Old Time Radio

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Saving Uncle Marmaduke by John Eugene Hasty

"All of a sudden there came from it three short raps." A short story by John Eugene Hasty from Radio magazine, September 1925 You know, I rather think there might be something in what these philosopher gents say about the darkest hour coming before the dawn. Of course, I imagine that dawn has been following the darkest hour for so many years that it's quite a habit with it by this time; but what I mean to say is that when a fellow gets in a bad jam and then up pops some friend to rally around ... (read more)

2022/12/11

Oscar Rabin and His Band - Moonlight Serenade (1947)

Oscar Rabin and his Band recorded the song "Moonlight Serenade" with Harry Davis in 1947 for the Parlophone label. Though the British band was named for Rabin, he primarily handled the business duties and Davis led the band in performances while Rabin played the saxophone. Their partnership lasted from 1924 to 1953, when Davis moved to California to live with his daughter Beryl, who had been a singer in the band for many years. The swing instrumental "Moonlight Serenade" was composed ... (read more)

2022/12/10

Early Radio Announcers Invented Their Profession in the 1920s

KDKA announcer H. W. Arlin on the air in 1921 Anyone who listens to the radio knows that the announcer or disc jockey has gone through some form of training to do the job right. But obviously in the early days of radio, there were not any schools to train people in the field of communications. So that meant anyone who wanted to do on the air work could just walk down to the local radio and ask for a job, and most likely they would get one. The first person who deserved to have the title ... (read more)

2022/12/10

Little Man You've Had a Busy Day - Harry Leader and His Band (1934)

Harry Leader and his Band recorded the song "Little Man You've Had a Busy Day" in London on June 28, 1934, for the Eclipse label. Leader was a successful band leader known for his work on the British radio program Workers Playtime, begun as a morale booster during World War II in 1941. The vocals on this song were performed by Dawn Davis, who sang with several British bands in the 1930s and 1940s, and also had a successful solo career. She sang with Al Bowlly on several recordings. ... (read more)

2022/12/09

Quin Ryan Broadcast the Scopes Trial on Radio

WGN broadcaster Quin Ryan Quin A. Ryan, manager of WGN Chicago. has had a colorful career including such vicissitudes as reporter, actor, sports correspondent, magazine editor, advertising man, syndicate humorist, columnist, feature announcer and station manager. Born in Chicago. Nov. 17, 1898, he divided his education between Loyola Academy. Northwestern University and the Old Essanay film studios. with early interest fixed in writing and acting. While in college he became sports correspondent ... (read more)

2022/12/09

The Opera Singer Lily Pons Lost 5 Pounds During Performances

The U.S. Lily Pons stamp from 1997 I've dressed numbers of opera stars but Lily Pons is the most glamorous and dynamic. I know she isn't a movie star and perhaps the editor will bawl me out for including her here, but I feel that enough people have heard her over the radio to be interested in her. Lily is a great shock at first because one thinks of opera singers as being robust and dramatic. Pons is very tiny -- I think her actual weight is a hundred and five pounds -- and she is as quiet and ... (read more)

2022/12/08

Radio Broadcast of 1934 America's Cup Crossed the Globe

A model of the Endeavour, challenger in the 1934 America's Cup Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent, months of work have been devoted to obtaining and perfecting equipment -- all to the point that the greatest maritime sporting event on the yearly calendar, the America's Cup (International Yacht Races), may be brought to radio listeners in complete and thrilling detail. From the air, reporters will give accounts of the races as they circle above the competing yachts. On the water, ... (read more)

2022/12/07

Martha Tilton Thought She Failed Benny Goodman Audition

Movie poster for Swing Hostess (1944) Sam, the man who made the pants too long, gave Martha Tilton her first job on an air show. Her singing suited the tailor man fine and he paid her the lordly sum of twenty-five dollars for her renditions over a Los Angles radio station-thousand watter KFAC. The day she got her first paycheck from the sponsor Martha rushed over to a department store and bought three items: a new hat, imitation pearls for her mother and a pink sweater for her dog who was ... (read more)

2022/12/06

What Happened on Radio Soaps in December 1952

Augusta Dabney and William Prince in the TV series Young Dr. Malone (1958) Aunt Jenny: Two girls in love with the same man create a situation that can not help but lead to trouble for someone. In a recent story, Aunt Jenny told of a triangle made even more complicated by the fact that the two girls were identical twins. The Stillman girls not only looked alike, but acted alike and had led identical lives -- until Larry came along. What unexpected changes did love make for all three of them? ... (read more)

2022/12/05

Roy Rogers Always Comes Home to Sky Haven Ranch

An ad for Roy Rogers' Double R brand toys from 1958 If he weren't the top Western star in the land, Roy Rogers could easily become a professional advisor to the world's parents. Roy gets between 80,000 and 90,000 letters each month from all over the globe, about half of which are written by parents asking Roy to write their children telling them to eat their cereal, drink their milk, go to bed on time or take medicine the doctor ordered. Since Roy is the ideal of all children, they follow his ... (read more)

2022/12/04

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