Off to Hollywood

Father Pat was eager to reach five million people with his message of the importance of family rosary prayer. With the help of Father Woods of Albany, Fr. Peyton began a radio program reaching thousands with Rosary prayer. This emboldened him to go to New York to seek a program on national radio. He persuaded a non-Christian woman from the Mutual Broadcasting System that his program would be just what American families needed. She agreed to give him the time if he could come up with a big Hollywood star to be on the show. Read More »

Off to Hollywood

Father Pat was eager to reach five million people with his message of the importance of family rosary prayer. With the help of Father Woods of Albany, Fr. Peyton began a radio program reaching thousands with Rosary prayer. This emboldened him to go to New York to seek a program on national radio. He persuaded a non-Christian woman from the Mutual Broadcasting System that his program would be just what American families needed. She agreed to give him the time if he could come up with a big Hollywood star to be on the show.

Our Lady guided the nervous priest as he made a cold call to Bing Crosby, the famous Hollywood singer. Fr. Pat’s sincerity convinced Bing to be on the program. On May 13, 1945 families all over the country heard a program like no other featuring Cardinal Spellman of New York, the President, Harry Truman, Bing Crosby and the parents and sister of the Sullivan family of Iowa leading the Rosary. Five brothers from that family had lost their lives when their ship went down in the war. Fr. Peyton finished the program with an impassioned plea for families to pray the Rosary together for peace. The program garnered the biggest following of any in the Mutual Broadcasting System to date. People wanted more!

Hollywood fell in love with the “Rosary priest,” beginning with its biggest star, Loretta Young. Hearing Fr. Peyton express his vision to use the new media to reach millions, Raymond Burr, Jimmy Stewart, Rosaline Russell, Ann Blythe, Danny Thomas, Lucille Ball, and hundreds of big stars came to see Fr. Pat as their chaplain of sorts. The Family Theater Productions became a reality in 1947 and a star-studded radio program of inspirational dramas ran for 22 years! “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together” became the famous motto! TV and film were to follow as the Catholic media pioneer matured along with Hollywood. Today, Family Theater Productions continues Fr. Peyton's mission through evangelizing and inspiring the world via the media and internet reaching young and old around the world.


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