Podcasts about town hall tonight

Jello again. In the 1930's, there were two big comedians on the radio. Jack Benny and Fred Allen. Fred Allen's show was called Town Hall Tonight. So, Jack does a spoof of it on today's show.Episode 214 of The Jack Benny Show. The program originally aired on on April 5, 1936.Please email questions and comments to host@classiccomedyotr.com.Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/classiccomedyotr. Please share this podcast with your friends and family.You can also subscribe to our podcast on Spreaker.com, Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Google podcasts.This show is supported by Spreaker Prime.

The congressman's office announced the group telephone call after multiple requests from constituents across his district for an in-person Town Hall meeting. The tele-town hall will begin at 6:30 p.m. To join the event at that time, call (877) 229-8493 and enter PIN #122293.

The OTRNow Radio Program 2024-019The Shadow Of Fu Manchu. July 19, 1939. Program #31. Radio Attractions syndication. Sponsored by: Music fill for local commercial insert. A double double-crosser. Hanley Stafford, Gale Gordon. The Shadow Of Fu Manchu. July 21, 1939. Program #32. Radio Attractions syndication. Sponsored by: Music fill for local commercial insert. The Fu leaves a clue. Hanley Stafford, Gale Gordon. Town Hall Tonight. May 25, 1938. Red net. Sponsored by: Ipana, Sal Hepatica. Fred Allen.  My Little Margie. March 13, 1955. CBS net. "Miss Guided Missile". Sponsored by: Campana (commercials partially deleted). A vacation in Las Vegas. Frank Nelson gets Margie elected, "Miss Guided Missile." Farrell misreads one of his line, making a silly plot funnier. Verna Felton, Gil Stratton, Frank Nelson, Hans Conried, Gordon T. Hughes (producer, director, transcriber), Jean Tatum, Roy Rowan (announcer), Frank Fox (creator), Hal Roach Jr. (producer), Roland Reed (producer), Lee Carson (writer), Jack Harvey (writer), George Neise, Gale Storm (performer, commercial spokesman), Charles Farrell (performer, commercial spokesman). The Green Lama. June 26, 1949. CBS net. "The Million Dollar Chopsticks". Sustaining. The Green Lama arrives in Hong Kong to solve a murder and theft. Paul Frees, Ben Wright, Georgia Ellis, Jack Kruschen, Paul McVey, Lillian Buyeff, Lawrence Dobkin, Charles Russell, Norman Macdonnell (producer, director), Richard Foster (writer), William Froug (writer), Richard Aurandt (music), Larry Thor (announcer).   Inner Sanctum Mysteries. January 11, 1944. CBS net. "Voice On The Wire". Sponsored by: Colgate Tooth Powder, Palmolive Soap. Trapped on an island, a voice on the telephone warns a woman that she has only four hours to live. Raymond Edward Johnson (host), Lesley Woods, Himan Brown (director), Robert Sloane (writer), Karl Swenson, Berry Kroeger.

CBS Town Hall Tonight - 1937-12-22  Starring Fred Allen - Santa Will Not Ride Tonight Jack Benny 

Start EVERY day the Chuck Norris Way with Morning Kick! Get the JOY discount on Morning Kick HERE: www.chuckdefense.com/JoyA Wolf In Sheep's Clothing?Tonight at 8pm ET Republican candidate Donald Trump will discuss America's current health crisis with a who's who of new ‘Make America Health Again' guests like Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Casey Means. This event claims to “allow dialog between you, the candidates and their expert guests … to explore the health challenges facing America”.It would be offensive and outrageous if they conduct this forum without any meaningful discussion of vaccines, vaccine injury and the COVID death protocols of 2020 & 21.One of the most infuriating and soul crushing aspects of the the Lockdowns of 2020 and subsequent democide by health protocol, has been the gaslighting from government officials, corporate institutions and mainstream news media outlets both right AND left. Our ‘elite' experts detonated an atom bomb disguised as a ‘health emergency' of over our culture, economy and health and are now pretending like it never happened. Extra special bonus from Field of Greens!!!!Plug in the promo code SHANNON for an additional 15% off your purchase!Go to www.fieldofgreens.com to shop and save! Support the showPlease Support Our Sponsors! Achieve financial independence with Colonial Metals Group!!! Set up a SAFE & Secure IRA or 401k with a company who shares your values and supports this show! Learn about your options HERE ——>https://colonialmetalsgroup.com/joy

Join us for an uproarious evening of laughter and satire as we enter the vibrant world of "Town Hall Tonight" with the incomparable Fred Allen. Broadcasting from the iconic Town Hall in New York City, this classic radio program was a veritable feast of comedy, music, and lively banter that kept audiences glued to their radios. Hosted by the quick-witted Fred Allen, known for his razor-sharp wit and clever repartee, "Town Hall Tonight" served as a comedic oasis during the tumultuous times of the 1930s and 1940s. With a blend of topical humor, irreverent sketches, and hilarious ad-libbed moments, Allen and his talented ensemble cast kept listeners entertained week after week. This episode was originally broadcast January 22nd, 1936 on NBC Radio.

Nearly three hours of wonderful variety showsFirst a look at this day in History.Then The New Edgar Bergen Hour with Charlie Mccarthy, originally broadcast January 22, 1956, 68 years ago. Prof. Kirkwood's Do-It-Yourself Snore Cure Kit, Mortimer the wrestler, guest is safety expert Cecil Zon, McCarthy's "Cavalcade Of Flops."Followed by Town Hall Tonight starring Fred Allen, originally broadcast January 22, 1936, 88 years ago. The program starts with, "The Town Hall News." Miss Shrill sings, "Hark, The Gentle Lark." The Town Hall Quartet sings, "Slip Horn Sam." "The Mighty Allen Art Players" perform "Mumbo," or "Who Stole The Elephant From Billy Nose's Finale." "One Long Pan" solves the mystery of the missing elephants. Town Hall Amateurs: The ABC Quartet (from Waterbury, Connecticut) sings, "Tiger Rag." Dorothy Edmonds and Eleanor Bendeau sing a waltz from, "The Vagabond King." Tommy Dunne (an eighteen year old harmonica player from Broad Channel, New York) plays, "Darktown Strutter's Ball," while standing on his hands! No wonder he wins the contest! Charles Chancer (a pianist from Brooklyn) plays and sing his own composition, "After Dark." Eleanor Freeze plays, "Glow Worm" on the musical chimes. Lillian Frizer (from the Bronx), plays the piano and sings, "Eeny, Meeny, Miney Mo."Then Philco Radio Time starring Bing Crosby, originally broadcast January 22, 1947, 77 years ago with special guest George Jessel. Finally Lum and Abner, originally broadcast January 22, 1942, 82 years ago, is Lum in jail? Lum is in jail, and Uncle Henry is a tough jailer!Thanks to Sean for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamCivil defense info mention on the show can be found here: http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/docs.html

US Attorney General Merrick Garland breaks down the failures in police's response to the Uvalde school massacre in 2022. Attorneys for former President Donald Trump cross-examined E. Jean Carroll about her income increasing since suing Trump over sexual assault allegations. NATO is set to kick off its largest exercise since the Cold War. Democrats are trying to pass a law that would protect access to infertility treatments. And, Nikki Haley fires back at Trump's attacks in New Hampshire as she gears up for a CNN town hall tonight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of tonight's town hall at the Urban League of Metro St. Louis, the president of the Board of Aldermen for the city of St. Louis Megan Green joined us to talk about what she hopes to accomplish.

Town Hall Tonight Starring Fred Allen -1937-12-22 Santa Will Not Ride Tonight Jack Benny

CBS_Town_Hall_Tonight_Starring_Fred_Allen_-_Santa_Will_Not_Ride_Tonight_Jack_Benny

Co-founder of Just Moms STL, Dawn Chapman, joined us today ahead of a town hall on radioactive waste and contamination left from the Manhattan Project.

The Screen Actors Guild has voted to authorize a strike against video game companies. The Writers Guild leaders are expected to vote on a tentative deal reached with producers. Residents can ask L.A. Mayor Karen Bass questions at tonight's town hall. Plus, more. Support The L.A. Report by donating now at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com.Support the show: https://laist.com

Before Jack Benny became the loveable skinflint he did in the 40's and 50's he was a much more sarcastic wiseacre in the 1930's. Though these episodes of the podcast are of less-than-ideal quality, they give you an idea of Jack's early character.First his very first program going back 91 years to May 2, 1932. This is nowhere near what the program would become as Jack is less the star as he is the emcee of the Canada Dry program.Then from March 8, 1936 for Jello, Jack takes the gang to the Central Park Zoo. This would have been much funnier with Dennis Day and Phil Harris.Finally on April 5, 1936 in the middle of the Benny-Allen feud, Jack takes potshots at Fred Allen's radio program Town Hall Tonight with a parody entitled Clown Hall Tonight.Apologies for the audio quality. These shows were not well preserved.

Good Morning from the Marc Cox Morning Show!! This Hour: Are the DNC planning on not having debates to save Pres. Biden? US Rep Ann Wagner says that the debt ceiling deal is good not great. Stacy Washington gives her thoughts on Chris Christie joining the pres. race Pres. Trump to hold a town hall tonight on Sean Hannity's Show. Coming Up:  Jon Schweppe, Tom Ackerman and In Other News

Jack Benny vs Fred Allen- “The Feud Begins”Recorded in 1968, Jack Benny looks back on recordings and shows with Fred Allen. Part 1: How It All BeganPart 2: Town Hall Tonight from March 25, 1938Part 3: The Jack Benny Show from January 15, 1950Part 4: The Jack Benny Show from August 3, 1950

In 1922 a twenty-eight-year-old Fred Allen, already a vaudeville veteran, was hired by J.J. Shubert for his broadway production of The Passing Show of 1922. Allen was gaining fame as a monologist. He was in charge of writing his own material. One popular gag was the "Old Joke Cemetery." Allen had a curtain painted as a graveyard, on the tombstones were the punch lines to forty-six old jokes. When Allen moved with the show to Chicago, he met a dancer named Portland Hoffa. There the producers told Allen to drop the cemetery gag. The show was moving to Hollywood. Allen quit. Back in New York he demanded royalties from the Shuberts when the gag turned up in their other acts. They re-hired him, to emcee Artists and Models. In the revue, the chorus women were topless. Allen came on after the women were finished. The Shuberts and Allen soon came to a mutual release. Fred and Portland were married in 1927 and Allen starred in similar revues until Portland joined him on stage. Together they were a hit. Four years later Allen was contemplating radio. By 1932 big names like Ed Sullivan, Ed Wynn, and George Jessel were on radio. Jessel convinced Allen to audition. Allen felt that writing a sketch show centered around characters in different business backgrounds would appeal. The Corn Products Company hired him. Their Linit Beauty Powder would be the featured product. Allen was paid one-thousand dollars per week, but he had to produce the show out of his own pocket. He co-wrote it with Harry Tugent. Producer Roger White remembered that time. The Linit Bath Club Review premiered on Sunday, October 23rd, 1932 over CBS. Right from the beginning Allen had trouble with his sponsors. The season rating was 11.9, thirty-ninth overall. Roughly five million people tuned in and the show bested the Manhattan Merry-Go-Round opposite on NBC. But, the program was canceled after six months. Fred returned to radio on Friday August 4th, 1933 over NBC. His new show was The Salad Bowl Review for Hellmann's Mayonnaise. It would mark the beginning of a six-year relationship with the National Broadcasting Company. Allen was paid four-thousand dollars per week. Minerva Pious joined the cast. She'd later be known for her ethnic character portrayals. Allen introduced the Etiquette Department and the Question box. People could write in to have questions answered on-air, with instructions to try to slip things by the censors. He started a newsreel. It was the forerunner to the satirical comedy that would become a program staple. The ad agency who held the Helmann's account liked the program so much that they aired it through autumn, long-passed mayonnaise's shelf-life in a time when it was a seasonal condiment for salads. However, by December 1st, 1933 the show had to exit the air. Now Sal Hepatica laxatives from Bristol Myers wanted in. Beginning on January 4th, 1934, Fred Allen debuted as emcee for The Sal Hepatica Review. On March 21st, 1934 the broadcast was expanded to an hour. It now included Ipana Toothpaste and was called The Hour of Smiles. Allen was given no additional budget and each show had to be performed twice—once for each coast. Allen hired a couple of script-writers to help. One of them was Herman Wouk, who'd later win a Pulitzer Prize for his 1951 novel, The Caine Mutiny. By then, the program had become a local review with news. On July 11th the show was retitled Town Hall Tonight. The tight budget left no room for big guest stars. Allen had to develop plot lines. Things were running smoothly until Allen was called into the agency offices. They objected to some of his jokes and didn't like the concept of a running gag—something Allen had begun to develop. Allen later explained that running gags were very important because they stimulated a listener's memory and interest. The ad agency disagreed. Allen paid them no mind.

The Fred Allen material you are about to hear is from his radio show, Town Hall Tonight, in 1938. Fred Allen was unique in the radio world of corny set up/punchline type snappy patter his former vaudeville and current radio peers like Eddie Cantor, Ed Wynn, Georgie Jessel, the Marx Brothers, and others favored. Oftentimes … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #64 – Fred Allen People You Didn’t Expect to Meet

CBS Town Hall Tonight - 1937-12-22-Starring Fred Allen - Santa Will Not Ride Tonight Jack Benny

Announcer: Harry Vonzel. Peter Vanseeten and the singers open with a song, Be a Good Sport. As Fred reads the Town Hall Bulletin, Jack Benny has to be brushed off.…

Today is Thursday, Nov. 3. Here are your top stories from around the Fargo, North Dakota area.  InForum Minute is a product of Forum Communications, brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. For more news from throughout the day, go to InForum.com.

Town Hall Tonight "Stoopnagle and Bud" September 30, 1936 NBC

CBS Town Hall Tonight Starring Fred Allen -1937-12-22 - Santa Will Not Ride Tonight Jack Benny

1937-12-22 CBS Town Hall Tonight Starring - Fred Allen- Santa Will Not Ride Tonight -Jack Benny

Happy Thanksgiving.

Fred Allen (May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956) was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio. Fred Allen's first taste of radio came while he and Portland Hoffa waited for a promised slot in a new Arthur Hammerstein musical. In the interim, they appeared on a Chicago station's program, WLS Showboat, into which, Allen recalled, "Portland and I were presented... to inject a little class into it." Their success in these appearances helped their theater reception; live audiences in the Midwest liked to see their radio favorites in person, even if Allen and Hoffa would be replaced by Bob Hope when the radio show moved to New York several months afterward. The couple eventually got their Hammerstein show, Polly, which opened in Delaware and made the usual tour before hitting Broadway. Also in that cast was a young Englishman named Archie Leach, who received as many good notices for his romantic appeal as Allen got for his comic work. Hammerstein retooled the show before bringing it to New York, replacing everyone but two women and Allen. Leach decided to buy an old car and drive to Hollywood. "What Archie Leach didn't tell me," Allen remembered, "was that he was going to change his name to Cary Grant." Polly never succeeded in spite of several retoolings, but Allen did go on to successful shows like The Little Show (1929–30) and Three's a Crowd (1930–31), which eventually led to his full-time entry to radio in 1932. Allen first hosted The Linit Bath Club Revue on CBS, moving the show to NBC and becoming The Salad Bowl Revue (in a nod to new sponsor Hellmann's Mayonnaise, which was marketed by the parent company of Linit) later in the year. The show became The Sal Hepatica Revue (1933–34), The Hour of Smiles (1934–35), and finally Town Hall Tonight (1935–39) [in 1939–40, however, sponsor Bristol-Myers, which advertised Ipana toothpaste as well as Sal Hepatica during the program, altered the title to The Fred Allen Show, over his objections]. Allen's perfectionism (odd to some, considering his deft ad-libs) caused him to leap from sponsor to sponsor until Town Hall Tonight allowed him to set his chosen small-town milieu and establish himself as a bona fide radio star.-WikiPedia

Simon's live report for Iain Dale's "NewsHour" on LBC.

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On the March 17th, 1937 episode of Town Hall Tonight, Fred Allen joked about his new-found friendship with Jack Benny. This episode aired three days after the two comedians famously squashed their beef in a sensational broadcast of Benny's program live from the Hotel Pierre in New York City.

82 years ago this show was broadcast on CBS on December 22... 1937. Comedian Fred Allen was the host of "Town Hall Tonight" which was the prelude to his "Allen's Alley" comedy show. His wife, Portland Hoffa was also featured on the program along with the Mighty Allen Art Players. Fred Allen was an incredibly good comedian and he knew how to entertain radio audiences. He developed many different and very entertaining characters who would "drop in" for a short visit on the show. On this program though, he welcomes Jack Benny who was his competition on NBC. In fact Allen and Benny had a mock feud going in competition with their shows. They made fun of each others programs and the "feud" simply raised the size of the listening audience, so they kept it up for years with some very funny results. Allen was born and in Cambridge, Massachusetts and graduated from Boston University. (Side note: Fred Allen (John Florence Sullivan was his real name) was in my grandmother's high school class!) Fred Allen was the most admired and frequently censored comedian on radio... he did a lot of ad-libbing that got him in trouble with sponsors and network executives. President Franklin Roosevelt was an avowed Fred Allen fan as were James Thurber, William Faulkner, John Steinberg, and Herman Wouk. Allen has stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1988. He was born in 1884 and died in 1956 at the age of 61. This show is in two playlists "Comedy" and "Christmas"

June 19, 1940 - Jack Benny is a guest on Town Hall Tonight, Fred Allen's radio show. Everyone at this time knew that Fred Allen and Jack Benny hated each other (as a gag on the radio). In this episode Jack and Fred pretend not to recognize each other as they make cutting jabs.

1 - Obama's gun "town hall" is on CNN tonite. 2 - Joe talks about the book he just finished called "The Wright Brothers" about... the Wright brothers. 3 - The News with Marshall Phillips. 4 - ; Final Thoughts.

37-03-10 (RV010 retro444) Town Hall Tonight, Amateur Night.

  Or, Who Stole The Elephant From Billy Nose?   Town Hall Tonight begins with Peter VanSeeten's Orchestra, and the Ipana Troubadours singing, I Feel a Song Coming On. The Latest news of the week presents shorts about a psychiatrist who tends to the mental health of a college student, the leap year social tradition of having women initiate marriage proposals, and buying things on credit. Can  you do that with medical operations?   After the commercial, the orchestra plays, I Got My Fingers Crossed. Portland Joins Fred to talk about mice, mouse traps, and cats. She then introduces a couple to Fred, who he teases them about their music talent, or lack thereof. The Town Hall Quartet sings, Slip Board Sam.   Another commercial break. The Mighty Allen Art Players perform the play, Mumbo, or Who Stole the Elephant from Billy Nose? Fred's answer to Charlie Chan, Won Long Pan, is on the case to find a missing elephant. Actually there are two missing elephants, Mumbo and Gumbo. As the jokes run amok, the mystery is solved.   Another commercial, a station break, and the second half of the show begins with the Ipana Troubadors singing, I Got a Brand New Girl. The first of the amateurs is the ABC Quartet, who sings, Tiger Rag. A couple of ladies sing an opera duet. Tommy Dunn plays harmonica while standing on his head. A songwriter plays piano, and sings his own creation. A tiny little woman, named Eleanor Friese, plays the chimes.  Finally another woman sings that popular swing tune of the day, Eeny Meeny Miney Mo. I think if these acts were on American Idol, Simon would have something to say about them. Not to mention  the results. After a commercial, we get to find out, with the help of the Applause Meter, who wins.   No Bonus tracks today.   

The Fred Allen Show - Born John Florence Sullivan on May 31, 1894, Fred Allen began his career in vaudeville before becoming one of radio’s most acerbic and admired wits. Allen and his wife, former chorus girl Portland Hoffa, began their radio career on October 23, 1932, starring on The Linit Bath Club Revue. By 1934, Allen was starring on Town Hall Tonight, a one-hour show which featured Allen examining current events and interviewing unusual guests. It was here that Allen began radio’s longest-running “feud” in 1937, when he made a series of jokes about fellow comedian Jack Benny. Allen's best-remembered feature was “Allen's Alley,” a weekly segment in which he would discuss issues of the day with eccentric creations like the blustery Senator Claghorn, Brooklyn housewife Pansy Nussbaum and stoic New Englander Titus Moody. Allen was known to read up to nine newspapers a day and often spent 12 to 14 hours a day writing and re-writing his scripts. Poor health forced Allen off the air in 1944, but he returned in the fall of 1945 with The Fred Allen Show, which lasted until June 26, 1949. Fred Allen died on March 17, 1956. Fred Allen was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988. THIS EPISODE: February 12, 1941. CBS network, WABC, New York aircheck. Sponsored by: Texaco. News Of The Week: Heavy rains have damaged the East Coast. The program's guest is Penobscot indian chief Nee Da Bay, who gives bird and animal imitations. The Texaco Workshop Players do "Truth Of Subsequences," a satire on guess-what-show hosted by "Ralph Deadwoods." This is another example of Fred's ongoing attack on the quiz show genre. Fred Allen, Portland Hoffa, Jimmy Wallington (announcer), Al Goodman and His Orchestra, Kenny Baker, Larry Elliott (commercial spokesman), Alan Reed, Nee Da Bay. 59:35.

Recollections At Thirty. July 4, 1956. Rudy Vallee sings on "The Fleischmann Hour" (July 4, 1935). Clark and McCullough make their first radio appearance, Lum and Abner appear with Frances Langford. An excerpt from "Town Hall Tonight" with Fred Allen and Portland Hoffa. Tom Coakley and His Orchestra: band remote from The Mural Room of The Hotel St. Francis, San Francisco (1936). Al Jolson on "Shell Chateau." Al Jolson, Bobby Clark, Chester Lauck, Frances Langford, Fred Allen, Norris Goff, Paul McCullough, Portland Hoffa, Rudy Vallee, Tom Coakley and His Orchestra.

THE FRED ALLEN SHOW - Born John Florence Sullivan on May 31, 1894, Fred Allen began his career in vaudeville before becoming one of radioâs most acerbic and admired wits. Allen and his wife, former chorus girl Portland Hoffa, began their radio career on October 23, 1932, starring on The Linit Bath Club Revue. By 1934, Allen was starring on Town Hall Tonight, a one-hour show which featured Allen examining current events and interviewing unusual guests. It was here that Allen began radioâs longest-running âfeudâ in 1937, when he made a series of jokes about fellow comedian Jack Benny. Allen's best-remembered feature was âAllen's Alley,â a weekly segment in which he would discuss issues of the day with eccentric creations like the blustery Senator Claghorn, Brooklyn housewife Pansy Nussbaum and stoic New Englander Titus Moody. Allen was known to read up to nine newspapers a day and often spent 12 to 14 hours a day writing and re-writing his scripts. Poor health forced Allen off the air in 1944, but he returned in the fall of 1945 with The Fred Allen Show, which lasted until June 26, 1949. Fred Allen died on March 17, 1956. Fred Allen was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.

The Fred Allen Show - Born John Florence Sullivan on May 31, 1894, Fred Allen began his career in vaudeville before becoming one of radioâs most acerbic and admired wits. Allen and his wife, former chorus girl Portland Hoffa, began their radio career on October 23, 1932, starring on The Linit Bath Club Revue. By 1934, Allen was starring on Town Hall Tonight, a one-hour show which featured Allen examining current events and interviewing unusual guests. It was here that Allen began radioâs longest-running âfeudâ in 1937, when he made a series of jokes about fellow comedian Jack Benny. Allen?s best-remembered feature was âAllen?s Alley,â a weekly segment in which he would discuss issues of the day with eccentric creations like the blustery Senator Claghorn, Brooklyn housewife Pansy Nussbaum and stoic New Englander Titus Moody.

Fred Allen - Comedian, Radio Personality Born: May 31, 1894 Fred Allen, who comically feuded with Jack Benny on the air for years, invented an entirely new form of radio comedy which consisted of lampooning current events, making fun of his sponsors, and presenting skits that featured a cast of memorable recurring characters. Allen was born John Florence Sullivan on May 31st, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of a bookbinder and storyteller. He became interested in comedy after finding a book on its history in his father's shop, and he taught himself to juggle by reading a book on the subject by the age of eighteen he was appearing in vaudeville as a juggler and comedian. A successful engagement at the Palace in 1919 led to many Broadway shows, including The Passing Show of 1922, where he met his future wife and radio co-star, Portland Hoffa. He made the transition to radio with The Lint Bath Club Revue, which premiered October 23rd, 1932 on CBS and moved to NBC in 1933. Allen's perfectionism led him to move from sponsor to sponsor. His shows, for which he wrote much of the material himself, included The Salad Bowl Revue (1933), The Sal Hepatica Revue (1933-34), The Hour of Smiles (1934-35), and Town Hall Tonight (1935-40). The Fred Allen Show, his last series, ran from 1942 to 1949. His funniest and most popular regular sketch, "Allen's Alley," premiered on Sunday, December 6th, 1942. It featured Allen strolling along, knocking on the doors of various characters, including average American John Doe (played by John Brown), pompous poet Falstaff Openshaw (Allan Reed), and boisterous southern senator Beuregard Claghorn (announcer Kenny Delmar).

An all new podcast!  This week's podcast looks at the career of the dean of radio comedy/satire - Fred Allen. Allen's career was virtually all radio once he left the comedy stage behind. Not only was radio Allen's medium, it was that medium that held onto him so fiercely that he could never move into television as did his counterparts like Jack Benny.This podcast will look at his Linit Bath Club Revue, Hour of Smiles, Town Hall Tonight and his final series on radio, The Fred Allen Show.