John Van Druten's gratifyingly sentimental play shows how Mama, with the help of her husband and Uncle Chris, brings up the children in their modest San Francisco home during the early years of the 20th century. Mama, a sweet and capable manager, sees her children through childhood, manages to educate them, and helps one of her daughters begin her career as a writer. Mama's sisters and uncle furnish a rich background for a great deal of comedy and a little incidental tragedy, while the doings of the children keep everyone in pleasant turmoil.
I Remember Mama premiered on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in New York City on 19 October 1944, starring Mady Christians, Richard Biship, Joan Tetzel and Oscar Homolka.