When Radio Ruled

The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live October 16  through October 23, 1938.

Starring:

Adolf Hitler

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Andy Devine

Winston Churchill

Orson Welles

Robert Young

Judy Garland

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

and

Joan Crawford

FEATURED SONGS INCLUDE

Zing Went the Strings of my Heart – Judy Garland

and

Bumpy Road to Love – Judy Garland and the Good News Company

In this episode:

Hitler is still getting away with pushing Europe around!

Jack Benny upgrades his old Broadcast studio for a brand new facilitie!

Joan Crawford and Robert Young in a Haunting Radio Play!

And More!!

The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live September 15 through October 10, 1938.

Starring:

Cast of Blair of the Mounties

Cast of Columbia Workshop

Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom

Frank Morgan

Fanny Brice

Cast of Family Doctor

Cecil B. DeMille

Ephraim Zimbalist

Neville Chamberlain

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Mary Livingstone

Don Wilson

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Jack Benny

Eleanor Powell

In this episode:

Jack Benny’s back on the Radio and Nazi Mind Games!

Neville Chamberlain says everything’s going to be alright!

Fanny Bruce and Slapsy Maxie Rosenbloom make with the funny!

And More!!

The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live August 28 through September 13, 1938.

Starring:

Edward Arnold

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Robert Young

Meredith Wilson

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

Alice Faye

Frank Morgan

Father Flanagan

Cast of Family Doctor

Orson Welles

Judy Garland

Cast of Family Doctor

Cast of Blair of the Mounties

Featured Songs Include

There’s Honey on the Moon Tonight – Dorothy Lamour

Alexander’s Ragtime Band – Alice Faye

In this episode:

Frank Morgan tells Stories of his great Military Glory!

Hitler is being a Big Jerk again!

Czechoslovakia prepares to defend against the German Army!

The Reviews are in! The Mercury Theater is a Great Success!

Orson Welles yells at his Crew to shut up!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Soundscape 1938, part 23, from When Radio Ruled, offered without further commentary for your entertainment and education. But mostly for your entertainment.

The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live August 1 through August 28, 1938.

Starring:

Cast of Blair of the Mounties

Orson Welles

Al Jolson

Irving Berlin

Cast of The Shadow

Seabiscuit

Charlie McCarthy

Nelson Eddy

Edward Arnold

Edgar Bergen

Ella Logan

Rudy Vallee

Featured Songs Include

Marie – Tommy Dorsey Orchestra

My Bonnie – Ella Logan

Heatwave – Ethel Merman

My Lucky Star Medley – Rudy Vallee and his Orchestra

Automobile Theme Song Medley – Rudy Vallee and his Orchestra

In this episode:

Irving Berlin Sings!

Charlie McCarthy becomes a banker!

Big League Woman’s Softball!

Rudy Vallee Sings Jingles about 1938 Cars!

The Munich Crisis!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

This episode starts out solemn with references to the marauding Japanese and unreasonable bully  Nazis but ends with lots of laughs thanks to Charlie McCarthy and Friends.

It consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live July 3 through July 31, 1938.

Starring:

Orson Welles

Edward Arnold

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Spencer Tracy

And

Fay Bainter

In this episode:

Nazis and Japanese as Villains!

The War Goes On in the News!

Lots of Columbia Workshop!

Lots of the Shadow!

Spencer Tracy meets Charlie McCarthy!

And More!!

Peace on Earth Good Will Towards Men

A Celebration of Christmas through Old Time Radio!

Featuring Two Great Radio Christmas Time Broadcasts

Casey Crime Photographer – Christmas Shopping from  12/19/46

The Lone Ranger – 3 Wise Men from 12/24/54

With Songs and Excerpts from War Time Radio Christmas Broadcasts!

Starring

Franklin Roosevelt

Fibber McGee

Lionel Barrymore

Bryce Beamer

Bob Hope

And More!

Songs Include

Little Town of Bethlehem – Dick Haymes

Merry American Christmas – Dinah Shore

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Bing Crosby

Oh Come All Ye Faithful – Bing Crosby

Merry Christmas, may you feel Peace, may you share Goodwill

Click Here to Enjoy the Holiday Sounds of Old Time Radio Christmas 2023

My personal OTR collection contains thousands of hours of old time radio I use to create the year by year historical When Radio Ruled documentaries, and as I listen to each episode I extract the most interesting and entertaining bits and create a best of reel as a reference for when writing the script. And that’s what you are about to hear, part of that best of reel, a one hour chunk of really great audio artifacts from 1938.

This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live June 22 through July 3, 1938.

Starring:

Joe Lewis

Max Schmeling

Fred Allen

Art Moger

Portland Hoffa

Harry Von Zell

Orson Welles

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Andy Devine

The Cast of the Lone Ranger

L.A. “Speed” Riggs

Georgie Jessel

Norma Talmadge

The Cast and Musicians of The RCA Victor Campus Club

Featured Songs include:

Honey on the Moon – Town Hall Quartet

You Couldn’t be Sweeter – Phil Harris

That Was Love Sez My Heart – Mary Livingstone

Rings on her Fingers – The Merry Macs

In this episode:

Joe Lewis versus Max Schmeling!

Speed Riggs reveals Tobacco Auctioneer Secrets!

Mary Livingstone Sings!

Hot Swing from The Campus Club!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live June 4 through June 19, 1938.

Starring:

The Cast of Colombia Workshop

Fred Allen

Ray Smith

Portland Hoffa

Harry Von Zell

Peter Van Steeden

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Phil Harris

Don Wilson

Kenny Baker

Mary Livingston

Joan Bennett

Featured Songs include:

Cry Baby Cry – Town Hall Quartet

Serenade in the Night – Connie Boswell

Don’t Be That Way – Meredith Wilson Orchestra

Second Hand Rose – Fanny Brice

In this episode:

Jack Benny and Joan Bennett Shoot their Movie!

What’s a Mikado? Kenny Baker wants to Know!

Fanny Brice sings one of her greatest hits!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Soundscape 1938, part 19, from When Radio Ruled, offered without further commentary for your entertainment and education. But mostly for your entertainment.

Click Here to Ear Hear SoundScape 1938 part 19

This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live May 26 through June 1 1938.

Starring:

Robert Young

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

The Cast of Columbia Workshop

Georgie Jessel

Mary Livingston

Don Wilson

Kenny Baker

Phil Harris

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Jack Benny

Andy Devine

Agnes Moorehead

Orson Welles

Fred Allen

The Mighty Allen Art Players

Featured Songs include:

I was a Flora Dora Baby – Fanny Brice

Love Please Don’t Tell on Me medley – The Merry Macs

In this episode:

Rochester plays Leading Lady as Jack Benny rehearses for his new film!

The Shadow Confronts The Creeper!

A Vox Pop parody from Fred Allen!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Click Here to Hear 1938 SoundScape part 18!

Todays turkey filled audio feast is made up of two broadcasts from the World War Two years, the first from 1942 the second from 1944.

During the big war, Thanksgiving had an extra emotional impact. So many families had empty chairs where sons and daughters used to sit but now were stationed all over the globe doing thier duty to protect those who sat around the thanksgiving table.

Some of those chairs would be occupied by strangers, locally deployed servicemen who couldn’t get home to their families.

The prayers were extra solemn, and the thanks were sincerely given.

Turkeys weren’t rationed, but they were scarce and expensive. The military was determined that servicemen abroad should have a traditional thanksgiving, and so many turkeys were sent to the troops abroad that the birds were scarce and expensive back home.

Our first Thanksgiving episode plays on the turkey price increase, as our favorite housewife, Gracie Allen buys a live turkey planning to fatten it up for the big day’s dinner.

From November 17, 1942 The Burns and Allen show presents “Gracie Buys a Live Turkey”

Then we move onto a more serious look at wartime thanksgiving with the Command Performance thanksgiving special from 1944.

Command Performance was broadcast nationally, but was aimed at the soldiers overseas. The show took requests from servicemen for guests and songs and did their level best to deliver.

Performers were honored to be requested by the servicemen and volunteered their time to appear on the show and do their part for Armed Service morale.

Lionel Barrymore hosts, and Dinah Shore the southern songstress who was America’s Sweetheart in 1944.

Patriotism and entertainment, brought to you by grateful American radio stars.