I've always loved old time radio and early television, (not to mention show business in general) and just yesterday came up with an idea set in just that era, as radio is on its way out and television is emerging.

The year is 1949. "The Trials Of Diana Trenton", once a hugely popular radio soap, has seen its ratings drop precipitously as its audience flocks to the new medium of TV. Inevitably, the ax falls, and the show is cancelled. In the middle of a cliffhanger, no less.

But hold on. Seems the network did that only because its sponsor wants to move the show to TV, with the hope of eventually regaining its lost audience. It plans to put on a big TV extravaganza which resolves the cliffhanger set up in the radio show.

There's one problem, though. They can't find an actress to play "Diana."

Why can't they simply use the actress who plays the character on radio, you ask? Simple--the "actress" happens to be a man.

The man in question is Jimmy Donnelly, onetime burlesque performer and occasional Irish tenor. He was born to do radio, though, since he's a killer impressionist and manages such an incredibly sexy voice as Diana that the radio show actually had male fans who wanted to date "her." The network reveled in the gimmick, broadcasting the show in an empty studio (as opposed to the practice of the time of doing it in front of a live audience). Therefore, nobody knows what "Diana" looks like, and the actors are sworn to secrecy.

The voice is so distinct and memorable, however, that none of the actresses they audition for the part can come close. It's clear that the show would be a bust if the actress doesn't match the audience's mental image of the character.

They consider having Jimmy speak into an off-camera mike while the actress mouths the words on camera, but what about personal appearances? Obviously they'd need another solution. Not to mention the fact that every potential actress balks at not being able to use her own voice.

By chance, the director takes a good look at Jimmy, who's just slight enough and baby-faced enough...

You guessed it. Jimmy gets talked into dressing female, which he can do quite well thanks to his years as a burlesque comic. When the show's an unexpected hit, he has to keep the ruse going, which he starts to enjoy. To the consternation of everyone who works with him, who think he's going too far.

I want to avoid the usual convention of the main character falling in love with the first cute guy "she" sees. I don't want to do a "Tootsie" thing either, in which Jimmy falls in love with a female cast member, but can't give away the ruse.

I'm considering doing an excerpt from this story as part of a future "Mixed Tape," with a mind to doing a more complete story should it prove popular.