BUFFALO EVENING .NEWS—Wednesday, July 28, 1943
Mere Man Invades the Cast Of Director's All-Woman Show
Irna Phillips Gradually Adds Five Men to Nine Radio Actresses in "Lonely Women" By HELEN KING
One of the happiest men In radio used to be one you never heard about—Guilbert Gibbons. He was In the enviable position as director of the "male-free* cast of "Lonely Women," on WBEN five times weekly at 2:15 o'clock. Irna Phillips, the writer, had dismissed men characters to unimportant parts, sometlmes not using them for weeks and thus Gull found himself surrounded by nine radio actresses.
But that was too good to last. Eventually Guil found his unique territory was to be invaded. The script called for a "mysterious man." Then a male announcer came. Next a roving radio reporter entered the plot and finally a wealthy playboy qrept Into the script. That led to the final breakdown of the barrier against male characters. Five men now are on the casting list. Miss Phillips realized that an all-girl show might be fine in a musical way but the listeners do want a man to show up, if only to create a little trouble now and then, scriptually speaking.
Lonely Women was revamped and renamed Today's Children, in reference to Irna's previous and way more successful serial. The all women concept didn't fly.
By
Paul Raven ·
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.