Heirloom Radio

A group of gypsies migrates from Hungary to Rutland, VT in the middle to late 1800's. They make baskets and brooms and the men swear to marry a gypsy woman to have children. If they do not marry in their "tribe" they must die. Three of the men took the oath to marry within their tribe, but a "Widow McGee" draws them to her... and she is NOT in their tribe. (Fandango is a celebration with dancing, music, etc.) This story will live in the Crime Classics" Playlist. Elliot Lewis is director and researcher... this is a true story. Lou Merrill plays Thomas Hyland, the narrator of the story.

Audio file introduces the Crime Classics series of programs with Elliot Lewis and Lou Merrill as Thomas Hyland. CBS radio program from June 15, 1953 to June 30, 1954. A sustaining docudrama. Re-enactment of real crimes in history. Show was well researched and worked to have the music, dialect, sounds that matched the period in history where the particular crime took place. This track will live in the "Crime Classics" Playlist

This track is a follow-up to the broadcast of Drew Pearson's track. Walter Winchell was nothing like Drew Pearson, but it is interesting to hear what millions of Americans (and beyond) were hearing on radio as World War II was approaching the end. This was broadcast on February 25. 1945... less than three months before the end of the war in Europe and about 6 months before the Pacific war with Japan ended. Listening to what millions of people heard on the radio through the broadcasts of people like Walter Winchell, Drew Pearson, Ed Murrow and others... is a lesson in the reality and culture of those WW II years...We must not forget what happened, because as we get further away from those times...younger generations know nothing of the horrors of a generation... and forgetting or not being taught about the horrors can lead to repeating them or worse. This track will be stored in the "History of Radio" playlist.

This is track of a radio broadcast that Drew Pearson did just days before World War II ended in 1945. He was an outspoken and very popular radio and print journalist. He did not back away from reporting on difficult and controversial topics. There is an audio introduction to his broadcast that will fill in some interesting information about the time that this broadcast was on the air on April 22, 1945. This Track will be stored in "History of Radio" Playlist

The Great Gildersleeve was broadcast from August 1941 to 1958 and is one of the most beloved radio situation comedies. The show was a spin-off from "Fibber McGee and Molly." Harold Peary played the first Gildersleeve and then Willard Waterman. Walter Tetlley was Leroy, Richard Crenna was Bronco, Marjorie's husband. 3 actresses played Marjorie... Gildersleeve's niece. In this story it is Bronco and Marjorie’s first anniversary and they planned to have a quiet evening... but Gildersleeve and Leroy have decided they would have a surprise party. Lillian Randolph plays the housekeeper – Birdie Lee Coggins. More "Gilldy" in Great Gildersleeve" Playlist

An audio introduction gives the synopsis of this "Escape" episode that involves a turnip farmer and a German parachuter during WW II. The show ran from 1947-54... offering listeners 30 minutes of escape from their boring or tiring everyday lives. Produced high quality high-adventure stories

Bonnie Catcher, Jack Bivens, Bob Hartenburger, and Mary Skoll were the actors, Carl Schmidt was the Director. These are three short (less than 9 minutes each) quite funny and well acted plays that were written for Earplay which was produced at WHA Radio by the University of Wisconsin under a grant from the corporation for public broadcasting. They were originally aired on NPR. Tracks will be stored in "Earplay" playlist. I noticed I spelled Gentleman incorrectly in the photo...I claim seniority!

A very strange 14 minute story of a man who is in a state of shock, possibly a coma, possibly passed away, but his mind is still working imagining what will happen to him next. A perfect show for "The Black Mass" radio program. One actor - Erick Bauersfeld. The bed music during the story is creep and interesting... Bauersfeld produced, directed, and often acted in these plays that origiated from KPKA radio in Berkeley CA from 1963-67 and featured radio adaptations of many famous writers of Horror/Fantasy... used music more often than sound effects to enhance the stories. This track can be found in the "Horrors/Suspense" Playlist.

"The Shadow" is probably the best known radio program... when polls were taken among college students who had never listened to OTR,"Can you name an old time radio show"... about 95% said, "The Shadow!" Series started in 1937 with Orson Welles initially playing the first year of the series. Later Bret Morrison, Bill Johnstone, John Archer, and Steve Courtleigh took on the role of tThe Shadow. Margo Lane was first played by Agnes Moorehead and later Marjorie Anderson, Marion Sharkley, Laura Mae Carpenter, Lesley Woods, Grace Matthews and Gertrude Warner. The series ended in 1954 and thankfully many episodes were recorded and have been preserved. Incidently the phrase, "The Shadow Knows" became part of our vernacular This episode will be stored in "The Shadow" Playlist.

The uniqe "DJ Program" with a husband and wife team would play a song that was currently popular and then that same song that was recorded 25-35 years earlier. Amazing to listen to the same song done in two very different ways. This show was broadcast over the Armed Forces Radio Television Service. It will be found in our "Turn Back The Clock" playlist

Introductory audio gives background on Command Performance series and the stars featured in this program from February of 1945. Fanny Brice, Hanley Stafford, Danny Thomas - with Carmen Dragon Orchestra. This track will be stored in the Command Performance Playlist.

Where did Marshal Dillon and Gunsmoke go? and why. https://archive.org/details/podcast_gunsmoke-podcast 220024164 Or search for "Internet Archive"

In this episode, Holmes and Watson encounter an unexpectd twist when investigating a semmingly straightforward case. But then they discover the truth behind the innocent murderess.

Commander Corey and Cadet Happy face "The Revolt of the Space Rats!" They are going to need a bigger trap! "Space Patrol!"

This captivating tale features a mysterious murded, a deadly snake, and a family curse. Dr. John Watson (Nigel Bruce) narrates as Sherlock Holmes (Tom Conway) unravels the secrets behind the speckled band.... This track will live in the "Sherlock Holmes" Playlist. Another Episode "The Innocent Murderess" will be released in a few days... Gets your pipe, magnifying glass, and cool Sherlock Hat and see if you can solve this crime before Sherlock and Dr. Watson beat you to it! NOTE: The show initially premiered on the NBC Blue Network (later to become ABC) but later moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System. During WW II the show was broadcast overseas through the Armed Forces Radio Service. The entire series of Sherlock Holmes... with different stars playing Holmes... produced 220 episodes airing on Mondays from 8:30 - 9:00 pm.

Earplay with a story originally written by Franz Kafka and adapted for Earplay by John Robinson. Audio intro gives some background on the story... a little "synopsis" :) This is a very well done radio play... all the Earplay stories and broadcasts were first class... NPR has an incredible reputation in supporting the arts.

This is a short story... first an introduction to the situation that was the cause of the story... and then the audio file will play. Orson Welles...if you are or are not an old time radio fan... have most likely at least heard of him. He was a brilliant actor, director, and producer in the field of radio starting when he was 23 with the 1938 "War of the Worlds." He is remembered and considered to be among the greatest and most influential filmakers of all time -" Citizen Kane", "The Stranger", "A Man for All Seasons", "Jane Eyre"... and many more. His voice was almost unbelievable... rich, deep, baratone voice... perfect for Mercury Theatre on the Air. When he got into his late 50's he started to do a lot of television and radio commercials...mostly for wines... but in 1970 he was hired by a British TV Company to star in a few commercials... one for Frozen Peas and another for some fish company. He was a perfectionist and demanded that of the people he worked with. There was a time when he lost it... the Frozen Pea commercial. This track is a recording of the recording session for that commercial. Welles knew so much more about directing, writing, producing... that he literally walks out on this crew... If you think he was in the wrong... just keep in mind that he had so many years of perfecting his skills and talent... what he tells the directors is true... the way it should have been done... part of recording radio/tv history. The loud "Smack" that you hear is the slap of wood hitting the Clapper that they use to start recordings of film.

This is the conclusion to "The Menace of Planet X" - Does Commander Corey and Cadet Happy rescue the professor? Do they escape the "Plasta Weapon... which seals the victim up in a coat of heavy plastic!" How will the Commander and Cadet get one of the natives to let them out of a iron cell? Note: Some spots in the audio in this recording is of poor quality, but I didn't want to play Part 1 and not have a conclusion to it... and that is "The Trap On Planet X." Despite the audio quality , I believe it is clear enough that you will know what happened when you hear the story.

Brief introduction to this light-hearted comedy performed in 1949 on a program entitled "Four Star Playhouse."... There are 5 people in the photo because the mention his name as an "and Frank Lovejoy"... so they had FIVE stars on a show entitled "Four Star Playhouse" It is a very entertaining show and it is well acted by these 5 very talented people of another era in the American culture. How many do you remember? Track will live in the "Comedy" Playlist.

It has been a long time since I have posted a Space Patrol adventure...thanks to the Armed Forces Radio Service...and the Old Time Radio Researchers Group... more shows have become available. In this episode Prince Baccarratti shows up on a new planet that features dinosaurs and huge birds...also native tribes who Baccarratti has enslaved. Look Out! Terra 5 is about to land! This track will live in the, what else? " Space Patrol Playlist"