Showing results by author "Entertainment Radio" in All Categories

Beyond Our Ken (1958–1964) is a radio comedy program, the predecessor to Round the Horne (1965–1968). Both programs starred Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee, with announcer Douglas Smith. The name is a pun on Kenneth Horne's name and the (now mainly Northern English and Scots) word ken, meaning "knowledge or perception".

In 1944, NBC wanted a show for younger audiences, not for little kids, but more for those coming of age. That was the impetus for this old-time radio great, Adventure Ahead. Although Adventure Ahead was intended for all audiences, it was geared for young men. All the plots were from famous adventure fiction writers, and they all starred or were intended for boys. Some of the well-known writers were Daniel Defoe, Steven Vincent Benet, and Waldo Fleming. The stories and plots were adventures that any red-blooded American boy could only dream of. For example, one of the stories, 'Inside The FBI' ...

ABC Mystery Time came on the air late enough in the Golden Age of Radio that all of the episodes should have survived. This is doubly sad because it was such a terrific program. The network and its affiliates tinkered with the title of the program at times, calling it Masters of Mystery, Mystery Time Classics, and plain old Mystery Time. The official name of the program, hosted by Don Dowd, was always ABC Mystery Time. The program did have enough to attract some serious star power, including the immortal Sir Laurence Olivier! Mystery Time may not be as recognizable as some of NBC and CBS’s ...

This series consisted of 15 minute shows, similar in format to Ripley's Believe It Or Not that had aired from 1930 to 1948. It was hosted/narrated by Ken Nordine and was produced by Unusual Features Syndicate. This syndicated series was heard on the Mutual network during 1950 and 1951 on various days and at various times. For example, according to "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All Circulating Shows" by Jay Hickerson, it aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 PM from April 17, 1950 through June 5, 1951 and on Saturdays at 5:15 PM from June 30, 1951 through ...

The "Ghost Corps" old-time radio show was a mystery/horror program that aired in the 1930s. It stands apart from the modern Ghost Corps production company associated with the Ghostbusters franchise.Here's what we know about the old-time radio show:Premise: The show centered around a character named K.C. Smith, a man trained to deal with "fiends" (likely referring to criminals or supernatural threats) in the Middle East. He operated as part of the "Ghost Corps," a mysterious, shrouded organization of freelance diplomats working throughout the Near and Far East.Plot Device: K.C. Smith was fluent...

Blackstone, the Magic Detective, otherwise known as Blackstone, the Magician, was based on the life story of Harry Blackstone, who is considered as “the world’s greatest magician.” Ed Jerome starred as Blackstone, alongside Ted Osborne and Fran Carlon as John and Rhoda, respectively. The show’s format was like Orson Welles’ Black Museum, where he picks an object kept in a museum, then explains the crime story about it. In Blackstone, the Magic Detective, John picks an item at Blackstone’s studio, then Blackstone and Rhoda will tell John their adventure with that object and how ...

Sherlock Holmes was played by Roy Marsden with the part of Dr. Watson played by John Moffatt. John Moffatt is no stranger to radio and, in fact, played the role of Holmes, Watson and Inspector Gregson on radio. He’s best known for his role as Hercule Poirot in the BBC’s presentation of many of Agatha Christie’s novels on radio. Roy Marsden appeared in Granada’s “The Last Vampire” with Jeremy Brett. Unlike most full cast adaptations, these featured mostly Dr. Watson’s narration interspersed with acted sequences. This technique is quite effective especially since it mimics how most...

Buster Brown was a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault. Adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904, Buster Brown, his sweetheart Mary Jane, and his dog Tige, an American Pit Bull Terrier, were well-known to the American public in the early 20th century. The character's name was also used to describe a fashionable style of suit for young boys, the Buster Brown suit, which echoed his own outfit. A Buster Brown radio series began in 1943 with Smilin' Ed McConnell on the West Coast NBC Radio Network. It included such characters as Froggy the Gremlin ("Plunk ...

This series was written by Michael McCabe and was produced in South Africa. It was a replacement for another series McCabe produced, called SF68. That series adapted famous Sci-fi stories to radio, and it seems to have been the place where McCabe honed his craft. The subject matter to Beyond Midnight was more horror oriented, including madness, murder, and supernatural sleuths! What survives today doesn't involve a horror host per se, but a few include framing narration (by someone involved in the plot) while others just start up the story with no announcer or lead-in whatsoever. So, it's ...

The "High Adventure" radio show that ran from 1972 to 1985 was a series of dramatized adventure dramas. This particular iteration of "High Adventure" was produced in South Africa and aired on Springbok Radio.Here are some key details about the show:Genre: Dramatized adventure dramas.Production: It was directed by Henry Diffenthal at the Olympia Recording Studios in Durban, South Africa.Writers: Notable writers included Ron Evans, Denver Morgan, and Norman Partington.Broadcast History:It initially replaced the series "Next Stop Makouvlei" on Tuesday evenings.In 1976, it moved to Thursday ...

"The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen" was indeed a popular American radio adventure serial that aired from 1933 to 1937. It was created by two World War I flying aces, Bob Burtt and Bill Moore, and originated from WDAF-FM in Kansas City, Missouri.Here's some additional information about the show:Target Audience: The serial was primarily aimed at children and teenagers. It capitalized on the growing fascination with aviation during the "Golden Age of Aviation" in the 1930s.Sponsorship and Promotion: The original and primary sponsor was Skelly Oil Company. They used the show as a major ...

"Mollé Mystery Theatre" was a popular old-time radio anthology program that focused on mystery and suspense. Here's a breakdown of its key aspects:Run Dates and Networks: The show had a fairly long run, from 1943 to 1954, and aired on multiple networks:NBC: 1943-1948CBS: 1948-1951ABC: 1951-1954Sponsor: It was initially sponsored by Sterling Drugs, specifically for their Mollé Brushless Shaving Cream, which gave the show its distinctive name. When Mollé ceased sponsorship in 1948, the title was often shortened to "Mystery Theater."Format:Anthology: For much of its run, it was an anthology ...

"Ford Theater" was a dramatic anthology radio series that aired in the late 1940s. It's often referred to as "Ford Theatre" and was sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.Here's a breakdown of its history and notable aspects:Two Seasons (1947-1949): The radio show ran for two seasons.Season 1 (NBC): From October 5, 1947, to June 27, 1948, it was broadcast from New York City on NBC. This season featured actors like Ed Begley, Shirley Booth, Gary Merrill, Everett Sloane, and Vicki Vola. Ratings were reportedly poor.Season 2 (CBS): Due to the low ratings, Ford moved the show to Hollywood and CBS for...

Claudia, also known as Claudia and David, is an American old-time radio drama. One version was broadcast on CBS July 4, 1941 - September 26, 1941[1] and another was syndicated in 1947. Claudia and David were first heard on radio in a segment on the June 6, 1941, episode of The Kate Smith Hour. At that time, Claudia had just fallen in love with David. When Smith's program went off for the summer, the 10-minute segments were expanded to fill her time slot. The couple's wedding occurred on the July 11, 1941, episode. The characters first appeared in ten short stories by Rose Franken that were ...

Calling all Cars ran from 1933-1939. It's considered to be the inspiration for the old-time radio great, Dragnet. Calling All Cars chronicles the L.A. Police Department cases. Although this is an earlier version of the same type of show Dragnet was, there are some differences. Calling All Cars was introduced at a time when Americans became much more mobile because of the automobile. Criminals could get into a waiting car, and if they got lucky enough, get lost in traffic! Dragnet came out much later, but they both gave a thorough and detailed account of the crime and the criminals behind the ...

One Man's Family Radio Show"One Man's Family," a pioneering American radio soap opera, captivated listeners for nearly three decades, from 1932 to 1959. Created by Carlton E. Morse, it stands as the longest-running uninterrupted dramatic serial in the history of American radio. The show's innovative structure, divided into books and chapters, mirrored the format of a novel, enhancing its storytelling appeal.Set against the backdrop of San Francisco's picturesque Sea Cliff neighborhood, "One Man's Family" centered on the lives of stockbroker Henry Barbour, his wife Fanny, and their five ...

"Life with Dexter" was a very popular Australian radio comedy program that aired from the 1950s through to the mid-1960s.Here's a breakdown of the show:Premise: The show revolved around the daily happenings of the Dutton household, featuring the lovable and often bumbling patriarch, Dexter Dutton, his somewhat sharp-tongued wife Kessie (also known as Jessie), and their two children, Janie and Ashley (also known as Ashleigh). It was known for its humorous take on everyday family situations.Star and Creator: The show starred Willie Fennell as Dexter Dutton, and he was also the creator of the ...

"Box 13" was a thrilling radio drama that aired in the late 1940s, captivating audiences with its blend of mystery, adventure, and suspense. Here's a breakdown of the show:Premise:Dan Holiday, a former newspaper reporter turned novelist, craves real-life experiences to fuel his stories.He places an ad in his old paper: "Adventure wanted, will go anywhere, do anything. Write Box 13."The mysterious Box 13 becomes his address for trouble, as people seeking help, criminals with schemes, and just plain eccentric characters write in.Main Characters:Dan Holiday: Played by film star Alan ...

The era of radio drama was a time when storytelling was a purely auditory experience, and "Broadway Is My Beat" was a shining example of this art form. Running on CBS from 1949 to 1954, this radio crime drama painted a vivid picture of New York City's underbelly, with Times Square Detective Danny Clover at the center of the action.The show began with Anthony Ross voicing Detective Clover, bringing to life the gritty streets of New York during its first three months. However, it was Larry Thor who would become synonymous with the role for the remainder of the series. The atmospheric music by ...

“Nick Harris Detective” was an old-time radio show that dramatized the cases of Nicholas Boilvin Harris, a renowned private detective in Los Angeles. The real Nick Harris started as a police reporter for the LA Times before joining the LAPD at the captain’s request. He later founded his own detective agency and a professional detective school. His popularity and success led to the creation of the radio show, which aired from 1923 until 1942, making it one of the longest-running detectives shows of its time.The show was known for its thrilling and complex cases, often rivaling those of ...