Fred Allen

When Radio Ruled #151 – A 1930s Christmas

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Holiday Spirit from 1937, 1938, and 1939
as served up by Old Time Radio!

Christmas Time is here again. A time when us older folks reconnect with the child we once were. Moments from past Christmases relived, smiles and tears remembered. Longing and gratitude and the laughter of those we’ve lost.

At least that’s what happens to me. Every Christmas that passes magnifies the memories of Christmases from a lifetime ago.

Old Time Radio like this helps me through the bittersweet nostalgia for days that no longer exist.

Starring Santa Claus and The Christian God

Also Appearing

Don Wilson

Mary Livingstone

Jack Benny

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Kenny Baker

Rudy Vallee

Fred Allen

Shirley Temple

Nelson Eddy

Orson Welles

Eddie Cantor

Dennis Day

Robert Young

Baby Snooks and Daddy

Lionel Barrymore

Reginald Owen

And More!!

Click Here to Visit Christmas in the 1930s!!!

When Radio Ruled #147 – SoundScape 1939 part 20

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Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. Radio highlights originally broadcast live October 8 through October 15, 1939.

A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

What the Jack Benny cast did on Summer Vacation!

Dennis Day Joins the Jello Cast!

Orson Welles takes us to Tangiers!

Bert Lahr visits Fred Allen!

Andy Devine visits Jack Benny!

And More!!

Featuring:

Jack Benny

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Mary Livingston

Phil Harris

Don Wilson

Dennis Day

Orson Welles

Paulette Goddard

Fibber McGee and Molly

Fred Allen

Portland Hoffa

Wynn Murray

The Merry Macs

Bert Lahr

Andy Devine

And More!

SoundScape 1939 part 20 is just a Click Away!!!

When Radio Ruled #146 – SoundScape 1939 part 19

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Old Time Radio highlights originally broadcast live October 1 through October 8, 1939.

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

A tapestry of History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

Charlie McCarthy’s in Need of Cash!

Mozart has been dead for many years!

Edgar Bergen Firefighter!

Constance Bennett has a Bridge Party

Charlie McCarthy Fire Chief!!

And More!!

Featuring:

Don Ameche

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Nelson Eddy

Dorothy Lamour

Edward Everett Horton

Constance Bennett

Robert Armbruster

The Shadow

Winston Churchill

Orson Welles

Cecil B DeMille

Fibber McGee and Molly

Fred Allen

Harry Van Steeden

The Merry Macs

Wynn Murray

Ned Sparks

Vera Vague

Charles Laughton

And More!

Give A Listen to SoundScape 1939 part 19!!!

When Radio Ruled #141 – 3 Best Variety Shows of the 1930s

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Bing Crosby

The first generation of radio talent, performers, directors, and writers came from the worlds of vaudeville, minstrel shows and Broadway revues. All forms of variety theater, so it isn’t any wonder that the variety show quickly emerged as a common Radio format.

Here are the three Old Time Radio shows from the 1930’s I feel best exemplify the variety format, and the reasons why.

I expect you, dear listener, might respectfully disagree with my choices. Leave me a comment on my blog, BeforeTVBlog.com, I’d love to hear your opinions.

Meanwhile, give a listen to:

Al Jolson

Fred Allen

Portland Hoffa

Rudy Vallee

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Don Ameche

Dorothy Lamour

Nelson Eddy

Jimmy Dorsey

Bob Burns

And More

Great Variety is Just a Click Away!

When Radio Ruled #137 – Fred Allen’s People You Didn’t Expect to Meet 1939

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Fred Allen and the people you didn’t expect to meet 1939.

Fred Allen was famously a control freak on his radio shows. Although he used a staff of writers, it was just to generate ideas and jokes that would be incorporated into the final script that Fred always wrote personally.

Each minute of those shows were a reflection of Fred, including his frequent on air conversations from many folks from many walks of life.

I, personally, am grateful to Fred for helping me to appreciate the lives lived by folks in that past by allowing those folks to tell their own stories.

I think you will also enjoy those  real life stories.

Give Old Fred’s 1939 Conversations a Listen!

When Radio Ruled #132 – SoundScape 1939 part 12

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Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

The Town Hall News!

A Newsreel Camera Man!

Fred Allen Bad Mouths Jack Benny!

Life Begins at 40!

And More

Featuring:

Cecil B DeMille

Dr. Ronald W. McCorkle

Fibber McGee and Molly

Harry Van Steeden

Fred Allen

Portland Hoffa

The Merry Macs

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Andy Devine

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Edgar Bergen

Charlie McCarthy

Don Ameche

Ginger Rogers

And More!

Click Here To Take a Trip to 1939!

When Radio Ruled #127 – Wynn Murray Sings 1939

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17 year old Wynn Murray already had two Broadway hits on her resume when she joined The Fred Allen show as the resident Female Vocalist in 1939.

Fred Allen’s decision to bring a famous female vocalist onto his show in 1939 was a recognition that female singers were now in vogue.

Singers like Connie Boswell on the Good News Program, and Charlie McCarthy’s Dorothy LaMour were part of their show’s ratings success.

Those Shows broadcast from Hollywood so those singers came from the film industry.

Fred Allen broadcast from New York City so he had access to Broadway Talent, and Wynn Murray was one of New York Theater’s most promising young shining stars.

SONGS:

Sing For Your Supper

Great Day

Johnny One Note

Comes Love

I didn’t know what time it was

Blow Gabriel Blow

The Man with the Mandolin

What’s New

Stop it’s Wonderful

Stormy Weather

Click Here to Hear for Yourself: Wynn Murray 1939

When Radio Ruled #123 – The Merry Macs Sing 1939

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Close harmony groups were popular in the 1920’s, 30’s,40’s and  50’s. The Merry Macs were among the most successful and were certainly the longest lived of all the Old Time Radio harmony groups.

Close Harmony singing evolved from the Barbershop Quartets of the 1880s and 1890s, but with a jazz age sensibility. Closer harmonic chords and experimentation with tempo and rhythm are some differences between the two styles of harmony.

The Songs you’re going to hear are all recorded from live broadcasts in 1939:

Mister Zip Zip Zip

Stumbling All Around

She’s my Sweetheart

Do You Ever Think of Me

Moonlight Bay

Wizard of Oz Medley

Jingle Bells

Little Drink Do Harm?

Mister Daily Star

Oh Johnny

Click Here for the One and Only Merry Macs!

When Radio Ruled #122 – SoundScape 1939 part 7, March 22 – April 5, 1939

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Radio highlights originally broadcast live March 22 through April 5, 1939

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s soundscape:

Nothing about the war in this one, things were quiet there and we were more than happy to pretend the bombs and blood wasn’t real. We will soon find out different.

The violent wedding of Andy Brown!

Georgie Jessell kills it with the comedy on the Fed Allen show!

And more!!!

This episode features:

Cecil B DeMille

Loretta Young

Spencer Tracy

Father Flanagan

Fibber McGee

Robert Young

Leo Carillo

Orson Welles

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Phil Harris Orchestra

Mary Livingstone

Mr. Distrct Attorney

Amos ‘n Andy

Fred Allen

Portland Hoffa

Peter Van Steeden

Harry Von Zell

And

Georgie Jessell

Click Here to Time Travel with Your Ears to 1939 !!

When Radio Ruled #116-SoundScape 1939 part 4

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History through the eyes of people as they live it, reported by radio.

Voices from the past alive again because you’re listening now.

In today’s soundscape, you can hear the dark cloud of war gather.

Earlier in the year, as evidenced by When Radio Ruled Soundscapes 1939 parts 1, 2, and 3, Old Time Radio was trying to ignore the European turmoil. In this episode they’ve stopped trying.

The Columbia Workshop in particular forshadows the horrors to come. You’ll see.

Thank God for Jack Benny. This episode has its dark moments. They make a good laugh more important than ever.

This episode features:

Bing Crosby

Jane Withers

The Columbia Workshop

Cecil B. DeMille

Fibber McGee

Orson Welles

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

The Family Doctor

Lionel Barrymore

Robert Young

Rosalind Russell

Meredith Wilson

Tony Martin

Fred Allen

Harry Von Zell

Portland Hoffa

Give a Listen to SoundScape 1939 part 4

When Radio Ruled #105 – SoundScape 1938 part 31

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This Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live December 11 through December 22, 1938.

Starring:

The Cast of Family Doctor

Fred Allen

Santa Claus

Robert Young

Lionel Barrymore

Reginald Owen

Jack Benny

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Don Wilson

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Andy Devine

Hanley Stafford

Fanny Brice

In this episode:

Fred Allen interviews Santa Claus!

Lionel Barrymore Narrates “A Christmas Carol”!

Jack and the Gang take the Train Cross Country!

Baby Snooks goes to the department store!

It’s Christmas in 1938!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of show biz from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Soundscape 1938, part 31, from When Radio Ruled, offered without further commentary for your entertainment and education. But mostly for your entertainment.

Click here to give Episode 105 a Listen!

When Radio Ruled #102 – SoundScape 1938 part 28

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My personal OTR collection contains thousands of hours of old time radio I use  in order to create the year by year historical When Radio Ruled documentaries, and as I listen to each episode I extract the most interesting and entertaining bits to create a best of reel as a reference for when writing the scripts. And that’s what you are about to hear, part of that best of reel, a one hour chunk of really great audio artifacts from 1938.

The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live November 10 through November 17, 1938.

Starring:

Cast of Columbia Workshop

Lionel Barrymore

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Peter Van Steeden

Fred Allen

Portland Hoffa

Harry Von Zell

Rudy Vallee

Joe DiMaggio

In this episode:

Lionel Barrymore prays for peace!

Jack Benny Steals Phil Harris’ Girlfriend!

Fred Allen talks Taxes on False Teeth!

Song of the Vice Presidents!

Rudy Vallee interviews Joe DiMaggio

And More!!

Click for a Listen to When Radio Ruled #102!

When Radio Ruled #101 – SoundScape 1938 part 27

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The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live November 2 through November 6, 1938.

Starring:

Fred Allen

Harry Von Zell

Portland Hoffa

Orson Welles

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Kenny Baker

Bill Goodwin

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Ray Noble

Jean Arthur

And

The Merry Macs

In this episode:

Fred Allen’s Tribute to November!

Sound Poems from Columbia Workshop!

Jean Arthur Tells Charlie McCarthy about Goldilocks

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of show biz from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Click Here to Enjoy SoundScape 1938 part 27

When Radio Ruled #93 – SoundScape 1938 part 20

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My personal OTR collection contains thousands of hours of old time radio I use to create the year by year historical When Radio Ruled documentaries, and as I listen to each episode I extract the most interesting and entertaining bits and create a best of reel as a reference for when writing the script. And that’s what you are about to hear, part of that best of reel, a one hour chunk of really great audio artifacts from 1938.

This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live June 22 through July 3, 1938.

Starring:

Joe Lewis

Max Schmeling

Fred Allen

Art Moger

Portland Hoffa

Harry Von Zell

Orson Welles

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Andy Devine

The Cast of the Lone Ranger

L.A. “Speed” Riggs

Georgie Jessel

Norma Talmadge

The Cast and Musicians of The RCA Victor Campus Club

Featured Songs include:

Honey on the Moon – Town Hall Quartet

You Couldn’t be Sweeter – Phil Harris

That Was Love Sez My Heart – Mary Livingstone

Rings on her Fingers – The Merry Macs

In this episode:

Joe Lewis versus Max Schmeling!

Speed Riggs reveals Tobacco Auctioneer Secrets!

Mary Livingstone Sings!

Hot Swing from The Campus Club!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Click Here to Ear Hear SoundScape 1938 part 20 – it is a good one!

When Radio Ruled #92 – SoundScape 1938 part 19

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This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live June 4 through June 19, 1938.

Starring:

The Cast of Colombia Workshop

Fred Allen

Ray Smith

Portland Hoffa

Harry Von Zell

Peter Van Steeden

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Phil Harris

Don Wilson

Kenny Baker

Mary Livingston

Joan Bennett

Featured Songs include:

Cry Baby Cry – Town Hall Quartet

Serenade in the Night – Connie Boswell

Don’t Be That Way – Meredith Wilson Orchestra

Second Hand Rose – Fanny Brice

In this episode:

Jack Benny and Joan Bennett Shoot their Movie!

What’s a Mikado? Kenny Baker wants to Know!

Fanny Brice sings one of her greatest hits!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Soundscape 1938, part 19, from When Radio Ruled, offered without further commentary for your entertainment and education. But mostly for your entertainment.

Click Here to Ear Hear SoundScape 1938 part 19

When Radio Ruled #91 – SoundScape 1938 part 18

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This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live May 26 through June 1 1938.

Starring:

Robert Young

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

The Cast of Columbia Workshop

Georgie Jessel

Mary Livingston

Don Wilson

Kenny Baker

Phil Harris

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Jack Benny

Andy Devine

Agnes Moorehead

Orson Welles

Fred Allen

The Mighty Allen Art Players

Featured Songs include:

I was a Flora Dora Baby – Fanny Brice

Love Please Don’t Tell on Me medley – The Merry Macs

In this episode:

Rochester plays Leading Lady as Jack Benny rehearses for his new film!

The Shadow Confronts The Creeper!

A Vox Pop parody from Fred Allen!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Click Here to Hear 1938 SoundScape part 18!

When Radio Ruled #88 – SoundScape 1938 part 16

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This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live May 5 through May 18 1938.

Featuring:

Judy Garland

Robert Young

Frank Morgan

Una Merkle

Clark Gable

The Cast of the Green Hornet

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Mary Livingston

Don Wilson

The Cast of the Lone Ranger

Fred Allen

Featured Songs Include:

Judy Garland – You’re in God’s Country

Judy Garland – How Deep is the Ocean

Norma Talmadge – How’d You Like to Love Me

Town Hall Quartet – You Couldn’t be Finer

In this episode:

Fred Allen and Company Mock Jack Benny and his new home!

16 Year Old Judy Garland Sings Her Heart Out!

Frank Morgan discusses his career as a Gigilo!

And More!!

Click Here to Ear Hear SoundScape 1938 part 16!

When Radio Ruled #86 – SoundScape 1938 part 15

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This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live April 20 through May 4 1938.

Featuring:

The Cast of the Lone Ranger

The Cast of Blair of the Mounties

Fred Allen

Harry Von Zell

Charles Atlas

Winston Churchill

The Cast of Columbia Workshop

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Mary Livingston

Georgie Jessel

Norma Talmadge

Portland Hoffa

Featured Songs Include:

Stop and Reconsider – the Town Hall Quartet

Crazy People – The Merry Macs

In a Little Red Barn – The Merry Macs

The Jonah Song – Town Hall Quartet

You Couldn’t Be Cuter – Town Hall Quartet

Good Night Ladies – The Merry Macs

DixieLand Band – Town Hall Quartet

Shade of the New Apple Tree – The Merry Macs

In this episode:

Lots of Musical Numbers!

Fred Allen tears a phone book in half!

The Unique Musical Stylings of the Merry Macs!

Winston Churchill speaks about Art and Politics!

And More!!

Please come with me on the time machine to the year 1938 and be entertained by these giants of entertainment from long ago, alive again through the magic of the theater of the mind.

Click Here to Ear Hear SoundScape 1938 part 15

When Radio Ruled #85-SoundScape 1938 part 14

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This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live April 3 through April 18, 1938.

Featuring:

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Mary Livingston

Kenny Baker

Phil Harris

Fred Allen

Portland Hoffa

Harry Von Zell

Harry Morgan

Robert Taylor

Fanny Brice

Featured Songs Include:

Dear, Dear, What Can the Matter Be? – The Merry Macs

I’m Coming Home – The Town Hall Quartet

The Gypsy in my Soul – The Merry Macs

Why? Because! – Judy Garland & Baby Snooks

College Swing – Judy Garland

Cryin’ for the Caroline – Judy Garland

In this episode:

Jack Benny Goes to Oxford, if he can find it!

The Jack Benny/Fred Allen feud heats up!

Judy Garland sings and Swings!

Harry Morgan and Fanny Brice as Napoleon and Josephine!

And More!!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR SOUNDSCAPE 1938 part 14