Aired: Late 1950s–Early 1960s

This segment of The Army Hour takes listeners inside the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, where scientists and technicians demonstrate one of only three “whole-body counters” in existence — a machine designed to measure the natural radioactivity within the human body.

In this rare field recording, Army reporter Lieutenant Paul Weinman undergoes the test himself while Sergeant Arnold Mansky explains how the instrument detects gamma radiation from both natural and man-made sources.

Their conversation captures a moment when America was still learning to live with the atomic age — balancing optimism in scientific discovery with unease about what radiation meant for human health. The result is a fascinating slice of mid-century radio journalism: part science education, part quiet reflection on humanity’s first steps into the nuclear era.

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This episode of Old Time Radio Snack Wagon spotlights one of radio’s most entertaining announcers — Bill Goodwin, whose witty, in-character commercials for The Burns and Allen Show turned advertising into comedy.

 From the early Swan Soap broadcasts to the later Maxwell House Coffee Time and Amadent Toothpaste sponsorships, Goodwin’s playful delivery and clever integration of product pitches blurred the line between story and salesmanship. His exchanges with George and Gracie were not interruptions, but seamless parts of the show — moments where humor, charm, and promotion worked hand in hand.

 These clips reveal how Goodwin’s voice and timing made even an ad read feel like a punchline — a reminder that in the right hands, the commercial could become an art form.

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Aired: November 26, 1946

This week’s Old Time Radio Snack Wagon brings a Thanksgiving classic by O. Henry, adapted for radio by the Illini Radio Guild. The story follows Stuffy Pete — a down-on-his-luck New Yorker whose Thanksgiving tradition involves more than just a good meal — and an elderly gentleman determined to uphold a charitable custom.

Set in the heart of turn of the 20th Century New York, this campus radio production captures both the warmth and the irony that made O. Henry famous. It’s a story about generosity, ritual, and the peculiar ways people show kindness — all with the twist you’d expect from one of America’s great short-story writers.

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This January 2, 1938 episode of Captains of Industry tells the story of John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia merchant who transformed American retail. Beginning as an ambitious young salesman, Wanamaker dreamed of a store built not just on commerce, but on fair dealing, trust, and hospitality.

His innovations — fixed prices, money-back guarantees, employee education, and designing stores as places of experience rather than mere counters — reshaped how Americans shop. From a rented storefront to a grand emporium filled with marble galleries, tea rooms, and music, Wanamaker’s vision turned buying and selling into something more human — a relationship between merchant and community.

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Related:
John Wanamaker: A Retailing Innovator

http://www.maykuth.com/Archives/wana95.htm

A Short History of the Life of John Wanamaker:

https://web.archive.org/web/20181014181113/http://wanamakerorgan.com/john.php

Stories of Great Christians: John Wanamaker:

https://moodyaudio.com/products/john-wanamaker



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This May 19, 1953 episode of Adventures in Research tells the story of John James Audubon — the artist and naturalist whose devotion to studying and painting birds resulted in one of the most celebrated works in American scientific and artistic history: Birds of America.

From his early fascination with woodland songbirds to the years he spent traveling, sketching, and refining his craft, this broadcast traces Audubon’s lifelong effort to capture birds as they truly appear in nature — vivid, life-sized, and full of motion. His determination would carry him across continents and through hardship, driven by a belief that the beauty of the wild should be preserved and understood.

This short dramatization blends biography with atmosphere, presenting Audubon not only as a painter but as a man who saw the natural world with both precision and awe.

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Related links: 
The National Audubon Society
https://www.audubon.org

Birds of America Digital Collection
https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america

John James Audubon Biography:
https://www.nps.gov/people/john-james-audubon.htm

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The Old Time Radio Snack Wagon celebrates its 100th episode by returning to one of its very first subjects — the incomparable Jimmy Stewart. This time, we catch the beloved actor in a rare comedic turn from a March 10, 1948 episode of Philco Radio Time with Bing Crosby. In this lighthearted broadcast, Bing and Jimmy spar over Stewart’s bachelor status, trading sharp quips about marriage, women, and independence. 

The exchange soon gives way to Stewart’s own tongue-in-cheek musical number, “The Wolf of Wolf Creek Pass,” offering listeners a playful look at the legendary actor’s sense of humor and self-deprecation.

Though Stewart was considered one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors at the time, life had other plans — he would marry Gloria Hatrick McLean the following year, remaining devoted to her for 45 years.

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This week’s Old Time Radio Snack Wagon features a chilling episode of Guest Star, a U.S. Treasury Department program promoting savings bonds. In this 15-minute broadcast, acclaimed actress Ida Lupino stars in Fear, a taut psychological drama about a woman convinced that someone is following her—though no one believes her story. As her terror mounts, listeners are drawn into a suspenseful world where reality and delusion blur until the truth is revealed in one unforgettable moment.

Produced as part of the Defense Bonds campaign, Guest Star often spotlighted top film and radio talent in short dramas or light comedies. This episode stands out for its dark tone and Lupino’s commanding performance, demonstrating why she became one of the era’s most respected and versatile actresses.

Original Air Date: August 2, 1953

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In this episode of The Adventures of Babe Ruth, the Bambino faces one of his toughest opponents — not a pitcher, but an umpire. When a long-simmering feud between Babe Ruth and umpire Tim Daly boils over during a crucial late-season game, tempers flare, fans riot, and the “Sultan of Swat” finds himself caught between pride and responsibility. What follows is a tale of sportsmanship, humility, and redemption — told with the flair and energy that made this U.S. Navy–produced series a hit among young listeners.

Though inspired by real headlines, Feud with Tim Daly is pure radio fiction — a dramatized look at the legend of Ruth as a moral hero and ambassador for the game. The episode captures the spirit of baseball’s golden age, where the crack of the bat echoed alongside lessons in fairness and self-control.

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In this 15-minute mystery from The Unexpected, Lyle Talbot stars as deep-sea diver Tom Stevenson, a man drawn into a web of deception and greed when a mysterious widow offers him a fortune to recover lost treasure from a sunken ship off the coast of Hawaii. But as the dive grows darker and the truth rises to the surface, Stevenson learns that fate—and fortune—can turn in the most unexpected ways.

Produced in Hollywood and syndicated across the country, The Unexpected ran during 1947–1948, offering compact dramas with twist endings reminiscent of Suspense and The Whistler. Cargo Unknown is a sharp example of the series’ flair for irony and moral surprise, delivered with brisk pacing and atmospheric sound design.

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In this episode of The Family Doctor, titled Once to Every Boy, mischief finds the Maynard twins when they decide to buy a cigar, pretending it's for their father. What begins as a seemingly innocent errand from the local drugstore quickly spirals into a secret experiment gone wrong. Soon, both the town doctor and minister must step in as the boys learn firsthand the consequences of their actions.

Produced in 1937, The Family Doctor was a syndicated drama series that combined gentle humor with small-town lessons, reflecting everyday dilemmas of American life. This episode shows how even common missteps were handled with compassion and understanding in the world of old-time radio storytelling.

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