Nelson Eddy

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 #148 – OTR Thanksgiving 2025

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Happy Thanksgiving!!

The concept of Thanksgiving is as ancient as ancient can be. Harvest festivals dedicated to the god or gods currently in fashion as thanks for abundance and the survival it would provide.

But like so many things, Americans have made thanksgiving their very own with traditions and customs created and nurtured here in the good old USA.

FEATURING:

Lionel Barrymore

Edward Arnold

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

Nelson Eddy

Cecil B. DeMille

Mickey Rooney

Don Wilson

Amos ‘n Ady

Wally Brown

Dinah Shore

Winston Churchill

And More

CLICK HERE FOR TURKEY TALK FROM THE 30s AND 40s

When Radio Ruled 142-SoundScape 1939 part 17

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

September 10 – September 21, 1939

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

In today’s SoundScape:

Fibber and Molly Celebrate their Anniversary!

George G. Nathan Talks Eugene O’Neil!

Smoking Hot Swing Tunes!

And More!!

Featuring:

Orson Welles

Cary Grant

Fibber McGee and Molly

Don Ameche

 Edgar Bergen

Charlie McCarthy

Dorothy Lamour

Nelson Eddy

Robert Armbruster

Fred MacMurray

Helen Broderick

George G. Nathan

Myrt and Marge

Louis Prima’s Orchestra

And More!

Click Here to Drink in 1939 with Your Thirsty Ears!!

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 #138 – SoundScape 1939 part 15 July 30-August 13, 1939

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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:

Donald Dixon Tries to Tell a Joke!

Charlie McCarthy Interior Decorator!

Charlie McCarthy Astronomer!

Charlie McCarthy Coin Collector!

Charlie McCarthy Boy Scout!

Charlie McCarthy Talent Agent!

And More!!

Featuring:

Don Ameche

Dorothy Lamour

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Donald Dixon

Kay Frances

Josephine Hutchinson

Mischa Auer

Beatrice Kay

Nelson Eddy

Vera Vague

Joan Blondell

And More!

Click Here to Hear this Here SoundScape!

When Radio Ruled #114 – SoundScape 1939 part 3 (January 24 – March 2, 1939)

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1939 was a year where everything changed. An uneasy peace became all out war.  Society and culture and government were questioned as never before. The evil inside the human race made itself known that year, as ferocious as in the past but applied with an improved efficiency.

Radio was there to witness it.

And I got to Live 1939 second hand through these radio voices from the past.

In my OTR collection I have hundreds of hours of 1939 broadcasts. I listened to them in Chronological order to research the documentaries, the year 1939 as seen through comedy, drama, music, and of course news broadcast at the moments the history happened.

Here are curated highlghts of that journey for you to experience. This Soundscape delivers January 24 – March 2 1939 as seen by Old Time Radio, presented by the following voices from the grave, alive again because you’re listening:

Fibber McGee

Harlow Wilcox

Orson Welles

George Kaufmann

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Mary Livingston

The Phil Harris Orchestra

Andy Devine

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Nelson Eddy

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Don Ameche

Dorothy Lamour

Maureen O’Sullivan

The Family Doctor

The Billy Mills Orchestra

Helen Hayes

And more!

Give a Listen to SoundScape 1939 part 3!

When Radio Ruled #96-SoundScape 1938 part 22

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The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live August 1 through August 28, 1938.

Starring:

Cast of Blair of the Mounties

Orson Welles

Al Jolson

Irving Berlin

Cast of The Shadow

Seabiscuit

Charlie McCarthy

Nelson Eddy

Edward Arnold

Edgar Bergen

Ella Logan

Rudy Vallee

Featured Songs Include

Marie – Tommy Dorsey Orchestra

My Bonnie – Ella Logan

Heatwave – Ethel Merman

My Lucky Star Medley – Rudy Vallee and his Orchestra

Automobile Theme Song Medley – Rudy Vallee and his Orchestra

In this episode:

Irving Berlin Sings!

Charlie McCarthy becomes a banker!

Big League Woman’s Softball!

Rudy Vallee Sings Jingles about 1938 Cars!

The Munich Crisis!

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 For SoundScape 1938 part 22 (you won’t be sorry)!!

When Radio Ruled Episode 55 – Soundscape 1937 part 22

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Mae West and Charlie McCarthy – Great scandals if 1937

This podcast is a montage of excerpts from old time radio shows performed live and broadcast November 29 to December 12, 1937.

Starring Cecil B Demille, Eddie Cantor, Jimmy Wallington, Rudy Vallee, Tommy Riggs and Betty Lou, Frank Case, Andy Devine, Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Kenny Baker, Don Wilson, Fibber McGee, Don Ameche, Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Bergen, Nelson Eddy, Mae West, Pinky Tomlin and more.

Click Here to Listen to Soundscape 1937 part 22

When Radio Ruled #52 – Soundscape 1937 part 19

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Clark Gable on the Radio!

This podcast is a montage of excerpts from old time radio shows performed live and broadcast October 11 to October 18, 1937.

Starring Fibber McGee & Molly, President Franklin Roosevelt, Eddie Cantor, Pinky Tomlin, Benny Goodman, Don Ameche, Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Bergen, Clark Gable, Dorothy LaMour, Nelson Eddy, The Stroud Twins, Cecil B. DeMille, Jimmy Starr, Madge Evans, Fred MacMurry, and more.

Featured Songs include Eddie Cantor “Laugh Your Way Through Life” and “Keep it Over There”, Benny Goodman “The Old Apple Tree”.

Click Here to Listen to When Radio Ruled #52