Why the Chimes Rang

"Why the Chimes Rang" is a 1909 children's book by Raymond MacDonald Alden, here adapted for a 1947 release on the RCA Victor label. It tells the story of mystical church chimes that had not rung for many years, and the sacrifice of a young boy on Christmas Eve that awakened the bells.

The RCA release features radio personality Ted Malone, whose specialty was reciting poetry and telling stories. Malone's soothing tones were reputedly the inspiration for the Ernie Kovacs character Percy Dovetonsils (a reference that no doubt will be meaningless to anyone but Americans of a certain age). Malone's talents are well suited to this material, as are the skills of organist Dick Leibert, who makes the Radio City Music Hall's mighty Wurlitzer stand in for a cathedral organ.

Ted Malone

I have included a PDF of the original book in the download. It is interesting to note the differences between the book and the adaptation. The story hinges on a boy named Pedro and his little brother finding an old woman in the snow. In the original, the boy tells his brother to go on ahead to the church but then to come back with help. That latter part is left off the records, leaving you to wonder if Pedro was planning to drag the poor old lady to shelter. Also, at the end of the story on the records, an angel appears to provide a moral to the story, which is left implicit in the book.

In all, a nice production. My copy is a bit worn, but the sound is still reasonably good. The download includes full scans, including two excellent illustrations found on the gatefold cover of this two-record set of 78s.