At first glance some readers may be led to believe that this article has some connection to the Leave it to Beaver TV series starring Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow. Understandably since Tony Dow ( who played Wally from the aforementioned TV series) is a featured guest at this year’s SHOWCASE. However, the Little Beaver in this article is a young Navajo boy who shared adventures with western hero Red Ryder and who was played on radio, at one time or another , by three of our special guests. Red Ryder began as a comic strip in 1938 but Republic Pictures bought the movie rights soon after. It was not long and there were Red Ryder comic books, a radio series and movie serials. Tommy Cook portrayed Little Beaver in the 12 chapter movie serial The Adventures of Red Ryder released in June of 1940. Tommy would follow the series to radio in the same role when Red Ryder appeared on the Blue Network in 1942 and later on Mutual. It’s status as a national program was short lived. From the fall of 1942 until the series ended in 1951, the program was heard only on the West Coast stations of the Mutual Don Lee Network (generally Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm Pacific Time). Tommy recalls taking several connecting buses across town to get from home to the studio. Although his parents were generally there to pick him up after the broadcast to drive him home. Franklin Breesee, who has made prior appearances at REPS SHOWCASE, was also cast in the part of Little Beaver, from 1942-1946, as an alternate to Tommy and also to Henry Blair when Henry assumed the role from 1944-1947. Tommy Cook and Frank Bresee have maintained a long friendship from their days on Red Ryder and continuing to the present day. Frank Bresee has spent many years of his adult life documenting those bygone days of radio and hosted the long running radio show Those Golden Days of Radio. “Speaking of radio”, Tommy says “Those were some great days. I don’t want to forget them.”
In 1947 young actor Johnny McGovern took over as Little Beaver and held the role until 1950. “I succeeded Johnny as Little Beaver on Red Ryder” recalls Anne Whitfield. “His voice changed! . . . so they cast me because my voice was not going to change.” Anne doesn’t remember how long she played the part but she doesn’t think it was for very long. ” They probably figured that the show was not going to last very long when they realized they had a kind of effeminate sounding Little Beaver” she muses. Sammy Ogg is credited as taking on the role until the series ended in 1951.
Tommy Cook, Johnny McGovern and Anne Whitfield . . . they all played Little Beaver . . . and will be appearing April 15-16-17 at the REPS SHOWCASE.
http://www.repsshowcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Showcase-logo.png00Jennhttp://www.repsshowcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Showcase-logo.pngJenn2016-02-29 23:07:302016-04-13 05:44:00LEAVE IT TO LITTLE BEAVER
Here’s terrific news for your morning. Tacoma born John Wilder who has written and/or produced nearly 400 hours of prime time television drama on network and cable and also received the Writer’s Guild Award for Best Long Form Teleplay and Best Episodic Drama and Emmy nominations for Best Dramatic Series, will be joining us for the REPS SHOWCASE. This will be John’s first appearance at the REPS SHOWCASE and an actor with more radio credits to his name would be hard to find. As a child actor and then known as Johnny McGovern, John was one of the busiest child actors in the radio business. Here’s a list of some of his work:
The Jack Benny Show as Joey, The Great Gildersleeve as Craig Bullard, The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show as Schuyler Van Snoot, The Abbott and Costello Kid Show as the youngest emcee in radio, The Jimmy Durante Show, Red Ryder as Little Beaver, Date With Judy as Randolph, and Jump Jump of Holiday House), as well as leading and featured roles on other major network broadcasts, including 21 appearances on Lux Radio Theatre, and multiple appearances on Academy Award Playhouse, Stars Over Hollywood,The Hallmark Hall of Fame, Hollywood Star Playhouse, Hollywood Star Theatre, The Ford Theatre, The Screen Guild Theatre, Screen Director’s Playhouse, Family Theatre, Favorite Story, The Bakers Theatre of Stars, On Stage, Stars In The Air, The NBC University Theatre, Rexall Theatre, Command Performance, Broadway Is My Beat, Cavalcade of America, California Caravan, The CBS Radio Workshop, Hollywood Story, The Bob Hope Show, The Red Skelton Show, The Dennis Day Show, Gunsmoke, Dragnet, Our Miss Brooks, Doorway To Life, My Favorite Husband (Lucille Ball), The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Amos and Andy, The Halls of Ivy, NBC Presents, Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch, The Roy Rogers Show, Hopalong Cassidy, The Cisco Kid, My Friend Irma, The Clyde Beatty Show, The Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show, Dr. Christian, The Stories of Dr. Kildare, The Harold Peary Show, Rogers of The Gazette, Suspense, Fibber McGee and Molly.
Whew! and we didn’t even list them all. Recently, John and Larry Gassman had a chance to sit down with John Wilder and talk about his days in radio.
http://www.repsshowcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Showcase-logo.png00repsclub@aol.comhttp://www.repsshowcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Showcase-logo.pngrepsclub@aol.com2016-01-24 07:21:032016-04-13 05:24:21John Wilder - Radio Actor and Award Winning Writer - To Make First REPS Appearance
