The OTRNow Radio Program 2024-034


Benny Goodman and His Orchestra. October 27, 1937. CBS net. Sustaining. A band remote from The Madhattan Room of The Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City. The first tune is, "When Buddha Smiles.". Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Mel Allen (announcer), Martha Tilton (vocal), Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, Ziggy Elman.

My Friend Irma. December 01, 1947. CBS net. Sponsored by: Swan, Spry. After Irma and Al find a handbag on the street, they try to return it to the owner. This causes a mix-up with petty cash from Jane's office. Marie Wilson, Cathy Lewis, John Brown, Leif Erickson, Hans Conried, Frank Bingman (announcer), Cy Howard (creator, writer, producer, director). 

The Bill Stern Colgate Sports Newsreel. September 12, 1942. NBC net. Sponsored by: Colgate Shave Cream. Bill Stern, Harry James. 

The N.K. Musical Showroom. October 24, 1945. CBS net, KNX, Los Angeles aircheck. Sponsored by: Nash, Kelvinator. The first tune is, "Strike Up The Band, Here Comes A Sailor." The girls also sing, "Take It Away," "Gotta Be This Or That" and "The Lullabye Of Broadway." Guest Lou Holtz tells jokes about his pal "Lapidus.". The Andrews Sisters, Curt Massey, Vic Schoen and His Orchestra, Andre Baruch (announcer), Lou Holtz.

 Casey, Crime Photographer. January 29, 1948. CBS net. "The Piggy Bank Robbery". Sponsored by: Anchor Hocking Glass. Bill Shapiro, cub photographer, has been beaten up after his son's piggy bank has been robbed! The key to the mystery...is a key! Ethelbert the bartender observes that the president of CBS has predicted that some day radios will be small enough to wear on one's wrist!. Alonzo Deen Cole (writer), Archie Bleyer (music), Bill Adams, Herman Chittison (piano), Jan Miner, John Dietz (director), John Gibson, Staats Cotsworth, Tony Marvin (announcer), George Harmon Coxe (creator). 

Suspense. September 02, 1942. CBS net. "The Hitch-hiker". Sustaining. One of the great supernatural stories ever on radio, a modern classic. A cross country motorist sees a man by the side of the road, with spots of fresh rain on his shoulder!. Lucille Fletcher (writer), Orson Welles, William Spier (producer, director), Bernard Herrmann (composer, conductor), John Dietz (guest director), John Brown (?), Berry Kroeger (announcer).

It's Time To Smile. January 15, 1941. Red net. Sponsored by: Ipana, Sal Hepatica. Eddie's opening monologue is about winter sports and skiing. Dinah Shore sings, "Number Ten, Lullaby Lane." Eddie is in charge of his own motion picture company and guest Phil Harris is going to star in his next picture. Eddie Cantor, Dinah Shore, Cookie Fairchild and His Orchestra, Phil Harris, Harry Von Zell (announcer).

Love Story. August 13, 1937. Program #21. MacGregor and Sollie syndication, RCA transcription. "Devil Wind". Sponsored by: Music fill for local commercial insert.

Radio Guild. April 13, 1940. Blue Network. "The Ineffable Essence Of Nothing". Sustaining. "A fantasy for radio." A truly creative experiment in radio drama, and thoroughly enjoyable. A man walks through an enchanted doorway into his own future. The script was broadcast twice previously in 1938, "the second performace in its second version.". Ian Martin, Ian MacAllaster, Ranald MacDougall (writer), Eric Dressler, Howard Smith, Harry Nevel, Lotte Stavisky, Kay Lee, Gene Hamilton (? announcer)

Rogers Of The Gazette. June 10, 1953. CBS net. Sustaining. Will is planning to write a story about Lance O'Neill, Illyria's famous artist, despite the opposition of the powerful Mrs. Hannibal. No music cues. The date above is possibly the recording date, July 8, 1953 is possibly the broadcast date. See cat. #65176 for the final show with music cues. Will Rogers Jr., E. Jack Neuman (writer), Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Byron Kane, John Dehner, Mary McGovern, Howard McNear, Bob Lemond (announcer), Norman Macdonnell (producer, director), Walter Brown Neuman (writer).

Rocky Fortune. February 16, 1954. NBC net. "One Husband Too Many". Sustaining. Fine cops and robbers with Frank in a straight non-singing role. Well-written and fine Sinatra. A case of too many husbands after Rocky is hired by a beautiful woman to kill her husband...for $5000!. Frank Sinatra, Betty Lou Gerson, Barney Phillips, Norm Sickle (writer), Andrew C. Love (director), John Stevenson, Maurice Hart

Suspicion_1935_e001_Double_Cross

The Shadow. September 26, 1937. Mutual net. "The Death House Rescue". Sponsored by: Blue Coal. The first show of the series with "The Shadow" as a force against crime and not just a phantom announcer. Just before an innocent man is to be executed for murder, The Shadow uses mental telepathy to get the goods on the real killers. A good show with an intelligent plot. Orson Welles, Agnes Moorehead, William Johnstone, Jeanette Nolan, Ray Collins (triples), Paul Stewart, Elia Kazan, Everett Sloane (quadruples), Paul Huber (commercial spokesman), Frank Readick (opening and closing voice), Arthur Whiteside (announcer), Edward Hale Bierstadt (writer), Elsie Thompson (organist), Clark Andrews (producer), Martin Gabel (director), Edith Meiser (story editor), Walter B. Gibson (story consultant), J. R. Poppele (sound engineer), Thomas Coffin Cooke (commercial spokesman, as "John Barclay"), Walter Gibson (writer). 

TOTAL TIME: 2:53:47.643
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

Maxwell House Coffee Time. September 26, 1946. NBC net. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee, Birdseye Foods. George and Gracie go on a quiz show to win new appliances. They're going to appear on, "It Pays To Be A Schnook," but wind up on Kay Kyser's show instead. Kay Kyser sounds like he is being impersonated. The Maxwell House production commercial is based on, "Ramona.". George Burns, Gracie Allen, Meredith Willson and His Orchestra, Frank Nelson, Bill Goodwin, Kay Kyser (?), Mel Blanc, Paul Henning (writer), Keith Fowler (writer).


Frontier Gentleman. February 02, 1958. CBS net. "South Sunday". Sustaining. The first show of the series. Kendall takes on the entire Shelton gang in a small town in the Montana Territory. Parts of the public service announcements have been deleted. The story titles given for this series are subject to correction, in fact, the series may not have story titles at all. John Dehner, Jack Kruschen, Harry Bartell, Barney Phillips, Virginia Gregg, Stacy Harris, Johnny Jacobs (announcer), Antony Ellis (creator, writer, producer, director), Jerry Goldsmith (composer, conductor).

The Lux Radio Theatre. October 11, 1937. CBS net. "Stella Dallas". Sponsored by: Lux. The third anniversary show of the series. A tearful story of mother love and sacrifice, "soon to be made into a radio serial.". Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, Anne Shirley, Barbara O'Neil, Bruce Satterlee, Cecil B. DeMille, Dickie Jones, Elia Braca (doubles), Frank Nelson (doubles, commercial spokesman, program opening announcer), Grace Kern (doubles), Hudson Faussett (doubles), Jack Egger, James Eagles (doubles), Joan Taylor (doubles, commercial spokesman), Lou Merrill, Louis Silvers (music director), Margaret Brayton (triples), Margaret McKay (doubles), Mary Lansing (doubles), Melville Ruick (announcer), Ross Forrester (doubles), Sada Cowan (doubles), Teresa Harris (doubles), Wallis Roberts (doubles), Sarah Y. Mason (screenwriter), Victor Heerman (screenwriter), Harry Wagstaff (adaptor), Gertrude Purcell (adaptor), Joe Bigelow (additional dialogue), Frances Marion (screenwriter), Olive Higgins Prouty (author), T. Keith Glennon (intermission guest: operations manager for Paramount), Frank Woodruff (director), George Wells (adaptor), Charlie Forsyth (sound effects). 

Crime Classics. December 3, 1952. CBS net. "The Crime Of Bathsheba Spooner". Sustaining. An audition recording. The script was used for the first show of the series on June 15, 1953. The story of the first woman tried and executed in the United states. Lou Merrill (host), Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), Bernard Herrmann (composer, conductor), Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Mary Jane Croft, William Johnstone, Tudor Owen, Georgia Ellis, Herb Butterfield, Ben Wright, Sam Edwards.

Lights Out. March 09, 1943. Program #21. CBS net origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "The Ball". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. A ghastly story of the headless, walking dead. Syndicated program name: "The Devil and Mr. O." The story is also known as, "Paris Macabre." See cat. #77942 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. Arch Oboler (writer, host), Bea Benaderet, Jane Morgan.

TOTAL TIME: 2:59:13.184
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

The Kraft Music Hall. May 01, 1941. NBC net. Sponsored by: Kraft Miracle Whip, Kraft Malted Milk. The first tune is, "With A Twist Of The Wrist." Guest Pat O'Brien makes his ninth appearance on the show, as a third base businessman. Bing interviews a paratrooper. Bob Burns reads a letter from Grandma and plays, "Dance Of The Hours" on his bazooka!. Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra, The Music Maids, Ken Carpenter (announcer), Connie Boswell, Pat O'Brien, Josephine Tuminia (soprano). 
 
Howdy Doody. August 16, 1952. NBC net. Sustaining. 7:30 A.M. Not a television show, this broadcast originates from "The Howdy Doody Circus." The topic of the program is "the sea." The president of the Kids is nominated and elected. Who is Mr. X?  In addition to "Buffalo Bob," we hear "Phineas T. Bluster," "Dilly Dally," "The Flubadub," "The Flubadub, Jr.," Professor Hubert Fitchnoodle, Zabby (a two-headed man-from Mars), and of course, Howdy Doody. Buffalo Bob sings, "Anchors Away,""Yankee Doodle Dandy", Popeye the Sailor" and other songs.  The members of the Peanut Gallery give their opinions. Bob Smith; Dayton Allen
 
LADY ESTHER PLAYHOUSE (Mercury Theatre) January 19, 1942. CBS net. "My Little Boy". Sponsored by: Lady Esther. A delightful portrait of a father and his son. Welles is at his best!. Orson Welles, Carl Ewald (writer), Dix Davis, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins. 

 Freedom U.S.A. March 30, 1952. Program #15. ZIV Syndication. "Embargo On Santa Granada". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. A revolution is taking place in Santa Granada. An embargo on trade is being considered in the Senate. The date is approximate. One savings bonds spot announcement (from a different time period) has been added during the first commercial break. Tyrone Power, Edwin C. Hill (narrator), Jimmy Wallington (announcer), David Rose (composer, conductor).

The Witch's Tale. December 7, 1931. WOR, Newark, New Jersey, Air Features Syndicate syndication. "The Confession". Sponsored by: Kruschen Salt (weight reducer). 9:30 P.M. A Catholic priest is summoned to administer the last rites to a young Chinese wife about to be killed by a particularly gruesome Chinese torture. The script was previously used on "The Witch's Tale" on December 7, 1931 and subsequently on February 17, 1936. This program was also syndicated by "Group Broadcasters.". Alonzo Deen Cole (writer, producer, performer), Marie O'Flynn, Adelaide Fitz-Allen (as "Old Nancy").


TIME:02:55:50.454
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

Fibber McGee and Molly. October 11, 1937. Red net. Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. Chicago origination. A fun visit to the Wistful Vista auto show. Possibly Harold Peary's first appearance on the program. Jim Jordan, Marian Jordan, Harlow Wilcox (announcer), Ted Weems and His Orchestra, Elmo Tanner (whistler), Perry Como (vocal), Bill Thompson, Harold Peary, Hugh Studebaker. 

 The Columbia Workshop. May 04, 1941. CBS net. "Radio Primer". Sustaining. A funny look at the radio industry from A to Z. The first program of "Twenty-Six By Corwin.". Norman Corwin (writer), Everett Sloane, Frank Gallop.

Mr. and Mrs. Blandings. May 13, 1951. NBC net. Sponsored by: Trans World Airlines. Mr. Blandings tries so hard not to forget his anniversary, that he remembers it a week too soon. Part of one of the commercials has been deleted. Cary Grant, Betsy Drake (performer, writer as "M. Winkle"), Warren Lewis (director), Don Stanley (announcer), Alan Reed, Eric Hodgins (creator).

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. October 17, 1951. NBC net. "The Judge and The Champ". Sustaining. Al White, a crusading columnist, is murdered after threatening to expose a fixed fight and political corruption. William Gargan, Santos Ortega, Don Pardo (announcer), Frank Kane (writer), Edward King (director).

 The Black Museum. 1952. Program #6. Syndicated, WRVR-FM, New York aircheck. "The Blue .22". Sponsored by: Participating sponsors. Vivian is a woman scorned, and she has a little blue pistol. The date is approximate. Syndicated rebroadcast date: October 23, 1974. Harry Alan Towers (producer), Orson Welles (narrator), Ira Marion (writer), Sidney Torch (composer, conductor). 

2000 Plus. October 10, 1951. Mutual net. "The Rocket and The Skull". Sustaining. The most important man in the country's race to the Moon is wounded in a plane crash...and starts to hear strange messages to Mars! This program has also been dated September 6, 1950. Arnold Robertson, Emerson Buckley and His Orchestra, William Griffis, Sherman H. Dreyer (creator, producer), Robert Weenolsen (producer), Gregory Morton, Nat Polen, Merril E. Joels, Elliot Jacoby (composer), Walt Shaver (sound), Adrian Penner (sound), Bob Albright (engineer), Ken Marvin (announcer). 

TOTAL TIME: 2:52:41.832
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

The Big Show. November 12, 1950. NBC net. Sponsored by: Anacin, RCA Victor. The second show of the series. Baby Snooks gets an acting lesson from Tallulah, Groucho holds his quiz on the show and teaches Pinza how to sing "Some Enchanted Evening." Tallulah does a Dorothy Parker monologue called "Sentiment.". Jimmy Wallington (announcer); Meredith Willson and His Orchestra; Frank Lovejoy; Groucho Marx; Dorothy Parker (author); Hanley Stafford; Ezio Pinza; Jane Powell ; John Agar; David Brian; Fanny Brice; Tallulah Bankhead; Dee Englebach (producer, director). 
 
Space Patrol. November 15, 1952. ABC net. "The Queen Of Space". Sponsored by: Ralston cereals ("Space-O-Phones" premium). Jelna Fenton is the owner of Trans-Orbit Lines, a freight line to the outer planets, with big plans!. Dick Tufeld (announcer), Ed Kemmer, Larry Robertson (producer, director), Lou Huston (writer), Lyn Osborn, Mike Moser (creator), Nina Bara, Norman Jolley, Virginia Hewitt. 29:24, 

 Bold Venture. 1951. Program #4. ZIV Syndication. "A Bullet For Shannon". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. Tough Johnny Rice gets what he wants, including the death of Slate Shannon!. Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Howard McNear, Nestor Paiva, Henry Hayward (director), Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), David Rose (composer, conductor). 
 
DEVIL'S SCRAPBOOK. November 28, 1938, "The Conquest Of David Ring"
TOTAL TIME: 2:55:31.289
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

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The Fred Allen Show. November 08, 1939. NBC net. Sponsored by: Ipana, Sal Hepatica. The first tune is "It's A Hundred To One." Fred analyzes the statutes for pedestrians in New York. The program's guest is the man in charge of merchandising research for the doughnut industry. He analyzes dunking techniques. Round table discussion topic: "Do you think women drivers operate their cars as efficiently as men?" The Mighty Allen Art Players perform "The Sound Man's Revenge.". Fred Allen, Harry Von Zell (announcer), Peter Van Steeden and His Orchestra, Wynn Murray, Minerva Pious, The Merry Macs, Portland Hoffa. 
 
Doctor Christian. November 07, 1937. CBS net. Sponsored by: Vaseline. The first show of the series. Dr. Christian is forced to operate in a shack. The program originates from New York City. Jean Hersholt, Rosemary De Camp, Noreen Gammill, Gale Gordon, Art Gilmore (announcer). 
 
GALLANT AMERICAN WOMEN  November 07, 1939.- Gallant American Women (written by Jane Ashman) was a series profiling Pioneer women in history who forged ahead. In cooperation with the US Office of Education and NBC. "Women and Peace"

ELLERY QUEEN November 7, 1945."The Adventure of the Message In Red". 
 
Top Secrets Of The FBI. November 12, 1947. Mutual net. "The Vest Pocket Broadcasting System". Audition Show. The FBI tracks down a dope ring by using the latest electronic equipment. 
 
TOTAL TIME: 2:57:25.324
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

ARTHUR GODFREY TIME-April 18, 1949, John Conolly and Lenny Bruce make an appearance.
ArthurGodfrey_1949-04-18_Winner_Lenny_Bruce,_John_Connolly 27:58
 
THE EDDIE BRACKEN STORY-  February 11, 1945 Whole Day with No Trouble
 
Have Gun, Will Travel. December 07, 1958. CBS net. "Ella West". Sponsored by: Kent. Paladin travels to Abilene to help his friend Tom Carter make a lady out of Ella West, star of his Wild West Show. The script was used on the "Have Gun, Will Travel" television show on January 4, 1958. John Dehner, Norman Macdonnell (producer), Ben Wright, Gene Roddenberry (writer), Hugh Douglas (announcer), Virginia Gregg, Sam Edwards, Harry Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin, Lynn Allen, Barney Phillips, John Dawson (adaptor), Bill James (sound effects), Cliff Thorsness (sound effects), Herb Meadow (creator), Sam Rolfe (creator).

FEDERAL AGENT. From October 3, 1944. "The Story Of Henry Benton" A dramatization stories of federal crime fighting from around the world including FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, French Surete, and Scotland Yard.

Stroke Of Fate. October 25, 1953. NBC net. Sustaining. What might have happened if Queen Marie Antoinette had escaped the guillotine. The program is followed by five minutes of news. Anne Burr, Peter Capell, Joe DeSantis, Ross Martin, Kermit Murdock, John Stanley, David Pfeffer, Fred Weihe (director), Henry Cassidy (newscaster), Mort Lewis (producer, conceiver, writer), Lester Lewis (producer), Wesley Addy (narrator), Stephen Laurent (historical consultant, commentator). 

 Philo Vance. December 26, 1946.  Program #14. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Cover Girl Murder Case". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. ". Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

 Murder At Midnight. September 06, 1946. Program #21. KFI, Los Angeles origination, Cowan syndication, World transcription. "The Mark Of Cain". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. A man's insane twin brother escapes from the lunatic asylum. His brother, a drama critic, tries to track him down. The mad brother kills the psychiatrist who put him away...or does he? Which brother is nuts?. Abram S. Guiness (writer); Earl George ; Berry Kroeger (as both brothers); Anton M. Leader (director); Charles Paul (organist); Raymond Morgan (host); Maurice Tarplin; Carl Emory; Louis G. Cowan (producer);

TOTAL TIME: 2:56:16.816
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

Gunsmoke History 

Straight Arrow 1951-06-21 Cancellation Satire Life Of Dir Ted Robertson

Jack Benny 1952-02-24 The Fiddler 

Blondie 1940-04-01 April Fool's Day (cigs removed on broadcast version)

Police Headquarters Boxing Death Match

My Favorite Husband 1949-04-01 April Fool's Day
  
THE ADVENTURES OF SHELOCK HOLMES 1946-04-01 April Fool's Day Adventure with Basil Rathbone and  Nigel Bruce
 
X Minus One 1955-05-08 Mars Is Heaven 


Broadcast: 2:52:40
Podcast: 2:52:32

LET'S PRETEND- Let's Pretend started radio life as The Adventures of Helen and Mary in 1934 when it was transformed by Nila Mack into the show that would last for two decades until 1954. Mack believed that, if the stories were for children, then children should tell the story. On July 12, 1947, they told the tale of "The Brave Little Tailor" for sponsor, Cream of Wheat. A meek little man has "killed seven with one blow" and has everyone terrified.
 
ROMANCE - Actor Henry Fonda stars in "Casanova Brown" on ROMANCE from November 13, 1945.
Romance_1945-11-13_Casanova_Brown_wHenryFonda 24:45
 
People are Funny - was a long-running American radio and television game show, created by John Guedel that remained popular throughout the 1940s. The program ran from 1942 to 1960. The program's stunts and audience participation were calculated to reveal the humorous side of human nature. After contestants were sent from the studio to perform a task in public, the audience was told how the contestant was being double-crossed. Hosted by Art Linkletter, here is a show from January 17, 1956 

Whisperer. July 08, 1951. NBC net. Sustaining. The first show of the series. "The Whisperer" is a brilliant young attorney with a secret identity. He tackles the plans of Scurelli to sell marijuana to the unsuspecting youth of the city. Alice Backes, Ann Gill (writer), Betty Moran, Bill Cairn (director), Carleton Young, Eddie Firestone, Jerry Farber, John Duffy (original music), Julius Crowlbein, Paul Frees, Ruth Perrin, Stetson Humphrey (creator). 

Unit 99. September 06, 1957. Program #3. ABC net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. The first call: a woman has a gun. James B. Hicks (host, Chief of Sacramento Police), Dan Meredith (Sergeant on duty), Tony Kester (director).
 
Treasury Star Parade. September 10, 1943. Program #253. Treasury Department syndication. Molly and Doc Gamble try to convince Fibber to water the lawn. Jim Jordan, Marian Jordan, Billy Mills and His Orchestra, The King's Men, Harlow Wilcox (announcer), Don Quinn (writer), Thelma Ritter (writer). 

The Weird Circle. January 08, 1944. Program #26. RCA/NBC syndication. "Frankenstein". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. Many, many liberties taken with the original story, but still a classic. Mary Shelley (author). 

 
TOTAL TIME: 2:55:34.599
SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com