← The Other Dial

1947–1953 · CBS

Let's Pretend

The fairy tale, performed by children, for twenty-four years

Nila Mack's rule was that children's parts were played by children, and that a fairy tale should be performed as seriously as a Shakespeare. For twenty-four years the CBS company came in on Saturday mornings and did exactly that — Bluebeard, Rumpelstiltskin, the Snow Queen — with a full orchestra and no winking at the adults in the room. It won every award American broadcasting had, and it is the reason a whole generation of American actors learned to work a microphone before they turned twelve.

74 broadcasts · 10 years held · New York

Surviving broadcasts of the CBS Saturday morning series, sponsored for most of its run by Cream of Wheat. Recordings held by the Internet Archive.

19426

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Why the Sea is Salty

22 Aug 1942 · 29 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Little Mermaid

29 Aug 1942 · 29 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Elves and the Shoemaker

5 Sep 1942 · 30 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Water of Life

12 Sep 1942 · 29 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Prince Gigi and the Magic Ring

19 Sep 1942 · 29 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

House of the World Christmas Special

26 Dec 1942 · 29 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

19432

Let's Pretend

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King Midas and the Golden Touch

23 Jan 1943 · 26 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Princess Moonbeam

20 Mar 1943 · 29 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

19441

Let's Pretend

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Frog Prince

5 Mar 1944 · 26 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

19464

Let's Pretend

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The Yellow Dwarf

27 Jul 1946 · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Goose Girl

3 Aug 1946 · 18 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Story of Faithful John

10 Aug 1946 · 24 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Jack and the Beanstalk

26 Oct 1946 · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

194718

Let's Pretend

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Six Swans

7 Jun 1947 · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Let's Pretend Six Swans

7 Jun 1947 · 24 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Let's Bluebeard

21 Jun 1947 · 20 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Bluebeard

21 Jun 1947 · 18 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Thumb Eli Na

28 Jun 1947 · 26 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Let's Brothe Rand Sister

5 Jul 1947 · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Brother and Sister

5 Jul 1947 · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Brave Little Tailor

12 Jul 1947 · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Let's the Chinese Nigh Tin

26 Jul 1947 · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Chinese Nightingale

26 Jul 1947 · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Youth Who Learned to Shiver and Shake

16 Aug 1947 · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Melilot

23 Aug 1947 · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Muffled Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

30 Aug 1947 · 21 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Twelve Months

6 Sep 1947 · 20 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Donkey the Table and the Stick

13 Sep 1947 · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Let's the Enchanted Frog

20 Sep 1947 · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Enchanted Frog

20 Sep 1947 · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Cinderella

27 Sep 1947 · 20 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

19495

Let's Pretend

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The Prin

3 Apr 1949 · 31 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Princess and the Pea

3 Apr 1949 · 31 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarves

16 Apr 1949 · 31 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Tinderbox

9 Jul 1949 · 31 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Rapunzel

6 Aug 1949 · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

19524

Let's Pretend

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King Thrush Beard

21 Jun 1952 · 26 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The White Cat

16 Aug 1952 · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

One Eye Two Eyes Three Eyes

29 Nov 1952 · 20 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Husband Who Was to Mind the House

27 Dec 1952 · 27 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

19533

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Ceres and Proserpina

28 Nov 1953 · 24 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Snow Queen

12 Dec 1953 · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Twas the Night Before Christmas

19 Dec 1953 · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

19549

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Robin Hood

9 Jan 1954 · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Magic Cuckoo

10 Apr 1954 · 27 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Beauty and the Beast

5 Jun 1954 · 26 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Ondine

19 Jun 1954 · 28 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

1109 from Vinyl Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

4 Sep 1954 · 24 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Dick Witting Ton and His Cat Record

25 Sep 1954 · 24 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

King Arthur

2 Oct 1954 · 27 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Hansel and Gretel

9 Oct 1954 · 24 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Let's Pretend Jorinda & Joringle

23 Oct 1954 · 29 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Undated reels22

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Beauty and the Bea

Date unknown · 28 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Cinderella 4709

Date unknown · 20 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Jack and the Beans

Date unknown · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Jorinda and Joringal Muffled

Date unknown · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Kin Garth Urs Son

Date unknown · 27 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Let's Xxx Xxx One Eye Two Ey Esth Re

Date unknown · 20 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Mellalot Strea

Date unknown · 24 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Night Be Fo Rec Hr I

Date unknown · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Pus Sand Boots S

Date unknown · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Record Puss in Boots

Date unknown · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Robin Hood

Date unknown · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Six Swans

Date unknown · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Snow Queen

Date unknown · 23 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

The Juniper Tree

Date unknown · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Tinder Box Th

Date unknown · 31 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Uncle Bill Interview

Date unknown · 33 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Whitecat 52 08

Date unknown · 25 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Xxxxxx Emperors New Clothes the Beginning Missing

Date unknown · 20 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Xxxxxx Golden Fleece the Uncle Ted Earlier Show 40s

Date unknown · 19 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Xxxxxx Magic Carpet the

Date unknown · 26 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Xxxxxx Muffled Douban the Physician

Date unknown · 26 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.

Let's Pretend

Let's Pretend cover art

Xxxxxx Sleeping Beauty Uncle Ted

Date unknown · 21 min

Let's Pretend, CBS. Recording held by the Internet Archive; public domain.