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My name is Jacqueline T. Lynch, author of Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.,
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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Ann Blyth sings for Charlie McCarthy



Among Ann Blyth’s many radio appearances, her guest spot as a foil for Charlie McCarthy is particularly delightful—not only does she get into comedy skits, but here you have a chance to hear her lovely singing voice.  The Charlie McCarthy Show aired April 25, 1954 on CBS radio.  Ann performs two songs on the show.  First up is “Young at Heart.”



Charlie flirts with Ann, but she reminds him she’s now married to a doctor.




Edgar Bergen, Charlie’s “alter ego” (or is that the other way around?), is called to jury duty, so Charlie helms the show by himself (along with Mortimer Snerd, Jack Kirkland, Paul Frees, and Ray Noble and his Orchestra) and offers a speed-view spoof of an entire day of radio programming, including fake commercials.  Ann joins in on the fun in a soap opera, as a commercial announcer, and in a take on “From Here to Eternity.” She also takes the part of cooking show host with a fluttery ladies club voice, and is a game show contestant with a completely different tone of voice, more like a Brooklyn telephone operator—demonstrating her remarkable vocal range and her skill at comedy.



Speaking of vocal range, Ann next launches into a really lovely rendition of “It’s a Grand Night for Singing.”  The announcer Bill Baldwin reminds us that Ann Blyth can now be seen in the motion picture The Student Prince.



The half-hour program, now in public domain, can be heard at this link here.



For a selected list of Ann’s radio performances, see the appendices of my book, Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.

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