radio plays live on stage, exactly how they would have been done “back in the day” (complete with organic real-time sound effects). Our episode of Father Knows Best originally aired on NBC Radio in 1949. Two other plays were also featured, The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon and Fibber McGee & Molly.
The event was held at The Autry Center in the Wells Fargo Theatre, just across from the Zoo in Griffith Park. It was a pleasure to work in such a beautiful theatre with a wonderful group of actors. Until now, I had always wondered what it would have been like to be on the radio during that era and somehow always felt drawn to it. Now I have a good idea: imagination, storytelling and the raw power of sound meets organized chaos and a spirit of adventure…right up my alley! All in all, a great experience that I hope to repeat again sometime.