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The Lux Radio Theater was first heard on
NBC October 14, 1934 as a Sunday afternoon
show. On July 19, 1935, it moved to CBS and into
it's long running Monday night time slot. All shows were one hour
long.
Less than a year after it's arrival on the air, the series' ratings
began to drop. Danny Danker, an executive working for the
advertising agency handling the Lux account,
was given the responsibility to improve the
show. What the show needed was extravaganza, and what
the show got was Cecil B. DeMille.
With DeMille as host, The Lux Radio Theater
brought in big name stars and brought the show
back up to the top of the charts. DeMille
became an institution on the show, conveying an almost frantic "the
show must go on" attitude. Mr. DeMille left after the Jan. 22,
1945 show. The role of show host changed a
number of times through the remainder of the
show's history. William Keightley was the last
host, remaining for the show's last curtain call on June 7, 1955.
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