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

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

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

Another episode of this amazingly well done series recreating the stories of some of the most known crimes in history... Starring Elliot Lewis as the amazing narrator, Thomas Hyland. He leads listeners through the event with just the right amount of seriousness and the occasional dry humor. This is one of several Crime Classic episode here on Heirloom Radio on Soundcloud.com. It is entitled The Bloody Bloody Banks of Fall River and was originally broadcast on Sept. 30, 1953. This is the story of Lizzy Borden. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heirloomradio You can also listen on Itunes here:https://exit.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fheirloom-radio%2Fid1301435472%3Fmt%3D2

Elliot Lewis stars as Thomas Hyland, the narrator, who presents some of the worst crimes in history as they are re-enacted on this popular CBS radio series from the mid 1950's. The stories were based on authentic records such as newspapers, police reports and court documents. Meticulous attention was paid to dialects, music, and sound effects to make the story as realistic as possible... but Hyland adds a bit of dry humor to the tale as well. Superbly done and one of several Crime Classics episodes posted on Heirloom Radio and Itunes. This episode is "The Axe and the Droot Family and How They Fared" from August 10, 1953. Visit us at www.facebook.com/heirloomradio. Also available on Itunes Podcast under Heirloom Radio.

A compilation of 3 (12 min each) tracks from the Palladium Radio Production of "The Planet Man' - 78 Episodes created in early 1950's, only 76 have been found. Episodes 1 and 4 missing, so in this first posting you will find Epi 2, 3, and 5. Epi 2: Let's Orbit the Moon; Epi 3: Dantro Explains the Use of the Cosmic Communicator; Epi 5: Marston of Mars is Planning an Attack on Earth. Juvenile Sci-Fi in manner of Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. Many think it was aired 1952-53 in syndication. Lots of fun to listen to.. like TV Batman series. "Golly-gee-willikers" tale of Dantro, an Intergalactic Troubleshooter who works for The League of Planets... the law enforcement body for peace and justice in the celestial world." Thanks to Old Time Radio Researchers organization as the resource for this series. (www.otrr.org). This can also be heard on Itunes. I will post more of the series in sequence. Enjoy. Find us at www.facebook.com/heirloomradio

Martha Wilkerson (AKA GI Jill) hosted two shows on the Armed Forces Radio Service. One was "G.I. Jive" and the other was "Jill's All-Time Jukebox". The shows ran concurrently and were extremely popular during WW II and after. Martha was a DJ and each week mixed records of some of the top favorite hits of the military and civilian audiences. In this 1945 show you will hear Tommy Dorsey, King Cole Trio, The US Navy Band (playing "On the Sunny Side of the Street" - excellent!), Will Bradly, Russ Columbo , and Glenn Miller Orchestra with "Volga Boatman"

Jean Hersholt was perfectly cast in the medical soap opera series that ran on CBS radio from Nov. 7, 1937 to Jan. 6, 1954. A 17 year run on any form of mass media is quite a remarkable tribute to the quality of the plots, actors, and production values. Hersholt played Dr. Paul Christian, an obstetrician (based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe who delivered and cared for the Dionne Quintuplets). He was a Midwestern country doctor. His nurse was Judy Price (played by Rosemary DeCamp, Lurene Tuttle and others). He was a kind an gentle doctor who made house calls and cared for the whole person... physical and emotional. He had a good sense of humor, common sense, and good medical training. He often helped patients and their families with personal problems. This was a popular show. Sponsor was Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. One other note... the show solicited scripts from listeners and chose one script to perform every year with a prize of $2000 awarded to the writer and several $500 prizes to runner ups. Some of the winners were Rod Serling (Twilight Zone) and Earl Hamner, Jr. (The Waltons). Hersholt was so strongly identified with this role that he often received mail asking for medical advice. This track features a Valentines Day theme... My True Valentine.

On this 1953 production of the Oscar Hammerstein - Jerome Kern musical, Show Boat, that was introduced on Broadway in 1927... we have Gordon MacRae (host and star of The Railroad Hour) and Dorothy Kirsten and Lucille Norman costarring. When it comes to music on the Mississippi river, the Cotton Blossom Show Boat is the place to go. When musical main attraction Julie Lavern and her husband are suddenly forced to leave the show, Cotton Blossom owner, Andy Hawks' own daughter, Magnolia takes the center stage. She soon falls madly in love with a roguish gambler Gaylord Ravenal, and the two leave the Cotton Blossom on a honeymoon - entering into a tumultuous marriage. Some hit songs: Ol' Man River, Make Believe, Why Do I Love You? and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man. The Railroad hour ran from Oct. 1948 until June of 1954. McCrae was only 27 at the start of the series. The show never ran for an "Hour"... it survived first as a 45 minute show, then, in order to save money, was cut to 30 minutes. Not much time for dialog, but a lot of good music. MacRae had an incredible voice. He eventually went on to star in several motion pictures... Oklahoma, Carousel, Tea for Two, Desert Song, Starlift, 3 Sailors and a Girl, West Point Story and more. Gordon MacRae passed away in 1986 at the age of 64 from oral cancer and pneumonia.

My third track from "The Railroad Hour" here on Soundcloud.com.

The Railroad Hour was a radio series of musical dramas and comedies broadcast from 1948 to 1954. Sponsored by the Association of American Railroads, the series condensed musicals and operettas to shorter lengths, concentrating on those written before 1943. Earliest versions of the series ran 45 minutes, but cost cutting led to a 30 minute "Hour"... it never ran for 60 minutes. Singer-actor Gordon MacRae starred. He began at just 27 years of age. Marvin Miller was the announcer. Warren Barker, at the age of 24, was appointed chief arranger for The Railroad Hour, a position he held for six years. The show's musical director was Carmen Dragon. With its theme song, "I've Been Working on the Railroad", the series began on ABC but on April 25, 1949, it moved to NBC for a run until June 21, 1954. On both networks it aired Monday evenings at 8 pm. This track features the radio musical adaptation of Rogers-Hammerstein's "State Fair" Notable Songs: It Might As Well Be Spring, That's For Me, Our State Fair. Lucille Norman co-stars (Photo with Gordon MacRae)