Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Westerns and Crime on a Wednesday First a look at the events of the day Then Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast October 2, 1954, 70 years ago, Matt Gets It. Dan Grat comes to Dodge on the lam from Amarillo. After shooting the sheriff of Amarillo, he faces Marshal Dillon in a gunfight...and shoots him down! We follow that with Have Gun Will Travel starring John Dehner, originall...

2+ Hours of Crime First a look at this day in History. Then Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast October 1, 1949, 75 years ago, Tom Laval. Thomas Laval admits to being involved in a truck highjacking. While in custody, he jumps out of a window, but Sergeants Friday and Romeo are accused of pushing him to his death.  Followed by the news from 75 years ago, then The Adventures of Philip...

The Last Days of Old Time Radio and Westerns First a look at the events of the day Then Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Mandel Kramer, originally broadcast September 30, 1962, 62 years ago, The Tip Off Matter.  A convict in the state prison is about to die. He has a final "thank you" for Johnny for helping his kid brother get a start in life. There's still the matter of $100,000 from the convic...

2+ Hours of Crime First a look at this day in History. Then in answer to your comments, the last recording form WC Fields from 1946, The Day I took a Drink of Water.  Then Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey, originally broadcast September 29, 1957, 67 years ago, The Doubtful Dairy Matter.    A silo burns on the farm of an important dairyman...a guy with pull! Followed by the news from 6...

2 hours of Crime First a look at the events of the day Then The Lives of Harry Lime starring Orson Welles, originally broadcast September 28, 1951, 73 years ago, Work of Art. In Buenos Aires in July, 1944, Harry is hired to swindle an original Rubens from its beautiful owner.  We follow that with Big Town starring Edward Pawley, originally broadcast September 28, 1948, 76 years ago, The Trap.  Bar...

2+ Hours of Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then Father Knows Best starring Robert Young, originally broadcast September 27, 1951, 73 years ago, The Billiard Table. The family is mixed on having a billiard table in the house.  Followed by My Friend Irma starring Marie Wilson, originally broadcast September 27, 1948, 76 years ago.  The Professor has lost his job at The Gypsy Tea Room. I...

2 hours of Comedy  First a look at the events of the day Then Jack Benny, originally broadcast September 26, 1954, 70 years ago, Is the show on the air?   The first show of the season. Jack complains to the chief engineer at CBS when his show isn't being broadcast! We follow that with the news from 70 years ago, then Amos ‘n’ Andy, originally broadcast September 26, 1954, 70 years ago, A Trip to F...

2+ Hours of  Crime First a look at this day in History. Then Mystery in the Air starring Peter Lorre, originally broadcast September 25, 1947, 77 years ago, Crime and Punishment. The last show of the series.  The Fyodor Dostoyevsky classic. Followed by Night Watch starring Donn Reed, originally broadcast September 25, 1954, 70 years ago.  The first call is about a burglary suspect caught in a mote...

2 hours of Comedy and Variety  First a look at the events of the day Then The Chase and Sanborn Hour, originally broadcast September 24, 1939, 85 years ago.   Now that school has started, Charlie McCarthy has been playing hookey. Edgar Bergen helps Charlie with a problem in algebra. Guest Anita Louise and Don Ameche appear in, "The Enchantress," by J. Douglas Cook. Guest David Niven tells amusing...

2+ Hours of  Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast September 23, 1935, 89 years ago, Anything To Get Out Of Scrubbing Back Porch.   The back porch needs scrubbing and Fibber really doesn't want the job. Followed by The Milton Berle Show, originally broadcast September 23, 1947, 77 years ago, A Salute To The Auto Industry.  Milton is planning...

2 hours of crime  First a look at the events of the day Then Counterspy starring Don McLaughlin and Mandel Kramer, originally broadcast September 22, 1949, 75 years ago, The Case of the Postal Pirates Part 2.  The investigation of the parcel post theft ring continues. An apparent suicide is really a murder.   We follow that with the news from 75 years ago, then Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons sta...

A podcast on the predecessor to the Emergency Broadcast System and the Emergency Alert System - CONELRAD First, No Second Chance from 1955 - "No Second Chance" Conelrad in "practice" radio public service drama / documentary. 1955 Written by Jack Kessler Directed by Eric Howlett Produced by the National Office of Civil Defense by WJR Detroit Second, By The People from 1959.  A government produced r...

2+ Hours of  Crime First a look at this day in History. Then Big Town starring Edward Pawley,  originally broadcast September 21, 1948, 76 years ago, The Final Payment. Steve Wilson and Lorelei bust an obituary sales racket.  Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast September 21, 1952, 72 years ago, The Big Shot. Mr. Kelby, the manager of the Pink Rat Cafe, has been shot and ki...

2 hours of  crime  First a look at the events of the day Then Screen Guild Theater, originally broadcast September 20, 1943, 81 years ago, The Maltese Falcon starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre.  The classic hunt for the fabulous bird. We follow that with Arch Obolers Plays, originally broadcast September 20, 1945, 79 years ago, Rocket From Manhattan. A master...

2+ Hours of  Drama First a look at this day in History. Then This Is Your FBI, originally broadcast September 19, 1953, 71 years ago, The Comic Strip Bandits.  A former comic strip artist spots the drivers of a truck that hijacked stolen meat.  But his sketch of the drivers disappears.  Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast September 19, 1953, 71 years ago, There Was N...

2 hours of  crime  First a look at the events of the day Then Nick Carter Master Detective starring Lon Clark, originally broadcast September 18, 1949, 75 years ago, The Case of the Vanishing Weapon.  A woman dies in a car crash.  But why, in the summertime, did she have all the windows closed and the car heater on full blast? We follow that with Let George Do It starring Bob Bailey and Virginia G...

2+ Hours of  Variety First a look at this day in History. Then The Chase and Sanborn Hour, originally broadcast September 17, 1939, 85 years ago. Charlie McCarthy tells about his adventures in Honolulu. Guest Fred MacMurray and Don Ameche appear in, "Brenda," by John Whedon. Helen Broderick does a monologue as a harried secretary and then feuds with Charlie. Followed by The Lux Radio Theater, orig...

2 hours of  Comedy  First a look at the events of the day Then The Milton Berle Show, originally broadcast September 16, 1947, 77 years ago, A Salute to Radio.  Milton takes Junior to a child psychiatrist.  We follow that with The Martin and Lewis Show, originally broadcast September 16, 1952, 72 years ago with guest Rosemary Clooney.  Rosemary and the boys do a sketch about the circus. They do th...

2+ Hours of  Crime First a look at this day in History. Then The Whistler, originally broadcast September 15, 1948, 76 years ago, Uncle Ben’s Widow.  An auto accident gives a woman a profitable idea...but a blackmailer has one or two ideas of his own! Followed by Nick Carter, Master Detective starring Lon Clark, originally broadcast September 15, 1946, 78 years ago, The Case of the Blue Mink.  Nic...

2 hours of  Crime  First a look at the events of the day Then Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey, originally broadcast September 14, 1958, 66 years ago, The Wayward Diamonds Matter. Ralph Merrill has confessed to defrauding his insurance company about the loss of his yacht. But what happened to Mrs. Merrill's jewels? We follow that with the news from 66 years ago, then Frontier Gentlema...

2+ Hours of  Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then It Pays to be Ignorant, originally broadcast September 13, 1950, 74 years ago.  The first question is, "In what town in Pennsylvania did Lincoln make his Gettysburg address?" Followed by Jack Benny, originally broadcast September 13, 1953, 71 years ago, Jack Returns from Hawaii.  Jack has just returned from three weeks in Hawaii and thi...

First a look at the events of the day Then The Chase and Sanborn Hour, originally broadcast September 12, 1937, 87 years ago with guest Bette Davis.  Nelson Eddy sings, "With A Song In My Heart." Edgar Bergen discusses the coming start of the school year with Charlie McCarthy. Dorothy promises to help Charlie with his homework. The orchestra plays a medley of hits by Irving Berlin. Bette Davis app...

2+ Hours of  Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then Jack Benny, originally broadcast September 11, 1949, 75 years ago, Stop The Bus!  The first show of the season. A bus tour through Beverly Hills.  Followed by Bob Hope, originally broadcast September 11, 1948, 76 years ago, Bob and Jack, the DJ’s.   Bob and guest Jack Benny, as disc jockeys, do "The Make Believe Washroom." Jack tries to...

2 hours of Crime  First a look at the events of the day Then The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, originally broadcast September 10, 1945, 79 years ago, Colonel Warburtons Madness.  The Colonel has gone raving mad, and only Sherlock Holmes and a dog can discover the cause!  We follow that with Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast September 10,...

2+ Hours of  Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then The Milton Berle Show, originally broadcast September 9, 1947, 77 years ago, A Salute to the Farmer.    Milton and the chicken.  Followed by The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, originally broadcast September 9, 1945, 79 years ago, David Fights the Fighting Jones Boys. David has had a fight with the Jones boy, Ozzie has a fight with Har...