The Chronic Rift Network

Even tough-guy detectives sometimes get involved in sentimental or humorous situations during their Christmas episodes. And the fabulous, freelance insurance investigator of "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar," is no exception. Then it's time for the cast of "The Jack Benny Program" to put on a play about letters to Santa before Jack and Mary go Christmas shopping at a department store.

Episodes

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

December 23, 1956

"The Missing Mouse Matter"

1:39

The Jack Benny Program

December 17, 1939

"Christmas Shopping for Perfume and a Necktie"

32:38

Welcome to another Christmas season on "Presenting the Transcription Feature." We'll be doing one mystery and one comedy during each of this month's episodes. We begin with Sydney Greenstreet as that mighty, if lazy, private investigator, the titular hero of "The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe." This episode might be little darker than most Christmas stories, but it's still a good mix of coziness, tough-guy action, and Wolfian brain power. Then we go Christmas shopping with "The Great Gildersleeve." Try as he might, he just can't seem to economize this year.

Episodes

The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe

December 22, 1950

"The Slaughtered Santas"

1:50

The Great Gildersleeve

December 15, 1948

"Christmas Shopping" aka "Economy This Christmas"

32:09

This year would have been the 101st birthday of actor Ricardo Montalbán. We mark it with an episode of "Family Theater," in which he plays the real-life hero / outlaw of Old California, Joaquin Murietta. Murietta was almost certainly the inspiration for the fictional hero / outlaw of Old California, Zorro. Then it's Thanksgiving with all the gang on "The Jack Benny Program." In this classic episode, Jack dreams he has been put on trial for the murder of a turkey. Both Phil Harris' signature tune "That's What I Like About the South," and the Andrews Sisters' hit "The Lady From 29 Palms," get witty parodies. Episodes Family TheaterJune 21, 1950"Joaquin Murietta"2:47 The Jack Benny ProgramNovember 30, 1947"Turkey Dream"33:06

This October 27 marks the 163rd birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt. T.R. is a mass of contradictions. He was born sickly, but, through sheer force of will, built himself up to a big, bull moose of a man. He was a One Percenter deeply concerned with the plight of the poor. He was a native of Manhattan who went to Harvard, yet was passionate about the great outdoors and created the U.S. Forest Service which administers our National Parks. On this

episode of "Biographies in Sound," NBC radio interviews historians and contemporaries in order to gain insight into the man and his times.

Episode

Biographies in Sound

November 14, 1957

"They Knew Theodore Roosevelt"

3:27

"Lights Out" was one of radio's earliest suspense anthology dramas. A lot of its earlier episodes were criticized as being, frankly, gross, but this one is more restrained. It's just plain creepy. Set in the typing pool / script department of a creepy radio show, it's also one of the most meta. Then, on "The Jack Benny Program," Dennis Day negotiates his contract, Rochester buys a race horse, and the gang puts on an Ozark melodrama. Episodes Lights Out May 11, 1943 "Murder in the Script Department" 2:58 The Jack Benny Program June 2, 1940 "Hillbilly Feud" 26:29

"The Columbia Workshop" was the CBS network's series of experimental radio dramas, frequently adapting literary works. The show openly experimented with format, sound effects, and the power of music to convey emotion and theme. Tonight, we present an adaptation of a short story by the British fantasy writer Lord Dunsany. The music is by Bernard Herrmann. If that name sounds familiar, it's because he went on to score movies like "Citizen Kane, "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad," and "North by Northwest." Then, we return to comedy-in-academia with "The Halls of Ivy." Dr. Hall appears to have won a major literary award, and both the school and his wife have big plans. Episodes The Columbia Workshop December 19, 1936 "The Gods of The Mountain" 3:00 The Halls of Ivy April 28, 1950 "The Scofield Prize" 33:07

We start off with another classic episode of "Dragnet." There's a good mystery with a high-stakes villain, and I really enjoy all the throw-away, one-liner character moments. Then on "The Aldrich Family," a typical high school situation turns in to a classic sit-com misunderstanding. But this one is executed particularly well. Episodes Dragnet January 4, 1951 "The Big Holdup" 1:34 The Aldrich Family December 11, 1947 "School Ring" aka "Henry Wants a School Ring" 31:47

There was no shortage of private detectives during the golden age of radio. We'll start tonight with an entry new to our program: "Michael Shayne, Private Detective." You'd never guess by listening to his tough but lovable voice here that star Wally Maher was the voice of Screwy Squirrel and the Turkey in the classic 1945 Tex Avery short "Jerky Turkey." Tonight, he takes on a tricky case at a local college. Then on "You Bet Your Life," Groucho Marx complains to a pharmacist about the amount of cotton in pill bottles, then banters with a Hollywood baker and a couple who have eight children. Episodes Michael Shayne, Private Detective November 5, 1946 "Return to Huxley" 2:23 You Bet Your Life October 28, 1953 "The Secret Word is 'Chair'" 28:40

"The Girl Who Was Death" UK Airing: January 18, 1968 US Airing: September 7, 1968 The Prisoner appears to have returned to London and is sent on a mission to find Professor Schnipps' rocket that is set to destroy London. But he must contend with a lovely female assassin first. John and writer Jim Beard discuss this episode that both agree is fluff, but one finds it charming while the other just can't wait to get it over with. They also talk about McGoohan's pervious series, Danger Man, some of the better elements of this episode. Comment on this podcast by writing us at [email protected] or by leaving your thoughts right here on the page.

Time to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear with "The Lone Ranger." This time the Masked Man and Tonto intervene with competing gold strikes threaten to turn deadly. Then we see how things are going for "The Great Gildersleeve" and family. Inspired by such self-starters as Abraham Lincoln, Gildy decided to make something of himself, possibly even in politics. Episodes The Lone Ranger June 6, 1941 "Gold Strike in the Chattos" 1:32 The Great Gildersleeve October 22, 1947 "Congressman Gildersleeve" 31:15