Radio Program "The Romance of Helen Trent" Egyptian Medallion

BrianRxm

Coin Stories

10/17

An Egyptian Magic Coin and the 1946 motion picture "Duel in the Sun"

"The Romance of Helen Trent" was a popular American radio program or "radio soap opera" which ran weekdays on the CBS Radio Network from 1933 to 1960.

In 1948 one of the show's sponsors produced an Egyptian styled medallion which was sold or given to the program's listeners.

The medallion was based on an Egyptian Magic Coin medallion which actress Jennifer Jones wore in the 1946 film "Duel in the Sun."

Advertisements for the film were then embedded in the "Helen Trent" radio program.

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The Coin:

1. Helen Trent Promotional medallion

Silvered brass, 32 mm, 11.04 gm

Obverse: Cartoonish figure of Egyptian Pharaoh with hieroglyphs
Reverse: Cartoonish figure of Egyptian Sphinx and pyramids with hieroglyphs

The Story:

"The Romance of Helen Trent" was an American radio program or "radio soap opera" which ran weekdays from 1933 to 1960.

It told the story of the always 35-year old heroine and her continuing attempts to find the right man. One slogan used was "Can love come to a woman over 35?"

The show's daily opening:

And now, "The Romance of Helen Trent", the real-life drama of Helen Trent who, when life mocks her, breaks her hopes, dashes her against the rocks of despair, fights back bravely, successfully, to prove what so many women long to prove in their own lives: that because a woman is 35 or more romance in life need not be over; that the romance of youth can extend into middle life, and even beyond.

In 1948 one of the sponsors, Kolynos toothpaste and tooth powder, issued a silvered brass medallion as a promotion.

Life magazine photographer Herbert Gehr photographed the Helen Trent medallion in January of 1948 but the photograph was not used in the magazine but was kept in the files.

The photograph is now owned by Getty Images. It is now on their website under "Helen Trent medallion necklace."

The design on the Helen Trent medallion is similar to the Egyptian Magic Coin.

2. Egyptian Magic Coin

Gold colored bronze, 32 mm, 8.35 gm
Obverse: Egyptian Pharaoh seated on throne with hieroglyphs
Reverse: Egyptian Sphinx and four pyramids with hieroglyphs

Motion picture "Duel in the Sun" Egyptian Magic Coin promotion:

"The Romance of Helen Trent" has another connection to the Egyptian Magic Coin.

Early in 1947 Selznick International Pictures released the motion picture "Duel in the Sun."

The release was preceded by a massive $2,000,000 publicity campaign.

Life magazine's February 10, 1947 issue had an article on the publicity campaign along with a photograph of actress Ruth Roman surrounded by promotional items.

Giveaways for Duel publicity included light bulbs, paperweights, tiny parachutes, postcards, seeds, pencils, stickers, crossword puzzles, lollipops, matchbooks, typewriters, blotters, money clips, gin-rummy pads, telephone pads, ash trays.

Selznick starlets like Ruth Roman, who wears a Duel T-shirt, were not given away however.

Love that movie!

The film starred Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, and Walter Huston, all well-known 1940's film stars.

The film was a tremendous box office success partially due to the publicity campaign and attempts by various groups to censor or block the film.

A local preacher (Walter Huston) known as the "Sin Killer" gives the beautiful sexy Jennifer Jones an Egyptian Magic Coin as a medal which will protect her from "sin" and help her to be a "good girl."

3. The Sin Killer gives Jennifer the medal

Here. I want you to take this. It's a hallowed medal, and a good one. I took it off a thieving card sharper. But first I shrived him and sent him to the pearly gates as nice and pretty as any from his own faith could have done. You wear it, girl.

The medal is shown with close-up views of both sides.

4. The medal in the film, obverse and reverse

The film medal with the obverse and reverse edited together.

An Egyptian Magic Coin:

5. Egyptian Magic Coin similar to the one in the film

Silvered bronze, 32 mm, 9.90 gm

Obverse: Pharaoh seated on throne with hieroglyphs to the left and right
Reverse: Sphinx with four pyramids and sunburst behind them and with hieroglyphs below

There are many types of Egyptian Magic Coins but the one above appears to match the one in the film.

The reverse of the one above is slightly rotated from horizontal as is the one in the film.

Life magazine letter:

The Life magazine February 10 1947 article resulted in a letter sent to the magazine and published in the March 3, 1947 issue which mentioned the medal that Jennifer Jones wore in the film.

6. Jennifer Jones wearing her medal

The letter:

Sirs:

Your commentary on Duel in the Sun (Life, Feb. 10), though excellent, is incomplete.

Even the soap opera is currently engaged in increasing its own nuisance value through tie-ups with picture studios.

Helen Trent, from the soap opera of the same name, is the proud owner of a "medallion necklace."

Any acquaintance rash enough to pass a casual comment up on this bauble is instantly bombarded with the following:

"Oh do you like it i think its stunning too jennifer jones gave it to me it is an exact replica of the one she wears in the great new david o selznick technicolor production duel in the sun in the picture the necklace is given to jennifer to bring her good luck and it plays an important part in her exciting romances with joseph cotten and gregory peck."

Amy Margaret MacMellan Reno, Nev.

It is possible that Egyptian Magic Coins were manufactured to help publicize the film but no documentation is available as these items were privately made.

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