From May 28, 1953 Crime Classics presents "John Hayes - His Head and How They Were Parted" Elliot Lewis was the multi-talented creator of this series that focused on actual crimes committed as early as the 1600's. He did extensive research to make the facts as accurate as possible and even included the dialog, social behaviors, etc. of the times in which the crimes occurred ... which led to a very authentic listening experience. Lou Merrill played the narrator, Thomas Hyland... and he was so good at it... most people thought "Thomas Hyland" was playing himself! Excellent series... one of our favorites for the use of subtle humor in what was generally a situation that did not invite humor!

NBC began airing the Biography in Sound documentary series in 1954 with Winston Churchill as it's first subject. The show was wildly acclaimed as being an excellent example of what radio did best. This track is the Biography of Babe Ruth. It was aired on Aug. 16, 1955... just 7 years after George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. had died. If you are a baseball fan, you will thoroughly enjoy this excellent radio documentary.

Incidentally the Babe had many nicknames including: "The Great Bambino", "The Sultan of Swat", "The Colossus of Clout", and "The King Of Crash".

On the air for 23 years with over 1500 fifteen minute episodes preserved... Chester Lauck and Norris Goff played Lum 'n Abner ... and whole lot of other characters on this classic folksy-comedy show. Set in the town of Pine Ridge, Arkansas - the show highlights wonderful stories of a small town in the Appalachian Mtns. Using dialects of the country folks... the told simple, sometimes touching, and always entertaining stories. Lum 'n Abner... 1931-54. "Hunting the Lion in Pine Ridge" was aired on Jan 2, 1933 and "Lum 'n Abner Sell Their Oil Well To Mr. Carter" - aired on January 4, 1935.

Hollywood stars did not get any bigger than Humphrey Bogart and Laure Bacall and to have both of them star in an high adventure mystery show was "icing on the cake" for this syndicated series that ran from 1951-55. Join them in Bold Venture...with the episode entitled The Kuan Yin Statue. Sail the Caribbean with Bogart and Bacall on board their boat, The Bold Venture... it is pure "Bogie" and "Baby"!

Considered one of the best horror stories heard on radio, this Marcy 17, 1950 is thought to be the best performance by Vincent Price on the show Escape. You will also recognize the voice of William Conrad (TV's Canon and radio's Matt Dillon) with the famous opening dialog of the show as well as playing a character role in the story. An isolated light house... the keeper of the light... a ghost ship washes ashore... but the only passengers on board are RATS.... thousands of them... and they are hungry... they are very, very hungry! Listen to this with the lights out!

Harry James and his Orchestra are highlighted as Coca Cola's "Band of the Week" with the best=selling record in the USA... a remote broadcast from Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook in Cedar Grove, NJ. Singer Helen Forrest is featured... and The Music Makers play "You Made Me Love You," "Tangerine," "He's -1-A in the Army and others. Broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System and also aired on the Armed Forces Radio Service to our troops overseas during WW II. Terrific Big Band music on this track!

Broadcast to our troops overseas, this Armed Forces Radio Service shortwave broadcast was designed to raise the morale of our troops serving during WW II. The show was "Spotlight - Bands" and each week focused the light on a different band. In this July 24, 1943 show, the band belongs to Xavier Cugat... Lots of Latin Rhythms in this show!

One of the most important popularizers of rock and roll during the '50s, Alan Freed (also known as Moondog) was the first disc jockey and concert producer of rock and roll. Often credited with coining the term rock and roll in 1951, ostensibly to avoid the stigma attached to R&B and so called race music, Freed opened the door to white acceptance of black music, avoiding white cover versions in favor of the R&B originals. Broadcasting from WABC... this track is from 1956.

Jubilee is an AFRS radio program that featured African-American musicians and singers. It was broadcast to servicemen via AFRS from 1942 to 1953. Jubilee was conceived at least in part as a morale-building service for African-American troops overseas. The wartime host was Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman. The music is tremendous in this August 2, 1943 version of Jubilee... Only runs about 15 minutes.

Armed Forces Radio Service 1955 broadcast of All Star Bands with guest musician the one and only Louis Armstrong... recorded on Basin St. in New Orleans and aired on May 5, 1955.