When Radio Ruled

Orson and H.G talk Art and War

The War of The Worlds broadcast of 1938 is one of the most legendary broadcasts of Old Time Radio.

The notoriety and hullabaloo that surrounded that Mercury Theater of the Air Presentation forever linked the two Mr Wells, H.G Wells and Orson Welles in the public mind.

As artists, they shared some traits. An understanding of character and story, a gift for observation, an appreciation for history and its evolution into the present day. 

But they were men from different times and places, H.G. having been born in 1866 in Victorian Britain and Orson born in 1915 in Wisconsin.

Old Time Radio was on the scene to preserve some great unscripted historical moments. The Hindenberg explosion, interviews with the last civil war soldiers, and moments like this when two great minds spontaneously speak with and listen to each other as together they make sense of their art and the world around them.

H.G. Wells died at age 80, six years after this recording. Orson Welles greatest success “Citizen Kane” was released a year after this recording. Orson is also no longer with us, passing in 1985.

Give a Listen to Great Men Talking Art and War

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

January 21 – January 28, 1940

A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

This episode brings the comedy chemistry of Orson Welles and Loretta Young, Indian Summer from Connee Boswell, Funny Violin from Jack Benny, 

Come with us to January 1940 for some Old Time Radio listening pleasure!

In today’s SoundScape:

Jack Hits the Pot of Gold!

Nuts to Ronald Coleman!!

Are These Preparations for Defense or Are They for Another Overseas War??!

Of War we Know Too Much!!!

And More!!

Featuring:

Winston Churchill

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Jack Benny

Dennis Day

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Orson Welles

Geraldine Fitzgerald

Fibber McGee and Molly

Connee Boswell

America’s Town Meeting of the Air

Father Coughlin

And More!

January 1940 is Just a Click Away!!!

Old Time Radio was serious stuff mixed up with fun and song stuff.

One night, October 23 1940, serious beat fun as the President of the United States pulled the Red Carpet out from under the Radio Stars and took over the Air Waves.

Back then Radio was broadcast live on a very tight schedule. No tape delay, use your time or lose it. Big presidential speech? You get canceled. See you next week.

Like the Eddie Cantor show scheduled for that night. The thing was, the studio audience was there, waiting and expecting a show.

Featuring the big star Eddie Cantor, the singer Dinah Shore and the President Franklin Roosevelt. Originally Broadcast and not Broadcast October 23, 1940.

Come With Us to October 23, 1940!!

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

January 11 – January 18, 1940

A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

This episode brings the comedy chemistry of Orson Welles and Loretta Young, Indian Summer from Connee Boswell, Funny Violin from Jack Benny, 

Come with us to January 1940 for some Old Time Radio listening pleasure!

In today’s SoundScape:

Theodora Goes Wild!

Stand Still and Dance!!

The Miss Vine Street Election!!!

I was a Caboose in Union Pacific!!!!

Little does he Know that I Know about you Know!!!!!

Joe and Ethel See Gone With the Wind

And More!!

Featuring:

Edward Arnold

Hattie McDaniels

Connee Boswell

Loretta Young

Orson Welles

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Dennis Day

Fibber McGee and Molly

Baby Snooks and Daddy

And More!

Spend an OTR Hour in 1940!!

January 7 – January 9, 1940

This episode delivers some serious propaganda from Father Coughlin, some serious acting from Jack Benny, some serious forgiveness from Spencer Tracy and some serious entertainment from the theater of the mind!

Hop into your time machine join the rest of us back in January 1940 for some listening pleasure!

In today’s SoundScape:

Jack Benny Wins a 50 dollar Bet!

Barbara Stanwyck at the Wiltshire Bowl!

Tipping is UnAmerican!

Prognosis Negative!

Fibber and Molly see Gone with the Wind!

And More!!

Featuring:

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Dennis Day

Phil Harris

Barbara Stanwyck

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Father Coughlin

Cecil B DeMille

Spencer Tracy

Bette Davis

Fibber McGee and Molly

Harlow Wilcox

Orson Welles

Helen Hayes

And More!

Click Here to Join in the 1940 Fun!!!

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

January 02 – January 7, 1940

This episode features lots and lots of great music, mostly the legendary Glen Miller but we also get to hear from Gene Autry, Connee Boswell, as well as an unlikely Duet featuring Wallace Beery and Charlie McCarthy.

A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

Fibber Builds a Doghouse!

Glen Miller Live from the Café Rouge!

Charlie McCarthy goes to Sea!

And More!!

Featuring:

Fibber McGee and Molly

Glen Miller and his Band

Connee Boswell

Gene Autry

Donald Dixon

Vera Vague

Wallace Beery

Edgar Bergen

Charlie McCarthy

And More!

The 1940s is Just a Click Away!!

Ask anybody you know to name old time radio stars.

 Jack Benny and Orson Welles will lead the list. Their names are still well known when time has brought obscurity to other old time radio stars.

More than just radio actors, Jack and Orson defined the art form and set standards of quality that everybody else tried to live up to.

Orson Welles is known best for his “War of the Worlds” broadcast that panicked a nation and illustrated the great power of theater for the ears.

Jack Benny was the greatest comedian on Radio, and part of the fabric of American culture for decades.

In 1940 these two legends, Welles and Benny, drama and comedy, crossed over and appeared on each-other’s shows.

On March 17 Orson Welles guest starred on Jack Benny’s show and on March 24 Jack returned the favor and joined Orson on the Campbell Playhouse.

And here they are! Orson and Jack are ready to entertain you all the way from 1940!

Listen to Jack and Orson Goofing Around!!

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

December 24 – December 31, 1939

The Holiday Season 1939, Christmas Eve to New Years Eve.

A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

When Ma knits She’s Nuts!

Some Day you’ll find your Bluebird!!

Crack-Shot Higgins Goes Hunting!!!

And More!!

Featuring:

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Dennis Day

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Andy Devine

Shirley Temple

Nelson Eddy

Orson Welles

Cecil B DeMille

Fred Allen

The Merry Macs

Wynn Murray

Edward Arnold

Lucille Ball

Connee Boswell

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

And More!

Click Here for Happy Holidays from OTR

The very best Swing Bands at peak of their skill and Creativity playing live for our entertainment.

Innovative use of instruments and musical arrangement that extend the boundaries of musical theory.

Structured arrangements that made room for improvisation.

The very best musicians in America playing the best they ever played.

Featuring:

Paul Whiteman

Louis Armstrong

Tommy Dorsey

Artie Shaw

Duke Ellington

Benny Goodman

And more!

Give a Click to Hear Hot Licks from these Jazz Cats!!

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

December 3 – December 10, 1939

A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

Smoking is good for the Nerves!

It is so near Christmas!!

Robert Armbruster plays a good milking tempo!!!

Charlie McCarthy, Detective!!!

And More!!

Featuring:

Cecil B. DeMille

Cary Grant

Carol Lombard

Kay Francis

Fibber McGee and Molly

Edward Arnold

Connee Boswell

The Shadow

Don Ameche

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Mortimer Snerd

Dorothy Lamour

Geraldine Fitzgerald

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Orson Welles

Mary Wilson

Winston Churchill

Dave Fleischer

And More!

Click Here to Enjoy December 1939!