Old Radio Shows.org

Sponsored by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, the Firestone Hour debuted December 3, 1928 on the NBC radio-broadcasting network. The program featured classical and operatic music in an old time radio show format, in which selections were performed by the Firestone orchestra. The long running weekly radio show was broadcast at 8:30 p.m. on Monday nights for 28 years.

On November 29, 1943, the show became known as, The Voice of Firestone, which coincided with its television premier on a New York television station. The “voice” of the new televised format focused more on documentary and commentary than its radio broadcast version. Firestone supported and promoted several national organizations on its show. In 1944, the NBC television network began televising the program to a nationwide audience. This series aired until 1947.

The Voice of Firestone continued to evolve and by 1949, the NBC network once again picked up the show. This time, the televised program aired simultaneously with its radio broadcast. Unfortunately, the televised series was less successful than its radio counterpart was. Mixed reviews and low ratings resulted in NBC wanting to remove the show from its prime time line-up; however, Firestone executives refused and the show was acquired by the ABC network in 1954. Radio broadcasting continued until 1956, while the televised show aired until its cancellation by ABC in 1959. Many viewers protested against the cancellation, citing that television lacked high quality programs. The program was revived in 1962, but it was cancelled within a year.

This is one of the few remaining recordings of the musical series from 1953:

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The Great Gildersleeve old time radio show was centered on Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve. Gildersleeve (the Great Man himself) came from the Wistful Vista of Fibber McGee and Molly. The Great Gildersleeve receives a lot of notice for being the first successful “Spin-off” program, where a character from one show leaves and a new program is built around them.  When he got his own show it enjoyed almost as much success as its parent program, although it was really a much different type of program.

Here is the debut The Great Gildersleeve episode which was recorded 70 years ago today, starring Harold Peary in his own series:

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Magic Island is a children’s science-fantasy serial story. The syndicated serial was recorded in 1936. There were 130 12-minute episodes, all of which have survived. This gives us more than 25 hours of programming.

The details don’t tell us much, but the treat of the Magic Island is the story.

Fourteen years ago, wealthy widow Patricia Gregory’s family yacht was lost in the South Pacific near the 30^th parallel south, (possibly near the Kermadec Islands.) Patricia, who seems to be some sort of highly-connected government agent, is the only known survivor, although through the years she has held to the belief that her daughter, Joan, has survived the shipwreck. She has long advertised for news of her daughter, and although there have been attempts to swindle the money from her; there has been no sign of her daughter. She is aided in her quest by Capt. Tex Bradford, an inventor and another secret, highly connected government agent.

On the night of the first episode, Jerry Hall, a young ham radio operator, has picked up a mysterious broadcast, and is trying to find Mrs. Gregory to tell her about it. Jerry has followed the story of Mrs. Gregory’s missing daughter “Golly Whiskers, since I could read!” The mysterious broadcast, on a mysterious frequency, tells of a dying sailor who has been held on a secret island with a race of strange natives, among them a white girl the age of young Joan.

Capt Bradford has also monitored the broadcast. He and Mrs. Gregory are on their way to the harbor to board her new yacht sail to the South Seas and renew the search, and of course Jerry insists on coming along.

Magic Island is pure “Drive-Way” fare: if you happen to be listening in the car and come to the end of your journey before the end of the episode, you will find yourself hesitating to turn of the car for fear of missing what happens before the end of the episode.

Enjoy the first episode from Old Time Radio:

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Today in 1946, Academy Award Theater was heard for the first time. The first dramatized story was titled, Jezebel and starred actresses, Bette Davis and Ann Revere.

Sponsored by Squibb, this is the first show of the series: an adaptation of the story of the ultimate Southern “bitch.” Jean Hersholt, president of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, speaks.

Please enjoy this debut episode:

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In 1949 today, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS. Featured is the first episode, titled “Mind in the Shadows.” Charles Russell plays the starring role as the insurance investigator with the action-packed expense account. Please enjoy the debut episode:

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The series continued on for fourteen years with the title role later being taken on by Edmond O’Brien, John Lund, Bob Bailey, Bob Readick, and Mandel Kramer when it ended in 1962.