From a 1941 Decca release, Clayton “Bud” Collyer reprises his radio role as Superman. The Daily Planet newspaper sponsors a toy drive for needy children after Superman learns of Billy Connelly, a young boy who is unable to afford anything for Christmas. At the same time, the man of steel deals with a rich and ungrateful child as well as Doctor Grouch and Mister Meaney who are causing havoc at Santa Claus’ North Pole workshop.

Eve Arden stars as Connie Brooks, a Madison High School English teacher, who is always trying to gain the attention of bashful biology teacher Phillip Boynton (Jeff Chandler). In this episode, “The Magic Christmas Tree,” Miss Brooks seems destined to spend Christmas Eve alone. Other cast members include Gale Gordon as Principal Osgood Conklin and Richard Crenna as student Walter Denton.

Lionel Barrymore plays Ebenezer Scrooge in this 1939 Mercury Theater on the Air production of Charles Dicken’s timeless story, “A Christmas Carol.” Radio listeners closely identified Barrymore with the grouchy character since he performed the role almost every Christmas between 1934 and 1953. He passed away Nov. 15, 1954 — a month before what would have been his 18th appearance as Scrooge on radio.

Maureen O’Hara, John Payne and Edmund Gwenn, stars of the classic 20th Century Fox 1947 movie, return for this radio adaptation. In the story, Macy’s founder Rowland H. Macy insists a man named Kris Kringle (Gwenn) play Santa Claus in the store even as another store manager tries to have Kringle committed for believing he is the one and only Santa Claus.

Jimmy Stewart returns as George Bailey in this radio adaptation of the 1948 movie. When Stewart regrets ever being born, his guardian angel grants his wish on Christmas Eve. Besides Stewart, others appearing are Donna Reed as Mary Hatch, Victor Moore as Clarence, Bill Johnstone as Mr. Bailey, John McIntire as Joseph, Leo Cleary as Uncle Billy, Edwin Maxwell as Potter and Janet Scott as Mother.

In “Miracle for Christmas,” Mason Adams stars as Mac, a bitter ambulance driver who must work on Christmas Eve. Adams later became well known for his television roles as Managing Editor Charlie Hume on Lou Grant, United States president in Omen III: The Final Conflict and the voice of Smucker’s jam in commercials (“With a name like Smucker’s, it has to be good!”)

Host Ralph Edwards helps a paralyzed soldier spend time with friends back in his hometown on Christmas thanks to the magic of radio. This heartwarming program is as timely as ever and — a warning — it is a tear jerker. Truth or Consequences, a quiz show, aired on radio between 1940 and 1957. A television version aired between 1950 and 1988.