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Backstage Wife
Vivian Fridell portrayed Mary Noble on Backstage Wife in the 1930s and early 1940s
Other names	Mary Noble, Backstage Wife
Genre	Daytime serial drama
Running time	15 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	English
Syndicates	MBS Blue CBS
Starring	Vivian Fridell Ken Griffin
Announcer	Pierre Andre
Creators	Frank and Anne Hummert,
Air dates	August 5, 1935 to January 2, 1959,
Audio format	Mono
Sponsor	Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder Procter & Gamble.

Backstage Wife is an American soap opera radio program that details the travails of Mary Noble, a girl from a small town in Iowa who came to New York seeking her future.

Vivian Fridell had the title role from 1935 until the early 1940s. It was then taken over by Claire Niesen, who continued as Mary Noble until the end of the series. Mary's husband, Larry Noble, was portrayed by Ken Griffin, then James Meighan and finally, Guy Sorel. The music was supplied by organist Chet Kingsbury.

Each episode opened with the announcer (Pierre Andre, Roger Krupp, others) explaining:

Now, we present once again, Backstage Wife, the story of Mary Noble, a little Iowa girl who married one of America's most handsome actors, Larry Noble, matinée idol of a million other women — the story of what it means to be the wife of a famous star.

Production

The show was created by Frank and Anne Hummert, who produced many radio daytime drama series, including Amanda of Honeymoon Hill, Front Page Farrell, John’s Other Wife, Little Orphan Annie, Ma Perkins, Mr. Chameleon, Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons and Our Gal Sunday.

Backstage Wife debuted August 5, 1935 on the Mutual Broadcasting System, continued on NBC and concluded January 2, 1959 on CBS. The sponsors included Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder and Procter & Gamble.

Broadcast history

• August 5, 1935–March 27, 1936, MBS, 9:45 a.m. ET
• March 30–June 26, 1936, NBC Blue, 4:15 p.m.
• 1936–1938, NBC Blue, 11:15 a.m.
• 1938–July 1, 1955, NBC, 4 p.m.
• July 4, 1955–January 2, 1959, CBS, 12:15 p.m.

In popular culture

Pierre Andre (1899-1962) was the announcer for Backstage Wife during the 1930s.

The program was parodied by Bob and Ray as their continuing satirical soap opera, Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife, serialized for such a long period of time that it became better known to many listeners than the show it lampooned. Ray Goulding played Mary Backstayge, playwright Gregg Marlowe and other characters, while Bob Elliott portrayed Harry Backstayge and stage doorman Pop Beloved.

In Hogan's Heroes, season one, episode 23 ("The 43rd, A Moving Story"), Colonel Robert E. Hogan and Kinch find out from their secret radio that the bank is going to foreclose on Mary Noble, Backstage Wife.

See also

• List of radio soaps

External links

• Time: "Hummerts' Mill," January 23, 1939