Heirloom Radio

If you remember these songs... you have lived a long life. Recorded in 1919 - 116 yrs ago

Soundcloud_2037_Quakers are Shoulder Shakers_1919 by John Lovering

Soundcloud_2037_All The Quakers are Shoulder Shakers_1919 by John Lovering

Track has introduction at the beginning - Track will be stored in Playlist

The track begins with an introduction to "My Favorite Husband" with Lucille Ball and Richard Denning. "April Fools Day"

This track includes two episodes of the 26 episodes of "The Green Valley Line" which was produced in 1934-35. Amazing audio quality and sound effects for a 90 year old recording.

Audio Introduction gives a brief background on "Duffy's Tavern" program... introduces the program on this track (The Millionaire) and makes some comparison between Ed Gardner's Archie and Carroll O'Connor's Archie as part of Norman Lear's "All in the Family" program. (This track will be in a Duffy's Tavern" playlist on this site) "Tavern" is misspelled in the image? :) Maybe the sign person spent too much time in the "Tavenrn"?

Audio introduction gives general background on "The Shadow" and introduces the track entitled "Firebug." For a recording that was made 85 years ago, it is well preserved. Goodrich Silvertown Tires is the sponsor, A set of 4 tires would have cost $56 in 1938, but that is a pretty significant amount considering the average annual salary was $1731. That amount of money...adjusting for inflation would now be $38,726.... an increase of 2,138.33%!. Those $56 tires would now cost a little over $1100.00. Never mind the tires... enjoy the show! This track will be in "The Shadow" playlist.

Audio introduction gives a general background on the "Suspense" series of over 950 programs... most featured the most popular film and Broadway stars. They loved the show because it was easy money and it was a popular show. Actors generally had 2-3 rehearsals and then they went live. Excellent programs that really did keep listeners huddled in their living rooms around the glowing radio...waiting for the surprise ending to most of the shows. This show will live in the "Suspense_Horror" Playlist.

In the early to late 70's NPR attempted to bring drama back to radio. They encouraged many of the playwrights of the era to contribute their work to be turned into a radio production. The result was some fantastic programs with outstanding actors and production standards... in stereo! On this track is "Alice Through The Intercomb".... and remember if the rain they have (2 inches) in the program, happened to be snow.... well it would be 20 inches! :)

Track begins with an audio intro giving a brief background on "Dr. Christian," and introducing the show on this track which was a show written by an audience grandmother. The program invited audience members to write a script for the show. Winners were chosen and their plays were performed live just like an ordinary show!

Audio intro presents the background on "Red Ryder" and refers to the story/film "Christmas Story" which featured a Red Ryder Daisy BB gun that Ralphie wanted for Christmas. The Red Ryder was extremely popular with youngsters... parents also sneaked a listen now and then as there was a lot of action and adventure in the stories. This track will be living in the "Westerns" playlist.

An audio introduction presents the significance of "The Whistler" and what made it such a popular program. The stories were told in a very different way than other mystery-thriller shows and the audience loved it. In this episode a man is committing crimes in "alphabetical order" with some very unique alibis... until something went wrong! More "Whistler" programs are living in "The Whistler" Playlist.

Introductory audio ... followed by the rebroadcast of Dragnet episode from June 10, 1949... second show of 314 produced over 8 years. Stars Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday. Very popular series as it was considered to be the most realistic program of the era. This track will be stored in the "Jack Webb" Playlist.

Brief audio introduces the Lux Radio Theatre's live broadcast from Nov. 2,1936 of the radio version of the film "The Virginian." Film starred Gary Cooper (Photo left) and Walter Huston who both appeared in the radio version...live on stage out of Hollywood. This was quite a treat for radio listeners in 1936. Networks had just newly formed and were able to broadcast programs across the country so EVERYONE with a radio could hear quality programs like this. This track will live in the "Westerns" Playlist.

A brief audio intro to the show is heard and then the story begins...one of the most popular shows as Gracie winds up in Traffic Court trying to explain her way out of a traffic ticket in front of a judge who keeps telling her HE is the "Voice of Justice" in this case! Extremely well-written and acted. By the way, Gracie Allen in real life was far from being ditzy... in fact she wrote many of the show scripts. She was a very intelligent woman! This track will be stored in the "Comedy" playlist.

Begins with an audio introducing the Sci-Fi series "Magic Island" that had about 131 episodes back in the mid-1930's. Pigeons are being used to try to get help for our heroes who have been stranded/imprisoned on this island in the South Pacific that can disappear and reappear at the will of a very strange scientist who is in charge of the island. This track will live in its own playlist - "Magic Island"

Introductory audio gives general background on "Vic and Sade" and introduces the characters. This show is brilliant in that it is about normal everyday things that happened in families in the late 1930's and 1940's. The dialogue IS the show... written by Paul Rhymer, it was regularly broadcast from 1932-1944 and intermittently until 1946... 14 year run. The names of the characters are entertaining in themselves. This track will be stored in the Vic and Sade Playlist.

Audio introduction to the show.... Archie (Ed Gardner) is trying to balance the books for Duffy's Tavern as tax season is approaching... but Archie is not that good working with numbers and he doesn't get much help from the "regulars"at the tavern! All the ingredients for a financial nightmare! This track will live in the "Duffy's Tavern" Playlist.

Brief audio introduction of "The Voyage of the Scarlet Queen" from 1947. Elliot Lewis stars in this series...he did hundreds of radio shows including "Crime Classics" and was considered one of the best actors and producers in the history of American radio. Track will live in the "Voyage of the Scarlet Queen" Playlist

Audio introduction prior to start of the story. Another excellent product of WXYZ radio in Detroit! (Superman, Lone Ranger, etc.) Started as station productions but went to national networks very fast. Shows were very adaptable to television as well.

Audio introduction to the game show...This track will be stored in the "Game Show" Playlist. "Politics is the art of looking for trouble,finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." Groucho Marx

A very short story of some friends who are attending a concert under a big tent that promises some big radio stars of the past... story is told by a character that sounds like "Broadway" in the "Damon Runyon Theatre" radio program...the actor was John Brown.

Audio introduction followed by a NBC Documentary and the study of the origin and growth of African Rhythm and Jazz. A lot of "In the field recordings" are used to make this very interesting story. This will reside in the "Biographies in Sound" Playlist

Audio Introduction gives brief background on the program and identifies the cast as well as giving names of the stars who appeared on the program. Note: the announcer mispronounced one occasional guest... Lead Belly... he called him Led Belly. :) The Armed Forces Radio Service broadcasted these shows via shortwave to our troops overseas during WW II. This show was one of the AFRS shows. These programs are fun to listen to... good humor, clever and witty., Music is outstanding. These shows are living in the "Big Band and Jazz" playlist.

Brief audio introduction of the show followed by "George Washington The Man Nobody Knows" aired on July 5th 1950 on NBC's outstanding radio documentary series. Track will be stored in the "Biographies of Sound" Playlist. Quote from George Washington... "I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind to whatever nation they might belong."

Brief introduction of this very "Fun" Command Performance where all the stars play characters in a Dick Tracy story "Dick Tracy in B-Flat" Unusual show as generally the stars did solo performances or participated in some comedy skit. On this show they mostly play in the skit. Excuse? They said the troops were spending a lot of time reading comic books, so they re-created a comic book story from the Dick Tracy strip. Will be stored in Command Performance playlist.

Very brief intro audio using an AI voice... believe me, much clearer than my voice at the present time. Introduces the 8 min program "The Dark"... An ambulance crew has received a call for help and the question is who needs the help? There is a "Dark" secret and an insane woman in this house... will the crew rescue her? This file will be stored in "Horror..." playlist. Happy Halloween

This is simply a track that I came across that I thought was very funny... and no one did "funny" like Bob and Ray! This is a little tribute entitled "A Story of Today and Days to Come"... and one thing for sure, the studio audience was having a good time.... very clever skit.

A listen back... Waaaay back... to a popular song from 1919. "All Quakers are Shoulder Shakers" .... sung by the "All Star Trio" and a second version played by the " Wendling, Kalmar and Leslie Cordes Orchestra.". Interesting to hear what was popular in music in 1919! Track will live in the "History of Radio" Playlist

The battle of conscience is the theme in this dramatic story of a bullfighter who is about to perform his final bullfight and it is against a fierce and very dangerous bull. Track starts with short audio featuring a Artlist Spanish song... "Cielito Li..." brief introduction to the story and characters. Track has original commercials...that may bring back some memories. This track will be living in the playlist "Drama"/Mystery The words in the caption are from a quote by Ernest Hemingway.

Announcer Gene Hamilton introduces this tongue-in-cheek satire of highbrow symphonic broadcasts. Rather than classical music, this show featured traditional hot-jazz (Dixieland) melodies. Hamilton's commentary adds an ingredient of charm to the show.. File will be living in Big Band-Jazz Playlist. Vocalist "Diane Foley"

This track has two episodes on it. Epi 15: "Staged Escape Attempt" and Epi16: "Soundproof Seaweed Cloth"... all happening on this mysterious South Pacific island that happens to be the home of some very strange scientists! Brief audio introduction and background. More episodes can be found in the "Magic Island" Playlist.

Magic Island continues with Episode 13 - "Joan Stays On The Yacht" and Episode 14 - "The Cloth Factory"on the island. Brief audio introduction to this fantasy adventure program from 1935 to early 1940's with 130 episodes... amazing audio quality for a 90 year old program. There is a "Magic Island" Playlist that is growing... on this podcasst.

Intro Audio...tells origin of the Mercury Theatre On The Air... starring Orson Welles and a bit of personal views on how this story is connected to the election that is around the corner. Mistakes were made in the 1860's that almost resulted in the Constitution being destroyed in a Civil War or Emancipation... This Track will be stored in the Miscellaneous History of Radio Playlist.

This track has one of the outstanding horror-thriller shows from the "Lights Out" series. This one was written and produced by Arch Obler. Aired on CBS... it features the eternal triangle a bit lopsided when two of the "angles" are shrunken to doll size in a strange twist of fate. Good sound quality for a show that is 77 years old. This will be stored in the playlist "Horror-Suspense"

Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler who was characteristic of the hardboiled crime fiction genre. The genre originated in the 1920s, notably in Black Mask magazine, in which Dashiell Hammett's The Continental Op and Sam Spade first appeared. Marlowe first appeared under that name in The Big Sleep, published in 1939. Gerald Mohr was one of several actors who played Phillip Marlowe, but was the most popular. Track will be stored in "Mystery-Drama" Playlist

Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler who was characteristic of the hardboiled crime fiction genre. The genre originated in the 1920s, notably in Black Mask magazine, in which Dashiell Hammett's The Continental Op and Sam Spade first appeared. Marlowe first appeared under that name in The Big Sleep, published in 1939. Gerald Mohr was the most popular star of the radio program. This track will be stored in the "Mystery - Drama " Playlist

Have not published old time radio podcasts for several weeks.... here is the reason why... and some background on how this podcast came about... personal story sharing with listeners.

Audio introduction to Episode 11....followed by Episode 12 with a brief "intermission" and an old radio commercial re-created between Episodes 11 and 12. Past and future episodes of this series are located in the"Magic Island" Playlist.

Intro audio gives background on the Armed Forces Radio Service broadcast in 1944 of their program "One Night Stand" Featured band is Sonny Dunham's Orchestra from the Hollywood Palladium.. Some of the outstanding musicians of the era that are in the Orchestra are identified and a playlist is announced. AFRS broadcast via shortwave and standard commercial stations in USA did not carry the programs.

George Fenneman was the announcer... and straight man... and of course Groucho Marx was the host. They were lifelong friends...right up to 1977 when Groucho passed away. Groucho Marx was the "King of Wit" and he could turn anything into something funny, especially if he had "targets" - the contestants on this show that is still seen on many cable TV shows and Youtube channels. This of course, is the radio version of a 1952 show with the secret word "Age"...always a good show. From Groucho: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

Audio Introduction gives brief background of "Earplay" and then goes into a synopsis of this excellent drama by Lee Devin that was aired on NPR in 1973, part of Volume 5 of Earplay series. Very dramatic story... well written... acted... produced with some excellent musical background in sections of this piece. This track will be stored in the Earplay playlist.

Audio Intro: Background on the series of "Luke Slaughter of Tombston." Introduction of Sam Buffington as an outstanding young actor... who also was deeply depressed in his real life, This is one of the last adult westerns generated at CBS and television was overtaking the radio as the popular form of entertainment. This and many more westerns are living in the "Westerns" Playlist.

Audio features a brief introduction to the "Bickersons"and why the show, written by Philip Rapp, was so popular and very DIFFERENT from other married couple shows on the radio. Audience loved these word sparring programs. Three Episodes of 10 min each..."Tonsils," "Fishing Pole" and "Stomach Pains"

Two episodes of "The Green Valley Line" - Episode 15 "Shareholders Showdown" and Episode 16 "Short Vacation to Danger" Audio intro gives general background of thie 1934 twenty-six episode series of a town fighting to keep their railroad with a company trying to take it over by legal and not-so-legal methods. Entire series will be stored on "The Green Valley Line" playlist on this podcast.

Two stories from the EarPlay collection from the late 1970's... "Intro to Prune Danish" and "Get a Job." Two short stories edited on one track. Interesting and very well produced. Earplay "playlist" holds more stories from Earplay.

Responses from listeners as to why westerns were so popular on radio in the late 1940's and 50's. The title of this show is introduced... This program will be living in the Westerns Playlist on the podcast

Basically playing Episodes 9 and 10 of the "Magic Island" 1936 Fantasy Adventure... This Episode and past and future episodes are in the "Magic Island" Playlist. This track features two episodes edited back to back.

NPR's "Earplay" - a short story of "A Short Sweet Life" - Very clever, well acted, VERY different. Runs about 7 min

Audio introduction gives a little background on the series "The Halls of Ivy" starring Ronald and Benita (Hume) Coleman. This comedy series was written by the same writer that was responsible for writing many of the "Fibber McGee and Molly" programs. Light hearted comedy about some missing mummies at the Hall of Ivy college. This show is filed in the "Comedy" playlist.