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Lux Radio Theater – Miracle On 34th Street, Maureen Ohara. 481220. Features Maureen Ohara in a Christmas classic for the whole family that tries to prove there is a Santa Claus.
The annual Macie’s parade is in full swing with the most realistic looking Santa ever found. The skeptical mom and daughter get ready for their Thanksgiving Day feast, and the store executives lay on the praises for the success of the parade.
The Santa offers help for parents find the toys they want, even if it means sending them to other rival stores. Susan, the daughter gets to visit with Santa, something that makes the mom upset with the new man who is trying to be part of her life. To prove her point she tries to make the Santa come clean, and tell Suzy that he isn’t really Santa. The interrogation is interupted when mom is called on the carpet about the Santa sending customers away. The top exec likes the idea, and the mom’s frustrations over Santa are put aside, for now.
Mom is still concerned that Santa is really a senile old man, and wants to have him tested. It’s just to protect the store from liabilities, should he do something dangerous. While mom worries, Santa is charming with everybody he meets. When Santa has a moment of confrontation with a store head, he ends up in a mental ward.
Fred, the new man in mom’s life, and a lawyer figures the best thing is to have publicity, not hide from it. And to put Santa on trial to have him legally declared sane, and Santa. It’s all to bring justice to the nice old man who is locked up, while nasty store execs are allowed to roam free.
Don’t miss the big climax when the courtroom drama puts Santa, and skeptical ideas on trial. Will personal and public opinion rule the day, or will the law find that Santa is insane? I won’t spoil the fun ending, so give it a listen. Mom and daughter have some of their hopes restored by the time the show is done.
