Old Time Radio Christmas Shows

Alan Freed was the first radio disc jockey and concert producer who frequently played and promoted rock and roll. He also popularized the phase "rock and roll". He passed away 59 years ago on Jan. 20, 1965. Here is a 1 1/2 hour sample of Alan Freed's WINS radio show in 1955. Enjoy.

In 1956, Alan Feed had a radio program on CBS, called Camel Rock and Roll Dance Party (on the AFRS, it was called Rock and Roll Dance Party. No commercials on the Arm Forces Radio). Here is show #1. Enjoy.

Back in 1954, Alan Freed had a popular DJ show on WJW in Cleveland called "Moon Dog Show". This may be the only copy circulating, so it's very rare. Enjoy this 24 min. sample of that show.

A Happy Birthday to Ray Anthony. He turned a 102 years old today, born on Jan. 20, 1922. He is the last surviving member of the original Glenn Miller Orchestra. Ray Anthony had a tv show in the 1950s and also on radio. His radio shows were 15 mins. long ,so I put two shows back to back. Enjoy.

75 Years Ago today in FBI History: After numerous kidnap and extortion attempts, child star Shirley Temple became close friends with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover who, on this date January 20, 1949, gifted her a fountain pen that held a teargas dispenser to be used for self-defense. Shirley Temple was a child movie star in the late 30s into the 40s. This is one child actress that did well into her adulthood. In 1935, Shirley Temple made a hit movie, Littlest Rebel. On Oct. 14, 1940, she reprise her role on The Lux Radio Theater. Her personality resonate very well on radio as it did in her movies. Enjoy this show.

This CBS Radio Mystery Theater was originally broadcasted on Jan. 18, 1974. Enjoy.

A comedy episode of Edgar Bergen & Charlie Mccarthy Show from Dec. 16, 1945. Enjoy.

X Minus One was an adult, well made Sci-fi show. It was known for high production values in adapting stories from leading authors from that time period. Initially it was a revival of NBC's Dimension X, from the early 50s. This episode is called "Junkyard and it was broadcasted on Feb. 22, 1956. Enjoy this high quality show.

In my opinion, this is one of the best jazz concert of its time period. The Esquire All American Jazz Concert was performed 80 years ago today, on Jan. 18, 1944. All the jazz greats gathered together on this two hour broadcast. Performers were Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey, Barney Bigard, Al Casey, Sid Catlett, Roy Eldridge, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Red Norvo, Oscar Pettiford, Art Tatum, Jack Teagarden and Teddy Wilson. Enjoy this great, complete concert.

On January 16, 1942, a famous movie star, Carole Lombard, along with her mother and Clark Gable's press agent, Otto Winkler and 15 U.S. Army soldiers were killed instantly when their went into a mountain. Two days later the Jack Benny Show went on the air without Jack Benny. The show only had music. Carole Lombard last movie was the 1942 film, "To Be Or Not To Be", co-starring Jack Benny. Jack was so upset, that he refused to go on with his show. This is that broadcast.

This is one of my favorite Lux Radio Theater programs, My Man Godfrey. This radio adaptation is based on the 1936 movie. Carole Lombard, William Powell and Gail Patrick reprise their movie roles. This was originally broadcasted on May 9, 1938. Enjoy.

A birthday salute to Betty White, who would have been a 102 years old. Ms. White was born on Jan. 17, 1922. She was a pioneer in early tv, her career started in radio. She never had a large role in any radio shows she appeared in, but supporting parts. Ms. White played a small role in this episode of This Is Your Fbi, broadcasted on Aug. 12, 1949. Enjoy the show.

Family Theater was a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology radio program. This series ran for 10 1/2 years, from 1947 to 1957. In this episode the cast included Gary Cooper, Shelly Winters, Henry Morgan and a unknown supporting cast member, Betty White. This was originally broadcasted on April 27, 1949. Enjoy.

Today, Jan. 17, 2024, we have a Founding Father Birthday, Benjamin Franklin. He was born 318 years ago, on Jan. 17, 1706. He was an incredible man. This episode of Cavalcade Of America dramatize his statesman role. This episode is titled "Dr Franklin Goes To Court," Broadcasted on Nov. 13, 1940. Enjoy.

Here is another biographical, dramatize radio program of Benjamin Franklin. This is from American Portraits. First show of the series. Broadcasted on July 10, 1951. Enjoy.

This CBS Radio Mystery Theater radio play is strictly a historical fictional story, base on one of the greatest Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin was a multi talent man, but he was not a detective, as portrayed in this story. This is still a worthwhile story to listen to. Originally broadcasted on April 7, 1975. Also in the beginning and end of this broadcast is the news. Enjoy.

Hal Kemp (1904 - 1940) was an orchestra leader, who was popular in the 1930s. He basically played dance music. Here is an example of his broadcast. Enjoy.

Theater Guild On The Air took past Broadway Shows and adapt the scripts for radio. This first episode of this series is called "Wings Over Europe", originally opened on Broadway on December 10, 1928 at the Martin Beck Theatre and then moved to the Alvin Theatre sometime in 1929 running for 90 total performances. The star of this play is Burgess Meredith. Baby Boomers will remember him as The Penguin on tv Batman. This was originally broadcasted on Sept. 9, 1945. Enjoy the show.

When Big Town debut on radio (this episode), its star, Edward G. Robinson, was already a major movie actor. Big Town was about the adventures of its newspaper crusading editor. The co-star was another famous movie actress, Claire Trevor. This first episode was broadcasted on Oct. 19, 1937. Enjoy the show.

Before he became Mr. Television in the 1950s, Milton Berle had this 1/2 hour radio comedy show. He had a couple other shows before this series, which failed. This format seemed to work and probably help developed his tv show. This episode was broadcasted on Sept. 16, 1947. Enjoy.

This is a complete audio soundtrack of an interview with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr on the David Susskind Show, broadcasted on June 9, 1963. Very informative.

This is an audio recording of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading His Open Letter from a Birmingham Jail on April 16, 1963.

This is a film of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speech given to group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967. Please excuse the quality of the film.

Today is former child star 87th birthday, Margaret O'Brien. She was born on Jan. 15, 1937. In the golden age of motion pictures, she was a very popular star. and she appeared in many movies. In this Lux Radio Theater production , Margaret O'Brien recreates her role, along with James Craig and Frances Gifford in "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes." Enjoy the show.

In 1943, Margaret O' Brien, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, and Keenan Wynn made the movie, "Lost Angel." They recreated their original roles in this Lux Radio Theater adaptation, broadcasted on June 19, 1944. Enjoy the show.