Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Our annual look at this date 79 years ago, V-J Day, August 14, 1945, The End of World War II. Audio from the run-up to the official announcement of the Japanese surrender, commentary from HV Kaltenborn, and reaction from people all over America. Then Norman Corwin’s Fourteen August starring Orson Welles, originally broadcast August 14, 1945.  A word picture of the end of the war. A moving and dram...

2+ Hours of Variety First a look at this day in History. Then The Chase and Sanborn Hour, originally broadcast August 13, 1939, 85 years ago with guest Joan Blondell.  Charlie McCarthy is planning a hiking trip. Guest Joan Blondell and Don Ameche appear in a Hollywood comedy, "Stardust," by Cyril Kramer. A few seconds have been deleted from the drama. Vera Vague lectures about travel to England. C...

2+ Hours of  Westerns and Crime First a look at this day in History. Then Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast August 12, 1956, 68 years ago, Snakebite.  Gorman and Hicks arrive in Dodge and promptly kill Pony Thompson's dog. Gorman is then found knifed in the back.  Followed by the news from 68 years ago, then Fort Laramie starring Raymond Burr, originally broadcast August 12, 1...

2+ Hours of Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then It Pays to be Ignorant, originally broadcast August 11, 1944, 80 years ago, What is an optimist?  The first question (at the opening) is, "What is an optimist?" The first question (during the program) is, "After what Central American country is the Panama Canal named?"  Followed by The Stan Freberg Show, originally broadcast August 11, 1...

One of our many broadcast shows we lost with the crashing and burning of USA Radio.  As broadcast May 17, 2021 on a few dozen stations across America... Monitor, radio’s original magazine program, originally broadcast May 17, 1958 hosted by Peter Roberts and Walter Kiernan including Alex Dreier and Fibber McGee and Molly. Alex Dreier (from Chicago) comments on the South American recession and anti...

2+ Hours of  Drama First a look at this day in History. Then Suspense, originally broadcast August 10, 1958, 66 years ago, The Diary of Sophronia Winters starring Mercedes McCambridge.  A new bride, a madman, and an hotel with 125 deserted rooms! Followed by the news from 66 years ago, then Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey, originally broadcast August 10, 1958, 66 years ago,  The Two...

2+ Hours of Mystery and Westerns First a look at this day in History. Then Quiet Please starring Ernest Chappell, originally broadcast August 9, 1948, 76 years ago, The Thing on the Forble Board.  A creature from beneath the earth climbs up an oil well pipe to the surface.  Followed by  Confession, originally broadcast August 9, 1953, 71 years ago, Peter W. Greer Case.  Peter’s wife is pushing him...

2+ Hours of  Drama First a look at this day in History. Then Gang Busters, originally broadcast August 8, 1953, 71 years ago, Set a  Thief to Catch a Thief. Joe Brin is forced to co-operate with a gang of hi-jackers who plan to steal $90,000 worth of liquor.  Followed by This is Your FBI, originally broadcast August 8, 1952, 72 years ago, Astrological Breakout.  A convict uses astrology to plan an...

2+ Hours of Mystery and Westerns First a look at this day in History. Then Mystery in the Air starring Peter Lorre, originally broadcast August 7, 1947, 77 years ago, The Marvelous Barastro.   The classic about the circus magician and his blind wife...and her ultimate horror.  Followed by The Whistler, originally broadcast August 7, 1949, 75 years ago, The Trigger Man. The lawyer for the biggest c...

62+ Hours of  Crime First a look at this day in History. Then Boston Blackie starring Dick Kollmar, originally broadcast August 6, 1946, 78 years ago, Fixed Court Case.  Blackie joins the Jerry Williams gang to break up a mob that covers its crimes by intimidating witnesses.  Followed by Jeff Regan Investigator starring Frank Graham and Frank Nelson, originally broadcast August 6, 1950, 74 years a...

2+ Hours of Westerns and a surprise First a look at this day in History. Then Fort Laramie starring Raymond Burr, originally broadcast August 5, 1956, 68 years ago, The Massacre.  The peaceful Shoshone Indians are attacked by a fanatical army major.  Followed by the news from 68 years ago, then Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast August 5, 1956, 68 years ago, Sweet and Sour. Ren...

2+ Hours of  Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then The First Nighter Program, originally broadcast August 4, 1953, 71 years ago, Two Loves Had She starring Barbara Luddy and Olan Soule.  A light comedy about a confused girl with two fiances.  Followed by The Stan Freberg Show, originally broadcast August 4, 1957, 67 years ago, Great Moments in History.   The story behind the ride of Pau...

2+ Hours of Variety First a look at this day in History. Then The CBS Radio Workshop, originally broadcast August 3, 1956, 68 years ago, Subways are for Sleeping.    The classic adaptation of the Harpers Magazine short story by Edmund G Love about a homeless man (but not a bum!) in New York. Followed by Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons starring Philip Clark, originally broadcast August 3, 1951, 73...

2+ Hours of  Comedy and Westerns  First a look at this day in History. Then The Martin and Lewis Show, originally broadcast August 2, 1949, 75 years ago with Hopalong Cassidy - William Boyd. Dean, Jerry, and Soapy Leonard go on vacation to the High Sierras, where they meet guest William Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy).  Followed by Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast August 2, 1937, 87 years ago,...

2+ Hours of Variety First a look at this day in History. Then The Chase and Sanborn Hour, originally broadcast August 1, 1937, 87 years ago. Charlie is taking a correspondence course on how to became a detective. Contralto Bruna Castagna sings an aria from, "Mignon." It's Charlie McCarthy's birthday today, time for an argument with W. C. Fields. W. C. describes his adventures while hunting moose....

2+ Hours of  Crime  First a look at this day in History. Then The Crime Club, originally broadcast July 31, 1947, 77 years ago, The Self-Made Corpse.  A mild little man visits a bunch of gangsters to have them help him with a bank robbery. They agree.  Followed by The Saint starring Vincent Price, originally broadcast July 31, 1949, 75 years ago, The Saint Goes Underground. The Saint finds himself...

2+ Hours of Crime First a look at this day in History. Then Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Mandel Kramer, originally broadcast July 30, 1961, 63 years ago, The Philadelphia Miss Matter.  A beautiful young Indian woman has her own ideas about a secret invention she knows nothing about. Followed by the news from 63 years ago, then Suspense, originally broadcast July 30, 1961, 63 years ago, You C...

2+ Hours of  Crime and Westerns First a look at this day in History. Then Nick Carter Master Detective starring Lon Clark, originally broadcast July 29, 1945, 79 years ago, The Case of the Unwritten Letter.  A man who died with a blank letter in his hand, and a murder solved after an interview with the corpse.  Followed by I was a Communist for the FBI starring Dana Andrews, originally broadcast J...

2+ Hours of Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then The Stan Freberg Show, originally broadcast July 28, 1957, 67 years ago, Miss Universe Contest.  Freberg interviews a woman who was excluded from the Miss Universe Contest - Miss Jupiter! Followed by The Magnificent Montague starring Monty Woolley, originally broadcast July 28, 1951, 73 years ago, Gwendoline Visits.  Gwendolyn, the littl...

2+ Hours of  Drama  First a look at this day in History. Then The Story of Dr Kildare starring Lew Ayers and Lionel Barrymore, originally broadcast July 27, 1950, 74 years ago, Dan Molloy. Construction manager Dan Molloy has stomach issues that could be simply resolved if not for his wife, who values social connections more than his health.  Followed by Crime and Peter Chambers starring Dane Clark...

2+ Hours of Comedy First a look at this day in History. Then Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast July 26, 1937, 87 years ago, Grocery Store Manager. Fibber is managing the Wistful Vista grocery store.  Followed by The Martin and Lewis Show, originally broadcast July 26, 1949, 75 years ago, guest Francis Langford.   Dean is going to make a record with guest Frances Langford, which makes Je...

2+ Hours of  Drama  First a look at this day in History. Then Satan’s Waitin, originally broadcast July 25, 1950, 74 years ago, Paintings of Death.  Satan himself tells the story about a cheating wife and her wealthy husband. He wants a divorce and offers her the house and a lot of money, if her lover will marry her within six months.  Followed by Counterspy starring Don McLaughlin and Mandel Kram...

2+ Hours of Variety First a look at this day in History. Then The Chase and Sanborn Hour, originally broadcast July 24, 1938, 86 years ago, with guest Spencer Tracy. Spencer Tracy and Edward Arnold appear in, "Five Star Final." Followed by Broadway is my Beat, originally broadcast July 24, 1950, 74 years ago, The Celia Jordan Murder Case.  Celia Jordan has disappeared. She later calls Danny and di...

2+ Hours of  Drama  First a look at this day in History. Then Let George Do It starring Bob Bailey and Virginia Gregg, originally broadcast July 23, 1951, 73 years ago, Drop Dead!   A parrot repeats the phrase, "Drop Dead" until the bird's former owner does exactly that.  Followed by I Was a Communist for the FBI starring Dana Andrews, originally broadcast July 23, 1952,  72 years ago, Canadian Cr...

2+ Hours of Westerns and Crime First a look at this day in History. Then The Roy Rogers Show, originally broadcast July 22, 1954, 70 years ago, The River of No Return.  Feuding and gunfighting in the town of Tanner has Roy and Dale frustrated.  Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast July 22, 1956, 68 years ago, Lynching Man.  Hank Blennis is found lynched, and Charlie D...