Information Please

In this Christmas Day 1944 broadcast of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads the panel from the Naval Hospital in St. Albans, New York, bringing holiday cheer to service members and listeners alike. Regular experts Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran are joined by special guests Fred Allen, the famed radio comedian, and Judge James G. Wallace of the New York Court of General Sessions.

The panel tackles a wide-ranging set of listener-submitted questions covering advertising slogans, classic songs, literary quotations, and colorful moments from theatrical and boxing history. Fred Allen’s sharp wit keeps the room lively, while the experts puzzle through riddles about Gilbert and Sullivan lyrics, the traditional “birthday” of racehorses, and the origins of familiar catchphrases.

Highlights include musical clues that lead the panel to sing well-known tunes, humorous speculation about whether one would dare play cards with fictional characters like Clark Kent, and stories from vaudeville and early stage acts involving unusual props—from ham sandwiches to ears of corn.

Broadcast in a festive wartime setting and closing with a heartfelt holiday message to servicemen and women, this episode blends trivia, laughter, and seasonal goodwill—capturing the spirit of Christmas with the quick minds and camaraderie that made Information Please a radio classic.

In this February 5, 1945, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman welcomes regular panelists Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by special guests Clifton Webb and Moss Hart, both prominent figures of the stage and screen. The evening blends literary wit, theatrical insight, music, and art in a fast-moving session of cultural trivia and spirited banter.

Highlights include a lively debate over animal footprints and toe counts, musical excerpts ranging from Carmen and Faust to Show Boat, and quotations from Shakespeare and other poets. The panel also tackles classic New Yorker cartoons, youthful troublemakers in contemporary plays like Tomorrow the World, The Philadelphia Story, and Junior Miss, and artistic connections linking figures such as Gene Tunney, Alicia Markova, and Earl Sande to painters like George Bellows and Degas.

Webb and Hart shine with quick humor and theatrical flair, trading barbs and stories while demonstrating impressive knowledge of opera, literature, and Broadway. With its signature blend of intellectual challenge and show-business sparkle, this episode captures Information Please at its witty and urbane best.

In this October 23, 1944, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes a uniquely cultured panel featuring virtuoso pianist Artur Rubinstein and celebrated author and lecturer Lewis Browne, alongside series regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. Together, they dive into a rich mix of history, music, and literature, wrapped in the show’s trademark humor and intellectual charm.

Highlights include Rubinstein’s musical insights on European royal houses, Browne’s knowledge of philosophers like Spinoza and European monarchies, and a spirited discussion of famous paintings of nudes. The panel also tackles questions on linguistic etymologies, operatic influences, legendary conquerors from Genghis Khan to Napoleon, and literary characters in unlikely judicial roles.

Whether parsing poetry about glory or recalling fictional foods with heavenly praise, this episode offers a delightful blend of highbrow wit and cultural curiosity. Don’t miss this wide-ranging and engaging hour of Information Please!

In this September 11, 1944, season premiere of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes poet and Mrs. Miniver creator Jan Struther and actor Alexander Knox—acclaimed for his role as Woodrow Wilson—alongside beloved regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. Originally slated to appear, Wendell Willkie sends his regrets due to illness, offering a touching note that opens the episode.

Highlights include matching musical pieces to aristocratic titles like “Prince,” “Count,” and “King,” revealing the literary and historical depths of terms like “miniver,” and exploring everything from philosophical conflicts and naval history to political trivia. Knox impresses with keen historical knowledge, while Struther charms with literary wit and cross-Atlantic perspective.

This episode blends a warm welcome back with cultural insights and humor, kicking off a new season of Information Please with signature flair. Tune in for music, monarchy, and meaningful conversation!

In this March 20, 1944, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman brings a unique political twist to the panel, welcoming Senate Majority Leader Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky and Senator Theodore Green of Rhode Island, alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. The blend of legislative insight and literary wit makes for an unusually rich and lively episode.

The panel tackles a diverse range of questions—from tie votes in government branches and the literary uses of generals' names, to Buddhist immortals and poetic forms like heroic and free verse. Senator Barkley impresses with his deep knowledge of political history and campaign trivia, while Senator Green brings surprising expertise on Buddhist theology and Roman history. Musical moments include identifying presidential campaigns based on themed songs, and the group also delves into colorful phrases like “coffin corner” and “flying coffin.”

With a blend of humor, erudition, and political flair, this episode offers a memorable foray into trivia, governance, and culture. Tune in for a statesmanlike spin on intellectual amusement on Information Please!

In this February 28, 1944, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a witty and illuminating panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Oscar Levant, and special guest Franchot Tone, the accomplished screen actor known for his recent role in Phantom Lady. Together, they explore a lively assortment of cultural and historical trivia with spirited exchanges and laughs.

Highlights of the episode include identifying beauty treatments suggested by classic songs, decoding literary proposals in honor of Leap Year, and translating fancy French dishes into their literal meanings—resulting in a menu that features everything from a "pot on the fire" to a "song crown." Tone impresses with his knowledge of American Revolutionary figures and quotes Henley from a past film role. The group also dissects opera serenades, newspaper-named poetry, and unique marital customs from classic literature.

Blending charm, intellect, and humor, this episode showcases the panel's chemistry and Franchot Tone’s quick wit. Tune in for a delightful hour of education and entertainment on Information Please!

In this January 24, 1944, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes novelist Elizabeth Janeway and composer and music critic Deems Taylor to join regulars John Kieran and Franklin P. Adams. The panel dives into a rich mix of literature, music, history, and natural science, delivering sharp insights and plenty of laughter.

Highlights include literary love triangles featuring Heathcliff, Aeneas, and H. M. Pulham, a musical analysis of how Germany might collapse—by Allied invasion, Russian advance, and revolution—using Beethoven, Lvoff, and Chopin. The experts also identify poets and criminals, from Cellini to Ezra Pound, and explore whimsical poetry lines referencing distance, color, and even baby cereal. Deems Taylor’s musical expertise shines, while Janeway offers literary sharpness and dry wit.

With clever banter, historical tidbits, and unexpected knowledge (like kinkajous in bars and butterfly mimicry), this episode offers another brilliant installment of intellectual entertainment on Information Please.