Radio collector John Tefteller presents the best of mystery, comedy, horror, and adventure stories, produced by the the greatest writers, directors, composers, and stars.
Today we're dropping into another moody mystery from The Whistler. This one's called The Affair at Stoney Ridge, originally broadcast on June 17, 1946. It's a story of passion and quiet dread, as a young woman named Myra heads back to her family farm after a failed romance, only to confront her deceitful fiancé, Jodie. This is a suspense tale full of secrets, manipulation, and plot twists, enhanced by fantastic performances by veteran radio actors, Peggy Webber and Edmund MacDonald. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we're going back to 1942 for a wartime drama from The Cavalcade of America, one of radio's most unsung A-list anthology series. This episode, In The Best Tradition, stars Orson Welles and was originally broadcast in honor of Navy Day. It's pure patriotic storytelling, tracing the proud history of the U.S. Navy from its founding in 1775 to the modern age of steel and ordnance. You'll hear about heroes like John Paul Jones and Commodore Oliver Perry, the invention of the mighty Dahlgren cannon, and even a moving scene set during the attack on Pearl Harbor. It's a powerful slice of history, mixing courage, innovation, and sacrifice; the perfect listen as we honor Veterans Day. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we're dipping into a popular post-war genre, suspense and noir. The series is The Whistler, one of the leading crime-thriller shows of the era. The story is from June 12, 1949, broadcast over CBS, Perfect Alibi, complete with that Signal Oil sponsorship and the unmistakable voice of Jack Webb before his Dragnet days. We have the original transcription discs of this one, and it's firing on all the proper tropes: a slick private eye named Johnny Seltzer, a dangerous woman named Alice Collins, and a gangster called Frankie Benson. What starts as a clever setup to frame a mobster for murder quickly spirals into a deadly double-cross, ending with The Whistler's signature twist. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we're heading back to July 1946 for a zany half hour with The Jack Kirkwood Show, a fast-talking, anything-goes comedy that's as unpredictable as its star. Jack Kirkwood might not be a household name anymore, but his irreverent and absurdist humor works just as well today as it did back then. In this episode, Kirkwood finds himself in a tight spot. Fifteen years of mooching off his buddy William finally catch up to him, and now he's got to come up with $195 in back rent or else marry his landlady, Mrs. Lapnotch. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today for our Halloween episode, we're going back to 1943 for a chilling mystery from the golden age of radio suspense. It's Suspense with “The Devil's Saint,” starring the incomparable Peter Lorre as the sinister Count Stefan Kohari. In this haunting tale, a young Englishman named Lord Edward Whiteford dares to spend a night in the cursed Tapestry Room of Kohari's ancient chateau, hoping to win the hand of the Count's niece, Elona. What follows is a masterfully crafted descent into fear and illusion written by mystery legend John Dickson Carr and set to the eerie strains of Bernard Herrmann's music. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we're going back to October 4, 1943, for one of the wildest and weirdest comedy programs ever to hit the airwaves, It Pays to Be Ignorant. Hosted by Tom Howard and featuring his panel of so-called “experts,” Harry McNaughton, Lulu McConnell, and George Shelton, the show turns the idea of a quiz show upside down, serving up ridiculous questions, nonsensical answers, and nonstop vaudeville-style banter. You'll also hear authentic 1940s flavor with wartime bond announcements and classic Peele's Beer ads, plus a musical interlude from the Korn Kobblers, a novelty band in the spirit of Spike Jones and His City Slickers. The perfect ending to a half hour of vintage radio nonsense. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Welcome to the fourth installment in our lead-up to Halloween on The Good Old Days of Radio Show. In this episode, we have an episode of The Shadow, titled “The Face,” originally aired on September 21, 1947. The plot follows Hugh Windham, a former actor whose face is horribly disfigured in a plane accident. After plastic surgery fails, Windham becomes a ruthless killer, targeting women who knew his original looks, until The Shadow steps in to stop him. You'll also hear the original Blue Coal advertisements as they appeared in the broadcast, and John talks about how those ads and occasional mentions of post-war fuel shortages remind us of the real-world backdrop listeners faced at the time. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
On this episode of The Good Old Days of Radio Show, we are bringing you a powerful World War II–era broadcast from March 14, 1944: “The Long Name None Could Spell,” part of the Columbia Presents Corwin series. Written, directed, and produced by Norman Corwin, this dramatic program is a heartfelt tribute to Czechoslovakia after its betrayal and breakup following the 1938 Munich Agreement. Featuring narration by Martin Gabel and commentary from journalist William L. Shirer (who later wrote the famous book “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”), the broadcast captures the intense emotion, patriotism, and moral conviction of wartime America. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This week, we continue our countdown to Halloween with the third spooky installment in the series. Today's episode is Quiet, Please classic “Wear the Dead Man's Coat,” originally broadcast on February 23, 1948. Written and directed by Willis Cooper and starring Ernest Chappell, this story follows Floyd, a man who helps a shady character named Kidney Foot Cassidy get his hands on a warm overcoat… and ends up tangled in a murder, a mysterious coat that turns its wearer invisible, and the signature Wyllis Cooper twist. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we shine a spotlight on one of the great but often forgotten comedians of the 1940s and '50s: Henry Morgan. We'll be hearing his April 4, 1950 NBC broadcast, and includes a few fun sketches, like an interview with a wrestler named “Gorgeous Carney,” a musical number from the Billy Williams Quartet, and a parody of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde featuring Henry Morgan alongside familiar voices like Art Carney and Arnold Stang. It's clever, fast-paced, and a great reminder of just how ahead of his time Henry Morgan really was. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we have another quietly spooky one. This is the classic "Coffin In Studio B," a script written by the highly original Wyllis Cooper, back in the '30s when Cooper was heavily involved in the legendary (and mostly lost), Lights Out! run. We have it from a short revival series from July 13th, 1946. The story focuses on three men late at night in a lonely radio studio, frantically rehearsing for the radio drama, minutes before it goes live. Maybe the best realistic portrayal of what working on a live radio show was like. Oh, except for that coffin part. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 If you don't do Facebook, we're also on Gab: https://gab.com/OldRadio
We have an extended episode of the podcast for you today. It's a rare, full 90-minute CBS broadcast from October 1945 called Stars in the Afternoon. This previously uncirculated broadcast originally aired live from Carnegie Hall, and was a special, designed as a big promotional preview for CBS's fall lineup. Produced by Norman Corwin, you'll hear snippets and appearances from popular shows of the day, including The Aldrich Family, Inner Sanctum, We the People, Take It or Leave It, and The Thin Man. It's a fascinating time capsule from the golden age of radio, and gives a real picture of what radio entertainment sounded like in 1945. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
On this first Thursday of October we are featuring a chilling installment from the classic series Mystery in the Air, starring the famous Peter Lorre. Originally broadcast on September 4, 1947 (and yes, sponsored by Camel Cigarettes), the story is titled The Mask of Medusa. The plot takes us into the world of a wax museum owner with a horrifying secret: the “figures” in his museum aren't wax at all, but real people transformed into living statues by the ancient Mask of Medusa. One of these victims narrates the terror of being trapped, fully conscious but unable to move, while surrounded by forty-seven other frozen murderers. It's Peter Lorre at his creepy best, in a story that mixes horror, mythology, and 1940s radio magic. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
On this episode, in addition to listening to a newly restored version of “Nothing Behind the Door” by Wyllis Cooper, John and Joel Tefteller dive into the fascinating (and often painstaking) world of audio restoration. They're joined by Corey Harker, president of SPERDVAC (the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety, and Comedy) to talk about the group's history and its renewed push to keep classic radio alive. Corey and Joel get into the nuts and bolts of working with old transcription discs: how to clean up the sound without making it artificial, and just how much time and care goes into the process. To really show the difference, they play “before and after” examples from Quiet Please and Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel, a great reminder of why professional restoration matters. It's all about making sure these historic recordings don't just survive, but can actually be enjoyed by listeners today and generations to come. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This episode wraps up our 10 More Monsters series with a once-lost recording of Escape. It's a tense story set in the Louisiana bayou, where villagers suspect a stranger named Zeb of being a loup-garou ("werewolf") after livestock disappear and a baby dies. Host John Tefteller shares the story of how this rare episode turned up in a collection of reel-to-reel tapes from a late collector, and what it means for preserving old-time radio treasures. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This time on The Good Old Days of Radio Show, we're looking at another rare take on Daphne du Maurier's The Birds. This is an hour-long version from 1953, a year earlier than the Escape version we presented last week. The story here follows John Waite (played in this version by Herbert Marshall), a writer living with his family on the Dover coast, as the birds go from being a minor annoyance to a terrifying, organized threat that forces the family to barricade themselves inside their home. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
On this episode we bring you “More Monsters” with an early radio adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's classic short story The Birds. Long before Alfred Hitchcock turned it into a famous film, the story was produced on the radio series Escape, starring British actor Ben Wright. John sets the stage with some background on the show and the tricky business of preserving old recordings. The story is a chilling tale of a family on the English coast facing wave after wave of birds that seem to be growing more aggressive and more organized than anyone could have imagined. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we're featuring two skits with Fanny Brice as “Baby Snooks,” where Snooks drives “Daddy” (played brilliantly by radio veteran Hanley Stafford) up the wall with forged report cards and phony camp emergencies. In between, you'll hear Red Skelton as “Junior the Mean Widdle Kid.” Unlike Fanny Brice, Skelton didn't sound much like a kid, which was part of the uniqueness of the character. These rare recordings, taken from original master discs and dating back to 1942, showcase the early days of two unforgettable radio brats at their mischievous best. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
What if a monster could come to life just because enough people believed in it? That's the unique premise behind today's episode of The Mysterious Traveler, titled If You Believe, first aired on December 29, 1946. Our More Monsters host, John Tefteller, sets the scene for this strange tale of Professor Jonathan Davis, a solitary scientist working quietly to create artificial life. But when slick newspaper reporter Dan Duncan spins the story into headlines about a man building a monster, public imagination runs wild, and in a chilling twist, their belief actually turns Davis's harmless protoplasmic experiment into a grotesque, living creature. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today's show takes us to September 24, 1950, for an episode of The Jack Kirkwood Show, a fast-paced satirical comedy that aired on the Mutual Radio Network. Kirkwood is not very well remembered, but his crazy humor is in the vein of Stan Freberg or Henry Morgan. This episode is packed with sketches, musical numbers, and recurring bits like “Mad House Theater” and “Poet's Nook,” all built around Kirkwood's wordplay, sly observations, and quick back-and-forth with his cast, including Connie Haines, Wally Brown, and Lillian Leigh. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This time monsters are lurking in the deep. This episode of Quiet, Please from 1948 is a haunting tale with a twist. It centers on a Greek doctor who calmly confesses to murdering people he swears are fish-like Atlanteans living among us in secret and plotting to wipe out the surface world. In his account, he describes traveling to the sunken city of Atlantis. We also take a look at the story's eerie sea dwellers and other works in pop culture, from H.G. Wells' Into the Abyss to Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
A visit with George and Gracie today. We go back to the spring of 1943 for a full episode of The Burns and Allen Show, the beloved comedy series. This time, Gracie has cooked up a plan to play a “One-Finger Concerto” with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, much to George's horror. Along the way there's a running gag about Gracie's “friend,” who turns out to be none other than her pet duck, Herman, voiced by Clarence Nash (yes, the voice of Donald Duck himself). You'll also hear those wonderfully period ads for Vims Vitamins and Swan Soap. Host John Tefteller rounds things out with historical notes on the episode, from Whiteman's controversial “King of Jazz” title to the star power behind the mic. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today's creature feature is Revolt of the Worms, written by Arch Oboler and first broadcast on October 13, 1942, as part of the Lights Out series. It's the tale of a chemist (played by Lou Merrill, a regular on the series) whose attempt to grow giant roses goes horribly wrong, resulting in monstrously large worms. The version you'll hear comes from Oboler's later revival series The Devil and Mr. O, where he reused some of his best Lights Out scripts. In this episode of More Monsters, we dig into the story's themes of scientific overreach and environmental fallout, and touch on Oboler's famously tight grip on his copyrights. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we have The Judy Canova Show from October 19, 1945, brought to you by Colgate-Palmolive. Judy was one of radio's great “hillbilly comedy” stars, backed by a top-notch cast that included Mel Blanc and Verna Felton, and writers like Fred Fox. In this episode, Judy sets her sights on Brentwood high society by entering her decidedly unconventional dog in a fancy dog show. Along the way there are musical numbers, lots of jokes, and those classic ads for Colgate Tooth Powder and Palmolive Soap. We wrap things up with a few thoughts on the show's place in radio history and where some of its stars went from there. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today on “More Monsters” we're tuning in to a 1947 episode of Mystery in the Air, starring the incomparable Peter Lorre, master of “the creep.” This week's story is The Horla, adapted from Guy de Maupassant's classic tale of a Frenchman slowly losing his grip on reality thanks to an invisible presence. Lorre had a reputation for his intense performances on this series. During one episode he supposedly threw his script. To calm you down, you'll also hear a few vintage ads for Camel cigarettes and Prince Albert pipe tobacco. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we have The Abbott and Costello Show from February 15, 1945, from Armed Forces Radio, with special guest Rudy Vallee. This is a typical slapstick radio comedy, with lots of hysterical Abbott and Costello wordplay and wacky characters popping in and out (notably Mel Blanc as Vallee's personal assistant and Sid Fields as Professor Melonhead). They make plenty of jokes about Vallee's reputation as a supreme megalomaniac, and do a radio version of Jack and the Beanstalk, a bit of a foreshadowing of the Abbott and Costello film from 1952. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we're going back to the classics. It's an adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic story, The Time Machine. The episode, originally broadcast on CBS's "Escape" series in 1948, follows the protagonist, Fowler, and his inventor friend, Dudley, as they journey over 100,000 years into the future. They discover a world inhabited by two distinct human species: the gentle, childlike Eloi who live above ground, and the subterranean, cannibalistic Morlocks who prey on them. This may be the only version you ever hear that features two time travelers together, a sharp departure from Wells' original story. But it's an adaptation that allows more dialogue, something they probably felt was needed for the dramatized version. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
It's been a bit since we've featured "The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective" on the show, but it's one of our favorite unconventional detective series from vintage radio, and we have a lot of these in sourced from original transcription discs once owned by the show's producer, William Spier. So we're bringing you one originally broadcast on September 19, 1948, over CBS Radio. The program, a mystery and crime drama, was brought to air by Wildroot Cream Oil Hair Tonic. In this episode Sam Spade investigates Leonard Kilcourse's suspicious gambling losses, which ultimately reveal a deeper plot involving blackmail and a crooked gambling operation. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Continuing our “August Monster Madness" we have an unusual science fiction radio drama titled "Student Body" from the X Minus One series, originally broadcast in 1956. This is a highly unusual monster story, not concerned so much with scares as venturing into the territory of wondrous curiosity. The story is about a colonial expedition to a planet called Glade, where the scientific team encounters a unique and rapidly evolving indigenous species. To tell you any more than that would go into spoilers, which would be unforgivable with this story. Suffice it to say, it asks “what if,” and what would you do if faced with the strange and the unknown. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we are featuring comedy, with a rare chance to hear this episode of The Henry Morgan Show in better sound quality. This is a later episode from the series from March 28, 1950, originally broadcast on NBC and later rebroadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The show includes performances by Art Carney, Arnold Stang, and the Billy Williams Quartet. Again Morgan's absurdist observations contrast societal norms and everyday occurrences, such as introductions, phone calls, and serving food, with their often-exaggerated radio portrayals. The host, Henry Morgan, known as the "bad boy of radio," frequently deviates from popular conventions of the period, one of the reasons we can appreciate this show's unpredictable and ahead-of-its-time comedic style so many years later. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
It's our second in a series of summer “monster movies.” This episode of the horror anthology "Lights Out" is called "Superfeature," written by Arch Oboler. It describes a bizarre scenario where a movie monster steps off the screen into the audience, a concept Oboler uses to explore the frightening potential of the familiar becoming unfamiliar. This horror story bears a lot of resemblance to modern horror, where the plot is minimal, but you get the satisfaction of watching the usual despicable suspects get taken out one-by-one in typical grisly “Lights Out” style. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we are once again pulling transcription discs off the shelves, and we have another "lost" Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show AFRS disc from January 16th, 1944. The show includes the comedic banter between ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy, a skit where Charlie blackmails his principal, and a performance by guest Carmen Miranda, who also participates in a comedic opera sketch. The episode concludes with additional musical numbers, which John notes were added to fill the time void created by the removal of original advertisements. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This week we are beginning a new series featuring great monsters on radio. We're kicking off with a 1947 CBS "Escape" episode titled "Taboo," a terrific werewolf story featuring voice actor Paul Frees. The story focuses on a man investigating mysterious disappearances in Eastern Europe, where locals suspect a werewolf. In addition, we have a unique challenge for you in this episode. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Here's something rare I bet you didn't know existed. A 1954 radio pilot of The Honeymooners. Starring the original cast (Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney) this audition recording, never aired on CBS, was created for a potential radio series to run concurrently with the television show, which debuted in 1955. The episode itself showcases the familiar comedic dynamic between Ralph, Alice, and Norton, centering on Ralph's hilarious and prideful reactions to believing he's been fired, only to discover he's been promoted. Sourced directly from original transcription discs, this episode offers a glimpse into a radio show that almost was. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we are presenting a rare, previously unbroadcast recording of a Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters (PPB) luncheon from November 15, 1974, honoring renowned radio writer and director Norman Corwin. This two-hour recording features speeches and anecdotes from numerous prominent figures in radio, television, and film, such as Hans Conried, Lynn Murray, Perry Lafferty, Elliot Lewis, Ray Bradbury, Stan Freberg, and William Shatner, all celebrating Corwin's influence and the "golden age of radio." The episode concludes with Corwin's acceptance speech and his plea for a revival of live radio drama. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This is the final week in our mini-tribute to writer/director/producer Norman Corwin. Today we are bringing you a special broadcast, "God and Uranium," originally aired on August 19, 1945. This historical recording showcases the commemorative writings of Norman Corwin, presented by Orson Welles and Olivia de Havilland, reflecting on VE and VJ Days and the implications of the atomic bomb. The broadcast emphasizes the end of World War II, the sacrifices made, and the need for continued vigilance and effort to secure a lasting peace, contrasting the rapid declaration of war with the slower, more complex pursuit of peace. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today on our shorter-than-usual episode we have a rare rehearsal recording of "The Pursuit of Happiness," a radio program written by Norman Corwin and starring Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester from December 8, 1939, showcasing Laughton's performance and even capturing a moment where he realizes he is missing script pages, providing a unique glimpse into the unscripted reality of radio rehearsal. And John tells a story about the loss of countless 1930s radio transcriptions from the CBS network. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Continuing our short tribute to radio writer/director/producer Norman, we present an episode of "Columbia Presents Corwin," features Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester in a Corwin comedy about Charles E. Gumpert, a seemingly ordinary man who experiences sudden, dramatic personality shifts, believing himself to be various historical figures like Niccolo Paganini, Julius Caesar, Sigmund Freud, and even Samson. These transformations lead to bizarre and humorous situations, causing chaos for his wife, Elsa, who struggles to cope with his constantly changing identities. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today it's our annual Independence Day episode. This year, we are bringing you a rare chance to hear a rehearsal recording of Norman Corwin's famous "We Hold These Truths" program, originally aired on December 15, 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This newly discovered audio was recorded two days prior to the live broadcast and features different actors in key roles, along with the notable absence of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's intended closing remarks. The program itself is a dramatic exploration of the Bill of Rights, tracing its creation and its enduring significance through historical reenactments, debates, and reflections on its continued relevance in 1941, emphasizing its role in safeguarding American liberties during a time of national crisis. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today in our tribute to Norman Corwin, we're bringing you his 1939 Columbia Workshop production, "Seems Radio is Here to Stay." The broadcast is a poetic exploration of the nature and reach of radio, celebrating its ability to connect people across vast distances and its multifaceted role in society, including news, entertainment, and the work of countless individuals behind the scenes. The program features narration and excerpts of a performance, including a scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet, and emphasizes radio's capacity to bring diverse voices and content to a wide audience. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we bring you a lovely radio show from the series "Columbia Presents Corwin," in Norman Corwin's work titled "Daybreak," which stars actor Ronald Coleman. This is the second performance from July 10, 1945, repeat of a highly regarded radio play written in the early 1940s, known for its poetic style. The central segment of the broadcast is the radio drama "Daybreak" itself, which chronicles the journey of dawn as it circles the globe, depicting various scenes and locations as daylight arrives. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
We continue to feature programs written, directed, and produced by Norman Corwin. Today's episode shows not only the strong poetic touch of Corwin, but integrates it with music, as sung by folk great Burl Ives. It is the historical drama and folk cantata, "The Lonesome Train," which recounts the journey of Abraham Lincoln's funeral train after his assassination. Film buffs will recognize Raymond Massey (Abe Lincoln in Illinois) reprising his iconic role of Abraham Lincoln. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
We continue our short series dedicated to writer/director/producer, Norman Corwin, with an episode of The Fred Allen Show that is not broadly in circulation, originally broadcast on May 14th, 1944, with Corwin as special guest. Allen does a satirical adaptation of the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme presented in Corwin's dramatic style. The second half of the discs were badly damaged, but worth presenting, as it is the only time we know of that Allen and Corwin ever appeared together. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This podcast is dedicated to showcasing the very best of vintage radio, and with that effort in mind, for the next few weeks we will be highlighting the work of writer/director/producer Norman Corwin. These days he's not exactly a household name, but once you hear his work from the '30s, '40s, and '50s, you will understand why he was so influential. We're kicking things off with a Corwin program from 1939 called "So This Is Radio," which offers an in-depth look at the various roles and processes involved in creating a radio broadcast. Following this, you will get to hear these radio techniques put into practice with one of Corwin's famous radio plays "Unity Fair" from 1945, featuring Groucho Marx. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This is week 11 of our series dedicated to comedians on the thriller series Suspense, and we decided to extend it one more week to present an episode that is not one of the better scripts but stars one of our favorite comedian-couples Phil Harris and Alice Faye. Joining us one last time in this series is Suspense Researcher Joe Webb. There were many other comedians who appeared on the series during its long history, and you can find them all, complete with fascinating research notes (as you heard here) on Dr. Joe's legendary blog: suspenseproject.blogspot.com Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
This is the final week on our series Comedians on Suspense. The stars are bandleader Phil Harris and his real-life wife, glamour movie star Alice Faye, appearing here in an episode of their sitcom from April 22, 1951. The storyline centers on a farcical attempt by Phil to write a serious drama, ultimately a parody of the series “Suspense.” Harris and Faye would appear as guest stars on “Suspense” two weeks later, which we will hear on Thursday. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Today we are bringing you another unlikely comedian in a Suspense episode. This one comes late in the Suspense series, and it features the young comedian/writer/voice talent Stan Freberg in a dramatic role, a surprising departure from his usual work. Host John Tefteller and guest Dr. Joe Webb discuss Freberg's diverse talents and his unexpected appearance in this thriller, about a man who gets murdered with a telephone! Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
We are listening to episode thirteen of the Stan Freberg Show today from 1957. If you listen to this podcast regularly, you will know Stan Freberg is one of John's favorite comedians, and when we found out Freberg was a guest star on the thriller series, Suspense, we had to do it. In this episode of his comedy show, they do a horror movie parody about a teenage werewolf who transforms into an advertising executive, and a humorous, ultimately abandoned, panel discussion on the circus. The broadcast also includes the announcement of the show's impending cancellation. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
It's Thursday again, and in this series that means we are focusing on the Suspense radio program episode "Murder in G Flat" which was the first of four Jack Benny appearances on the series. Researcher Dr. Joe Webb is with us again to dive into the background of this episode, highlighting Benny's unusual serious role as a piano tuner who finds stolen money, and tells us how Benny came to star in the show as well as the episode's ending, which was a humorous addition by producer Elliot Lewis fitting Benny's comedic persona. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
We're featuring this week probably the most popular comedian on this podcast, the great Jack Benny. Jack was a guest star on the thriller series “Suspense” on four separate occasions. On Thursday we will be listening to Jack Benny's first appearance on Suspense, but today we are listening to a Benny show from 1952. In this one, they are roasting “Suspense.” Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
On Tuesday we heard “America's Favorite Young Married Couple,” Ozzie and Harriet in their popular radio sitcom, that would go on to even greater success on television. Today we hear them in one of their appearances on the thriller series “Suspense.” The episode tells a story about the couple unexpectedly buying a trunk at auction for a mere three dollars, only to discover that a mysterious man desperately wants the trunk back, leading to, well… suspense. Dr. Joe Webb is here to discuss this show's significance and also provides background information on the story's origins and the show Suspense. Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/ Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297 Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
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