In 1914 author Jack Boyle created the character of "Boston Blackie" in a short story published in The American Magazine. By 1918 there was a silent movie based on Boston Blackie. Beginning in 1941 through 1949 there were 14 movies made based on Blackie. In 1944 Chester Morris played Boston Blackie in a radio show that was the summer replacement for Amos and Andy. In June of 1944 Richard Kollmar took over the role and stayed with it until the series ended in 1950. Lesley Woods and Jan Miner played Mary Wesley. Maurice Tarplin, Richard Lane and Frank Orth played Inspector Faraday. The program on this track features Richard Kollmar as Boston Blackie. More such episodes in the "Mystery Detective Crime" Playlist.

Debuting on Detroit's WXYZ radio station, The Lone Ranger began its 22 year run on radio... 2956 Episodes! The photo is of Clayton Moore, who was the television and motion picture Lone Ranger, but in this episode "Kansas Kid And Stagecoach Murders," Earl Graser plays the role. Graser was not the first Lone Ranger, but he was the one who created the baritone deep-voice of the masked man. Unfortunately, Earl Graser was killed in an auto accident on April 8, 1941. He had been the Lone Ranger for 8 years. For the five episodes following his death, the Lone Ranger was unable to speak beyond a whisper... Tonto carried the dialog. The producers were trying to find an actor who sounded like Earl Graser... On April 18th, 1941, Brace Beemer, who had been the show's deep-voiced announcer for several years, became The Lone Ranger on radio. So ride with us now to the west with the Lone Ranger in a program originally broadcast on Feb 9, 1938 "Kansas Kid and Stagecoach Murders" starring Earl Graser and John Todd (Tonto). More episodes in the "Westerns" Playlist

The series best known for its opening exchange between Henry and his mother... listen for it! This episode features Bobby Ellis as Henry Aldrich and Jackie Kelk (Photo Left) as his best friend Homer Brown. Henry and Homer are paid for their summer jobs in corn instead of money. They try to get rid of the twelve bushels of corn while waiting for the price of corn to fluctuate! They hope to make a killing in the Corn Market... but will they? Listen and find out! More Aldrich Family in the "Comedy" Playlist.

With a nearly 5 year run on CBS radio, J. Carroll Naish portrayed an Italian immigrant, Luigi Basco as he arrives in America and works very hard to become a good American citizen. The many "bumps" in the road to becoming a citizen are cleverly woven into this delightful comedy series. Supporting cast includes Alan Reed (Pasquale), Hans Conreid (Schultz), Mary Shipp (Miss Spaulding), Jimmy (Gil Stratton) and Horowitz and Olsen played respectively by Joe Forte and Ken Peters. More episodes of "Life with Luigi" are found in the "Comedy" Playlist.

Armed Forces Radio - 1943 broadcast of "GI-Jive" hosted by Martha Wilkerson (Photo) aka "GI-Jill" - This program was dedicated to the United States Navy. Artists and Name of Songs in order of appearance:

Benny Goodman Trio: "Honeysuckle Rose" / Skinnay Ennis Orch: "Bugle Call Rag" / Bing Crosby & Trudy Erwin: "Oh! What A Beautiful Mornin' " / Glen Gray Orch: "Birmingham Special". This and more shows like it can be found in the "GI-Jive GI-Jill" Playlist on this podcast. Heirloom Radio... A different kind of oldies program.

Aired on the Armed Forces Radio Service from 1944-46, this mystery drama series featured Peter Lorre as the announcer and was made up of some of the best mystery radio shows in sort of a compilation over its two year run. The Lady in the Morgue is an excellent example from this series that was quite popular with the troops overseas during WW II and after. This track will be placed in the "Mystery Detective Crime" Playlist.

One of my favorite sitcoms both on radio and television was Madison High School's Connie Brooks... the English Teacher... Our Miss Brooks. This sitcom with an incredibly talented supporting cast of Richard Crenna, Gale Gordon, Jeff Chandler, Jane Morgan, Gloria McMillan, Leonard Smith, Mary Jane Croft, Isabel Randolph, and Minerva (Mrs. Davis's cat) made this show one of the most popular comedies on radio. It had a 9 year run on CBS from 1948-57. From 1952-56 it was adapted for television and lasted much longer in re-runs. More "Our Miss Brooks" in the "Comedy" playlist.

Another episode from the extremely popular CBS Radio program "Dr. Christian" starring Jean Hersholt. The series ran 17 years on radio (1937-56) and in 1956 the series was produced as a syndicated television program until 1957. The character of Dr. Christian played by Jean Hersholt was based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the obstetrician who delivered and cared for the Dionne Quintuplets. Holt had starred in a movie "The Country Doctor" (1936) playing a Dr. John Luke who was based on Dr. Dafoe. When the radio show was proposed to CBS they tried to use the name Dr. John Luke, but could not get the rights to it. So Hersholt, being a fan of Hans Christian Anderson's work, borrowed that name for his character... Dr. Paul Christian. More "Dr. Christian" on our "Medical - Soap Opera" playlist in this podcast.

Where's Jeffrey? returns after a long hiatus! Author Ronnie Tomanio writes the scripts about the journey of his cat, Jeffrey(aka Jeff Bob) as he seeks to release his true love Betty the Pelican from the zoo. He must take the Cat Train with Ronnie to the zoo, but on the way he meets Sid, who has his false teeth in backwards. Otto who accidentally brings the train to a sudden stop by spilling hot coffee on the engineer... and then there is Larry the Policeman, who accidentally is bitten by Sid's false teeth... and they haven't even arrived at the zoo yet! Voices and sound effects by John Lovering.

Another GI-Jive program from 1943 with guest DJ, film star Carol Bruce (Photo). This show celebrates "Navy Day" and features the following artists and the songs they play in order of appearance: Duke Ellington Orch. : Good Queen Bees; Rex Irving's Modern Men of Music: Babushka Hop; Jimmy Dorsey: Don't Be That Way; Red Nichols Orch.: King KongThis track and many more like it can be found in the "GI-Jive, GI-Jill" Playlist