The tenor Arthur Tracy was popular in the 1920’s and 30’s, going by the name of “The Street Singer.” His version of “Pennies From Heaven” was chosen from among hundreds for the soundtrack of the 1981 film of the same name. Tracy had one true love, but their relationship was… Continue reading

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That old saying was never more true than it is in our national politics. For example, the Presidential election of 2016 is strikingly similar to the election of 1936. The rhetoric, the partisanship, the demonization of candidates, the issues of… Continue reading

Few things are as commonplace and as timeless as the barber shop. Hair is synonymous with vitality, and it must be properly cared for. In this episode, we look at hair cuts and hair loss. “In the Chair” (1916) by Ralph Bergengren “Concerning Hair-Restorers” (1915) by Frank X. Finnegan The… Continue reading

As we, like every generation before us, face a changing world, it pays to look back and see we are not alone in our uncertainty. Seeing the old and familiar fall by the wayside may cause some anxiety, but it is nothing new. At one point in the early 1920’s,… Continue reading

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman has, even today, a lasting fame in children’s literature thanks to her memorable work, “The Pumpkin Giant.” She also wrote short stories based on people she knew in her adopted hometown. Despite this, she was a local celebrity and well-loved by the people she lived among… Continue reading

Poor little Ursa Minor, so worthy of our respect, but so overshadowed by his more famous companion, Ursa Major. Just like people in everyday life, which is the topic of Zephine Humphrey’s essay about the marginalized little constellation. “Ursa Minor” (1913) by Zephine Humphrey The Reader TRT: 28:07 The musical… Continue reading

In this episode, we offer a story written in 1927 about the then still-new wonder that was Radio. Humorist Ellis Parker Butler wrote the story and it appeared in “Amazing Stories” magazine, and later reprinted there in 1956. Butler was, surprisingly, only a part-time author. Despite writing several books and… Continue reading

George H. Fitch, the “Smile King,” was a humorist who was popular at the turn of the 20th Century. Fitch was part of the tradition of gentle, observational humor later carried on by Will Rogers and Garrison Keillor. In this episode, we share a story from Fitch’s small fictional home… Continue reading

Clarence Day, Jr. is perhaps most famous for his autobiographical memoir about his family, “Life With Father” (1935). Day passed away before seeing the fame the novel reached, including a Broadway play and the 1947 film starring William Powell. In his 1921 collection, “The Crow’s Nest,” Day wrote a biography… Continue reading

The story of Little Red Riding Hood has been retold many, many times since first being introduced widely by The Brothers Grimm. The tale has many different versions, some tame and others a scary warning against misbehaving. This version is told in rhyme, published anonymously in London in 1857, most… Continue reading