Abie's Irish Rose - Abie Buys a New Jersey Store

"Abie's Irish Rose": January 24, 1942, NBC's WMAQ radio in Chicago aired the premier episode of "Abie's Irish Rose," a spin-off from a successful Broadway play (as well as movies) written by Ann Nichols. The story is of a good, Irish-Catholic girl who meets. falls in love with & marries a nice, Jersey-Jewish boy and the evolving culture clashes that result. Despite the popularity of the play, the movies, and the writing of this captivating radio program, the serial lasted only two years (1942-01-24 thru 1944-09-02).

Joe Rines directed the cast that starred Richard Bond, Sydney Smith, Richard Coogan and Clayton "Bud" Collyer as Abie Levy. Betty Winkler, Mercedes McCambridge, Julie Stevens and Marion Shockley portrayed Rosemary Levy. Solomon Levy was played by Alfred White, Charlie Cantor and Alan Reed.

Walter Kinsella (as Patrick Murphy), Menasha Skulnik (Isaac Cohen), Anna Appel (Mrs. Cohen), Ann Thomas (Casey), Bill Adams (Father Whelan), Amanda Randolph (maid) and Dolores Gillenas (as the Levy twins). The announcer was Howard Petrie, and Joe Stopak provided the music.