Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Westerns and Adventure on a Tuesday First a look at the events of the day Then The Six Shooter starring Jimmy Stewart ,  originally broadcast April 8, 1954, 71 years ago, General Guilfords Widow.   The widow of General Guilford insists her husband is still alive, but no one believes her. They should! Followed by the news from 71 years ago, then The Roy Rogers Show , originally broadcast April 8, 1...

A Funny Monday First a look at this day in History. Then The Kraft Music Hall starring Al Jolson , originally broadcast April 7, 1949, 76 years ago with guest Groucho Marx.  Groucho Marx describes his girl's baseball team and sings a duet with Al. Followed by the news from 76 years ago, then The Abbott and Costello Show, originally broadcast April 7, 1949, 76 years ago.  Costello remembers his fir...

Comedy on a Sunday First a look at the events of the day Then Jack Benny , originally broadcast April 6, 1952, 73 years ago, The Swimming Pool.  Jack opens his swimming pool, and then visits the dentist.  Followed by The Life of Riley starring William Bendix, originally broadcast April 6, 1946, 79 years ago, Riley Finds a Silver Fox Coat.   Riley finds a fur coat on the bus and wins an argument wi...

A Scattered Saturday First a look at this day in History. Then Suspense , originally broadcast April 5, 1951, 74 years ago, Murder in G-Flat starring…Jack Benny?   A meek piano tuner's bag of tools is switched in the subway with a bag filled with $25,000.  The first of four guest starring appearances by Benny.  Followed by You Bet Your Life starring Groucho Marx, originally broadcast April 5, 1950...

Drama on a Friday First a look at the events of the day Then Richard Diamond Private Detective staring Dick Powell , originally broadcast April 4, 1952, 73 years ago, The Enigma of Big Ed.   "Big Ed" hires Diamond to find out why a series of fatal accidents have been plaguing his factory.  Followed by Murder at Midnight , originally broadcast April 4, 1947, 78 years ago, Trigger Man.  The story of...

Comedy and Westerns on a Thursday First a look at this day in History. Then T he Screen Directors Playhouse, originally broadcast April 3, 1949, 76 years ago, Ghost Breakers starring Bob Hope. Based on the 1940 American mystery/horror comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Bob Hope.  A radio broadcaster, his quaking manservant and an heiress investigate the mystery of a haunted castl...

Comedy on a Wednesday First a look at the events of the day Then Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast April 2, 1946, 79 years ago, Car Ignition Lock.  Fibber is working on his "McGee Protecto Rejecto Ignition Lock." Followed by The Great Gildersleeve starring Willard Waterman, originally broadcast April 2, 1952, 73 years ago, Colorful Past. Is Gildersleeve really William Cosgrove? Cosgrove...

A Funny Tuesday First a look at this day in History. Then The Mel Blanc Show , originally broadcast April 1, 1947, 78 years ago, April Fools.  Mel plays an April Fool's Day joke on Mr. Colby by telling him that he's inherited a fortune from England.  Followed by The Aldrich Family starring Ezra Stone and Jackie Kelk , originally broadcast April 1, 1948,  77 years ago, April Fools Day Jokes.  An Ap...

Comedy on a Monday First a look at the events of the day Then The Charlie McCarthy Show , originally broadcast March 31, 1946, 79 years ago with guest Roy Rogers.  Bergen is the new truant officer! Mortimer recites "Hickory, Dickory, Dock." Charlie and Edgar join guest Roy Rogers for a visit to a ghost town. .  Followed by the news from 79 years ago, then The Fred Allen Show , originally broadcast...

A Dramatic Sunday First a look at this day in History. Then Luke Slaughter of Tombstone starring Sam Buffington , originally broadcast March 30, 1958, 67 years ago, the Aaron Holcomb Story.  Aaron Holcomb is looking to sell his spread, and Luke is looking at buying. Luke buys the ranch, but a couple of sidewinders go to the ranch looking for the money…and end up kicking Aaron’s wife severely with...

Drama on a Saturday First a look at the events of the day Then Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey, originally broadcast March 29, 1959, 66 years ago, The Jimmy Carter Matter. Johnny gets a call from a young boy in rural Massachusetts...to report a murder! By the time Johnny arrives in town, young Jimmy has disappeared! Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast March 2...

A Dramatic Friday First a look at this day in History. Then Gunsmoke starring William Conrad , originally broadcast March 28, 1953, 72 years ago, Quarter Horse.   Thatcher and his quarter-horse from Missouri challenges Butler to a grudge race, with his ranch as the stakes! Followed by Murder at Midnight, originally broadcast March 28, 1947, 78 years ago, Wherever I Go.  A man poisons his wife afte...

Drama on a Thursday First a look at the events of the day Then Escape , originally broadcast March 27, 1949, 76 years ago, The Diamond as Big As The Ritz.  The fascinating story about the home life of the richest family in the world.  Sam Edwards  stars. Followed by Dark Fantasy , originally broadcast March 27, 1942, 83 years ago, Convoy for Atlantis. A "yarn of ships that disappear in the night."...

A Dramatic Wednesday First a look at this day in History. Then Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast March 26, 1955, 70 years ago, The Horse Deal. Charlie Deesha's horses have been stolen, and the thief is selling them all over Dodge. Followed by Inner Sanctum Mysteries, originally broadcast March 26, 1946, 79 years ago, Death is a Double Crosser starring Lawson Zerbe.  An ex-con...

Drama and Variety on a Tuesday First a look at the events of the day Then Lux Radio Theater , originally broadcast March 25, 1940, 85 years ago, Remember the Night starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck .   An adaptation of the 1940 movie about a prosecutor who winds up taking a beautiful thief with him on a Christmas visit to his mother. Followed by the Royal Gelatin Hour starring Rudy Vall...

A Funny Monday First a look at this day in History. Then The Campbells Playhouse starring Orson Welles , originally broadcast March 24, 1940, 85 years ago, June Moon starring Jack Benny.  The program features the funny story about a song writer from Schenectady who arrives in New York with plans to conquer Tin Pan Alley. Jack manages to get in a remark about Fred Allen. The story is based on a sto...

A Western Sunday with some Questions First a look at the events of the day Then Frontier Gentleman starring John Dehner , originally broadcast March 23, 1958, 67 years ago, The Actress. A British actress in the old West meets death; Kendall learns her strange secret.  Followed by the news from 67 years ago, then Gunsmoke starring William Conrad ,  originally broadcast March 23, 1958, 67 years ago,...

A Mixed up Saturday First a look at this day in History. Then Screen Directors Playhouse , originally broadcast March 22, 1951, 74 years ago, The Great Lover starring Bob Hope and Rhonda Fleming. The shipboard search for, "The Card Table Murderer." Followed by Passport to Romance , originally broadcast March 22, 1946, 79 years ago,  Boy meets girl aboard the "S.S. Harmonia." Then Dragnet starring...

A Funny Friday First a look at the events of the day Then Fibber McGee and Company , originally broadcast March 21, 1939, 86 years ago, The Spring Haircut.   ZaSu Pitts appears as a scalp specialist's nurse. Fibber starts going bald and tries an old Indian tonic.  Followed by The Martin and Lewis Show ,  originally broadcast March 21, 1952, 73 years ago with guest Marlene Dietrich.  Dean interview...

A Funny Thursday First a look at this day in History. Then The Pepsodent Show starring Bob Hope , originally broadcast March 20, 1945, 80 years ago with guest Shirley Temple.  The program originates from Camp Anza, Arlington (Riverside), California. Bob and guest Shirley Temple appear as hot-rodding teen-agers. Bob, Skinnay Ennis  and Jerry Colonna at Camp Anza. With this show, Bob starts his four...

A Dramatic Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day Then Gang Busters , originally broadcast March 19, 1955, 70 years ago, The Case Of The Reckless Ride.  Two tough guys named Harold Kopan and Edward Robb swear the cops will never get them to Leavenworth. Followed by Calling All Cars ,  originally broadcast March 19, 1935, 90 years ago, The Mae West Jewel Robbery.   The story of the real r...

A Dramatic Tuesday First a look at this day in History. Then The Sealed Book , originally broadcast March 18, 1945, 80 years ago, The Hand of Death.  An eccentric who collects souvenirs from murders decides to try for the ultimate item for his collection. Followed by Boston Blackie starring Dick Kollmar , originally broadcast March 18, 1947, 78 years ago, Sam Fishers Past.  An amnesiac named Sam F...

A Funny Monday First a look at the events of the day Then George Burns and Gracie Allen, originally broadcast March 17, 1941, 84 years ago, St. Patrick's Parade.  George tries to break up the "romance" between Gracie and Artie Shaw. Followed by A Day In The Life of Dennis Day,  originally broadcast March 17, 1948, 77 years ago, Baby Picture Contest. Dennis enters Mrs. Anderson's baby picture in a...

On this, the 69th anniversary of the passing of a great radio humorist, we present the NBC program Biography in Sound,   This episode was broadcast two days prior to what would have been his 62nd birthday, May 29, 1956.  Ironically that was just 10 days following my birth.  And yes, I chose this picture because of another irony.  Until I graduated college, I played the tuba.  Here's a partial list...

A Funny Sunday First a look at this day in History. Then The Life of Riley starring William Bendix , originally broadcast March 16, 1946, 79 years ago, Riley Buys an Insurance Policy.  Riley buys a life insurance policy from Sidney Monahan and thinks he's going to be killed so Peg can collect double indemnity!   Followed by Jack Benny , originally broadcast March 16, 1952, 73 years ago,The IRS pay...