The Last Chair|David Niven Radio Drama

In this sketch from February 17, 1946 episode of Request Performance, a world-class violinist (David Niven) gets a tip that his missing Stradivarius is in the room of a poor musician (Eddie Cantor) who got his break.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, are you Adam Graham?

Speaker 2 (00:02):
The very same and this is my old time radio
snack wagon.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Welcome to the Old Time Radio snack Wagon, where we
serve up a bite sized portion of old time radio.
And now here's your snack wagon, host Adam Graham.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Today's snack comes from a post World War II program
that was inspired by wartime efforts. Of course, many things
that were first used in World War Two later worked
their way into American domestic life, So why couldn't it

(00:46):
be like that in entertainment During the war. With Hollywood
fully supporting and embracing the war effort, and most Hollywood
stars both willing and acted to do their bet in entertainment,
the Armed Forces Radio Service had multiple Requests series where

(01:09):
the best and brightest of the entertainment industry would serve
up what was requested in letters sent in by American
service personnel. Programs that featured this format in one form
or another included GI Journal and Mail Call, but the

(01:30):
most famous of these was Command Performance, which we played
a clip of earlier in the season. With the sponsorship
of Campbell's Soup, CBS tried to adapt this wartime format
to a domestic audience with its series Request Performance. The
program's first hostess Francis Langford, called it the first post

(01:55):
war radio program, and like Command Performance, it brought together
some interesting acts and combination as well as some much
desired performers. One such performer was the great English actor
David Nivin, and we're going to listen to a little
bit of his appearance in a sketch called The Last

(02:17):
Chair from February seventeenth, nineteen forty six.

Speaker 3 (02:23):
Thank you everybody.

Speaker 4 (02:25):
You know, it's wonderful to read your let us to
rest performance, especially when you ask for the things we
want most to do. Just a few weeks ago, one
of Hollywood's favorite citizens came back from sixty years of
overseas service.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
We meet that.

Speaker 5 (02:37):
Fine young British actor, David Nivin. I'm glad to see
him back again.

Speaker 3 (02:49):
Huh, Thank you very much everybody. Oh David, welcome back
to Hollywood. You've been away a long time, Dave, David.

Speaker 4 (02:56):
I hear that over there on the other side you
covered quite a bit of territory.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yes, we had to.

Speaker 4 (03:01):
You know, they say the sun never sets on the
British Empire.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
In twenty four hours, the sun never sets on British character.

Speaker 6 (03:07):
Oh that's nothing.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Twenty four years the son has never said in the
Canton dinner tables.

Speaker 4 (03:12):
Ah, but David, take your time, take your time, and
now request performance sends you. One of our most popular features,
the scenario in a Nutshell, requested this week by James A.
Colin of Cookland, the capital of America.

Speaker 6 (03:39):
The Last Chair, starring Eddie candor Is, George Alcaide and
David Niven as the world famous British violinist Emrie Thomas.

Speaker 3 (03:56):
This violin's impossible. We won't do it all, but mister
Thomas play it magnificently. The tone isn't there, just isn't
good enough for my first concert here in America. Of course,
it's not as good as your strata various. Who is it?

Speaker 6 (04:08):
Warpton Davis, the New York Pollie, Come in, captain, mister Thomas,
I think we got to lead.

Speaker 3 (04:13):
We may have found your stolen violin excellent. Where is it?

Speaker 6 (04:16):
We traced it to a second hand music dealer who
sold it to a man named George Lka.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
Well that's splendid, Captain. I just about giving up hope
of getting it back.

Speaker 6 (04:23):
In time for tonight's concert. Of course, it might be
a mistake. You'll have come along to identify it. You
can't identify my own strativirus. All I had to do
is feel it in my hands. Is no other violin
like it in the world. I'll know it instantly. This

(04:47):
is the address, all right, George lkad first floor, rear.

Speaker 3 (04:51):
Di lapidated looking place. Captain, we will arrest the man immediately.

Speaker 6 (04:56):
Well, first, we have to make sure it's your violin.
We can't run risk of a false arrest. In that case,
let me go in alone. I'll call you of this mind.
I'll be waiting out here in the hall. Yes, mister

(05:18):
l k that's my name. I happened to hear your
violin and I wanted hope you noticed the tone. Well, yes,
come in, sir. You a violinist, Yes I am. Oh,
then you'll appreciate the workmanship in this violin. Look at
it the rich finish the curve of the fingerboard, and listen.

Speaker 7 (05:37):
Listen to it. You know, never before could I make
a violin sound like that. Tell me where did you
get it? Wasn't I fortunate? My friend mister Zerkin, he
runs a secondhand music shop over on Third Avenue. I
was walking by his place last night, and he called

(05:58):
to me, mister Lait, I have a fiddle to show you.
I went into his shop, and as soon as I
felt this violin against my shoulder, I knew I must
have it. It took all my savings. It's a very
old and very expanse violin. Cut your fingers to the
sounding board lightly. How warm it is? Yes, I know

(06:19):
almost alive.

Speaker 3 (06:20):
Would you mind if I played it? Well, I just
a few measures. You will be careful with it. I'm
sure there's no other violin in the world like it.
There's no question about that. But go ahead, if you want,
you may play it a little. Thank you. You play

(06:43):
very well. Thank you.

Speaker 7 (06:44):
Perhaps I could put in a word for you with
my concert master. I don't know him very well, but
I think you should hear you you have talent.

Speaker 3 (06:53):
What orchestra are you with?

Speaker 7 (06:54):
Well, I just got the job to day, and I'm
sure it was this violin that did it. They have
turned me down so many times before, but when they
heard me this time, I got the job. So this
is my opening night, you might say, at last to night,
I am playing with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall.

(07:15):
You are Oh, yes, a very important concert.

Speaker 3 (07:18):
I am. I am going to accompany the.

Speaker 7 (07:21):
Famous British violist Emery Thomas.

Speaker 3 (07:24):
I look for you at the concert. Where will you
be sitting?

Speaker 7 (07:26):
I have the last chair in the second violin session.
It's not the most important position in the orchestra, of course,
but it is the Philharmonic for.

Speaker 5 (07:36):
An old man.

Speaker 3 (07:37):
This is the dream of a lifetime come true. You
are a musician. You understand, Yes, I understand more than
I can tell you. Good Bye is sharcade and success
on your opening night. Good Bye my friend.

Speaker 6 (07:53):
Well, mister Thomas, what about it?

Speaker 3 (07:55):
Was it? Your fellow captain?

Speaker 6 (07:56):
I you just say a word and I'll get it
back for him.

Speaker 3 (08:01):
You were mistaken. That violin belongs to mister.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
K Welcome back. Well a dramatic role for Eddie Canter,
But I think cantor in a dramatic part really does

(08:29):
best in a sort of melodrama like this was the music, really,
I think was the star of the sketch and carries
a lot of emotional weight. Credit belongs to Lee Stevens
and his orchestra for doing a great job on that request.
Performance would only last a couple more months, airing its

(08:52):
last episode at Easter time. However, during its brief time
on the air, it produced some interesting program bringing together
combinations and performances unlike anything you'd hear on radio, at
least outside of the AFRs. It's time for me to
close up the Old Snackwagon, but don't worry. We'll be

(09:13):
back with another serving of old time radio goodness before
you know it. If you want to enjoy some of
our longer form podcast, you can feast away at my
website at Great Detectives dot net. Your emails are also
welcome at Adam at snackwagon dot net.

Speaker 1 (09:31):
The Old Time Radio Snackwagon comes to you from Boise, Idaho.
Your host is Adam Graham. Sound production is by Ryn's
Media LLC. You can listen to past episodes of the
Old Time Radio Snackwagon as well as connect on social
media at our website at snackwagon dot net. Email suggestions

(09:51):
for episodes to Adam at snackwagon dot net. This has
been the Old Time Radio Snackwagon.

Speaker 2 (10:09):
Until next time. Goodbye,