“Claudia” told the tale of Claudia and David Naughton, newlyweds, just beginning their married life. Young, enthusiastic, and very much in love, they weren’t suffering from any medical problems, suspicions, or ungrateful children. Instead, they were simply facing the many challenges of any new marriage in the years following World War II - finding an apartment, getting used to each other’s quirks, and learning to live together as husband and wife.
“Claudia” was based on the literary works of Rose Franken, a writer, novelist, playwright, and theatrical director who had first written about the Naughton’s in the mid-1930s. By the end of the decade, the highly popular short stories had been brought together into a series of best-selling novels which, in 1941, were adapted by Franken into a Broadway play starring Donald Cook as David and a young actress named Dorothy McGuire in the title role. Claudia Naughton was a breakout role for McGuire; the sincerity, simplicity, and captivating charm which she brought to the part made the play a long-running hit and soon brought her to Hollywood to reprise the role in the 20th Century Fox film version, released in 1943 and co-starring Robert Young as David. Based on that film’s success, in 1945, RKO Pictures starred McGuire and Young in “The Enchanted Cottage” and 1946 found them together again in “Claudia and David,” a sequel to the earlier film.
Heard today, “Claudia” remains wonderful entertainment, notable for both its lighthearted tone and the believable interplay between its characters. Claudia, a bit younger than her years, is often impulsive, sometimes irresponsible, usually perky, and just a bit flighty. Her father had died when she was still a young girl and, as an only child, had been raised by her widowed mother. As a newlywed who married when she was just eighteen, she occasionally ponders whether she is still a “mama-baby,” tied to her mother’s apron strings and relying too much on Mama’s continuing support and advice. As she matures, she becomes a unique mixture of enthusiasm, incompetence and over-confidence -- deeply in love with her somewhat older husband David, but frequently naive and too likely to trust in her insecurities rather than her instincts.
Claudia’s loving and patient husband David came from a substantial family and he had trained to be an architect until World War II interrupted his plans. Like many a returning veteran, he’s working to get ahead in his field, but he sometimes questions whether he’s chosen the right career path - particularly when considering the success of his older brother Hartley, an influential banker.
Claudia, Volume 9 continues Radio Archives’ collection of the complete run of this classic series. Restored to the best and clearest audio quality possible, these shows sparkle and are best heard in the way they were presented, in fifteen minute chapters every single day. Whether you enjoy them as they originally aired or can’t wait and sit through them all at once, Claudia, Volume 9 continues a wonderful episodic tale of a woman and the man she loves living life the way most of their listeners did and do.
Tuesday, August 31, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#243 The Town Crier Interviews Claudia
Wednesday, September 1, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#244 Claudia's Furniture Gets a Part
Thursday, September 2, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#245 Difficult Dress Rehearsal
Friday, September 3, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#246 Opening Night Jitters
Monday, September 6, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#247 And the Curtain Goes Up!
Tuesday, September 7, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#248 Mr. Tucker Takes Center Stage
Wednesday, September 8, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#249 Bobby's First Cold
Thursday, September 9, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#250 After the Play Ends
Friday, September 10, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#251 Claudia's First Check
Monday, September 13, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#252 Claudia and the Country Auction
Tuesday, September 14, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#253 The Norton's First Anniversary
Wednesday, September 15, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#254 A Steak Dinner Goes to the Dogs
Thursday, September 16, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#255 Claudia, David, and Ducks
Friday, September 17, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#256 An Autumn Evening at Home
Monday, September 20, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#257 An Automobile Accident
Tuesday, September 21, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#258 One Lives, One Dies
Wednesday, September 22, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#259 A Taste of Loneliness
Thursday, September 23, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#260 Claudia Visits the Hospital
Friday, September 24, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#261 Mr. Tucker Helps Out
Monday, September 27, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#262 Rebuilding the Barn
Tuesday, September 28, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#263 Doctor's Report on David
Wednesday, September 29, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#264 David's Partner Visits
Thursday, September 30, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
#265 More Company for David
Friday, October 1, 1948 - 15:00 - Syndicated, sponsored by Coca Cola
