Your eyes--they are like limpid pools!

January 9, 2009 10:52 PM

WooTube Filter: Who was the radio Romeo who romanced ladies over the airwaves in the 1930s (or thereabouts)?

There are a few pop culture references to a radio show featuring a man on the radio pitching sweet, sweet woo to his rapt female listening audience.

One such reference is in this Popeye cartoon where Olive Oyl is entranced by "the International". Another is a scene in the movie of Annie (can't find a YouTube clip) where the drunken orphanage matron, Miss Hannigan, is shown having a smoldering romantic conversation--until the male voice is revealed to be coming from the radio.

Annie was set during the Depression, and the YouTube link claims that the Popeye episode was made in '56. This seems to have been a well-known pop culture phenomenon, enough to inspire parody...

Who was that silver-tongued devil, what was the name of his show, and are they available to hear online...?

....and now kiss me--as only you can!!

posted by Sublimity to Society & Culture (4 answers total)

Best answer: Well, in the 1950s there was the television wooer Renzo Cesana as The Continental. Different decade and different medium, I know, but just thought I'd throw it out there.
posted by crapmatic at 11:00 PM on January 9, 2009

Best answer: Yup. It's The Continental. We had an FPP about the show a little over a year ago.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 11:28 PM on January 9, 2009

Best answer: If you want a listen, this cartoon says the monologue is done by Renzo Cesana.
posted by marsha56 at 12:21 AM on January 10, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks! It is to swoon!
posted by Sublimity at 3:37 PM on January 10, 2009