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CDs, DVDs and Casettes

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Stop in to view a variety of items that are ideal for gifts. Call 414-273-8288 for shipping information.

Billie the Brownie and His Friends - Cassettes, Vol. 1-3
Price: $20, set of 3, $10 each

Volume I - Broadcasts for Dec. 12, 1951; Dec. 15, 1950; Dec. 20, 1954; and Dec. 24 (unknown year).

Volume II - Interview with Larry Teich by Hugh Carlson, Dec. 24, 1974. Selected Stories: The Dream Train, Dec. 18, 1948; Barnaby, the Juggler, Dec. 11, 1948; Why The Christmas Tree is Always Green (no date); Charles and the Wooden Shoes, Dec. 4, 1948; Broadcast of Dec. 2, 1955, including the Pied Piper of Hamlin; Broadcast of Dec. 23, 1955, including the Star of Bethlehem.

Volume III - Broadcast in late December mid-1940s, including Why the Christmas Tree is Always Green; Broadcast of Dec. 23 (unknown year), including the Star of Bethlehem. Broadcast of Dec. 24 (unknown year), including The Night Before Christmas. Selected stories: A Boy, A Dog and the Christ Child and Sleeping Beauty (unknown dates); Story of Trimming Larry's Tree and the Little Fir Tree, Dec. 24 (unknown year).

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Billie the Brownie CD
Price: $14.99

Why the Christmas Tree is Always Green, Dec. 1943, 44 or 45; The Wonderful Train that Billie Built, Dec. 15, 1950; Special program with Santa's Chimney Practice, Dec. 20, 1954; The Star of Bethlehem, Dec. 23, 1955; The Christmas Program, Dec. 24, 1955 (the last program); Hugh Carlson interviews Larry Teich, Dec. 24, 1974.

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Who Was Billie the Brownie?

"Billie the Brownie" first appeared in advertisements in the late 1920s when Schuster's department stores created him to assist Santa Claus and to bring more shoppers to their toy departments. Full page advertisements and a newspaper column, written by Billie, kept young readers up to date on Santa's progress to Milwaukee for Schuster's holiday parade. Billie emerged on the radio scene in 1931 when Larry Teich, a WTMJ Radio children's programmer, reported on Santa's Christmas preparations at the North Pole.

Milwaukee's children faithfully gathered around the radio to hear Billie read their letters to Santa and share the latest update on Santa's arduous journey south to the Schuster’s Christmas parade. In those days, Santa's sleigh and team of reindeer were guided by Me-Tik, his Eskimo driver and pal of Billie the Brownie. Billie's daily 15-minute holiday show entertained Milwaukeeans until 1955 when the radio show ended, in part due to the growing popularity of television.

The original recordings of these programs were donated to the Historical Society by Ms. Doreen Griffiths Lo Cicero, the niece of Larry Teich who produced and wrote Billie's radio programs. Additional recordings on Vols. I and II were donated by Jack Baker and Hugh Carlson, and others. The first complete program on Vol. III was provided by Sari Cales Ross, the voice of Billie the Brownie from 1943 through 1945.

The Milwaukee County Historical Society is pleased to offer several of "Billie the Brownie" original radio programs in cassette or CD format.

The Making of Milwaukee DVD
Price: $34.95
This DVD was produced by and broadcast on Milwaukee WMPT, based on the book of the same title published by the Milwaukee County Historical Society. This five hour, three DVD tells Milwaukee's story.

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