Sandra Michael

Sandra Michael (born Anna Marie Mikkelsen; May 20, 1906 ) was an American writer—and sometimes host/announcer or actor —who had a relatively brief but high-profile career spent primarily in old-time radio, best known for creating ambitious daytime dramas (she disdained the term "soap opera"). Most notable among these was Against the Storm, which, in 1942, became the first and only daytime radio drama to ever win a Peabody Award.

Life and career Born in Denmark and raised in Lewistown, Montana and Chicago, Illinois, Michael was one of four children born to Jens Mikkelsen and Catherine Nørgård.

Looking back on her signature work, Against the Storm, in a series of articles written in 1948 for The New Yorker, James Thurber wrote, "Its success was immediate and, for a soap opera, phenomenal. [...] Its prose, often sensitive, occasionally poetic, was a startling change from the general run of factory-made wordage. So was its aware, realistic, and outspoken story. It was concerned with a college professor alive to the dangers of Fascism and plagued by the complacency and opposition of his colleagues. It became the only daytime serial ever to win one of the George Foster Peabody awards for radio excellence, given annually by the University of Georgia. 'Against the Storm' was canceled in 1942. The reason for its closing is still a controversial issue. The Michaels insist that pressure was brought to bear by the agency to make it more like a typical daytime show, and that Sandra asked that her contract be terminated. The agency contends that the plot ran its course in the first two years and that the serial then deteriorated into a series of charming vignettes peopled by interesting and worthy personalities, with just no story line left. At any rate, the large number of listeners this program had originally attracted began to decrease steadily, according to figures of the Crossley system of audience research subscribed to at that time by the sponsor of the show."

Personal life and death On September 10, 1935, Michael, as Anna Marie Mickelsen, married her future producer, John Geibish (aka Gibbs). They remained married until his death, on February 6, 1997.

On August 29, 2003, at age 97, Michael died of undisclosed causes in Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego County, California.

Works Radio + Year Title Role Notes 1935–? House Party Host 1938–? Valiant Lady Creator, writer 1938–1940 The Affairs of Anthony Creator, writer 1939— 1001 Wives Writer Alternating with writers Fayette Krum, Al Barker and William Hodapp 1939 The Story of Mary Marlin Writer Substituted that summer for the show's creator, a vacationing Jane Crusinberry. 1939–1942, 1949–1952 Against the Storm Creator, writer 1940 Lone Journey Creator, writer October 9, 1942 The Kate Smith ShowEp. "My Brother in Stalingrad" Writer With Margaret Webster, Selena Royle and Hester Sondergaard 1943–1944 The Open Door Creator, writer October 29, 1943 Who Is Charlie? Creator, writer Original half-hour radio drama produced by CBS to benefit the National War Fund, featuring Orson Welles as narrator. January 29, 1950 Unborn Child Creator, writer

Television + Year Title Role Notes May 25, 1953 Robert Montgomery Presents Original teleplay Episode, "All Things Glad and Beautiful" November 23, 1953 Robert Montgomery Presents Original teleplay Episode, "Harvest" February 22, 1954 Robert Montgomery Presents Adaptation Episode, "Land of Happiness" December 6, 1954 Robert Montgomery Presents Original teleplay Episode, "Fairyland Clinic" aka "Dr. Ed" March 1, 1955 Robert Montgomery Presents Original teleplay Episode, "Such a Busy Day Tomorrow" December 26, 1955 Robert Montgomery Presents Original teleplay Episode, "The Second Day of Christmas" August 6, 1956 Robert Montgomery Presents Original teleplay Episode, "Maybe Tomorrow"