Classic Radio Theater: Recent Episodes
Hudson River Radio .com
Hudson River Radio's own Big Jim Wheeler is thrilled to share his personal collection of classic radio shows from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s! Jim grew up on a farm in upstate New York, where TV shows were scarce, and where radio was king. It was a time where families would gather around the radio to hear the latest episode of their favorite shows. New shows stream on Sundays at 9am and again at 9pm eastern, with the podcast posting shorty after.
Fibber McGee & Molly was a very popular radio sitcom on NBC, running from 1935 to 1956. The stars of the show were played by husband and wife team Jim and Marian Jordan, who had started their radio careers in the 1920s. Fibber McGee & Molly, “Making Cologne,” aired on May 18, 1948.
Deputy Dawg was a Terrytoon Cartoon character, a company based in New Rochelle, New York, until 1972. He was originally developed to be a character on the Captain Kangaroo Show, but was instead developed as a separate series. Deputy Dawg ran from 1960 to 1964, with the title character being a deputy in Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee as the show progressed.
1. Li’l Whooper
2. Seize You Later, Alligator
3. The Yoke’s On You
Deputy Dawg was a Terrytoon Cartoon character, a company based in New Rochelle, New York, until 1972. He was originally developed to be a character on the Captain Kangaroo Show, but was instead developed as a separate series. Deputy Dawg ran from 1960 to 1964, with the title character being a deputy in Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee as the show progressed.
1. Welcome, Micha Mouse
2. Law and Disorder
3. Shotgun Shambles
Chapters 12 through 14, the end of this story line, aired the week of September 17, 1945.
Dragnet, starring Jack Webb. “Big Jolt” aired on October 5, 1952. The original Chesterfield Cigarette advertisements are truly horrifying!
Dragnet starring Jack Webb. This episode, “Sixteen Jewel Thieves,” first aired on August 18, 1949. That's a fact, Jack.
"The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad."
Gunsmoke- “Home Surgery,” aired on September 13, 1952.
Part 1: Sapphire’s new boss proposes marriage. Aired on August 4, 1952.
Part 2: Andy believes his girlfriend is looking for a husband. His marriage proposal does not go as planned. Aired on August 25, 1952.
Amos ’N Andy was a radio sitcom that aired from 1928 to 1960. The titled characters were Black, but were played by the two white show creators Freeman Gosden (Amos) and Charles Correll (Andy). The show had a brief stint on television from 1951 to 1953 where the title characters were played by Black actors.
Part 1: The Kingfish is bequeathed a weekly allowance for help care for his Great Dane. Aired on June 30, 1952.
Part 2: Uncle Harold leaves Andy $25,000 on the condition he never marries. Aired on July 7, 1952.
Arsenic and Old Lace is a comedy thriller based on a true story. A New York newspaper drama critic discovers his two aunts are insane murderers! It aired in 1952.
Our Miss Brooks was a radio sitcom that aired from 1948 to 1957. It was adapted for both television and a movie of the same name. This episode aired on December 5, 1949.
For our annual celebration of April fools Day, we present “The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946,” the championship farting contest between Lord Windesmear and Paul Boomer. Although nobody is certain, this recording was most likely done in 1940 by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sports announcer Sidney S. Brown and CBC producer Jules Lipton as an in-house joke. Someone at Columbia records pressed the recording onto a set of two 78 rpm records, including album art. The official release was nixed by CBS brass, but a few premium copies made it out to the public. Enjoy!
Terry And The Pirates was adapted for radio from a 1934 comic strip of the same name by Milton Caniff. The radio show ran from 1937 to 1948. It was later adapted for TV in 1953. Terry and his associates fought villains throughout the Orient.
The Great Gildersleeve was a radio sitcom that aired from 1941 to 1958. It was a spin off of the popular radio program Fibber McGee and Molly. This episode aired on November 20, 1949.
Fibber McGee & Molly was a very popular radio sitcom on NBC, running from 1935 to 1956. The stars of the show were played by husband and wife team Jim and Marian Jordan, who had started their radio careers in the 1920s.
“Goin’ Fishin’” aired on May 11, 1948.
Hansel & Gretel is an old German fairy tale. The Brothers Grimm published a collection of fairy tales in 1812, including Hansel & Gretel, that they compiled from various sources, bringing the story to the masses.
Hansel and Gretel are brother and sister who have been abandoned in the woods by their lovely parents. They were taken in by a witch who intended to cook and eat them. So, one could say this is a both a lesson on wandering alone in the woods and also a cooking show. We won’t ruin the twist ending here, even thought it’s over 200 years old.
This version was produced by Tale Spinners for Children, who released stories for young audiences on vinyl records in the 1960s.
The popular musical “The Pajama Game” is a staple in school and community theater productions. The plot revolves around romance and labor issues in a pajama factory. The musical premiered in 1954 on Broadway and in 1955 on London’s West End. This version stars the original Broadway cast. John Raitt, father of musician Bonnie Raitt, was known for playing many lead roles on Broadway and in film. He plays the lead character Sid Sorokin. Babe Williams is played by Janis Paige, one of the last stars from The Golden Age of Hollywood. Vernon Hines is played by Eddie Foy, Jr., whose 60 plus year career spanned from vaudeville and theater to film and television.
Dragnet was created and produced by Jack Webb, who also starred as Sergeant Joe Friday. His goal was to create a show that was realistic, so he attended police academy classes and did ride-alongs with the Los Angeles Police Department as part of his research. The cases in the shows were based on actual cases handled by the LAPD. Dragnet was broadcast on NBC radio stations from 1949 to 1957. It overlapped with its TV version which ran from 1951 to 1959 in black and white, and was brought back to TV in color from 1967 to 1970.
“Big Lift” aired on April 27, 1954. As always, please don't believe the cigarette ads.
The hit musical South Pacific by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II premiered on Broadway in New York City in 1949 and ran for 1,925 shows. It is based on the 1947 book “Tales of the South Pacific,” by James Michener and follows the story of a nurse based in the south Pacific during World War II.
This episode of The Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy aired on November 9, 1952, and features Marilyn Monroe as their special guest. Charlie was a puppet, and having puppets on the radio seemed to make sense at the time.
This episode of The Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy features Edward Everett Horton and Abbott & Costello as guests. It aired on May 3, 1942. Charlie was a puppet, and having puppets on the radio seemed to make sense at the time.
Enjoy Orson Welles’s production of the beloved “A Christmas Carol,” which aired on Christmas Eve in 1939.
The Doctor prescribed Death aired on February 2, 1943. Boris Karloff plays psychiatrist Antonio Bacile, who believes that a suicidal person can, instead, be convinced to murder someone else.
Gunsmoke, the story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad. From a time when westerns were popular, and cigarette companies could advertise on children’s shows.
"Twenty-Twenty” first aired on July 16, 1955.
Don Adams performed live at the Las Vegas Sands Casino in 1967. Adams is best known for playing Secret Agent Maxwell Smart on the hit TV series “Get Smart,” which ran from 1965 to 1970. He was also the voice of “Inspector Gadget,” in the 1980s.
Peter and the Wolf is a symphonic tale written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev in 1936. The story is a Russian folk tale with different animals and characters being represented by different musical instruments. This performance is narrated by Captain Kangaroo, a/k/a Bob Keeshan, who was a beloved children’s TV host from 1955 to 1984.
The musical Wildcat opened on Broadway in New York City in 1960 and starred Lucille Ball in her only starring Broadway role. She was 49 at the time and had wrapped up her hit TV show, I Love Lucy, three years prior. Lucy plays the lead role of Wildcat Jackson, who comes to Centavo City in search of striking oil and making it rich.
It’s time for our annual rebroadcast of Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds,” which aired on October 30, 1938. This legendary broadcast is one you don't want to miss! (Spoiler: It did not create the mass panic of legendary tales. Orson said it was fiction in the broadcast, and they took commercial breaks.)
Inner Sanctum, also known as Inner Sanctum Mystery, was a popular radio program that aired from 1941 to 1952. The stories had a good mix of horror and good humor. This is the show that established the creaking door as a scary sound effect. There were over 500 episodes broadcast, but only around 200 are known to still exist.
“The Vengeful Corpse,” aired on September 12, 1949.
The Doctor prescribed Death aired on February 2, 1943. Boris Karloff plays psychiatrist Antonio Bacile, who believes that a suicidal person can, instead, be convinced to murder someone else.
Extra Scary!
“House in Cypress Canyon,” starring Robert Taylor, from the radio series SUSPENSE. This episode is widely considered one of the most terrifying shows broadcast during the Golden Age of Radio. A couple moves into a new rental house, and finds blood running from beneath a closet door… This episode aired on December 5, 1946.
“Fugue in C Minor,” starring the legendary Vincent Price and Ida Lupino, from the radio series SUSPENSE. It’s a great story about a pipe organ that was built throughout an entire house, and the reason it plays on its own. This episode aired on June 1, 1944.
Go get your pumpkins and start carving! It's time for SCARY CLASSIC SHOWS!
Lights Out was one of the earliest radio programs focusing on horror and the supernatural. It ran on several networks from 1934 to 1947 before making the transition to television. This episode, “Oxychloride X,” was broadcast on January 26, 1938.
Halloween is approaching, so we figure it's time for some SCARY CLASSIC SHOWS!
Lights Out was one of the earliest radio programs focusing on horror and the supernatural. It ran on several networks from 1934 to 1947 before making the transition to television. This episode, “Rocket From Manhattan,” was broadcast on September 20, 1945, and is set in the distant future year of… 2000!
Fibber and Molly were actually Jim and Marian Jordan, a married couple and comedy legends. This episode aired on October 14, 1947, on the NBC Radio Network.
Orson Welles adapted this live February 3, 1939, performance from the 1925 novel “Arrowsmith,” by Sinclair Lewis. It was part of The Campbell’s Playhouse, a CBS Radio series sponsored by Campbell’s Soup.
This adaptation of the 1938 film “Algiers” was performed live on October 8, 1939, on The Campbell’s Playhouse, a CBS Radio series sponsored by Campbell’s Soup.
Orson Welles’s adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s play from 1933. This performance was performed live on September 17, 1939, on The Campbell’s Playhouse, a CBS Radio series sponsored by Campbell’s Soup.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1927 publication of “The Adventure of Schoscombe Old Place” was dramatized by the BBC for radio broadcast.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1926 publication of “The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane” was dramatized by the BBC for radio broadcast.
The film was released in 1949. This Lux Radio Theatre series version starred mostly the same cast, and first aired on March 12, 1951.
Dragnet, “Big Net,” aired on April 20, 1954.
Dun dun dun dun. Dun dun dun dun duuuunnnnnnn!
Dragnet, “Big Note,” aired on April 13, 1954.
All we need are the facts. But you already knew that.
The legendary comedic duo Fibber McGee & Molly with “I Can Get It For You Wholesale.” This show was broadcast on December 9, 1941, two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This show includes news updates on World War II.
Broadcast on March 5, 1940. The giant mess in Fibber’s closet led to a short-lived expression of any household mess being called “Fibber McGee’s Closet.”
Gunsmoke, the story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
The Army Trial first aired on June 25, 1955.
Lily Tomlin is a showbiz legend who started out doing stand-up comedy in the 1960s. She is best known today for costarring in the 1980 movie “9 to 5” with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton, and more recently in the Netflix sitcom Grace and Frankie, also with Jane Fonda.
“This Is A Recording” was released in 1971. It features Lily’s character, Ernestine, a telephone operator who treats customers terribly. Ernestine also made a memorable appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1976 on a fake telephone company commercial, stating, "We don't care. We don't have to. We're the phone company.”
The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946
For our annual celebration of April fools Day, we present “The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946,” the championship farting contest between Lord Windesmear and Paul Boomer. Although nobody is certain, this recording was most likely done in 1940 by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sports announcer Sidney S. Brown and CBC producer Jules Lipton as an in-house joke. Someone at Columbia records pressed the recording onto a set of two 78 rpm records, including album art. The official release was nixed by CBS brass, but a few premium copies made it out to the public. Enjoy!
My Darling Clementine starring Peter Fonda
Another presentation of The Lux Radio Theater, this adaptation aired on April 28, 1947.
The Treasure of Sierra Madre, starring Humphrey Bogart
Broadcast on April 18, 1949 by The Lux Radio Theater on the NBC Blue Network. Lux was a brand of soap owned by Unilever.
The Lone Ranger - Eric Hyde Loses Cattle to Rustlers
The Lone Ranger radio show began its successful run at WXYZ Radio in Detroit, Michigan, in 1933 and would stay on the air until 1956. Although it was intended for a younger audience, at least half of listeners were adults. The show is well known for its use of The William Tell Overture as its theme.
Dragnet, “Big Rod,” aired on March 3, 1954.
Dragnet was created and produced by Jack Webb, who also starred as Sergeant Joe Friday. His goal was to create a show that was realistic, so he attended police academy classes and did ride-alongs with the Los Angeles Police Department as part of his research. The cases in the shows were based on actual cases handled by the LAPD. Dragnet was broadcast on NBC radio stations from 1949 to 1957. It overlapped with it’s TV version which ran from 1951 to 1959 in black and white, and was brought back to TV in color from 1967 to 1970.
Gunsmoke, “Cow Doctor,” aired on May 28, 1955. Gunsmoke, the story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
The legendary W.C. Fields was born William Claude Dukenfield in Pennsylvania in 1880. He started his career as a juggler on the vaudeville circuit, then moved into comedy and acting. He is know for his distinctive speech patterns and for his character’s love of alcohol.
Part 1: The Temperance Lecture
Part 2: The Day I Drank A Glass of Water
Does his act still hold up?
Flip Wilson (1933-1998) was the first Black comedian to host a successful TV variety show, The Flip Wilson Show, which aired from 1970 to 1974. Flip was well known for playing the character of Geraldine in his act as well ask for numerous TV appearances from he 1960s through the 1980s. He continued to perform into the 1990s until he passed away from cancer in 1998.
Orson Welles’s “A Christmas Carol”
Enjoy Orson Welles’s production of the beloved “A Christmas Carol,” which aired on Christmas Eve in 1939.
An Evening With Groucho Marx (Part 1 of 2)
Released in 1972, An Evening With Groucho Marx was recorded live at three venues, Carnegie Hall in New York City, C.Y. Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University, and Masonic Auditorium in San Fransisco. Groucho is introduced by Dick Cavett and is accompanied on piano by Marvin Hamlisch.
The Life of Riley with William Bendix- “Thanksgiving with the Gillises,” aired on November 29, 1947.
The Life of Riley was a radio sitcom that aired from 1944 to 1951. It was later developed into a movie and a TV series.
Gunsmoke, “Potato Road,” aired on May 7, 1955.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
It’s time for our annual rebroadcast of Orson Welles’s “The War of the Worlds,” which aired on October 30, 1938. This legendary broadcast is one you don't want to miss! (Spoiler: It did not create the mass panic of legendary tales. Orson said it was fiction in the broadcast, and they even took commercial breaks.)
“House in Cypress Canyon,” starring Robert Taylor, from the radio series SUSPENSE. This episode is widely considered one of the most terrifying shows broadcast during the Golden Age of Radio. A couple moves into a new rental house, and finds blood running from beneath a closet door… This episode aired on December 5, 1946.
Lights Out was one of the earliest radio programs focusing on horror and the supernatural. It ran on several networks from 1934 to 1947 before making the transition to television. This episode, “Rocket From Manhattan,” was broadcast on September 20, 1945, and is set in the distant future year of… 2000!
Lights Out was one of the earliest radio programs focusing on horror and the supernatural. It ran on several networks from 1934 to 1947 before making the transition to television. This episode, “Oxychloride X,” was broadcast on January 26, 1938.
Amos ’N Andy
Part 1: Kingfish tricks his uncle into sending money for medical school. Then the uncle comes to check on his new practice. Aired on June 16, 1952.
Part 2: Kingfish buys Sapphire a gold bracelet on credit. Then it gets repossessed and sold to another friend. Aired on June 23, 1952.
Amos ’N Andy
Part 1: Kingfish acts as a marriage broker, but his plans go down the drain. Aired on October 10, 1948.
Part 2: Kingfish spends the budget for the yearly Lodge Outing. When the other members find out, he is forced to repay the money.
Amos ’N Andy
Part 1: Andy writes a column in the local newspaper and gets sued for giving bad advice. Aired on January 26, 1945.
Part 2: Kingfish sells Andy his mountain cabin. When Andy finds out there are taxes due on the cabin, he tricks Kingfish into returning the money.
Amos ’N Andy was a radio sitcom that aired from 1928 to 1960. The titled characters were Black, but were played by the two white show creators Freeman Gosden (Amos) and Charles Correll (Andy). The show had a brief stint on television from 1951 to 1953 where the title characters were played by Black actors.
Part 1: Andy and Kingfish enter a sales contest sponsored by a fountain pen company. Aired on December 1, 1944.
Part 2: Andy works as Santa Claus in a department store to buy Amos’s daughter a Christmas gift. Aired on December 12, 1944.
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Godfather (But Don’t Ask)
By The Crazy Gang.
This performance was recorded with a live audience on May 11, 1972.
Gunsmoke, “Bloody Hands,” aired on April 2, 1955. The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were the most popular comedy team of the 1940s and 1950s. This is their radio broadcast from December 12, 1946.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were the most popular comedy team of the 1940s and 1950s.
1. Who’s On First?
2. Costello’s Farm
3. The famous “Board” routine
4. Hertz U-Drive
5. The Story of Moby Dick
George Burns and Gracie Allen were a married couple who had successful comedy career spanning over 40 years. Their radio show was slow to take off, but ultimately became a hit and ran from 1934 to 1950.
“The Post Office,” aired on December 16, 1941.
George Burns and Gracie Allen were a married couple who had successful comedy career spanning over 40 years. Their radio show was slow to take off, but ultimately became a hit and ran from 1934 to 1950.
“The Insurance Exam,” aired on October 21, 1941.
The Hermits Cave radio show was a syndicated horror series that ran from 1937 to 1944. Scripts were sent to local radio stations so they could produce the show with their own local cast. It is believed that over 800 episodes were produced, but fewer than 40 recordings are known to still exist.
We believe this episode, “Hanson’s Ghost,” was broadcast on October 29, 1944, but we do not know where it was produced.
Inner Sanctum, also known as Inner Sanctum Mystery, was a popular radio program that aired from 1941 to 1952. The stories had a good mix of horror and good humor. This is the show that established the creaking door as a scary sound effect. There were over 500 episodes broadcast, but only around 200 are known to still exist.
“The Vengeful Corpse,” aired on September 12, 1949.
Part 1: Kingfish thinks Sapphire is trying to kill him. Aired on May 11, 1945.
Part 2: Any receives a case of German bullion from his nephew. Aired on May 18, 1945.
Part 1: Sapphire kicks Kingfish out of the house. Aired on April 27, 1945.
Part 2: Andy and Kingfish enter a picture in a baby contest. Aired on May 4, 1945.
Part 1: Andy moves in with Kingfish after he’s evicted from his room. Aired on April 6, 1945.
Part 2: Andy and Kingfish buy a car and find a body in the trunk. Aired on April 20, 1945.
Gunsmoke, “Horse Deal,” aired on March 26, 1955.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Gunsmoke, “The Mistake,” aired on March 19, 1955.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Gunsmoke, “The Trial,” aired on March 12, 1955.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Part 1: Andy is hired to represent a famous clothing company. Aired on March 23, 1945.
Part 2: Kingfish and Andy design an Easter hat. Aired on March 30, 1945.
Part 1: Andy decides to run away from his income tax problems. Aired on March 9, 1945.
Part 2: Andy, the lecturer. Aired on March 16, 1945.
Amos ’N Andy was a radio sitcom that aired from 1928 to 1960. The titled characters were Black, but were played by the two white show creators Freeman Gosden (Amos) and Charles Correll (Andy). The show had a brief stint on television from 1951 to 1953 where the title characters were played by Black actors.
Part 1: Kingfish is jealous of Sapphire’s old boyfriend. Aired on February 23, 1945.
Part 2: Andy files an inflated tax return to impress a girl. Aired on March 2, 1945.
In celebration of April fools Day, we again proudly and noisily present “The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946,” the championship farting contest between Lord Windesmear and Paul Boomer.
Although nobody is certain, this recording was most likely done in 1940 by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sports announcer Sidney S. Brown and CBC producer Jules Lipton as an in-house joke. Someone at Columbia records pressed the recording onto a set of two 78 rpm records, including album art. The official release was nixed by CBS brass, but a few premium copies made it out to the public. Enjoy!
Dragnet, “Big Broad,” aired on February 9, 2024. The names have been autocorrected to protect the innocent.
Gunsmoke, “Jesse,” aired on August 29, 1953.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Gunsmoke, “Gone Straight,” aired on August 22, 1953.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Gunsmoke, “Boy,” aired on August 1, 1953.
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
This adaptation of the wildly successful musical was released in 1956. Oklahoma! was the first musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein and was based on a 1931 play titled, “Green Grow The Lilacs.” It is set in farm country in the Oklahoma Indian Territory in 1906. The original Broadway production opened in 1943 and has been revived numerous times. A film version was released in 1955.
This adaptation of the musical stars Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews was released in 1956. The Broadway musical won six Tony Awards. The story follows Eliza Doolittle who takes elocution lessons from Professor Henry Higgins in the hopes of losing her “vulgar” cockney accent. The plot of My Fair Lady was based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion, which many of us were forced to read in high school.
Comedian and musician Vaughn Meader made a name for himself in the 1960s imitating President John F. Kennedy. His success came to an abrupt end with the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, and his career never rebounded. He spent his later years performing country and blue grass music in his native Maine. Meader passed away in 2004 at age 68.
Dragnet was an American radio series, dramatizing the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. It ran from 1949 to 1957. Dragnet, “Big Listen,” aired on January 5, 1954.
Toby lives the dream of running away to join the circus. We suggest you not follow in his footsteps.
Orson Welles’s “A Christmas Carol,” which was broadcast on the Campbell Playhouse radio show on December 23, 1938.
A 1972 version of an age-old story, Hans must decide whether to win a race or help someone in peril.
This collection includes legendary skits. Does the humor hold up today? Discuss.
“2000 Year Old Man" by Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks
“John and Marsha” by Stan Freberg
“The Sweepstakes Winner” by Frank Fontaine as John L.C. Savony
“What It Was, Was Football” by Andy Griffith
“St. George and the Dragonet” by Stan Freberg
“It’s In The Book” by Johnny Standley
“The Bees and The Birds” by Yogi Yorgesson
In honor of Veteran’s Day, we are proud to present The Longest Day. This recording is a condensed version of the 1962 film about the D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944. The film was based on the non-fiction book by Cornelius Ryan which was published in 1959. The cast of The Longest Day includes some of the biggest stars in movie history such as John Wayne, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Paul Anka, Robert Mitchum, and more.
Orson Welles- “The War of the Worlds,” which aired on October 30, 1938.
It’s time for our annual rebroadcast of Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds,” which aired on October 30, 1938. This legendary broadcast is one you don't want to miss! (Spoiler: It did not create the mass panic of legendary tales. Orson said it was fiction in the broadcast, and they even took commercial breaks.)
Bunky the Monkey wants to see the world! That silly monkey. This was released on Robin Hood Records, which was founded in 1956 and sold to another company in the 1960s.
Back when animal abuse was entertainment and outdated terms for little people were the norm. You know, the good old days! It’s so bad, you won’t be able to stop listening. This was released on Robin Hood Records, which was founded in 1956 and sold to another company in the 1960s.
Black Beauty, from the Golden Records Great Literature Series, Classic Story Teller, 1966.
Based on the classic 1877 novel, Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell.
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Dragnet- Big Steal
Aired on December 29, 1953. Before color was invented.
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Dragnet- Big Brink
Aired on December 15, 1953. Please don’t smoke Chesterfields, even if Sergeant Friday tells you to.
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Dragnet- Big Pick Starring Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday.
Aired on December 8, 1953. That’s just a fact, Jack.
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The Voice of Will Rogers, Part 2
1- Government Spending, April 7, 1935
2- Pilgrims and Pioneers, April 14, 1935
3- Inheritance Taxes, April 28, 1935
4- Mother’s Day, May 12, 1935
5- Congressional Record, May 12, 1935
6- Supreme Court, June 2, 1935
7- Last Broadcast, June 9, 1935
On August 15, 1935, Rogers and his pilot, Wiley Post, were killed in a plane crash in Alaska.
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August 6, 2023 The Voice of Will Rogers, Part 1
Will Rogers (1897 - 1935) was an Oklahoma ranch boy whose ambition was to be the world’s greatest performer with a lariat. He went on to become a best selling author, a popular movie star, and the most widely read newspaper columnist at the time. He’s best known for the quote, “I never met a man I didn’t like.”
1- Timely Topics, a recreation of a Zigfield Follies monologue, without an audience present
2- Address to Traffic Chiefs, 1922
3- Unemployment Speech, October 18, 1931
4- Democratic Convention, 1932
5- President’s Day, April 30, 1933. FDR had been in office for seven weeks.
6- Badwill Tour, July 8, 1934
7- Treaties, March 31, 1935
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Skits from the legendary W.C. Fields, recorded for a radio series sponsored by Lucky Strike in the early 1940s.
1- Promotions Unlimited
2- The Swim to Catalina Island
3- The Pharmacist
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Skits from the legendary comedian W.C. Fields featuring Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, the puppet. Yes, puppet. On the radio. These originally aired in the early 1940s, and many early shows were lost to history.
1- The Skunk Trap
2- Children
3- Old Friends and Old Wine
4- Feathered Friends
5- Moths
6- The Snake Story
7- The Temperance Lecture (specially recorded for the Armed Forces)
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Lore of the West with Roy Rogers, George “Gabby” Hayes, and Trigger.
Released in 1949, these songs and stories taught kids how to break broncos, rope cattle, and lots of other things a cowboy should know. You know, basic life skills. Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye, was a famous Western singer and actor, known as the “King of the Cowboys.”
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The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson
This is a radio adaptation of the 1927 film, The Jazz Singer, which was broadcast on The Lux Radio Theatre on June 2, 1947. The film and this radio show both starred Al Jolson, one of the most famous and highest paid stars of the 1920s. The Jazz Singer signified the end of silent movies as it was the first feature length film to use synchronized recorded sound.
The story follows Jackie Rabinowitz, a Jewish boy who runs away from his strict religious father to become a performer. Jackie changes his name to Jack Robin and performs jazz numbers in blackface.
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Aired March 5, 1955, back when tobacco companies could sponsor programs for kids.
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Aired February 26, 1955, back when tobacco companies could sponsor programs for kids.
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Aired December 25, 1954, back when tobacco companies could sponsor programs for kids.
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Fred Allen was a radio humorist on air from 1942 to 1949. These are two selections from his show.
1- “Living 1949. The State of American Humor.” With Fred Allen and Ben Grauer, broadcast on January 30, 1949.
2- “Fred Allen salutes Jack Benny.” Recorded at a Friar’s Club Roast and broadcast on November 9, 1951.
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Fred Allen was a radio humorist on air from 1942 to 1949. These are four selections from his show, which often featured a question for his fictional guests.
1- “Were you a prodigy and did you display any exceptional talents as a child?” Broadcast on January 28, 1948.
2- “What was the outstanding event of happening in 1947?” Broadcast on December 28, 1947.
3- “How is the housing shortage affecting you?” Broadcast on October 7, 1945.
4- “Was your family income higher in 1944, and if it was, what accounted for the increase?” Broadcast on June 6, 1945.
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Dragnet- Big Cab
The names may have been changed, but this episode aired on September 15, 1953. That’s a fact, Jack.
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Dragnet- Big Bop
The story you are about to hear aired on September 1, 1953. Those are just the facts.
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Dragnet- Big Lift
This episode aired on September 8, 1953
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Jack Benny vs Fred Allen- “The Fine Art of Feudsmanship”
Part 12: Biography in Sound from May 1956
Part 13: The Jack Benny Show from March 27, 1938
Part 14: The Fred Allen Show from June 26, 1949, “The Mohawk Loan Company”
Part 15: The Fred Allen Show from May 26, 1946, “King For A Day”
Jack Benny vs Fred Allen- “Jack Allen and Fred Benny?”
Part 8: Jack’s Eulogy for Fred from March 18, 1956, the day after Fred’s death
Part 9: Command Performance from May 9, 1947
Part 10: Camel Comedy Caravan from June 11, 1943
Part 11: The Big Show from November 5, 1950
Jack Benny vs Fred Allen- “Jack & Fred at Xmas”
Part 5: Command Performance from December 25, 1943
Part 6: Command Performance from December 25, 1942
Part 7: Command Performance from December 25, 1944
Jack Benny vs Fred Allen- “The Feud Begins”
Recorded in 1968, Jack Benny looks back on recordings and shows with Fred Allen.
Part 1: How It All Began
Part 2: Town Hall Tonight from March 25, 1938
Part 3: The Jack Benny Show from January 15, 1950
Part 4: The Jack Benny Show from August 3, 1950
Fort Apache starring John Wayne. This radio dramatization of the film aired on August 5, 1949.
Gunsmoke- Monopoly
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Aired on May 22, 1954
Gunsmoke- The Indian Horse
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Aired on May 15, 1954
Gunsmoke- Gunsmuggler
The story of the violence that moved west with young America, and the story of a man that moved with it, U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon, played by William Conrad.
Aired on January 30, 1954
Dragnet, the story of your police force in action.
“Big Revolt,” aired on June 21, 1953.
Superman with Batman & Robin - "The Scarlet Widow." Final chapters 10 and 11, which aired September & October 1945.
Superman with Batman & Robin - "The Scarlet Widow." Chapters 07-09 out of 11, which aired September & October 1945.
Superman with Batman & Robin - "The Scarlet Widow." Chapters 04-06 out of 11, which aired September & October 1945.
Superman with Batman & Robin - "The Scarlet Widow." Chapters 01-03 out of 11, which aired September & October 1945.
This episode of The Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy aired on November 9, 1952, and features Marilyn Monroe as their special guest. Charlie was a puppet, and having puppets on the radio seemed to make sense at the time.
This episode of The Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy features Edward Everett Horton and Abbott & Costello as guests. It aired on May 3, 1942.
Enjoy Orson Welles’s production of the beloved “A Christmas Carol,” which aired on Christmas Eve in 1939.
Arsenic and Old Lace is a comedy thriller based on a true story. A New York newspaper drama critic discovers his two aunts are insane murderers! It aired in 1952.
Terry And The Pirates was adapted for radio from a 1934 comic strip of the same name by Milton Caniff. The radio show ran from 1937 to 1948. It was later adapted for TV in 1953. Terry and his associates fought villains throughout the Orient.
Terry And The Pirates was adapted for radio from a 1934 comic strip of the same name by Milton Caniff. The radio show ran from 1937 to 1948. It was later adapted for TV in 1953. Terry and his associates fought villains throughout the Orient.
The Life of Riley with William Bendix, “Thanksgiving with the Gillises,” which aired on November 29, 1947.
Our Miss Brooks was a radio sitcom that aired from 1948 to 1957. It was adapted for both television and a movie of the same name. This episode aired on December 5, 1949.
The Great Gildersleeve was a radio sitcom that aired from 1941 to 1958. It was a spin off of the popular radio program Fibber McGee and Molly. This episode aired on November 20, 1949.
Orson Welles- “The War of the Worlds,” which aired on October 30, 1938.
It’s time for our annual rebroadcast of Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds,” which aired on October 30, 1938. This legendary broadcast is one you don't want to miss! (Spoiler: It did not create the mass panic of legendary tales. Orson said it was fiction in the broadcast, and they took commercial breaks.)
The F.B.I. In Peace an War- The Traveling Man
Aired on the Mutual Network on June 10, 1953.
Mr. District Attorney- The Case of the Money Machine
Aired on the NBC Radio Network on April 11, 1951.
Vic and Sade
This classic series aired on radio from 1932 to 1946. This episode aired on October 26, 1946.
Inner Sanctum- The Vengeful Corpse
Broadcast on the CBS Radio Network on September 12, 1949.
Mel Johnson plays "the Hermit," an old man who lives in a cave and tells mysterious and thrilling stories. Aired on October 29, 1944.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's publication of "Wisteria Lodge," was dramatized by the BBC for radio broadcast.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's publication of "The Greek Interpreter," was dramatized by the BBC for radio broadcast.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1927 publication of "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place," was dramatized by the BBC for radio broadcast.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1926 publication of "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane," was dramatized by the BBC for radio broadcast.
Mystery In The Air- “The Queen of Spades,” starring Peter Lorre, which aired on September 11, 1947.
Mystery In The Air- “The Black Cat,” starring Peter Lorre, which aired on September 18, 1947.
Dragnet- “Big String,” which aired on January 18, 1953.
The Chesterfield cigarette ads are full of lies, by the way.
Gunsmoke- Brother Whelp
Aired November 18, 1956
Please don’t believe the cigarette ads.
Dragnet- “Big Small,” which aired on January 11, 1953.
The Chesterfield cigarette ads are full of lies, by the way.
Dragnet- “Big Eavesdrop,” which aired on December 14, 1952.
The Chesterfield cigarette ads are full of lies, by the way.
The Cisco Kid- Chained Lightening
Aired April 23, 1953
The Cisco Kid radio program was aimed at a younger audience. The Kid was a Mexican caballero portrayed as a Robin Hood type hero, often tangling with the greedy and rich who victimized the poor.
Thelegendary Orson Welles presents his adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," which aired on December 23, 1938
Cisco Kid- The Mummy In The Desert
Aired April 21, 1953
The Cisco Kid radio program was aimed at a younger audience. The Kid was a Mexican caballero portrayed as a Robin Hood type hero, often tangling with the greedy and rich who victimized the poor.
Red River by Howard Hawks.
This is a radio adaptation of the 1948 film which also starred John Wayne. It aired on March 7, 1949.
“Davy Crockett At The Alamo,” is part three of a three part album titled “Three Adventures of Davy Crockett.” Fess Parkers plays his iconic role as Crockett, and Buddy Ebsen plays the narrator, Georgie Russell. It has been digitized from the original vinyl, including all the pops, crackles, and skips. It is also wildly historically inaccurate, and contains obsolete and offensive language that was used in children’s stories by Walt Disney in 1958. Enjoy…?
“Davy Crockett Goes To Congress,” is part two of a three part album titled “Three Adventures of Davy Crockett.” Fess Parkers plays his iconic role as Crockett, and Buddy Ebsen plays the narrator, Georgie Russell. It has been digitized from the original vinyl, including all the pops, crackles, and skips. It is also wildly historically inaccurate, and contains obsolete and offensive language that was used in children’s stories by Walt Disney in 1958. Enjoy…?
“Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter,” is part one of a three part album titled “Three Adventures of Davy Crockett.” Fess Parkers plays his iconic role as Crockett, and Buddy Ebsen plays the narrator, Georgie Russell. It has been digitized from the original vinyl, including all the pops, crackles, and skips. It is also wildly historically inaccurate, and contains obsolete and offensive language that was used in children’s stories by Walt Disney in 1958. Enjoy…?
The Six Shooter is an old-time western starring Jimmy Stewart. “Holdup at Clay City” aired in 1953.
The Six Shooter is an old-time western starring Jimmy Stewart. “Gabriel Starbuck” originally aired on November 22, 1953.
It’s time for our annual rebroadcast of Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds,” which aired on October 30, 1938. This legendary broadcast is one you don't want to miss! (Spoiler: It did not create the mass panic of legendary tales. Orson said it was fiction in the broadcast, and they took commercial breaks.)
Lights Out was one of the earliest radio programs focusing on horror and the supernatural. It ran on several networks from 1934 to 1947 before making the transition to television. This episode, “Rocket From Manhattan,” was broadcast on September 20, 1945, and is set in the distant future year of… 2000!
Lights Out was one of the earliest radio programs focusing on horror and the supernatural. It ran on several networks from 1934 to 1947 before making the transition to television. This episode, “Oxychloride X,” was broadcast on January 26, 1938.
Frontier Gentleman was a Western series on CBS Radio geared towards an older audience. The show’s main character is Jeremy Brian Kendall, and Englishman who travels around the post Civil War United States. This episode, “Holiday,” aired on November 9, 1958.
Frontier Gentleman was a Western series on CBS Radio geared towards an older audience. The show’s main character is Jeremy Brian Kendall, and Englishman who travels around the post Civil War United States. This episode, “Nasty People,” aired on November 2, 1958.
“Fugue in C Minor,” starring the legendary Vincent Price and Ida Lupino, from the radio series SUSPENSE. It’s a great story about a pipe organ that was built throughout an entire house, and the reason it plays on its own. This episode aired on June 1, 1944.
“House in Cypress Canyon,” starring Robert Taylor, from the radio series SUSPENSE. This episode is widely considered one of the most terrifying shows broadcast during the Golden Age of Radio. A couple moves into a new rental house, and finds blood running from beneath a closet door… This episode aired on December 5, 1946.
Orson Welles- “Three Short Stories: I'm a Fool, The Open Window, and My Little Boy,” which aired on the Mercury Theatre on August 8, 1938.
Orson Welles- “Mr. Deeds Goes To Town,” which aired on the Campbell Playhouse on February 11, 1940.
Orson Welles- “Mutiny on the Bounty,” which aired on the Campbell Playhouse on January 13, 1939.
Orson Welles’ adaptation of “Abraham Lincoln,” a play by John Drinkwater which was based on Lincoln’s actual speeches and debates. It aired on August 15, 1938, and was part of the Mercury Theatre series.
The legendary Orson Welles’ adaptation of Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn,” broadcast on March 17, 1940, and starring Jackie Cooper. It was part of the Campbell Playhouse Series.
The exciting conclusion of Superman with Batman & Robin: "Dr. Bly's Confidence Gang," Chapters 12-14, which aired from September 23-27, 1945.
Superman with Batman & Robin: "Dr. Bly's Confidence Gang," Chapters 8-11, which aired from September 17-21, 1945.
Superman with Batman & Robin: "Dr. Bly's Confidence Gang," Chapters 4-7, which aired from September 10-14, 1945.
Superman with Batman & Robin: "Dr. Bly's Confidence Gang," Chapters 1-3, which aired from September 4-7, 1945.
In honor of April fools Day, we present “The Great Crepitation Contest of 1946,” the championship farting contest between Lord Windesmear and Paul Boomer. Although nobody is certain, this recording was most likely done in 1940 by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation sports announcer Sidney S. Brown and CBC producer Jules Lipton as an in-house joke. Someone at Columbia records pressed the recording onto a set of two 78 rpm records, including album art. The official release was nixed by CBS brass, but a few premium copies made it out to the public. Enjoy!
Ray Bradbury’s “The Martian Chronicles: Usher II,” narrated by the iconic Leonard Nimoy in 1975. The story was first published in 1950, and is based off of Edgar Allen Poe’s “House of Usher.”
Ray Bradbury’s “The Martian Chronicles: There Will Come Soft Rains,” narrated by the iconic Leonard Nimoy in 1975. The story was first published in 1950, and is about an automated mechanical house that continues to operate, unaware that there are no longer any occupants.
Dragnet- “Big Walk,” which aired on November 16, 1952. The obvious tape warble is on the original analog recording, and is unfortunately out of our control. Those are just the facts. Get it? Facts? Dragnet?
Dragnet- “Big Dive,” which aired on November 9, 1952. The obvious tape warble is on the original analog recording, and is unfortunately out of our control. Those are just the facts. Get it? Facts? Dragnet?
Dragnet- “Big Light,” which aired on November 2, 1952. The obvious tape warble is on the original analog recording, and is unfortunately out of our control. Those are just the facts. Get it? Facts? Dragnet?
Dragnet, Starring Jack Webb- “Big Number,” which aired on October 26, 1952. The original Chesterfield Cigarette advertisements are truly horrifying!
The Saint, starring Vincent Price- “Color Blind Killer,” which aired on September 18, 1949.
Dragnet, starring Jack Webb- “Big Pill,” which aired on October 19, 1952. The original Chesterfield Cigarette advertisements are truly horrifying!
Dragnet, starring Jack Webb- “Big Jolt,” which aired on October 5, 1952. The original Chesterfield Cigarette advertisements are truly horrifying!
The Saint, starring Vincent Price- “The Old Man’s Car,” which aired on August 14, 1949.
The Saint, starring Vincent Price- “Connelly Silver Mine,” which aired on July 31, 1949.
The Shadow- “Poison Death," which aired on January 30, 1938. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow knows!
The Shadow- “Society of the Living Dead," which aired on January 23, 1938. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow knows!
Best of legendary comedian W.C. Fields with the famous puppet Charlie McCarthy, because they had puppets on the radio back then. (Part 2 of 2)
Legendary comedians Fibber McGee & Molly- “Uncle Jefferson’s Fortune,” which aired on November 17,1942.
Best of legendary comedian W.C. Fields with the famous puppet Charlie McCarthy, because they had puppets on the radio back then. (Part 1 of 2)
Legendary comedians Fibber McGee & Molly- “Mrs. Uppington’s Nephew,” which aired on November 10,1942.
The Shadow- “The Temple Bells of Neban," which aired on October 24, 1937. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow knows!
The Shadow- “Bride of Death,” which aired on March 6, 1938. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow knows!
The Six Shooter starring Jimmy Stewart, “The Shooting of Wyatt King,” which aired on May 20, 1954.
Comedian Fred Allen welcomes his special guest, Frank Sinatra. Originally aired on May 16, 1943.
Comedian Fred Allen- The Musical “South Dakota,” which aired on June 11,1944. Check out the references to supporting the war effort during WWII.
The Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart. This radio dramatization of the film aired on July 3, 1946.
The Shadow- “Sabotage,” which aired on January 16, 1938. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow knows!
The Shadow- “The League of Terror,” which aired on January 9, 1938. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow knows!
Legendary comedian Jack Benny in “The Violin Concert Tour,” which aired on April 14, 1946.
Legendary comedian Jack Benny on his “Seventh Anniversary Show,” which aired on April 30, 1939.
Burns & Allen- The legendary team of George Burns and Gracie Allen in “The Cheap Skate,” which aired on March 31, 1949.