Skippy (radio series) facts for kids
| Genre | Children's radio serial |
|---|---|
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | Mutual Broadcasting System |
| Syndicates | CBS |
| Starring | Franklin Adams, Jr. Francis Smith St. John Terrell |
| Announcer | Dwight Weist |
| Original release | January 11, 1932 – March 29, 1935 |
| Sponsored by | Wheaties, Phillips' tooth paste |
Skippy was a popular American radio show made just for kids! It was a "serial," which means it told a story in many parts, like a TV series today. The show was based on a very famous comic strip called Skippy.
You could listen to Skippy on CBS Radio from January 11, 1932, until March 29, 1935. Many people think Skippy was one of the very first radio shows created especially for children. Another show, Little Orphan Annie, also started around that time and was very popular with young listeners.
Contents
About the Skippy Radio Show
The Skippy radio show brought the adventures of a fun-loving, sometimes mischievous, boy named Skippy to life through sound. Each episode was like an audio play, where actors used their voices to tell the story. The show was based on the Skippy comic strip, which was created by Percy Crosby.
How the Show Started
In 1931, a young actor named Franklin W. Adams was chosen to play the voice of Skippy. The show first started in Chicago on WBBM Radio and ran for 13 weeks. It became so popular that it was then picked up by NBC Radio for two years, and then by CBS Radio for another two years. This meant kids all across the United States could listen to Skippy's adventures five days a week!
When the show became national, Franklin Adams, who played Skippy, was paid $100 a week. That was a lot of money back then! The show was sponsored by popular products like Wheaties cereal and Phillips' tooth paste.
Skippy Day at the World's Fair
Skippy was so famous that there was even a special "Skippy Day" at the "Century of Progress" World's Fair in Chicago in 1933. Skippy (Franklin Adams) and his friend Sooky (played by Francis Smith) put on a live show for everyone at the fair. It was a big event for their young fans!
Meet the Cast
Many talented actors helped bring the world of Skippy to life on the radio. Here are some of the main people involved:
- Skippy: Franklin W. Adams
- Sooky: Francis Smith
- Jim: St. John Terrell
- Announcer: Dwight Weist
Behind the Scenes
The stories for the Skippy radio show were written by Robert Hardy Andrews. The show was produced by a team, including Frank Hummert and Anne Hummert. Each episode was about 15 minutes long, giving kids a short, exciting story to listen to every day. The series ended in 1935, but it left a big mark on radio history.
