Orson Welles

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 #149 – SoundScape 1939 part 21 October 15-22, 1939

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Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. Radio highlights originally broadcast live October 15 through October 22, 1939.

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

In today’s SoundScape:

Fibber McGee and Giidersleeve Argue!

Henry Aldritch combs his hair!

Arthur Miller’s first Radio Show!

America’s Town Meeting of the Air explains the European War!

The New Machinery of our Century!

Jack Benny finds a Gold Cigarette Case!

Boxer King Kole Eats Canvas!

And More!!

Featuring:

Orson Welles

Cecil B DeMille

Fibber McGee and Molly

Harlow Wilcox

Ezra Stone

Captain MidNight

Helen Hayes

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Dennis Day

Kay Kaiser

Fred MacMurray

Joan Bondell

And More!

Click Hear to Visit 1939!!

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 #145 – Halloween 2025

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At Halloween the thin boundary between living and dead dissolves so that ghosts, goblins, and the sins we thought long buried come back to feast on our fright filled souls.

Day of the dead, all souls day, two thousand years ago the Pagen Celts called it Samhin, we call it Halloween.  The time when ghosts, ghouls, and costumed children all wander the streets looking for their favorite tasty treats. The children want candy, the others from beyond the grave want to feed on your sweet, sweet, sinful soul.

The earliest peoples knew this, huddled around the first campfires now lost in memory the shamans told of ghosts and the risen dead shambling across the earth to restore cosmic justice through black magic, revenge, and terror.

Tales of horror and supernatural evil are as old as mankind, spoken tales of terror and vengeance from beyond the grave are older than memory but never go out of style.

A fact that made the Horror Genre a natural part of Old Time Radio.

Scary shows were perfect for dramatic radio. Arguments can be made that the situation comedy and variety show genres were better suited for television. But horror shows peaked with radio, nothing being scarier than those fears we carry with us in our imaginations. A theater of the mind permits our own deepest fears to chill us to the bone.

Halloween 2025 Features:

The Witches Tale

Lights Out

The Whistler

With Special Appearances by Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead

Boo!!!

Click Here for Halloween Fear in Your Ear!!

When Radio Ruled #144 – SoundScape 1939 part 18 September 21-28 1939

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

September 21 –September 28, 1939

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

In today’s SoundScape:

Tap Dancing on the Radio!

Charlie McCarthy back to School!

Funny stories from David Niven

Women can be Boss and make the Men Like It!

And More!!

Featuring:

Major Bowes

The Teddy Powell Orchestra

Orson Welles

Don Ameche

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Dorothy Lamour

David Niven

Anita Louise

Robert Armbruster

Fibber McGee and Molly

And More!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR 1939 IN YOUR EAR!!!

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 #135 – Origins of the Mutual Network 1934-39

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Old Time Radio was dog eat dog, CBS and NBC scooped up the all the best stations and biggest talent, leaving all the little local stations in the dust.

Not all the independent stations wanted to let NBC and CBS run away with their audiences

In 1934 WGN and 3 other independents, WOR in New York, WLW in Cincinnati, and WXYZ in Detroit entered into a program sharing agreement. They called themselves the Mutual Network but they were more Mutual than Network. There was a coordination committee, but the real power was with the individual stations who maintained their autonomy as equals.

It was a bottom-up business model. Socialized Radio that shared shows for a several hours a week, but also did their own local thing with the lion’s share of their airtime.

From these humble beginnings, Mutual would grow to cover the entire country and compete head to head with NBC and CBS.

Click Here for the Origins of Mutual

When Radio Ruled #133 -Orson Welles and Guests 1939

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Voices from 1939 talking with one of the Greatest Voices on Old Time Radio

In 1939 Orson Welles was only 24 years old but a veteran of Radio. He’d been a regular on The March of Time and was enjoying a very successful run playing the Shadow.

These excerpts are from the Campbell Playhouse in 1939, previously named Mercury Theater of the Air.

These interviews were a regular feature of the Campbell Playhouse. And were meant to deepen the audience understanding of that week’s Radio Play.

FEATURING:

Orson Welles

Dorothy Hall

The Warden of Sing-Sing Prison

Laurence Olivier

Noah Beery

Jane Allen

Pearl Buck

Anna Mae Wong

John P. Maquand

George Jean Nathan

Gertrude Lawrence

Mary Astor

Paulette Goddard

Edna Furber

And More!!

Orson Welles Awaits! Click Here to Hear!!

When Radio Ruled #130-SoundScape 1939 part 11

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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:

Royalty are just regular folks!

Jack Benny with the Hollywood Gossip!

The Patent Office is Your Friend!

Frank Morgan talks Wizard of Oz and World Fairs!

A Big Dose of Great Swing Music!

And More

Featuring:

Cecil B Demille

Fibber McGee and Molly

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Don Wilson

Kenny Baker

Orson Welles

Zasu Pitts

The Green Hornet

Barney Rapp and His New Englanders featuring Ruby Wright

Baby Snooks and Daddy

Frank Morgan

Connie Boswell

Doris Day

Phil Harris

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Andy Devine

And More!

Click Here for a Radio Journey Down Memory Lane!

When Radio Ruled #128 – SoundScape 1939 #10

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1939 SoundScape part 10, Radio highlights originally broadcast live May 22 through June 4, 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:

Youth committing crimes!

American Freedom!

The Death of John Brown!

Jack Benny: Ladies Man!

Interviews with Civil War Veterans!

Airmail to Europe!

And More

Featuring:

Cecil B Demille

Courtney Riley Cooper

Fibber McGee and Molly

Harlow Wilcox

Orson Welles

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Kenny Baker

The Green Hornet

Baby Snooks

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

And More!

Click Here To Hear with Your Ear 1939 SoundScape #10

When Radio Ruled #126 – SoundScape 1939 part 9, May 4-21 1939

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SoundScape part 9, Radio highlights originally broadcast live May 4 through May 21, 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:

Mother’s Day 1939 with Jack Benny!

Where are the real high class professional crooks in America today?

As a Lover, rumor has it,  Jack Benny is a regular Caveman!

Featuring:

Robert Young

Connie Boswell

Frank Morgan

Fannie Brice

Orson Welles

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Leslie Howard

Don Wilson

Cecil B DeMille

The Family Doctor

Fibber McGee and Molly

Ida Lupino

and

Kenny Baker

Click Here to Hear with Your Ear SoundScape 1939 part 9

When Radio Ruled #124 – SoundScape 1939 part 8, April 6-30 1939

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Radio highlights originally broadcast live April 6 through April 30, 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:

A Tribute to Man’s Best Friend, my Dog

Pearl Buck Talks China with Anna Mae Wong and Orson Welles

Jack Benny’s 7th Anniversary on Radio!

And more!!!

FEATURING:

Robert Young

Kitty Carlisle

Meredith Wilson

Lionel Barrymore

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Cecil B DeMille

General Hugh Samuel Johnson

Errol Flynn

Fibber McGee and Molly

Orson Welles

Anna Mae Wong

Kenny Baker

Eddie Rochester Anderson

Gertrude Lawrence

and

Eddie Cantor

Click Here For A Heaping Earful of 1939!

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 #120 – SoundScape 1939 part 6, March 17-26 1939

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

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

In today’s soundscape:

Mary’s Springtime Poem!

Ed Sullivan wants to know! Is Jack Benny the real Jack Benny?!

And more!!!

This episode features:

Orson Welles

Laurence Olivier

Noah Beery

Cecil B DeMille

Clark Gable

Claudette Colbert

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Columbia Workshop

Fibber McGee

Zasu Pitts

Fred Allen

The Merry Macs

Don Wilson

Ed Sullivan

And More!!

Listen to SoundScape 1939 part 6

When Radio Ruled #118 – SoundScape 1939 part 5: February 27 – March 16, 1939

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

In today’s soundscape:

Baby Snooks and Daddy visit the 1939 New York’s World Fair!

An Irish Ghost Story entitled “Faith is Not always a Lady”!!

A Gentle Reminder to Always Remember to Lux your Stockings!!

This episode features:

The Family Doctor

Cecil B DeMille

Jimmy Cagney

Fibber McGee

The Merry Macs

Jimmy Stewart

Robert Young

The Phil Harris Orchestra

Columbia Workshop

Zasu Pitts

Lionel Barrymore

Orson Welles

Warden Laws of Sing-Sing

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Kenny Baker

Barbara Stanwyck

Sara Roosevelt – the mother of the President

Frank Morgan

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

Robert Montgomery

And

Connee Boswell

Click Here to Give 1939 part 5 a Listen!

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 #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 #112 – SoundScape 1939 part 2

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1939 was the year the country woke up to the horrific scale of the death to come on land, sea, and in the Air

Seems obvious now, but at the time lots of people thought the first great war  had been so terrible it could never happen again. I wish they had been right.

The Soundscapes for 1939 series is the story of optimism to pessimism, of hope to resignation, compromise to confrontation through a tapestry of OTR clips.

Here is part 2, Curated clips broadcast chronologically January 12 to January 23, 1939. The early, hopeful days in 1939.

Highlights include

Do we have a free press or don’t we?

Better food with less kitchen time!

Mutiny on the Bounty descendants on Pitcairn island.

How Jack Benny saved Fred Allen’s life!

Featured Performers include:

America’s Town Hall of the Air

Orson Welles

Kenny Baker

Jack Benny

Mary Livingston

Don Wilson

Phil Harris Orchestra

Cecil B Demille

Fred MacMurray

Paulette Goddard

Floyd Gibbons

The Family Doctor

Artie Shaw Orchestra featuring Helen Forrest

Eddie Cantor

Fanny Brice

George Arliss

And more!

Click Here to Live Through January 12 – 23 1939 as Told by Old Time Radio!

When Radio Ruled #110 – SoundScape 1939 part 1

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For the Previous 2 episodes, The Year 1939 – Politics and the year 1939 – Culture and Technology, I listened to almost 1000 hours of OTR in chronological order. I got to hear 1939 unfold through broadcasts from the day and learn what the podcasts should be about.

As I go, I create a best of collection of clips I might possibly use in the podcast that isn’t written yet.

This results in a rather large number of clips, 36 hours for the year 1939, history from those living it.

1939 was the year the country woke up to the horrific scale of the war we all saw coming.

The Soundscapes for 1939 series will tell the story of optimism to pessimism, of hope to resignation, compromise to confrontation through a tapestry of OTR clips.

Here is part 1, Curated clips broadcast chronologically January 1 to January 12, 1939. The early, hopeful days in 1939.

Highlights include

Goodbye 1938 hello 1939

How to have happiness in marriage?

A Great Playlet “Rose by Any Other Name” starring Melvyn Douglas

Other Feature Performers include:

Don Wilson

Mary Livingston

Jack Benny

The Phil Harris Orchestra

Andy Devine

Cecil B DeMille

Errol Flynn

Joan Blondell

Mae Robeson

Robert Young

Meredith Wilson

Orson Welles

Kenny Baker

Henry Morgan

Fanny Brice

And more!

Click Here to Listen to SoundScape 1939 part 1

When Radio Ruled #109 – 1939 part 2 Culture, Technology, and Arts

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There was no happy ending for 1939. The whole decade was spent clawing our way out of financial disaster, now we got a humanitarian disaster beyond imagining as slaughter continues world wide.

But Life doesn’t hold still! This episode features the cultural, technological, and social changes that occurred over the noise of the war in 1939!

FEATURING

Dick Powell

The Teddy Powell Orchestra

Orson Welles

Fibber McGee and Molly

Cecil B. DeMille

Mrs. Sara Roosevelt

Jack Benny

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Tony Galento

Mary Livingston

Lou Gehrig

Fred Allen

Harry Von Zell

Don Ameche

Connee Boswell

Bert Lahr

Judy Garland

Fran Morgan

Dorothy Lamour

Dinah Shore

Bing Crosby

Jane Withers

The Yacht Club Boys

And More!!

Click Here to Listen to 1939 part 2!!

When Radio Ruled Episode #108 1939 part 1 – The War Begins

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Germany invades Poland! The Chaos Begins!

1939 as told through the Radio Broadcasts of the day!!

The dreaded war finally begins with the German invasion of Poland. Neville Chamberlain is forced to grow a spine. Winston Churchill returns to Government. Franklin Roosevelt Hates War. And some Really Hot Swing Licks by Artie Shaw.

FEATURING

Mary Livingston

Jack Benny

Fibber McGee and Molly

Orson Welles

Pearl Buck

Anna Mae Wong

Franklin Roosevelt

Daddy and Snooks

Cecil B Demille

H.V. Kalternberg

Winston Churchill

Nelson Eddy

The Artie Shaw Orchestra

And More!!

Click Here to Hear with Your Ears When Radio Ruled 1939 part 1

When Radio Ruled #107 SoundScape 1938 part 33

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We’ve got both reassuring fantasy and unsettling reality in this episode. On one hand we’ll hear old friends Donald Duck and the Seven Dwarfs in a fairy tale setting, and we’ll hear our soon to be enemy, Nazi Germany take over the real world Austria.

Starring:

Orson Welles

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Mickey Mouse

Minnie Mouse

Goofy

Walt Disney

Snow White

The Wicked Queen

Donald Duck

The Seven Dwarfs

In this episode:

Orson Welles is Ebenezer Scrooge!

Jack Benny, Movie Star!

Jack is Building a new Beverly Hills Home!

God Bless You Mr. Chamberlain!

Donald Duck is Making Trouble!

Don’t Buy an Apple from the Wicked Queen!

The Disney Gang meets the Seven Dwarfs!

CBS News Reports on the European Crisis!

Why Doesn’t Britain do Something?!

And More!!

Click Here to Listen to SoundScape 1938 part 33

When Radio Ruled #104 – SoundScape 1938 part 30

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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 25 through December 11, 1938.

Starring:

Orson Welles

Agnes Moorehead

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Mary Livingstone

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Cast of Family Doctor

Featured Songs Include

They Say – Helen Forrest with the Artie Shaw Orchestra

My Reverie – Helen Forrest with the Artie Shaw Orchestra

Who Blew Out The Flame – Helen Forrest with the Artie Shaw Orchestra

Pocketful of Dreams – Phil Harris and His Orchestra

In this episode:

Some Smoking Jazz From Artie Shaw!

Jack Benny has a bad cold!

Flash Benny Football Hero!

The Benny Gang Visits New York!

Jack’s Annual Christmas Shopping Trip!

And More!!

Click Here to Hear SoundScape 1938 part 30

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 #100 – SoundScape 1938 part 26

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The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live October 23  through October 31, 1938.

Starring:

Orson Welles

Lionel Barrymore

Clark Gable

Robert Young

Frank Morgan

Don Ameche

Judy Canova

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Dorothy Lamour

Madeleine Carroll

Don Wilson

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Kenny Baker

Phil Harris

Andy Devine

and

Seabiscuit

FEATURED SONGS INCLUDE

Two Sleepy People – Dorothy Lamour

Hounds on My Tracks – Judy, Annie, and Zeke

What Have You Got That Gets Me? – Phil Harris and the Jello Gang

In this episode:

The Martians Invade America!

Edgar Bergen tries to Tell a Ghost Story!

Jack Benny throws a Halloween Party!

Seabiscuit races War Admiral!

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 26, from When Radio Ruled, offered without further commentary for your entertainment and education. But mostly for your entertainment.

Click Here to Hear SoundScape 1938 part 26!

When Radio Ruled #99 – SoundScape 1938 part 25

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The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live October 16  through October 23, 1938.

Starring:

Adolf Hitler

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Phil Harris

Kenny Baker

Andy Devine

Winston Churchill

Orson Welles

Robert Young

Judy Garland

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

and

Joan Crawford

FEATURED SONGS INCLUDE

Zing Went the Strings of my Heart – Judy Garland

and

Bumpy Road to Love – Judy Garland and the Good News Company

In this episode:

Hitler is still getting away with pushing Europe around!

Jack Benny upgrades his old Broadcast studio for a brand new facilitie!

Joan Crawford and Robert Young in a Haunting Radio Play!

And More!!

Click Here to Hear SoundScape 1938 part 25

When Radio Ruled #97 – SoundScape 1938 part 23

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The Episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live August 28 through September 13, 1938.

Starring:

Edward Arnold

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Robert Young

Meredith Wilson

Fanny Brice

Hanley Stafford

Alice Faye

Frank Morgan

Father Flanagan

Cast of Family Doctor

Orson Welles

Judy Garland

Cast of Family Doctor

Cast of Blair of the Mounties

Featured Songs Include

There’s Honey on the Moon Tonight – Dorothy Lamour

Alexander’s Ragtime Band – Alice Faye

In this episode:

Frank Morgan tells Stories of his great Military Glory!

Hitler is being a Big Jerk again!

Czechoslovakia prepares to defend against the German Army!

The Reviews are in! The Mercury Theater is a Great Success!

Orson Welles yells at his Crew to shut up!

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 23, from When Radio Ruled, offered without further commentary for your entertainment and education. But mostly for your entertainment.

Click Here to Hear SoundScape 1938 part 23

When Radio Ruled #95 – SoundScape 1938 part 21

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This episode starts out solemn with references to the marauding Japanese and unreasonable bully  Nazis but ends with lots of laughs thanks to Charlie McCarthy and Friends.

It consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live July 3 through July 31, 1938.

Starring:

Orson Welles

Edward Arnold

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Spencer Tracy

And

Fay Bainter

In this episode:

Nazis and Japanese as Villains!

The War Goes On in the News!

Lots of Columbia Workshop!

Lots of the Shadow!

Spencer Tracy meets Charlie McCarthy!

And More!!

Click Here to Enjoy SoundScape 1938 part 21!!

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 episode #84 -SoundScape 1938 part 13

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This episode consists of a curated collection of Old Time Radio Clips originally broadcast live March 24 through April 3, 1938.

Featuring:

Gabby Hartnet

Frank Morgan

The Cast of the Lone Ranger

Georgie Jessel

Jack Benny

Harry Von Zell

Abe Lyman

Bob Ripley

Fred Allen

Orson Welles

Robert Taylor

Connie Boswell

Louis B. Mayer

Adolf Hitler

The Cast of The Shadow

Weber and Fields

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Featured Songs Include:

Thanks for the Memories – Connie Boswell

Thanks for the Memories – Baby Snooks

Second to None – Georgie Jessel

This Time Its Real – Kate Smith

Gypsy in my Soul – Connie Boswell

In this episode:

Jack Benny Broadcasts from New York with Guest Fred Allen

Georgie Jessel Fills in for Jack Benny on his show!

Louis B Mayer congratulates England

And More!!

Click Here to Hear SoundScape 1938 part 13

When Radio Ruled #56 – Spooky Halloween 2022

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Boo!

Halloween approaches – the night when the boundaries between the living and the dead, reality and imagination dissolve. Evil witches mount flying brooms. Brain starved Zombies, restless spirits, supernatural spooks, savage monsters and all forms of malevolent miscreants shamble across the earth creating terror among the hapless and tasty human populace.

Above all, Halloween is the best time for scary stories. In that tradition welcome to When Radio Ruled episode 56, Spooky Halloween Special 2022.

The show is going to give you a couple of spine tinglers to get you in the spooky Halloween frame of mind. The first one is entitled “Til Dead” and was originally broadcast February 2, 1943. It is a great example of the Suspense Genre that was so successful throughout the era of old time radio.

The second story is called “The Hitchhiker” and stars Orson Welles. It’s a classic supernatural tale, full of tension and mystery. It was performed by Welles multiple times over the years by popular demand, this performance was broadcast September 2, 1942.

So hang the garlic in the door to keep away the vampires, put a crucifix in your pocket just in case, lock the doors and windows, shut out the lights and brace yourself for When Radio Ruled Spooky Halloween Special 2022.

Click Here For the Spooky Halloween Podcast!

When Radio Ruled #54 – Soundscape 1937 part 21

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Jack Benny and his faithful Maxwell

This podcast is a montage of excerpts from old time radio shows performed live and broadcast November 8 to November 28, 1938.

Starring Bing Crosby, Jimmy Wallington, Eddie Cantor, Fibber McGee and Molly, Benny Goodman, Colonel Stoopnagle and Budd, Don Wilson, Jack Benny, Phil Harris, Mary Livingstone, Orson Welles, and more.

 

Featured Songs include Eddie Cantor, “Getting some fun out of Life”, Bing Crosby “I’m Humming”, Some smoking Benny Goodman Swing Instrumentals and the Benny Goodman orchestra featuring vocalist Martha Tilden “Mama that moon is here again”, Pinky Tomlin “The Lady who couldn’t be Kissed” and Phil Harris “You can’t stop me from dreaming”

Click here to hear Soundscape 1937 part 21

When Radio Ruled #51 – Soundscape 1937 part 18

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Ida Lupino on the Radio

This podcast is a montage of excerpts from old time radio shows performed live and broadcast September 5 to October 10, 1937.

Starring W.C. Fields, Charlie McCarthy, Don Ameche, Edgar Bergen, Fibber McGee and Molly, Al Jolson, George Jessell, Eddie Cantor, Bette Davis, Cecil B. DeMille, John LeRoy Johnston, Rudy Vallee, The Stroud Twins, Orson Welles, Agnes Moorehead, Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, and more.

 

Featured Songs include Al Jolson “Tootsie”, Eddie Cantor “Now’s the time to fall in love” and “Love is on the Air Tonight”, The Connecticut Yankees with an unidentified female vocalist (possibly Annette Hanshaw) “Basin Street Blues”, Eddie Cantor and Pinky Tomlin “Sweet Varsity Sue”

Click Hear to Listen to Soundscape 1937 part 18

When Radio Ruled Christmas 2020

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It sure has been a strange year – we could all use a dose of Traditional Christmas. And here it is!

Two Great Episodes from 1939! 

Jack Benny’s Christmas Open House

A Christmas Carol (starring Lionel Barrymore)

Featuring: Jack Benny, Rochester, Dennis Day, Mary Livingston, Phil Harris and his Orchestra, Orson Welles, Lionel Barrymore, Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Pat Brady, and more!

Listen to the Podcast Here!