It's Time To Smile 1942 12 23 (94) Guest Ida Lupino

# It's Time To Smile - December 23, 1942

Settle into your favorite chair and prepare yourself for an evening of unbridled merriment as Eddie Cantor welcomes the luminous Ida Lupino to the NBC microphone on Christmas Eve Eve, 1942. The energy crackles with holiday spirit and romantic tension as Cantor's rapid-fire comedic patter dances around the sultry, sharp-witted actress. You'll hear the orchestra swell with seasonal arrangements, the audience's delighted laughter echoing through the studio, and those unmistakable moments when Cantor's famous "Oy vey!" punctuates a particularly daring joke. This is live broadcasting at its finest—unrehearsed, intimate, and brimming with the particular magic that only those golden hours before Christmas could conjure.

By 1942, Eddie Cantor had become America's paramount entertainer, a vaudeville virtuoso who commanded the airwaves with infectious enthusiasm and a gift for turning any moment into spontaneous comedy. His show, alternating between NBC and CBS throughout its two-decade run, represented the very heartbeat of American radio entertainment during the Depression and war years. With our nation deep in World War II, Cantor's relentless optimism and ability to make audiences forget their worries for thirty minutes made him essential listening. Ida Lupino, meanwhile, was at the height of her film career, known for her striking presence and willingness to trade barbs with even the sharpest comedians.

Don't miss this rare glimpse into wartime America's living room, where laughter was a cherished commodity and the simple act of gathering around the radio connected millions in shared joy. This episode captures a fleeting moment in entertainment history—a snapshot of two titans of their respective mediums, the orchestra, and an audience hungry for escape and merriment. Tune in to experience the genuine warmth and unscripted charm that made old-time radio unforgettable.