Another nod to the Algonquinites, this time George S. Kaufmann and Ring Lardner. Welles basically turns the show over to Jack Benny (Fred), and takes most of the evening off (obviously, preparations for "Citizen Kane" were beginning to pick up steam). Welles returned the favor a couple years later when Benny got sick. There is some funny banter between the two at the beginning, though, and I believe this was the only Campbell Show that was done before a live audience. This program also features Gus Schilling, who would have a cameo in almost all of Welles's Hollywood films, as the songwriting partner Paul.Plot: Fred Stevens, a young aspiring lyricist journeys from Schenectady to New York City, hoping to make a name for himself in the world of song publishing and night clubs. On the train he meets dental assistant Edna Baker, and the two embark upon a friendship that evolves into love for her and fondness for him. Fred takes a shine to his composer partner Paul's glamorous, gold-digging sister-in-law Eileen as the two men sell a song to a music publisher and it develops into a hit.
Available to listen to, in pretty good sound, at Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOT3OCpUdcI
"June Moon" was filmed only once, in 1931, with Francis Dee, a two-time Campbell co-star. The original Broadway production featured Norman Foster as Fred, and ran for nearly 300 performances.
