In this nostalgic look at old-time radio, you are invited to tune in to the Golden Age of Radio with me. The halcyon days of early radio entertained the populace from the 1920's to 1962. Children in the 1930's ran home from school to listen to the daily adventures of Captain Midnight, sponsored by Ovaltine. This 15-minute series ran from 1938 to 1949, with "Fighting With the Commandos" beginning the 1942 year. Each episode ended with the Secret Squadron Signal Session---so get your decoders!

The sponsor of Jack Armstrong-the All-American Boy encouraged tykes to eat Wheaties, "The Breakfast of Champions" in its 17-year run from 1933 to 1950. This 5:30 15-minute daily show preceded Little Orphan Annie, who broadcast at 5:45 each day. "Leapin' Lizards!" The Little Orphan Annie Birthday Ring was a mail-order premium in 1935, in its 1930 to 1942 run. Cowboys and cowgirls saddled up for Wild Bill Hickock, starring Guy Madison and raspy-voiced Andy Devine as his pal Jingle. Kellogg's Rice Krispies fired off each episode from 1951 to 1956, with 1954's "The Old Home Town" entry playing here---gallop along with them!

The scene is now set for more fun to come. The supper dishes are done, and it is time to gather in the living room. Tune in for more listening on NostalgiaSearch's 1935 Crosley radio. Dad, smoking his pipe, relaxes in his favorite chair, and Mom, in her chair, begins her knitting. The children are once again ensconced nearby. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show begins the festivities as guest star Jack Benny is "Caught in Beauty Parlor" for some beauty treatments in 1943 on CBS. Then listen as "Gracie Joins a Literary Club" (Is George Burns related to Scotch poet Robert Burns?). Invite yourself to Gracie's 1947 Thanksgiving dinner, and discover why she can't make pumpkin pie.........the pumpkin keeps rolling out of the oven!!! You'll roll with laughter, as did millions of people from 1932 to 1950..."Say Goodnight, Gracie".

The home at 79 Wistful Vista was the Tuesday night radio residence of Fibber McGee and Molly. Married Jim and Marion Jordan, as the fictional radio couple from 1935 to 1956 entertained millions on NBC. Tune in to this 1952 entry as Fibber gets a letter from the IRS! Heavenly Days! The town of Pine Ridge, Arkansas was the home of Lum and Abner from 1931 to 1954. This hilarious series related the misadventures of two hillbillies who owned the Jot 'Em Down Store. Listen in as they discover an "abandoned" baby at a bus station.

In 1949 to 1951 My Favorite Husband was Lucille Ball's transition to I Love Lucy and television. Miss Ball and Richard Denning played Mr. and Mrs. George Cooper, "two people who live together and like it". This CBS entry from 1949 has Lucy playing "Cupid" for her housekeeper, with very funny one-liners galore.

The beautiful blonde Marie Wilson was the "scatterbrained" Irma Peterson, whose roommate Jane Stacey regarded her as My Friend Irma. CBS ran this delightful series from 1947 to 1954. Irma's cooking lessons will have you holding your stomach with laughter. "Tuesday Night Ghost" is a most spirited night of fun when Irma and Jane's apartment is haunted! NostalgiaSearch's favorite comedy show is Our Miss Brooks. Star Eve Arden, as Madison High's favorite English teacher, scores high marks. "The Queen of the Caustic Crack" taught with class from 1948 to 1957 on radio. Make the grade yourself by learning why the cafeteria food was so bad. You can go to the head of the class by attending the MHS barbecue, going to the Cereal Bowl game, and joining Deacon Jones's square-dance troupe. Listen to the "Lady in the Lake" episode and the infamous (and classic) encounters with Principal Osgood Conklin (Gale Gordon)--- you'll get an A plus!!! So don't you be absent!

Most people "wood" recognize Charlie McCarthy, as made "poplar" by foremost ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, from 1937 to 1956 on NBC radio. Hear Mortimer Snerd sell newspapers in this 1947 episode, and meet Russian Prince Romanov, too. Jack Benny, the blue-eyed 39-year-old violin player from Waukegan, Illinois (aka The Walking Man) starred on radio for more than 20 years. Well!!! The classic Jack Benny Show from 1932 to 1955 had prime characters Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Dennis Day, Mary Livingston, and Phil Harris. The episode "Christmas Shopping for Oil Paint Set" is a masterpiece in comedy. Go with Jack as he buys a paint set for his announcer, Don Wilson. Yule be merry as you listen to Mel Blanc as the harried salesman. Ten years of hillbilly comedy from 1943 to 1953 was performed by country comedienne Judy Canova on NBC. In this entry from 1948 Judy wants to shed her corn-fed image and become a dramatic actress. Listen for the very funny "George and Mabel" skit.

Movies were adapted into hour-long radio presentations, and one of the best was the Screen Director's Playhouse, Fridays from 1949 to 1951 on NBC. NostalgiaSearch's 1935 Crosley plays two of them. In 1950's "Miss Grant Takes Richmond" Lucille Ball re-creates her role from the 1949 movie of the same name. "The Ghost Breakers" starred Bob Hope in this radio version, as well as in the 1940 movie, co-starring the lovely Paulette Goddard (once married to Charlie Chaplin). "Lux Presents Hollywood!" was the introduction to the Lux Radio Theatre from 1934 to 1955. NBC produced 927 of these shows, and the one we choose here is "Miracle on 34th Street", from 1948. It stars the original cast from the 1947 20th Century-Fox movie, with Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, and Edmund Gwenn delightful as Kris Kringle.

NostalgiaSearch's radio is bringing you a varied sample of pleasurable family listening. Now that the hour is later, it might be time to get the kiddies off to bed and happy dreams. Let's dim the lights now and prepare to hear some shows for "adult" listening. Tune in to acknowledge what we mean: "The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations present Orson Wells and the Mercury Theatre on the Air in "The War of the Worlds" by H. G. Wells". This dramatic introduction was not heard by many people on that fateful October 30, 1938. They had missed it, having tuned in later and now hearing reports that Earth was being invaded by Martians! There were, however, more pragmatic folks who were listening to the Chase and Sanborn Hour, hearing Charlie McCarthy on NBC at the same time. Today it is not really ironic that the Martian invasion was broadcast on the day before Halloween, and that what was performed as a joke was considered by many a reality. The mystery show Obsession, produced in the 1950's, created a most interesting tale with a touch of suspense for good measure. "The Hunting Party" consists of two men and a woman who embark on a hunting trip, only to discover one of them missing--- lots of intrigue here!!!

Suspense disclosed what happens when you think you rang the wrong number. Listen in to what Agnes Moorehead heard in "Sorry, Wrong Number" from 1945. (This chilling story was transformed into the classic movie starring Barbara Stanwyck in 1948). Beginning in 1942 and running until 1962 (the last year of the Golden Age of Radio), Suspense produced 945 shows with the best stars of the stage and screen. It will bring you to the edge of your chair, and the theme music is incredibly unnerving to hear. NostalgiaSearch's radio also plays the 1942 episode of "The Hitchhiker" on Suspense, starring Orson Wells. Chills engulf you as Ronald Adams (Wells) has you accompany him on his cross-country trip to California. Listen most CAREFULLY to the ending!!! Incidentally, the great Orson Wells appeared as "The Shadow" briefly in 1937 and 1938, with the Shadow himself lurking from 1930 to 1954 on CBS. The episode we hear now, though, is 1948's "The Chill of Death" starring Bret Morrison as Lamont Cranston and Grace Matthews as the lovely Margo Lane. (NostalgiaSearch suspects that Miss Lane's favorite tune is "Me and My Shadow").

I sincerely hope you have enjoyed listening to our radio and that you will come again anytime. We will be most happy to entertain you nostalgically, and that you find your visits here informative, too.

Nostalgically,

Stephanie