Golden Age of Radio Online
January-March 2015 Thursday 1-1-2015 Sherlock Holmes: New Year's Eve Off The Scilly Isles, 12/28/1947 Fibber McGee & Molly "A Quiet New Year's Day" 1/1/1954 Friday 1-2 The Adv. of Philip Marlowe "King In Yellow" 7/8/1947 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "The Perling Matter" Part 3, 6/20/1956 Saturday 1-3 Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show "Wrong Studio" 2/12/1950 Life With Luigi: Traffic Light - Part 1, 2/21/1950 Sunday 1-4 Life With Luigi: Traffic Light - Part 2 The Adventures of Nero Wolfe "Case of the Party For Death, 2/16/51 Monday 1-5 Judy Canova "First Rest Home Guest" 3/14/1944 Burns & Allen: New Year Day guest William Powell, Part 1, 2/1/1944 Tuesday 1-6 Burns & Allen: guest William Powell - Part 2 Candy Matson "The Movie Company" 9/11/1950 Wednesday 1-7 The Adv. of Frank Race "The Juvenile Passenger" 7/3/1949 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 5, 10/23/1946 Thursday 1-8 Lights Out "Bon Voyage" 11/10/1942 Night Editor "Uncle Billy's Witness" Friday 1-9 Nick Carter, Master Detective "The Wondering Corpse" 1/6/46 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "The Perling Matter" Pt 4, 6/21/56 Saturday 1-10 Our Miss Brooks "Driving School" 11/26/1950 Meet The Meeks: Family Gets A Son As School Project, Pt 1, 11/22/47 Sunday 1-11 Meet The Meeks: Family Gets A Son As School Project - Part 2 The Hermit's Cave "Spirit Vengeance" Monday 1-12 Bergen & McCarthy, guest Humphrey Bogart, 9/12/1943 Duffy's Tavern "Archie's Investments" 1/25/1946 Tuesday 1-13 Duffy's Tavern "Archie's Investments" Part 2 Dimension X "The Embassy" 6/3/1950 Wednesday 1-14 Whisperer "Hippity Hoppity" 7/22/1951 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 6, 10/24/1946 Thursday 1-15 Crime and Peter Chambers "Winston Carr" 8/24/1954 Lum 'n' Abner: Mousey Wants to Be New Teacher, 9/16/1942 Friday 1-16 The Whistler "Trademark" 1/28/1951 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "The Perling Matter" Part 5, 6/22/1956 Saturday 1-17 Gunsmoke "Custer" 11/21/1953 Have Gun, Will Travel "Fair Fugitive" 11/22/1959 Sunday 1-18 The Shadow "Island of the Devil" 1/8/1939 Shadow Documentary, Part 3 Monday 1-19 Burns & Allen: Society After George's Show, 1/17/1946 The Great Gildersleeve "The Haunted House" Part 1, 4/20/1949 Tuesday 1-20 The Great Gildersleeve "The Haunted House" Part 2 The Adv. of Sam Spade "The Tears of Night Caper" 7/24/1949 Wednesday 1-21 Boston Blackie "Joe Gates Murdered" 5/4/1949 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 7, 10/25/1946 Thursday 1-22 Red Skelton "All Night Disc Jockey" 5/7/1950 Couple Next Door: Sleeping in Your Guest Room, 1/14/1958 Friday 1-23 Mystery Is My Hobby "Murder Bound" Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: Tears of Night Matter, Pt 1, 5/21/56 Saturday 1-24 Escape "Present Tense" 1/31/1950 Blackstone, The Magic Detective "Phantom Intermezzo" 1/23/1949 Sunday 1-25 Tales of the Texas Rangers "Wild Crop" 11/18/1951 Behind The Mike "Dinah And The Truck Driver" 11/24/1940 Monday 1-26 Alan Young Show: Alan's Life Story, 2/20/1945 The Life of Riley: Old Man Riley - Part 1, 4/6/1951 Tuesday 1-27 The Life of Riley: Old Man Riley - Part 2 Broadway Is My Beat "Tom & Alice Corey Suicide Pact" 8/21/1950 Wednesday 1-28 Sherlock Holmes "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" 1/4/1948 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 8, 10/28/1946 Thursday 1-29 X Minus One "Inside Story" 6/20/1957 Suspense "Night Man" 7/26/1959 Friday 1-30 Philo Vance "One Cent Murder Case" 7/12/1949 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Tears of Night Matter" Pt 2, 5/22/56 Saturday 1-31 Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show "Frankie & The Flying Saucers" 4/2/50 Fibber McGee & Molly: Fibber's Eye Exam, Part 1, 4/15/1941 Sunday 2-1 Fibber McGee & Molly: Fibber's Eye Exam - Part 2 Inner Sanctum "Make Ready My Grave" 4/23/1946 Monday 2-2 It's Higgins, Sir: Mrs. Roberts Has a Car Accident, 7/17/1951 The Jack Benny Program, guest Bob Hope - Part 1, 1/11/1953 Tuesday 2-3 The Jack Benny Program - Part 2 Hopalong Cassidy: Rainmaker of Eagle Nest Mountain, 1/8/1950 Wednesday 2-4 The Adv. of Frank Race "The Embittered Secretary" 8/7/1949 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 9, 10/29/1946 Thursday 2-5 Lights Out "Meteor Man" 12/22/1942 Night Editor "Smoke Rings" Friday 2-6 This is Your FBI "Confidence Game" 5/4/1945 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Tears of Night Matter" Pt 3, 5/23/56 Saturday 2-7 Archie Andrews "Double Date" 10/19/1946 Meet The Meeks: Stray Puppy - Part 1, 11/8/1947 Sunday 2-8 Meet The Meeks: Stray Puppy - Part 2 Crime Classics: Lethal Habit of Marquis Debrinvilliers, 5/26/54 Monday 2-9 Burns & Allen "Love Potion" 6/22/1943 Life With Luigi: Pierto Needs an Overcoat - Part 1, 1/3/1950 Tuesday 2-10 Life With Luigi: Pierto Needs an Overcoat - Part 2 Molle Mystery Theatre "Solo Performance" 5/21/1948 Wednesday 2-11 Frontier Town "The Seminole Strip" 11/7/1952 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 11, 10/31/1946 Thursday 2-12 Crime and Peter Chambers: Old Man Krause News Stand, 5/11/1954 Lum 'n' Abner: Teacher Named Sloane, 9/17/1942 Friday 2-13 Gunsmoke "Cain" 10/3/1952 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Tears of Night Matter" Pt 4, 5/24/56 Saturday 2-14 Duffy's Tavern "Mystery Valentine" 2/9/1951 Fibber McGee & Molly "Valentine Candy" Part 1, 2/10/1942 Sunday 2-15 Fibber McGee & Molly "Valentine Candy" Part 2 Night Beat "The Old Itch" 7/3/1952 Monday 2-16 A Day in the Life of Dennis Day: Helps Get Fan Letters, 12/4/48 The Great Gildersleeve: Leila's Friend - Part 1, 10/21/1945 Tuesday 2-17 The Great Gildersleeve: Leila's Friend - Part 2 Adv. of the Thin Man "Case of the Suspicious Hangover, 10/6/44 Wednesday 2-18 The Shadow "Laughing Corpse" 3/10/1947 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 12, 11/1/1946 Thursday 2-19 The Whistler "The Hangtree Affair" 12/19/1948 The Couple Next Door "Waiting For the Repairman" 1/15/1958 Friday 2-20 The Hermit's Cave "Buried Alive" Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Tears of Night Matter" Pt 5, 5/25/56 Saturday 2-21 Have Gun, Will Travel "Assignment at Stone's Crossing" 11/29/59 The Third Man "The Elusive Vermeer" 5/16/1952 Sunday 2-22 Murder Clinic "Tragedy of Marsden Manor" 10/6/1942 Vic and Sade: Miss Nagle Wants to Break Up Lee St, 12/7/1942 Monday 2-23 The Life of Riley: Riley Fixes Dinner, 5/14/1944 The Red Skelton Show "The Devil Gets Loose" Part 1, 3/11/1951 Tuesday 2-24 The Red Skelton Show "The Devil Gets Loose" Part 2 Mysterious Traveler "Knives of Death" 3/13/1951 Wednesday 2-25 Escape "A Shipment of Mute Fate" 10/15/1947 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 13, 11/4/1946 Thursday 2-26 Tales of the Texas Rangers "White Elephant" 7/15/1950 The Jack Benny Program: From New York, 6/27/1948 Friday 2-27 Boston Blackie "The Wentworth Diamonds" 4/25/1945 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Shady Lane Matter" Pt 1, 7/9/56 Saturday 2-28 My Little Margie "Going Camping" 6/12/1955 Burns & Allen: Treasure Island/San Francisco, Pt 1, 5/29/40 Sunday 3-1 Burns & Allen: Treasure Island/San Francisco - Part 2 The Green Hornet "Polarized Glasses" 5/28/1946 Monday 3-2 Father Knows Best "Babysitting Misery" 2/12/1953 The Charlie McCarthy Show, guest Frank Sinatra - Part 1, 1/28/1945 Tuesday 3-3 The Charlie McCarthy Show, guest Frank Sinatra - Part 2 Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator "Hay is for Homicide, 8/31/54 Wednesday 3-4 Nick Carter, Master Detective "Murder Goes to College" 12/24/1944 The Adv. of Superman "Counterfeit Money" Part 14, 11/5/1946 Thursday 3-5 Inner Sanctum "The Dead Laugh" 9/23/1946 Night Editor "One In a Thousand" Friday 3-6 Mystery Is My Hobby "June-January Marriage Spells Trouble" Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Shady Lane Matter" Pt 2, 7/10/1956 Saturday 3-7 Duffy's Tavern "Arthur Treacher Leaves" 2/23/1951 Wonder Show "Sergeant O'Haley" Part 1, 11/25/1938 Sunday 3-8 Wonder Show "Sergeant O'Haley" Part 2 Adv. of Nero Wolfe "Case of the Telltale Ribbon" 3/30/1951 Monday 3-9 The Harold Peary Show: Harold Meets The Hummer, 12/6/1950 Alan Young Show "Opera" Part 1, 12/12/1944 Tuesday 3-10 Alan Young Show "Opera" Part 2, 12/12/1944 Frontier Gentlemen "Powder River Kid" 4/6/1948 Wednesday 3-11 The Shadow "Torch of Death" 2/28/1943 Adv. of Superman: Disappearance of Clark Kent, Pt 1, 11/6/46 Thursday 3-12 Behind the Mike "Comedy Broadcasts" 2/23/1941 Lum & Abner: Play With Penny Weighing Machine, 9/21/1942 Friday 3-13 Sherlock Holmes "Case of the Stolen Naval Treaty" 11/23/1947 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Shady Lane Matter" Pt 3, 7/11/56 Saturday 3-14 Suspense "Report From a Dead Planet" 7/10/1960 Exploring Tomorrow "First Baby in Space" 5/18/1958 Sunday 3-15 Chase "Cat's Meow" 10/19/1952 Request Performance, Guest: W.C. Fields, 10/28/1945 Monday 3-16 Fibber McGee & Molly: Being Nice To Fibber, 2/6/1940 Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show "The Electrician" Pt 1, 11/13/49 Tuesday 3-17 Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show "The Electrician" Pt 2, 11/13/49 Jeff Regan, Investigator "The Man in the Door" 8/28/1948 Wednesday 3-18 This is Your FBI "Traveling Bride" 11/9/1951 Adv. of Superman "Disappearance of Clark Kent" Pt 2, 11/7/46 Thursday 3-19 Red Skelton "Photographs At The Zoo" 6/4/1950 The Couple Next Door: Ageing Gracefully, 1/16/1958 Friday 3-20 Philo Vance "Prize Ring Murder Case" 6/20/1950 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "Shady Lane Matter" Pt 4, 7/12/56 Saturday 3-21 Our Miss Brooks "Boynton's Land Deal" 3/25/1951 The Life of Riley: Babs Wants Privacy - Part 1, 4/27/1951 Sunday 3-22 The Life of Riley: Babs Wants Privacy - Part 2 Adventures of Philip Marlowe "Anniversary Gift" 4/11/1950 Monday 3-23 The Henry Morgan Show "Dedicated to Schools" 5/7/1947 Jack Benny Program: A Day at the Races, Part 1, 3/6/1949 Tuesday 3-24 Jack Benny Program: A Day at the Races, Part 2 Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons "Yellow Talon Murder Case" 9/22/49 Wednesday 3-25 Crime and Peter Chambers "Cufflink Is----" 7/6/1954 The Adv. of Superman "Disappearance of Clark Kent" Part 3, 11/8/46 Thursday 3-26 Voyage of the Scarlet Queen" Derelict & the Wandering Boy, 1/7/48 Town Hall Tonight Excerpt: Stuart Canin Plays "The Bee" 2/3/1937 Friday 3-27 Boston Blackie "Blackie Jilts Mary" 7/2/1945 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "The Shady Lane Matter" Part 5, 7/13/56 Saturday 3-28 The Great Gildersleeve "The Whole Town is Talking" 4/16/1947 Duffy's Tavern, guest Charles Colburn - Part 1, 5/4/1949 Sunday 3-29 Duffy's Tavern, guest Charles Colburn - Part 2 Escape "The Man Who Would Be King" 7/7/1947 Monday 3-30 The Texaco Star Theater, guest Norman Corwin, 5/14/1944 Life with Luigi: Business is Slow - Part 1, 1/24/1950 Tuesday 3-31 Life with Luigi: Business is Slow - Part 2 Michael Shayne, Detective "The Party" 11/12/1946 Wednesday 4-1 Tales of the Texas Rangers "Pick Up" 12/16/1951 The Adv. of Superman "The Disappearance of Clark Kent" Part 4, 11/11/1946 Thursday 4-2 Crime Classics "John & Judith, Their Crime…" 12/16/1953 Night Editor "The Law's Delay" Friday 4-3 The Whistler "Man In The Storm" 2/18/1951 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "The Lansing Fraud Matter - Part 1" 12/12/1955 Saturday 4-4 Family Theater "Little Tree" 4/7/1954 The Great Gildersleeve: Family Prepares For Easter - Part 1, 4/16/1957 Sunday 4-5 The Great Gildersleeve: Family Prepares For Easter - Part 2 Baby Snooks "Money for Easter Shopping" 3/20/1951 Monday 4-6 It's Higgins, Sir: Higgins Befriends a Hobo, 8/7/1951 Burns & Allen Show: Married But Single - Part 1, 10/6/1942 Tuesday 4-7 Burns & Allen Show: Married But Single - Part 2 Rocky Jordan "Pattern for Revenge" 10/2/1949 Wednesday 4-8 The Hermit's Cave "The Story Without End" The Adv. of Superman "The Disappearance of Clark Kent - Part 5" 11/12/1946 Thursday 4-9 Behind The Mike "Versatile Acting" 10/6/1940 Lum & Abner: Is Sloane a He or a She? 9/22/1942 Friday 4-10 Gunsmoke "Kitty Caught" 10/16/1954 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "The Lansing Fraud Matter - Part 2" 12/13/1955 Saturday 4-11 X Minus One "Venus Is A Man's World" 2/06/1957 Third Man "The Swindle" 5/05/1905 Sunday 4-12 The Shadow, 4/30/1938 "The Firebug" Lear Radio Show, 9/16/1945 "Bull Fighting & Korea" Monday 4-13 Milton Berle, 4/13/1948 "Salute to Relaxation" Fibber McGee & Molly, 1/8/1952 "Rumors" Part 1 Tuesday 4-14 Fibber McGee & Molly, 1/8/1952 "Rumors" Part 2 Sherlock Holmes, 3/6/1955 "Adventure of the Six Napoleons" Wednesday 4-15 Mystery Is My Hobby "Who Killed David Austin" Adv. of Superman, 11/13/46 "The Disappearance of Clark Kent" Pt 6 Thursday 4-16 Red Skelton, 3/26/1950 "Red Sees A Flying Saucer" The Couple Next Door, 1/17/1958 "Just Call and Say Hello" Friday 4-17 Suspense, 9/21/1950 "The Crowd" Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, 12/14/55 "Lansing Fraud Matter" Pt 3 Saturday 4-18 A Day in the Life of Dennis Day, 12/10/1947 "Bank Loan" My Friend Irma, 1/19/1948 "The Book Crook" Part 1 Sunday 4-19 My Friend Irma, 1/19/1948 "The Book Crook" Part 2 Adv. of Nero Wolfe, 1/12/1951 "Case of the Killer Cards" Monday 4-20 Jack Benny Gives Money To Panhandler, 4/9/1950 Phil Harris & Alice Faye: Frankie Borrows Alice, Pt 1, 12/5/48 Tuesday 4-21 Phil Harris & Alice Faye: Frankie Borrows Alice - Part 2 Sherlock Holmes: Dr. Watson Meets Holmes, 1/2/1955 Wednesday 4-22 Big Story "Murder and a Frustrated Father" 1/4/1950 The Adv. of Superman "The Disappearance of Clark Kent" Pt 7, 11/14/46 Thursday 4-23 Casey, Crime Photographer "Tobacco Pouch" 9/18/1947 Mr. District Attorney "The Milano Brothers" 4/3/1939 Friday 4-24 Philo Vance Detective "Eagle Murder Case" 7/13/1948 Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar "The Lansing Fraud Matter" Part 4, 12/15/55 Saturday 4-25 The Great Gildersleeve: Making Honeymoon Preparations, 6/13/1943 Life of Riley: Fish Story, 6/4/1944 Sunday 4-26 Inner Sanctum "Make Ready My Grave" 4/23/1946 The Unexpected "Revenge" 5/23/1948 Monday 4-27 Jack Carson Show: The Baby Sitter, 4/30/1947 Duffy's Tavern: guest Peggy Lee, Part 1, 2/1/1946 Tuesday 4-28 Duffy's Tavern: guest Peggy Lee, Part 2, 2/1/1946 Witch's Tale "The Flying Dutchman" 4/26/1934 Wednesday 4-29 I Was A Communist For The FBI "Card Game In The Clouds" 6/4/1952 Adv. of Superman "The Disappearance of Clark Kent" Part 8, 11/15/46 Thursday 4-30 Dimension X "The Last Objective" 6/3/1951 Night Editor "Thirty Days to Live"Current schedule
Note: Your local radio station may forget and run a When Radio Was hour from a previous week or month
Lux Radio Theater version of Casablanca with original cast members
If clips above will not play, Click here. Access the entire old time radio library as a subscriber, ten-day free trial. Or try the homepage RadioSpirits.com If you cannot hear programs because your computer does not have the latest Flash Player, you can get it free from get.Adobe.com/flashplayerNote: Turner Classic Movies had a marathon showing of all of "The Whistler" movies followed by Red Skelton's "Whistling In" movie trilogy and even a Lum & Abner movie
32 page American Flyer Trains by A.C. Gilbert for 1948 presented by Superman!
Fred Foy 1-hour interview (Lone Ranger, Sgt. Preston, Green Hornet)
Note: radio episodes of Chandu The Magician had no relation to the Boris Karloff movie of the same name, in which Karloff plays Chandu as a villain
Have a suggestion for a radio program you'd like to hear? Email: whenradiowas@gmail
Paul Harvey...stand by for news!
Paul Harvey delved into the forgotten or little-known facts behind stories of famous people and events. Harvey's widely known The Rest of the Story has been broadcast since 1946, similar to the weekly story segment of Bill Stern's Sports Newsreel. Substitutes when Paul was away or ill included Mort Crim (1980-84), Gil Gross, Doug Limerick and Paul Harvey, Jr. Paul Harvey 1966 broadcast (more audio on Paul Harvey page). KEX radio Morning Update archive (2007-2009, including Paul Harvey) ABC Radio Networks has notified affiliates that ABC News Radio's Gil Gross and Doug Limerick will fill the three daily slots of Paul Harvey News & Rest Of The Story. Gil Gross also has a 2-hour interview program. Paul Harvey reads a letter from God
Robert L. Ripley's radio series ran from 1930 to his death in 1949. Music was provided by 1930s band leader Ozzie Nelson and vocalist Harriet Hilliard--who later became sitcom stars, believe it or not!
Peg Riley on "The Life of Riley" (ABC Radio: 1944-1945; NBC Radio: 1945-1951) was played by Paula Winslowe (1910-1996), who had previously been the voice of Bambi's mother in the Disney animated movie, and later played Mrs. Conklin in the TV version of Our Miss Brooks (1953-58) as well as reprising her (uncredited) role as Bambi's mother in Disney cartoon short No Hunting (1955)
Want to get away from it all? We offer you Escape
Turner Classic Movies is doing movies based on radio series this year including Fibber McGee, Gildersleeve, I Love A Mystery, The Whistler, Crime Doctor, etc.
Blake Edwards created Richard Diamond for radio, then later the hard-boiled private eye tv-series "Peter Gunn"
Jack Benny Show broadcasting live
Part 2 of Jack Benny broadcast
Jack sneaks onto Groucho's quiz show as a contestant
Beverly Sills died 7-2-07 from cancer complications. Beverly Sills spoofing opera on the Danny Kaye Show
Gracie Allen vs. the Tax Auditor
(he leaves in confusion) Gracie Allen was born in 1895 but her birth certificate was lost in the 1906 San Francisco Fire/Earthquake so she always gave 1906 as her birthdate
Miss a recent broadcast? You may be able to "hear it now" on your computer for up to a week after broadcast, check the archives
This is Wally Ballou reminding you to Hang by your thumbs.
I love a mystery so welcome again through the squeaking door
Note: Stan Freberg hosted "When Radio Was" for 10 years, after previous host Art Fleming passed away suddenly. His final broadcast as host was 10/6/06. The new host from then until June, 2007 was Chuck Schaden. Greg Bell, program director and host of XM Radio’s very popular old-time radio channel, "Radio Classics", has been named as the new host. Chuck Schaden has interviewed some of the radio stars (recorded in the 1970s, see broadcast archive).
Superman 1950s TV intro, now a major motion picture
See banner below for the two radio episodes available to hear today online
The Shadow: Greatest Radio Adventures is available (40 episodes, 20 hours), episode list on Shadow page 2
Also - The Shadow: The Lost Shows (no episode title list available) and The Shadow 3-Hour Collection (18 episodes), plus other Old Time Radio series on tape or CD produced by Radio Spirits in association with the Smithsonian
Fun fact:
Jimmy Stewart's The Six Shooter only lasted one season (he wouldn't accept a tobacco company as sponsor), and he made the Hitchcock movie "Rear Window" the same year.
Walter B. Gibson co-created and wrote the Shadow novels. When he left The Shadow magazine after asking for more money, he became head script writer for radio's Nick Carter, Master Detective for awhile.
X Minus One/Dimension X had no big-name guest stars because most of the weekly budgets were used to purchase broadcast rights to the latest sci-fi stories
Morton Downey "The Irish Nightingale" was a popular singer on 1930s radio (and TV host of 1950s Star Of The Family), heard alternate nights on a 5-day a week radio broadcast from his New York nightclub. His son Morton Downey, Jr., went instead into talk radio with a spoof of bombastic Wally George on a California radio station - when he left radio in 1988 to do a TV-version of his show, the Sacramento station replaced him with someone named Rush Limbaugh.
Print version of this page (no background or graphics) for months of:
January-March...April-June...July-September...October-December 2014
January-March...April-June...July-September...October-December 2013
January-March...April-June...July-September...October-December 2012
January-April...May-July...August-October...November-December 2011
January-April...May-July... August-October...November-December 2010
January-March...April-June...July-October...November-December 2009
January-February...March-April...May-July...August-October...November-December 2008
January-March...April-June...July-October...November-December 2007
October-December...July-September...April-June...January-March 2006
Nov-December 2005...Sept-October...July-August...May-June...March-April...Jan-February
Nov-December 2004...Sept-October...August...July...June...May...April
November 2003...October...September...August...July...June...May...April...March...February...January
December 2002...November...October...August-September...July...June...May...March-April...February...January 2002 (with organ music background) or January 2002 (silent)
December...November 2001, or here for Previous Months before thatNote: in 1943, NBC sold its Blue network, creating the American Broadcasting System (the name was changed to American Broadcasting Company the following year). The Columbia Broadcasting System promptly dropped the call letters of its New York radio station WABC (which ABC snatched up)
Jack Benny vs. the Floor Walker (Frank Nelson)
For those interested in more trivia facts about radio drama, we suggest the book, "On The Air: An Encyclopedia Of Old Time Radio," by John Dunning. The publisher is Oxford Press. It is one of the many books used in radio drama research.These programs are made available by a guy who's nuts about old time radio and a retired CBS executive: More
1 large roast beef
Possible alternate webcast available:
All programs heard are supplied by & available from Radio Spirits.
The show titles shown on this banner are for a nationally-syndicated version of this program with different radio shows 7 days a week.
Click here for the When Radio Was upcoming national schedule courtesy RadioSpiritsRadio classics are also available on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio
Carl also produces the Twilight Zone radio series based on TV's Twilight ZoneBack to Monstervision.org or Scifans
Email: scifanscom
Ripley's is back on cable TV, believe it or notClick here to stop the background music from Keytrax. More music from Keytrax
Gracie Allen's Roast Beef Recipe
1 small roast beef
Take the 2 roasts and put them in the oven. Turn oven on. When the little one burns, the big one is done.
In addition to starring in both the radio & TV versions of "Life With Luigi" J. Carrol Naish portrayed Dr. Daka, the first villain to go up against Batman on the silver screen, in "The Batman" (1943 serial). He also appeared in two episodes of Lux Theater after it moved to TV
Life Of Riley was originally co-created by Gummo Marx for his brother Groucho as The Flotsam Family. But the sponsor saw William Bendix in a 1942 movie and cast him instead.
Marcus Brace Beemer (born in 1903) and John Todd (born as Fred McCarthy in 1877) played The Lone Ranger & Tonto on radio. They also both had to lie about their age to serve (separately) in WW1. Beemer was too young (15) to enlist and Todd too old (30). The War Department says Beemer was the youngest U.S. serviceman in WW1; he was wounded while serving in France. By the way, Arthur Godfrey was almost killed in an auto accident in the 1930s, yet learned to walk and fly his own plane. When he was turned down for WW2 enlistment as a Navy flier due to the old injury, he asked friend FDR for help. The President told an Admiral to accept Godfrey since he couldn't walk at all yet was serving as Commander in Chief!
The greeting "How" may not be a Hollywood invention. There is an actual Indian greeting "A-Hau," which means Peace be with you or All is well. The first Texas Rangers used muzzle-loading single-shot rifles. But their first hand guns were actually a 5-shot revolver, not a 6-gun!
Jack Benny was born on Valentine's Day, and Robert L. Ripley was born on Christmas Day, believe it or not! In 1974, Jack Benny & George Burns were cast in The Sunshine Boys but George became ill and was replaced by Walter Matthau, then George got better and Jack suddenly died.
In the 1930s, comic strip Terry & the Pirates had many storylines in which Japan (changed to "the invaders" by nervous newspaper editors) attacked China and then Pearl Harbor. This storyline was also adapted for the radio series Captain Midnight, also before the real attack on Pearl Harbor! Fran Stryker wrote the life output of Shakespeare every 15 weeks: How he did it
NBC/GE chimes (G-E-C musical notes, for General Electric Co.) NBC's special alert 4 chimes (used for Hindenberg crash, Pearl Harbor, and WW2 bulletins)
Fun facts:
When a pitcher, catcher & umpire get into an arguement, it's called a "rhubarb." This term dates back to live radio drama when angry crowds would be represented by 5 or 6 actors saying "rhubarb" over and over. Nick Carter, Master Detective predated Sherlock Holmes by a couple of months--the American detective appeared in his own Street & Smith magazine just before the first Holmes appearance in Strand Magazine. Walter B. Gibson, co-creator of The Shadow in print, wrote for radio's Nick Carter during WW2.
Countdown to blast-off X-5,4,3,2,X-1...Fire
It's Sunday night and time for Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy
Who is it? The Fatman...The Falcon...The Green Hornet strikes again
The Shadow knows in 1939, in 1941 and 1948...the end
The Jack Benny Program presented by Lucky Strike. There's always room for Jello...Sold: American!
Welcome to the Hermit's Cave...Duffy ain't here
Welcome to the Black Museum (Orson Welles) That was the end of Harry Lime
I'm the first person they look for and the last they want to meet
Henry? Henry Aldrich...Hi ya, Baldy!
I carry a badge. Hi-Ho Silver. I am The Whistler. Yes King, this case is closed. A tale calculated to keep you in Suspense!
Join the new 1940 Flight Patrol with Captain Midnight. Flash! Ethiopia surrenders to Mussolini
Turn your lights out, everybody. If you are easily frightened, turn your radio off now.
It is I, Digby Odell, the friendly undertaker By golly, I believe that's our ring. Don't open that closet. Heavenly days!
Mr. Keen, tracer of lost persons. How do you do? Yours truly, Johnny Dollar
This is your FBI
Suspense radio series history on WikipediaWho're you gonna vote for?
I wonder what The Lone Ranger would sound like in Jamaica
There was even a radio version of Doc Savage By Lester Dent
Lester Dent bio on YouTube
Or click here to join Raymond in the Inner Sanctum
Prefer comedy? Check out 1940s radio's Spike Jones Show
(guests include Groucho Marx, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone & Boris Karloff)
CBS Radio Theater (these are big MP3 audio links so save it to your computer or ipod if you are on a slow dialup) series by Hyman Brown, creator of the original Inner Snctum radio series
Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula (broadcast date unknown)
Some of the above clips are from archive.org/details/oldtimeradio
Frothingslosh is brought to you by the news
Harry Shearer's LeShow, a little news, a little music, a little satire
Paul Harvey's commercials: ForeverHotWater (mp3)...Audibel (mp3)
Paul Harvey files
Previous Paul Harvey website
© Bill Laidlaw. All rights reserved. That was the President of the U.S., Hoobert Heever. The bees know
