When Radio Ruled

By Mike Gillett - the BeforeTV Project

A look at Old Time Radio and the world around it. A chronological look at the original mass media.... more

5

33 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about When Radio Ruled:

How many episodes does When Radio Ruled have?

The podcast currently has 156 episodes available.

When Radio Ruled episodes:

February 13, 2026 When Radio Ruled #156 – SoundScape 1939 part 26
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.
November 12 – November 19, 1939
A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.
In today’s SoundScape:
Churchill Summarizes the First Ten Weeks of War.
Mexican Jumping Beans from Your Skelly Man!
Falling in Love in 30 Minutes!!
Should We Ignore Racial Differences???
And More!!
Featuring:
Winston Churchill
Captain Midnight
Harlow Wilcox
Fibber McGee and Molly
Edward Arnold
Marlene Dietrich
Maxie Rosenblum
Connee Boswell
Fanny Brice
Meredith Wilson
Hanley Stafford
Rudy Vallee
Dorothy Lamour
Charlie McCarthy
Edgar Bergen
Donald Dixon
Mortimer Snerd
John Garfield
And More!
Listen to a Week with 2 Thanksgivings and One Big War!
...more
1h 20min
January 31, 2026 When Radio Ruled #155 – SoundScape 1939 part 25, November 9-12 1939
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day!!
November 9 – November 12, 1939
A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.
In today’s SoundScape:
Duffy Knows all the Angles!
Jack Benny sees the Dentist!!
Jean Arthur meets Mortimer Snerd!!!
And More!!
Featuring:
Ed Gardner
Edward Arnold
Connee Boswell
Don Wilson
Jack Benny
Phil Harris
Mary Livingstone
Dennis Day
Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
The Shadow
Rudy Vallee
Dorothy Lamour
Charlie McCarthy
Edgar Bergen
Vera Vague
Mortimer Snerd
Jean Arthur
And More!
Give a Good Listen to Some Tasty 1939!
...more
1h 10min
January 15, 2026 When Radio Ruled #154 – SoundScape 1939 part 24 November 5-8 1939
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.
November 5 – November 8, 1939
A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.
In today’s SoundScape:
Jack and Phil are incompatible!
Casting the Boys as The Women!
Three Banana Splits and Now I’m a Bride!
Doughnuts!
Jack and Jill!
And More!!
Featuring:
Orson Welles
Mary Astor
Jack Benny
Don Wilson
Phil Harris
Mary Livingstone
Dennis Day
Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
Andy Devine
The Shadow
Cecil B. DeMille
Barbara Stanwyck
Captain Midnight
Fibber McGee and Molly
Fred Allen
Wynn Murray
Portland Hoffa
The Merry Macs
And More!
Listen to SoundScape 1939 part 24
...more
1h 13min
January 02, 2026 When Radio Ruled #153 – SoundScape 1939 part 23: October 29 – November 5, 1939
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.
October 29 – November 5, 1939
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.
A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.
In today’s SoundScape:
Jack Benny’s Costume Party!
Fibber and Molly Visit the Auto Show!
Where is the Perata Treasure?
Mortimer Snerd gets his big chance!
And More!!
Featuring:
Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
Jack Benny
Mary Livingstone
Dennis Day
Don Wilson
Phil Harris
Andy Devine
Cecil B DeMille
Loretta Young
Mariam Hopkins
Captain Midnight
Fibber McGee and Molly
The Green Hornet
Edward Arnold
Maxie Rosenblum
Connee Boswell
Nelson Eddy
Edgar Bergen
Mortimer Snerd
Charlie McCarthy
Dorothy Lamour
And More!
Click Here to Give 1939 part 23 a Listen
...more
1h 10min
December 27, 2025 When Radio Ruled #152 – A 1930s New Year Celebration
Happy New Year from Old Time Radio of the 1930s!
Featuring:
The History of New Year’s Day
Jack Benny
Mary Livingston
Don Wilson
Georgie Jessel
Norma Talmadge
Edward Arnold
Dennis Day
Phil Harris
Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
Click Here For Old Time Radio New Year Eve!!
...more
50min
December 17, 2025 When Radio Ruled #151 – A 1930s Christmas
Holiday Spirit from 1937, 1938, and 1939
as served up by Old Time Radio!
Christmas Time is here again. A time when us older folks reconnect with the child we once were. Moments from past Christmases relived, smiles and tears remembered. Longing and gratitude and the laughter of those we’ve lost.
At least that’s what happens to me. Every Christmas that passes magnifies the memories of Christmases from a lifetime ago.
Old Time Radio like this helps me through the bittersweet nostalgia for days that no longer exist.
Starring Santa Claus and The Christian God
Also Appearing
Don Wilson
Mary Livingstone
Jack Benny
Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
Kenny Baker
Rudy Vallee
Fred Allen
Shirley Temple
Nelson Eddy
Orson Welles
Eddie Cantor
Dennis Day
Robert Young
Baby Snooks and Daddy
Lionel Barrymore
Reginald Owen
And More!!
Click Here to Visit Christmas in the 1930s!!!
...more
0min
December 07, 2025 When Radio Ruled #150 – SoundScape 1939 part 22
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.
October 23 – October 29, 1939
A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.
In today’s SoundScape:
Gildersleeve throws a Halloween Party!
The Question of the Week!
The Great Frederick Knocks Off Important Dough!
Carol Lombard Married Some Chump!
And More!!
Featuring:
Captain Midnight
Fibber McGee and Molly
Fred Allen
Harry Von Zell
Portland Hoffa
Peter Van Steeden
Wynn Murray
The Merry Macs
Billy Rose
Charlie McCarthy
Edgar Bergen
Nelson Eddy
Dorothy Lamour
Clark Gable
And More!
Click to Visit October 1939 with Your Ears!
...more
1h 12min
November 30, 2025 When Radio Ruled #149 – SoundScape 1939 part 21 October 15-22, 1939
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. Radio highlights originally broadcast live October 15 through October 22, 1939.
A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.
In today’s SoundScape:
Fibber McGee and Giidersleeve Argue!
Henry Aldritch combs his hair!
Arthur Miller’s first Radio Show!
America’s Town Meeting of the Air explains the European War!
The New Machinery of our Century!
Jack Benny finds a Gold Cigarette Case!
Boxer King Kole Eats Canvas!
And More!!
Featuring:
Orson Welles
Cecil B DeMille
Fibber McGee and Molly
Harlow Wilcox
Ezra Stone
Captain MidNight
Helen Hayes
Jack Benny
Don Wilson
Phil Harris
Mary Livingstone
Dennis Day
Kay Kaiser
Fred MacMurray
Joan Bondell
And More!
Click Hear to Visit 1939!!
...more
1h 10min
November 19, 2025 When Radio Ruled #148 – OTR Thanksgiving 2025
Happy Thanksgiving!!
The concept of Thanksgiving is as ancient as ancient can be. Harvest festivals dedicated to the god or gods currently in fashion as thanks for abundance and the survival it would provide.
But like so many things, Americans have made thanksgiving their very own with traditions and customs created and nurtured here in the good old USA.
FEATURING:
Lionel Barrymore
Edward Arnold
Fanny Brice
Hanley Stafford
Nelson Eddy
Cecil B. DeMille
Mickey Rooney
Don Wilson
Amos ‘n Ady
Wally Brown
Dinah Shore
Winston Churchill
And More
CLICK HERE FOR TURKEY TALK FROM THE 30s AND 40s
...more
1h
November 11, 2025 When Radio Ruled #147 – SoundScape 1939 part 20
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. Radio highlights originally broadcast live October 8 through October 15, 1939.
A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.
In today’s SoundScape:
What the Jack Benny cast did on Summer Vacation!
Dennis Day Joins the Jello Cast!
Orson Welles takes us to Tangiers!
Bert Lahr visits Fred Allen!
Andy Devine visits Jack Benny!
And More!!
Featuring:
Jack Benny
Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
Mary Livingston
Phil Harris
Don Wilson
Dennis Day
Orson Welles
Paulette Goddard
Fibber McGee and Molly
Fred Allen
Portland Hoffa
Wynn Murray
The Merry Macs
Bert Lahr
Andy Devine
And More!
SoundScape 1939 part 20 is just a Click Away!!!
...more
1h 4min

FAQs about When Radio Ruled:

How many episodes does When Radio Ruled have?

The podcast currently has 156 episodes available.