The Gift of the Magi (radio)

“The Gift of the Magi” is a radio program from the American radio anthology series Radio Tales. The anthology series adapted classic works of American and world literature for the radio. The series was a recipient of numerous awards, including four Gracie Allen Awards from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (in 2004, [ [http://www.awrt.org/press-releases/2004/Press_Release_%20Announce_Winners.pdf "AWRT Press Release"] AWRT.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2003, [ [http://www.npr.org/about/press/030402.gracie.html "NPR Productions Win Gracie Allen Awards"] NPR.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] 2001, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011126020253/www.awrt.org/awards/2000GracieWinners.html "2001 Gracie Allen Award Winners"] AWRT.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and 1998), a New York Festivals WorldMedal, [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20050207122048/http://www.newyorkfestivals.com/res/pdf/2004RPwinners.pdf "2004 Winners, Radio Programming and Promotion, New York Festivals"] NewYorkFestivals.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] and a Golden Reel Merit Award. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20010802161539/www.nfcb.org/2001reelsinfo.html "NFCB Announces 2001 Golden Reel Award Winners"] NFCB.org, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed March 21, 2008.] “The Gift of the Magi" program from the Radio Tales series was an adaptation of the classic short story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry.

Broadcast History

The Radio Tales production of “The Gift of the Magi” was first broadcast via NPR on December 24, 1996 [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1996". NPR Marketing, Vol. II, No. IV] . The program encompassed one half-hour installment that was distributed to NPR member stations as part of the NPR Playhouse cultural series. Since November 28th, 2002, the entire Radio Tales series has aired in reruns on the Sonic Theater channel (163) of the XM Satellite Radio service [ [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/features/sonictheater.xmc "Sonic Theater"] XMRadio.com. Accessed May 22, 2008.] .

Production Information

The program was produced and script edited by series producer Winnie Waldron, who also served as the on-air host [ [http://www.winifredphillips.com/wp_bio.html "Winifred Phillips Official Site: Biography"] Winifredphillips.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.] . Composer Winifred Phillips created over twenty-eight minutes of music for the program, and also performed as the featured actress [ [http://www.mninter.net/~jstearns/nprPH.html#top "NPR Playhouse - January - March, 2001"] MNinter.net. Accessed March 21, 2008.] . “The Gift of the Magi” was part of the first year of Radio Tales on NPR Playhouse [National Public Radio: "NPR Quarterly Edition Fall 1996". NPR Marketing, Vol. II, No. IV] .

Media

The Radio Tales production of “The Gift of the Magi” was published on audiocassette by Durkin Hayes Publishing Ltd in 1996 as a part of its “Paperback Audio” line (ISBN 0886468981) [ [http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Magi-Hles-American-Masters/dp/0886468981/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216515370&sr=8-1 "Amazon.com: The Gift of the Magi"] Amazon.com. Accessed July 19, 2008.] , to coincide with the broadcast premiere of the program via National Public Radio. Since that time, the Radio Tales production of “The Gift of the Magi” has been available in numerous formats and venues, including burn-on-demand CDs manufactured and distributed by MP3.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20031129193548/artists.mp3s.com/artists/33/npr_radio_tales.html "MP3.com: Radio Tales"] MP3.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] and Ampcast.com [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212003627/http://www.ampcast.com/music/25229/artist.php "Ampcast.com: Radio Tales"] Ampcast.com, as indexed by the Internet Archive at Archive.org. Accessed July 15, 2008.] . Beginning in 2005, programs from the series, including “The Gift of the Magi” program, have been available for download via the Audioville.co.uk web site [ [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=527&ProductCategoryId=59 "audioVille | Stor>>Fiction | Radio Tales | Download Audio Books, Podcasts and more in MP3. Comedy, Fiction, sport, news, science, drama."] Audioville.co.uk. Accessed July 19, 2008.] .

Critical Reception

"The Gift of the Magi" program from the Radio Tales series has received favorable reviews. In reviewing the series' production of O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi", Midwest Book Review wrote, "Year-round listeners will relish this gentle story of a loving couple's seasonal sacrifices... Winifred Phillips provides the spirited dramatic reading." [James A. Cox: "Midwest Book Review". The Audio Bookshelf, 1997/02/08] In his review of the Radio Tales production of "The Gift of the Magi" for Midwest Record Recap, reviewer Chris Spector wrote, "And as we sail through the shake out of the greed driven times with the bills coming due, can this O. Henry tale not get as much play as "Wonderful Life"?!" [Midwest Record Rec
]

Opening narration

Plot Summary

The story is told from the perspective of Della, the devoted wife of James Dillingham Young, and the possessor of the most beautiful hair anyone had ever seen. The only other treasure belonging to the Youngs that could possibly compare was the elegant gold watch which had been Jim’s father’s and his grandfather’s, and now belonged to the man of the house. Other than these, the two young people have scant possessions and certainly not enough money to afford Christmas gifts. Nevertheless, to let a Christmas pass without giving her husband a present is more than Della can bear. After a few tears, she hurries off to sell her beautiful hair, and then joyfully buys a gorgeous fob chain for Jim’s prized watch. When Jim returns home, he is struck dumb for a moment by the sight of Della’s shorn locks, and by way of explanation presents her with the exquisite combs he had bought for her. After a few more tears, Della recovers her holiday spirit and shows Jim the splendid fob chain she had bought for him. But Jim only smiles; he had sold the watch so that he could afford to buy Della’s combs. O. Henry ends the story by recounting the tale of the Biblical Wise Men, who gave luxurious gifts to the babe in the manger, and then adds that these two young people, and all those like them, are the wisest of all.

References

External Links

* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view.php?Id=527&ProductCategoryId=59 The Gift of the Magi page on Audioville.co.uk]
* [http://www.radiotales.com/ The Official Radio Tales® Web Site]
* [http://www.audioville.co.uk/store/view_productcategory.php?Id=59 Radio Tales® Full Catalog on AudioVille]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=163 XM Satellite Radio's Sonic Theater Channel]