The Witch's Tale - "Four Fingers And A Thumb" (10-19-37)

Four Fingers And A Thumb (Aired October 19, 1937)

John Dunning in his "On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio," relates the odd tale of getting the replacement for the original Nancy, Adelaide Fitz-Allen, who died at 79 in 1935. A radio veteran, only a mere 13 years old, Miriam Wolfe by name, was then on the fine children's program, Let's Pretend. Of course, she wasn't considered for the part. She stayed in the studio during a late-night broadcast by Witch's Tale writer/director, Alonzo Deen Cole, and began her "Nancy" without warning. Cole was so chilled by her mimicry of an ancient crone that she got the part on the spot. Later in the show's run, the role was taken by Martha Wentworth.

 

THIS EPISODE:

October 19, 1937. Program #2. MacQuarrie (Australian) syndication. "Four Fingers and A Thumb". Commercials added locally. Old Nancy is 117 years old today. The hand of a dead Chinaman returns to haunt its killer. The story was subsequently produced on The Star Spangled Theater on August 3, 1941. The date of the Australian production is approximate; and the program may have been syndicated by Artransa. The script is similar to "The Witch's Tale" program titled, "The Gypsy's Hand'. Alonzo Deen Cole (writer). 26:57. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.