Our Miss Brooks
Gale Gordon & Eve Arden
Our Miss Brooks - Listen to Episodes Below
Our Miss Brooks was a hit on radio from the outset; within eight months of its launch as a regular series, the show landed several honors, including four for Eve Arden.
The producer wanted Shirley Booth for the part, but realized Booth was too focused on the problem of teachers being underpaid to be able to have fun with the role.
Lucille Ball was the next choice, but she was already doing My Favorite Husband. It was CBS chairman Bill Paley who suggested Eve Arden.
Our Miss Brooks premiered on CBS radio on July 19, 1948. Its success was largely due to excellent writing and the chemistry between the cast members. There was the persecuted and love-starved Connie Brooks, the volatile school principal Mr. Conklin, the mischevious Walter Denton, the absentminded Mrs. Davis, and the naive science teacher Mr. Boynton.
The entire show became an instant hit with listeners.
Eve Arden won a major listeners’ poll as the number one comedienne of 1948-1949. She was also a hit critically: A winter poll taken in 1949 named her the year's best radio comedienne.
Our Miss Brooks remained popular on radio until 1957 – a year after it ended its run on television!