Item Description

"The Cinnamon Bear" is an old time radio program produced by Transco (Transcription Company of America), based in Hollywood, California. The series was specifically designed to be listened to six days a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It was first broadcast between Friday, November 26 and Saturday December 25, 1937. Some markets like Portland, Oregon jumped the gun, debuting the program on November 25, Thanksgiving Day. In the first season, Portland broadcast the program on two stations, KALE at 6:00pm and KXL at 7:00pm.

When syndication problems arose at Transco, and the program was not officially broadcast in 1940, although some stations might have aired previous transcriptions. No program aired in Portland that year. In 1941, Transco programming was sold to Broadcasters Program Syndicate, and The Cinnamon Bear was on the air nationally once again. In the 1950s, syndication was taken over by Lou R. Winston, also based in Hollywood.

An original Lipman-Wolfe & Company newspaper ad from the Portland Oregon Journal, November 25, 1937 read:

"Introducing Paddy O'Cinnamon, Santa Claus's right-hand man! Meet him with Santa in Toyland at Lipman's... and don't miss his exciting adventures with Judy and Jimmy (two of the nicest playmates you could want!) over the air every night but Saturday! Early-to-bedders can listen at 6 and stay-up-laters at 7... and some nights you'll be so anxious to hear how they got the Silver Star back from the wicked Crazyquilt Dragon that you'll listen twice! And here's a secret... the Cinnamon Bear is just as excited about meeting you as he can be."

The story focused on Judy and Jimmy Barton who go to the enchanted world of Maybeland to recover their missing Silver Star that belongs on their Christmas tree. Helping on the search is the Cinnamon Bear, a stuffed bear with shoe-button eyes and a green scarf. They meet other memorable characters during their quest, including the Crazy Quilt Dragon (who repeatedly tries to take the star for himself) , the Wintergreen Witch, Fe Fo the Giant and Santa Claus.

Episodes began at Thanksgiving and ended at Christmas, with one episode airing each night. The show was created by a group of merchants as an advertising promotion, and was recorded in only a few weeks. It was produced by Lindsay MacHarrie, who also provided the voice of Westley the Whale and several other characters.

The voice of the Cinnamon Bear was Buddy Duncan, a little person. Several other notable radio voices lent their talents, including Verna Felton (as Jimmy and Judy's mother), Joseph Kearns (as the Crazyquilt Dragon), Lou Merrill (as Santa Claus), Howard McNear (as Slim Pickings the Cowboy and Samuel the Seal), Elvia Allman (as Penelope Pelican), Frank Nelson (Captain Tintop), Rosa Barcelo (Queen Melissa) and Gale Gordon (Weary Willie the Stork and Oliver Ostrich). Asian-American actress Barbara Jean Wong played Judy. The voice of Jimmy was unrecorded but is believed by some to be Walter Tetley.) The story and all the songs were written in six weeks time by Glan Heisch, aided by his wife, Elisabeth Heisch. He was specifically directed to create something in the style of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.


This collection of "The Cinnamon Bear" radio programs features 26 shows on 1 compact disc. Each episode is presented in the .mp3 format. There are almost 7 hours of entertaining "The Cinnamon Bear" programs.

The CD is labeled and provided in a highly protective jewel case. A list of the programs on the disc as well as the date the program originally aired (if known) is also provided.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR EQUIPMENT WILL PLAY MP3 FORMATTED FILES BEFORE PURCHASING THIS ITEM.

IT IS ULTIMATELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER TO ENSURE THAT HIS OR HER EQUIPMENT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE MP3 FORMAT.


A note concerning sound quality. The sound quality for the shows in this collection is very good to good. It is difficult to find perfect recordings from the golden age of radio due to the equipment used for recording and the fact that many of the recordings were made 60, 70 or even 80 years ago.

Episode Listing for The Cinnamon Bear programs included in this collection:

Episode 1: Jimmy and Judy write letters to Santa. The Silver Star is missing and the children go up to the attic to find it. They meet Paddy O’ Cinnamon who tells them the Crazy Quilt Dragon took the Star to Maybeland.

Episode 2: Paddy shows the kids how to de-grow so they can follow the Crazy Quilt Dragon to the Lollipop Mountains. They climb into Paddy’s Soda Pop Airplane and fly through the tunnel.

Episode 3: Feeling remorseful for drinking their soda pop and stranding them in Looking Glass valley without fuel, Weary Willie the Stork, fly’s them out on his back. They catch Crazy Quilt but he drops the Silver Star in Root Beer Ocean.

Episode 4: Captured by the Inkaboos; King Blotto is insulted and sentences them to die in the Immense Inkwell.

Episode 5: Crazy Quilt comes to the rescue. They escape to Root Beer Ocean and see the Silver Star floating in Root Beer Ocean.

Episode 6: Wesley the Whale swallows the Silver Star. Samuel Seal recovers the Star from Wesley the Wailing Whale only to have Penelope the Pelican carry it off.

Episode 7: Presto the Magician pulls Penelope the Pelican from his hat. The children learn that she dropped the Silver Star on the Island of Obie.

Episode 8: The Candy Pirates, Captain Taffy and his men capture the kids.

Episode 9: The children meet the Rolly Poly Policeman. Crazy Quilt runs off with the star.

Episode 10: The Cinnamon Bear disappears! Professor Whiz tells them about the Wintergreen Witch. The kids follow Crazy Quilt into the Picture Forest where they meet Fraidy Cat.

Episode 11: Fee Foe, the gentle giant invites the children to lunch.

Episode 12: Jimmy & Judy encounter the Rhyming Rabbit on their way back to the Wintergreen Witch’s house.

Episode 13: The Wintergreen Witch tries to steal the star and change the kids into mice. They get away. Crazy Quilt sits on the Silver Star and breaks it.

Episode 14: They visit Queen Melissa of Maybeland to repair the Silver Star

Episode 15: The kids learn that they can only read Melissa’s magic instructions in total darkness which only occurs in the Wishing Woods. On the way they meet Snapper Snick, the Crooning Crocodile, who swallows the instructions.

Episode 16: Snapper Snick explains that he reads by eating and that’s how he is able to read in the dark. The instructions send them to the Wishing Well. On the way they meet Oliver Ostrich who eats alarm clocks. Oliver directs them to the Wishing Well where Paddy falls in.

Episode 17: They use their one wish to get Paddy out of the well. The star is still broken and they encounter the Muddlers and the River of mud.

Episode 18: Slim Pickens and Cocklerburr Cowboys of the Purple Plain come to the rescue.

Episode 19: The Kids are being chased by Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, a wooden Indian who wants Crazy Quilt’s pelt for his girlfriend, Manny Happy Returns. Judy trades her looking glass to him instead. After he leaves, they encounter the Wintergreen Witch again in the Golden Grove.

Episode 20: The Grand Wonky arrives in the nick of time to banish the Wintergreen Witch to Looking Glass Valley. The children find the Flying Hat with a mysterious note attached to it, while searching for the Singing Trees.

Episode 21: The Flying Hat carries the gang to the Land of Ice and Snow to get the star fixed. They meet Nicki Froodle, an elf who takes them to Santa.

Episode 22: Santa welcomes the kids and introduces them to Jack Frost who repairs the Silver Star only to have it vanish again.

Episode 23: Santa orders the Tin Soldiers after the Bad Dolls, who stole the Silver Star, to see that it is returned.

Episode 24: The Wintergreen Witch aids the Bad Dolls and defeat the Tin Soldiers. Santa orders out reinforcements.

Episode 25: Captain Tintop tells how they defeated the Wintergreen Witch. The group goes to a grand banquet hosted by Santa. Crazy Quilt once again runs off with the Silver Star.

Episode 26: Crazy Quilt heads for the North Pole. Santa, Jimmy, Judy and Nicki Froodle give chase. They catch Crazy Quilt and tickle him to give up the Silver Star. They wake up in the attic in time to decorate the Christmas Tree.

IMPORTANT NOTE!: The CD presented for sale contains radio programs recorded and preserved in the MP3 audio format. The MP3 format allows for audio compression and can allow the storage of over 50 hours of audio per CD. The MP3 format is compatible with many newer DVD and portable CD players, as well as MP3 players. The MP3 format is also playable on Windows based computers using Real Player, Windows Media Player or other players.

Attention EBay: After a careful search of the Library of Congress and the United States Trademark and Patent Office, it has been determined that the programs listed for sale here are in the Public Domain. They are being offered with the understanding that no valid or active copyright, trademark, and/or patent exist for them. These recordings are sold for private home listening and use only. No broadcast rights are stated, implied, or given. Historical Media assumes no responsibility for unauthorized use of these programs. The Library Of Congress has ruled that old radio broadcasts are within the Public Domain, since they were not qualified for copyright protection when presented, nor was any attempt to place them under such copyright protection when the opportunity existed in 1978-1979 when the copyright law regarding these programs was revised. Radio shows created before January 1, 1978 are protected by the Copyright Act of 1909. These shows are listed in accordance with current EBay policies concerning selling Old Time Radio Public Domain materials.

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