Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Crime on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective starring Howard Duff , originally broadcast January 16, 1949, 77 years ago, The Betrayal In Bumpus Hell Caper.   Sam's quiet evening with a western novel is rudely shattered.  Followed by Casey Crime Photographer starring Staats Cotsworth , originally broadcast January 16, 1947, 79 years ago, The...

Crime on a Thursday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Casey Crime Photographer starring Staats Cotsworth , originally broadcast January 15, 1948, 78 years ago, The Miracle.   A quack doctor claims to be able to cure a millionaire's incurable disease, and indeed, he does perform a miracle! Followed by Let George Do It starring Bob Bailey and Virginia Gregg , originally broadcast January...

Comedy on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Jimmy Durante Show starring Frank Morgan , originally broadcast January 14, 1948, 78 years ago.  Frank Morgan fills in while Jimmy Durante was ill in the hospital.   Frank is training guest Victor Moore to fight Joe Louis for the title. Followed by The Phil Harris Alice Faye Show , originally broadcast January 14, 1951, 75 year...

Comedy on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, My Friend Irma starring Marie Wilson , originally broadcast January 13, 1952, 74 years ago.   Professor Kropotkin (Hans Conried) told the immigration authorities that he was married, so he could adopt a boy from Europe. Now he has to come up with a bride! Followed by The Great Gildersleeve starring Harold Peary , originally broadcas...

Crime and Drama on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Story of Dr. Kildare starring Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore , originally broadcast January 12, 1951, 75 years ago, Dr. Gillespie’s Testimonial Dinner.  Dr. Gillespie is having a testimonial dinner held in his honor.  But Gillespie thinks the hospital is going to retire him! Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb , origin...

Comedy on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny , originally broadcast January 11, 1953, 73 years ago, The Road to Bali with guest Bob Hope.  Jack and guest Bob Hope do their version of The Road To Bali. Followed by The Aldrich Family starring Bobby Ellis , originally broadcast January 11, 1953, 73 years ago, The English Project.   Henr...

Crime and Westerns on a Saturday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Suspense , originally broadcast January 10, 1960, 66 years ago, The Long Night starring Ellen MacRae (Ellen Burstyn) .  An old farmer and his young wife are menaced by an escaped lunatic. The madman wants the farmer's hidden money.  The farmer's wife wants something else. Followed by The Six Shooter starring Jimmy Stewar...

Drama on a Friday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Screen Directors Playhouse , originally broadcast January 9, 1949, 77 years ago, Stagecoach starring John Wayne.  The classic story based on the movie about The Ringo Kid, The Plummer Boys, and The Apaches.  Followed by The Lux Radio Theater , originally broadcast January 9, 1950, 76 years ago, Sorry Wrong Number starring Barbara Stan...

Crime on a Thursday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Casey Crime Photographer starring Staats Cotsworth ,  originally broadcast January 8, 1948, 78 years ago, Queen of the Amazons.  A circus strong-lady reports an attempted robbery...of her hope chest!  Followed by Calling All Cars , originally broadcast January 8, 1935, 91 years ago, Crime Does Not Pay.   A program about juvenile deli...

Drama on a Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Counterspy starring Don Maclaughlin and Mandel Kramer , originally broadcast January 7, 1951, 75 years ago, The Case of the Kleptomaniac Clues.   Counterspy agents investigate a series of seemingly minor thefts that are actually part of a larger foreign espionage plot. By tracing the pattern of stolen items, the agents uncover crit...

Comedy on a Tuesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Halls of Ivy starring Ronald and Benita Coleman ,  originally broadcast January 6, 1950, 76 years ago, Reappointment.  The first show of the series. Will Dr. Hall be reappointed as head of Ivy College?  Followed by My Friend Irma starring Marie Wilson , originally broadcast January 6, 1952, 74 years ago, Irma's Memoir.   Irma has...

Crime on a Monday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Mysterious Traveler, originally broadcast January 5, 1947, 79 years ago, New Year’s Nightmare. A man goes on a year-end bender and wakes up a year later married to a strange woman.  Followed by Lights Out , originally broadcast January 5, 1943, 83 years ago, the Fast One.   A story about two men with a mighty power, the power to m...

Drama on a Sunday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Dragnet starring Jack Webb ,  originally broadcast January 4, 1953, 73 years ago, The Big Mask Part 2.  The Black Masked Bandit eludes the efforts of the cops to track him down. It's as if he knows what the law is planning next. Followed by Suspense , originally broadcast January 4, 1959, 67 years ago, Don’t Call Me Mother starring Agn...

Crime on a Saturday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Philo Vance starring Jackson Beck , originally broadcast January 3, 1950, 76 years ago, The Tip Top Murder Case.  A chorus girl named Susan Blake has no money. Nevertheless, she's being blackmailed for $5000, and then is murdered! Followed by Escape , originally broadcast January 3, 1950, 76 years ago.  The Pistol starring Gerald Mo...

Drama on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Dr. Christian starring Jean Hersholt ,  originally broadcast January 2, 1938, 88 years ago, The Kidnapped Husband.   A woman's husband has been kidnapped.  Followed by Dark Fantasy , originally broadcast January 2, 1942, 84 years ago, Resolution 1841. Laura Cabot shares her story of New Year's Eve where she braves snow and wind with fr...

First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Lady Esther Screen Guild Theatre , originally broadcast January 1, 1945, 81 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Preston Foster and Louise Allbritton in the adaptation of the 1941 motion picture originally starring Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery.  A married couple discovers their marriage is legally invalid because of a technicality. The re...

Comedy on New Year's Eve First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show ,  originally broadcast December 31, 1950, 75 years ago, Mr. Scott's New Year's Party.  Phil and Alice haven't been invited to the sponsor's New Year's Eve party, so Phil plans to take Alice to Ciro's.  Followed by The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny , originally broadcast December 31...

Comedy on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Amos ‘n’ Andy , originally broadcast December 30, 1951, 74 years ago, the House Wreckers.  Sapphire has told the Kingfish, "get a job...or else!" The Kingfish and Andy are hired to demolish a porch, and proceed to do so...on the wrong house! Followed by The Great Gildersleeve, starring Harold Peary , originally broadcast on December...

Comedy on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Amos ‘n’ Andy,  originally broadcast December 29, 1944, 81 years ago, New Years Eve.   Everybody's been invited to the Jacksons' New Year's Eve party, everybody that is but Andy Brown! Andy learns from Reverend Johnson about the benefits of casting bread upon the waters! Followed by The Burns and Allen Show , originally broadcast Dece...

Comedy and Crime on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny, originally broadcast December 28, 1947, 78 years ago, Goodbye 1947 Hello 1948 With Alice Faye.  The cast does "The New Tenant," a New Year's fantasy with Alice Faye substituting for Mary, who is out with a cold.  Jack forgets his wallet and hitch-hikes to the studio. Followed by...

Westerns on a Saturday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Six Shooter starring James Stewart ,  originally broadcast December 27, 1953, 72 years ago, Cora Plummer Quincy.   Cora Plummer had remarried soon after her husband died. Her son is convinced his step-father is after the family ranch and money.  Followed by Have Gun Will Travel starring John Dehner , originally broadcast Decem...

It’s the day after Christmas... First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Lux Radio Theater , originally broadcast December 26, 1938, 87 years ago, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.   The musical fairy tale based on the Disney feature, which was in turn based on the fairy tale by the Grimm brothers.    Followed by The Whistler , originally broadcast December 26, 1948, 77 years ago, Delayed...

Merry Christmas! First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Our Miss Brooks starring Eve Arden ,  originally broadcast December 25, 1949, 76 years ago, The Magic Christmas Tree.   A party at Miss Brooks', with a magic Christmas tree, or was it all a dream? Followed by The Hotpoint Holiday Hour , originally broadcast December 25, 1949, 76 years ago, The Man Who Came To Dinner starring Jack Benny....

A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Campbell’s Playhouse , originally broadcast December 24, 1939, 86 years ago, A Christmas Carol starring Lionel Barrymore.  The Dickens classic produced by Orson Welles.   Followed by Richard Diamond Private Detective starring Dick Powell , originally broadcast December 24, 1949, 76 years ago, Diamond’s Christmas C...

Christmas shows on a Tuesday  First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Amos ‘n’ Andy ,  originally broadcast December 23, 1951, 74 years ago, Annual Christmas Show.   Andy becomes Santa’s helper at the department store on Christmas Eve for a special reason.  Followed by Tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrea , originally broadcast December 23, 1951, 74 years ago, Christmas Payoff.  Dr...