Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Crime on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Adventures of Sam Spade starring Howard Duff , originally broadcast August 29, 1948, 77 years ago, The Lawless Caper. Johnny Lawless is just out of the pen. A dead body soon ends up in Spade's bed, and promptly vanishes! Followed by  The Adventures of Nick Carter, Master Detective starring Lon Clark , originally broadcast August 29...

Westerns and Crime on a Thursday First,  a look at the events of the day. Then, Mystery in the Air starring Peter Lorre , originally broadcast August 28, 1947, 78 years ago, Beyond Good and Evil.  Lorre excelled in this outstanding summer series with works he selected himself!   An escaped convict kills a minister and takes his place in a small town while planning a bank robbery. Followed by Have...

Crime on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Whistler, originally broadcast August 27, 1945, 80 years ago, I’ll Trade You Murder.  A meek book salesman is mistaken for a crook marked for death by his accomplices. To save his own life, the salesman agrees to kill the original victim.  Followed by Jeff Regan Investigator starring Frank Graham and Frank Nelson, originally bro...

Comedy on a Tuesday First,  a look at the events of the day. Then, The Great Gildersleeve starring Willard Waterman , originally broadcast August 26, 1953, 72 years ago, Sufficient Unto Ones Self.  Gildy preaches self-sufficiency, emphasizing the importance of being happy with one's own company. Followed by Burns and Allen , originally broadcast August 26, 1940, 85 years ago, Elsie Trellafas Is Su...

We head to Sunday, August 25, 1957, for drama First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Suspense , originally broadcast August 25, 1957, 68 years ago, Leiningen Versus the Ants starring William Conrad.  A determined man battles an elemental force of nature.  Followed by Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey , originally broadcast August 25, 1957, 68 years ago, The Smoky Sleeper Matter....

Drama on a Sunday First,  a look at the events of the day. Then, Somebody Knows , originally broadcast August 24, 1950, 75 years ago, The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Short.   The last show of a summer replacement for the "Suspense" series. The story of the unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short. CBS offers a $5000 reward to solve the case of a naked woman found dead with her body cut in two.  Followe...

We head to the Movies on a Saturday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Stars Over Hollywood , originally broadcast August 23, 1952, 73 years ago, The First Man She Met starring Debbie Reynolds.   A woman breaks up with her doctor-fiance and vows to marry the first man she meets. Followed by The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players , originally broadcast August 23, 1943, 82 years ago, Skylark...

Drama on a Friday First,  a look at the events of the day. Then, Nick Carter, Master Detective starring Lon Clark , originally broadcast August 22, 1948, 77 years ago, The Case of the Red Arrow.  A haunted house, and an Indian ghost with a disturbed grave. Prof. Nick Carter...ghost buster to the rescue! Followed by Inner Sanctum Mysteries , originally broadcast August 22, 1949, 76 years ago, Mind...

Comedy on a Thursday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Our Miss Brooks starring Eve Arden, originally broadcast August 21, 1949, 71 years ago, The Conklins' Anniversary At Crystal Lake. Miss Brooks and Mr. Boynton spend the weekend at Crystal Lake with the Conklins, who are celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary.  Followed by Too Many Cooks starring Hal March and Mary Jane Croft, or...

Drama on a Wednesday First,  a look at the events of the day. Then, Boston Blackie starring Dick Kollmar , originally broadcast August 20, 1946, 79 years ago, Jealous Partners and Arson. A man burns down his own building, just after allowing the fire insurance to lapse! There's a woman behind the match! Followed by The Whistler , originally broadcast August 20, 1945, 80 years ago, X Marks the Murd...

Comedy on a Tuesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, George Burns and Gracie Allen , originally broadcast August 19, 1940, 85 years ago, George is Late for the Show. George is late for the broadcast. When he does arrive, he brings Elsie Tralafas, his new partner! Followed by The Milton Berle Show , originally broadcast August 19, 1947, 78 years ago, A Salute to Relaxation.  Miltie trie...

Drama on a Monday First,  a look at the events of the day Then, Counterspy starring Don Maclaughlin and Mandel Kramer , originally broadcast August 18, 1949, 76 years ago, The Case of the Desert Explosion.  Man-eating birds of prey are used to execute a betrayer. A smuggler uses "geometry in action." Followed by Suspense , originally broadcast August 18, 1957, 68 years ago, Peanut Brittle starring...

Variety on a Sunday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Fleishmann’s Yeast Hour starring Rudy Vallee , originally broadcast August 17, 1933, 92 years ago.  Bobby Gilbert plays an amazing "talking" violin (it even recites, "Mary Had A Little Lamb")! Nora Lehman does a radio version of her "national best-selling record," "Seven Years With The Wrong Man." Rudy sings, "Learn To Croon," an...

Drama on a Saturday First,  a look at the events of the day Then, Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle starring Lamont Johnson , originally broadcast August 16, 1951, 74 years ago, The Trophy Room. While traversing uncharted territory, Tarzan rescues Althea Baldwin from a ferocious lioness. Though grateful, she resents that Tarzan didn’t let her kill the animal herself — she aimed to prove her worth to her...

Crime on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Suspense , originally broadcast August 15, 1956, 69 years ago, A Friend to Alexander starring John Dehner .  An adaptation of the James Thurber story of a very personal reaction to the Hamilton-Burr duel. Followed by Murder By Experts , originally broadcast August 15, 1949, 76 years ago, Dig Your Own Grave.  A woman becomes "the seed"...

The news stories of Victory in Japan day, August 14, 1945, 80 years ago.  In addition we hear the Fred Waring show from August 14, 1945 with a live shortwave report from Jack Benny in Europe.   Then Command Performance, from August 14, 1945, Victory Extra.  The program begins with a prayer by Ronald Colman, followed by "Ave Maria," sung by Rise Stevens. Bing Crosby hosts the show as Bob Hope is in...

Westerns on a Thursday First,  a look at the events of the day Then, The Tom Mix Ralston Straightshooters starring Joe “Curly” Bradley as Tom Mix, originally broadcast August 14, 1945, 80 years ago, The Mystery of the Vanishing Village.  The village mysteriously returns as strangely as it had vanished.  Followed by Frontier Town starring Reed Hadley , originally broadcast August 14, 1953, 72 years...

Variety on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Chase and Sanborn Hour with host Don Ameche , originally broadcast August 13, 1939, 86 years ago with guest Joan Blondell.  Charlie McCarthy is planning a hiking trip.  Guest Joan Blondell and Don appear in a Hollywood comedy, "Stardust," by Cyril Kramer. "Vera Vague" lectures about travel to England. Charlie stages his own ve...

Westerns on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day Then, Tales of the Texas Rangers starring Joel McCrea , originally broadcast August 12, 1950, 75 years ago, The Broken Spur. The story is based on the events of May 22, 1947. The Rangers track down the killer of a ranch family, starting with a clue in the hog feed!  Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad , originally broadcast Augu...

Comedy on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, It Pays to be Ignorant , originally broadcast August 11, 1944. 81 years ago.  An Armed Forces rebroadcast of the crazy Comedy Quiz show.  Followed by The Stan Freberg Show, originally broadcast August 11, 1957, 68 years ago, Orville the Moon Man.   A flying saucer is captured and a moon man is interviewed. Prof. Herman Horn lectures o...

Classic Radio Special - August 10, 1945 - Japanese Surrender is in sight-Part 4 We conclude our look at the day before VJ Day, August 10, 1945, 80 years ago as broadcast on WEAF in New York, NBC’s New York City station. Our final block is Soap Operas with news bulletins along with news and commentary.  We start at 5pm Eastern War Time with When a Girl Marries.  Steve and Irma discuss the bucket of...

Classic Radio Special - August 10, 1945 - Japanese Surrender is in sight-Part 3 We continue with our look at the day before VJ Day, August 10, 1945, 80 years ago as broadcast on WEAF in New York, NBC’s New York City station. .Our next block is mostly Soap Operas with news bulletins.  We start at 3pm Eastern War Time (EWT) with A Woman of America.  Steven's mother is having an "attack," so she does...

Classic Radio Special - August 10, 1945 - Japanese Surrender is in sight-Part 2 We continue with our look at the day before VJ Day, August 10, 1945, 80 years ago. First at 1pm Eastern War Time (EWT), the Mary Margaret McBride Show .  Mary Margaret chats with Eddie Rickenbacker, who mentions that he's known about the atomic bomb for some time. When he says, "This is the end of war for a long time t...

What listeners of WEAF in New York City hears on August 10, 1945, 80 years ago as they were waiting to hear the formal surrender of Japan. This podcast begins with two 15 minute newscasts from NBC. H. V. Kaltenborn and Cesar Saerchinger comment on the possible Japanese surrender. Kaltenborn's opinion is that the emperor should be allowed to remain the head of the country. Cesar Saerchinger comment...

Drama on a Friday First, a look at the events of the day Then, Suspense , originally broadcast August 10, 1958, 67 years ago, The Diary of Sophronia Winters starring Mercedes McCambridge.  A Lucille Fletcher horror story about a new bride, a madman, and an hotel with 125 deserted rooms! Followed by Somebody Knows , originally broadcast August 10, 1950, 75 years ago, The Unsolved Murder of Samuel I...