Lone Journey (radio soap opera)
{{Short description|American radio soap opera (1940–1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox radio show
| show_name = Lone Journey
| image = Lone_Journey_Soap_Opera.jpg
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| format =
| runtime = 15 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
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| syndicates = NBC, CBS, ABC
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| creator =
| writer = Sandra Michael and Peter Michael
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| first_aired = May 27, 1940
| last_aired = June 27, 1952
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Lone Journey is an American soap opera radio program.
Information
Lone Journey debuted on May 27, 1940, on NBC. The show was called, "the distinguished American radio novel" and was advertised as "thrilling romance on a Montana ranch".{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1946| title = Listen! Back on the air: Lone Journey | publisher=The Cincinnati Enquirer| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100214548/?terms=%22lone%20journey%22%20%22wolfe%20bennett%22&match=11| access-date = 13 March 2023}} Notably, the show did not make much use of cliffhangers to lure viewers in. The show used Montana as its setting and was based on real people and real situations that the show's writers, Sandra Michael and Peter Michael, had experienced.{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Peter Elfed |title=Radio Drama |date=1981 |publisher=Longman |isbn=978-0-582-49052-9 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Radio_Drama/rolZAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22lone%20journey%22%20soap%20opera&dq=%22lone%20journey%22%20soap%20opera&printsec=frontcover |access-date=December 17, 2024 |language=en}}{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1946| title = New W-G-N Show, Famous Names, To Begin Today | publisher=Chicago Tribune| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/371970803/?terms=%22lone%20journey%22%20%22wolfe%20bennett%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Dunning |first1=John |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |date=May 7, 1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-984045-8 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/On_the_Air/Fi5wPDBiGfMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22lone%20journey%22%20%22soap%20opera%22&pg=PA404&printsec=frontcover |page=404|access-date=December 17, 2024 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Jim |title=Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers |date=June 4, 2003 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-1631-8 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Frank_and_Anne_Hummert_s_Radio_Factory/UJP2VwJf9icC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22lone%20journey%22%20%22soap%20opera%22&pg=PA167&printsec=frontcover |page=167 |access-date=December 17, 2024 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=French |first1=Jack |last2=Siegel |first2=David S. |title=Radio Rides the Range: A Reference Guide to Western Drama on the Air, 1929-1967 |date=November 14, 2013 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-7146-1 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Radio_Rides_the_Range/VfLaAQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22lone%20journey%22%20%22soap%20opera%22&pg=PA119&printsec=frontcover |pages=119–120|access-date=December 17, 2024 |language=en}}{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1942| title = Real Background for Lone Journey | publisher=Harrisburgh Telegraph| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/43589039/?terms=%22lone%20journey%22%20%22wolfe%20bennett%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}} Sandra had prior experience writing the radio daytime soap opera Against the Storm.{{Citation| last=| first =| year =1942| title = Chicago Sun Carries Interesting Article Concerning Former Lewistown Family Now Famous In Radio Circles | publisher=Lewistown Daily News| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/953166869/?terms=%22lone%20journey%22%20%22soap%20opera%22&match=1| access-date = 13 March 2023}}
Plot
Wolfe Bennett and wife Nita are unhappy with their lives in Chicago. They decide to make a change and purchase the "Spear T-Ranch" in Judith Mountain, Montana.{{cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Jim |title=The A to Z of American Radio Soap Operas |date=July 17, 2009 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6349-1 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_A_to_Z_of_American_Radio_Soap_Operas/mQiurxgEDkIC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |access-date=December 17, 2024 |language=en}}
Broadcast history
- May 27, 1940 - June 25, 1943 - NBC, weekdays at 5:15 p.m.
- 1941-42 - NBC, weekdays at 11:30 a.m.
- 1942-43 - Dreft, weekdays at 10:45 a.m.
- April 1, 1946 - September 26, 1947, weekdays at 10 a.m.
- September 30, 1946 - CBS and Carnation, weekdays at 2:30 p.m.{{cite magazine |date=August 28, 1946 |page=30 |title=Clients Reshuffle Daytime Shows |magazine=Billboard |url=https://archive.org/details/variety163-1946-08/page/n205/mode/1up?view=theater |accessdate=December 17, 2024 }}
- July 2, 1951 - June 27, 1952 - ABC and Lever Brothers, weekdays at various times between 11a.m. and noon
Cast
The main characters had a variety of actors play their roles throughout the show's history:
- Wolfe Bennett was played by Les Damon, Staats Cotsworth (1946–47, 1951–52), Henry Hunter and Reese Taylor
- Nita Bennett was played by Claudia Morgan, Betty Ruth Smith, Eloise Kummer and Betty Winkler
- Mel Tanner was played by Wylie Adams and DeWin Mcbride
- Enor was played by Cameron Andrews and Bob Jellison
- Wolfe's mother was played by Nancy Osgood
- Sydney Sherwood was played by Charlotte Holland and Laurette Fillbrandt
- Lance McKenzie was played by John Larkin
Lone Journey's announcers included Durward Kirby, Nelson Case, Richard Stark and Charles Woods