It is as if Jack Webb was practicing to become Detective Joe Friday on the classic "Dragnet" series, but in this series he is Jeff Regan, Private Investigator who works for a man named Anthony Lyons. They called Regan, "the Lyon's eye" The cases were tough, but so wasn't Regan. If you are familiar with Dragnet, you will hear the cadence and inflection in Webb's voice and clearly recognize that it very much like that of Detective Joe Friday's Dragnet... a series that followed after Jeff Regan. The show is "House by the Sea"

For 7 decades Mae West (1893-1978) made quite an impression on American and European culture. She was named 15th among the greatest female stars of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute. She had her problems with the culture... mostly centered around censorship because she pushed the limits with brash wit and risque sexual references. On this track you will hear an edited version of the famous Dec. 12, 1937 Chase and Sanborn Hour show with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy... with host Don Ameche... it was as a result of this program Mae West was banned from radio appearances for 12 years! The famous "Adam and Eve" sketch and a skit with Mae and Charlie McCarthy (Ventriloquist, Edgar Bergen's dummy). The radio show has been edited down to about 25 minutes from the 60 minute show to feature mostly the segments with Mae West. Following the show, I edited together a 2 min or so segment of some of Mae West's most famous quotes taken from movie clips. Hope you enjoy the chance to listen to this icon radio. theater, tv and motion pictures. She certainly was way ahead of her time. The humor that offended so many groups at the time, now seems so harmless! Thanks for listening to Heirloom Radio. We can also be found on Itunes Here:https://exit.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fheirloom-radio%2Fid1301435472%3Fmt%3D2

Guest Star was a 1940's-50's United States Treasury Department public service radio program. The purpose of the show was to encourage people to invest in Savings Bonds. The money was needed to pay for WW II and the debt that had resulted after the war. The show featured a large number of famous guest stars... actors, comedians, and singers. This show features vocalist Jo Stafford. and the StarLighters ... Paul Weston Orchestra. Songs: Buttons and Bows, The Best Years of our Lives, Down By The Station, Dancing in the Dark, That Old Black Magic

This is a track of an Australian 1950's-60's very popular comedy series entitled "Life with Dexter" starring Willie Fennell. He plays the role of Dexter Dutton and is described as a traditional suburban chap and a very lovable dingbat. To give you something to compare to, Gracie Allen of "Burns and Allen" was often referred to as a "dingbat"... but of course in real life both Gracie and Willie Fennell were very accomplished writers, producers and actors. Enjoy this brief foray into the "Foreign" old time radio history on Heirloom Radio. We are also heard on Itunes here: https://exit.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fheirloom-radio%2Fid1301435472%3Fmt%3D2

This track features an Australian episode of the very popular series "Dossier on Dumetrius" There is an introduction to the show by Reginald James, an Australian Radio historian who talks a bit about some of the favorite programs from America that Australians listened to in the 1940s and 50's then introduces "Dossier on Dumetrius" as the best of the best of Australian espionage-spy dramas. Can be heard on Itunes here: https://exit.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fheirloom-radio%2Fid1301435472%3Fmt%3D2

An effort to invigorate radio drama in the 1980s of Australia... this western-type program was very popular and was aired many, many times. Radio historian Reginald James gives a brief introduction to the series and then listeners will hear a week's worth of approximately 9 minute episodes edited together back to back. Excellent series. Well written, acted, with superb attention to production details like sound effects and music. Wish I had more of these! Can also be heard on Itunes here:https://exit.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fheirloom-radio%2Fid1301435472%3Fmt%3D2

Jack Benny was born Benjamin Kubelsky on Valentine's Day February 14, 1894. On this February 14th show in 1937 he is 43... but he stopped adding years when he was "39" . So for every year after 1933 he was 39. He celebrated his 39th birthday 41 times. When he passed in 1974 newspapers across the country printed "Jack Benny Dies at Age 39". In this show we have Andy Devine and Ben Bernie as guests. Cast includes Mary Livingston, Phil Harris, Kenny Baker, Don Wilson. The show is centered around celebrating Jack's birthday... Kenny baked a cake, Mary baked a potato, Don gives jack a Jell-O. Mary reads a birthday poem. Jokes are made about Fred Allen... all in all the show is a lot of fun to listen to even today... which is why Jack Benny is considered by many to have been the greatest comedian. Happy Birthday, Jack! Can be heard on Itunes here: https://exit.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fheirloom-radio%2Fid1301435472%3Fmt%3D2

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" and this popular mystery began. Created by Harry Charlot, The Shadow, Lamont Cranston, learned the oriental secret of how to make himself invisible and used this knowledge to track down and bring justice a variety of evil-doers. His secretary, Margo Lane (played by a number of different actresses like Agnes Moorhead and Grace Matthews... more) was the only one who could hear the Shadow speak. In this episode from 1948 the Shadow attempts to solve the crime of The Nursery Rhyme Murders! Incidentally, when people who have never heard old time radio because they were born years (decades) after radio drama ended on regular broadcasts, are asked "What was the most popular show on radio?" and almost all of them answer, "The Shadow!" It WAS a popular show. Ran from 1930-1954!

Bandleader Ozzie Nelson and his vocalist wife Harriet Hilliard had two sons, David and Ricky. They began their radio show on CBS in 1944. For the 1st five years David and Ricky were played by actors because the boys were too young. David and Ricky made their radio debut on February 20, 1949. The show bounced around from ABC to NBC to CBS and back to ABC where it ended in 1953 so that the TV series could begin. This was a feel good family situation comedy and this show is no exception. It was their 1949 Valentine show just one week before the Nelson's real-life sons came on the series. Lots of fun to listen to... enjoy and thanks for tuning into Heirloom Radio!

A very classy radio production adapted from William Shakespeare's "Beware the Ides of March" - NBC University Theater on the Air debuted in 1948 and ran until 1951 on NBC of course! It was an hour-long dramatic anthology series that presented great works of literature and was required listening for many college students who could actually earn credits for listening and participating in classroom work based on a particular show. Practically every radio actor in New York City performed on this series. It was considered very classy. Unfortunately having to pay high salaries to BIG STARS is one reason why the show could not sustain itself, especially as it started just about the time TV was getting a good grip on the mass media market. With March coming up.,.. this is a good time to listen to this show. Thanks for listening to Heirloom Radio... I do appreciate it.