Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Crime on a Thursday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Let George Do It starring Bob Bailey and Virginia Gregg, originally broadcast April 30, 1951, 75 years ago, The Discovery of Ponce the Lion. Ponce is back in town and planning to kill all those who testified against him.  Followed by I Was a Communist for the FBI starring Dana Andrews ,  originally broadcast April 30, 1953, 73 years...

Variety on a Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Big Show starring Tallulah Bankhead , originally broadcast April 29, 1951, 75 years ago.   Ethel Merman opens the show with, "There's No Business Like Show Business." Frank Lovejoy appears in an "I Was A Communist For The FBI" drama and the real Matt Cvetic makes a brief anti-communist speech. Rosemary Clooney sings, "Taking...

Comedy on a Tuesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Lux Radio Theater , originally broadcast April 28, 1941, 85 years ago, Wife, Husband, and Friend starring George Brent, Priscilla Lane, and Gail Patrick.  An adaptation of a 1939 comedy film.  When a man's wife decides to resume her operatic career, she flops badly, but her husband succeeds in a big way! Followed by The Jimmy Durante...

Comedy and Westerns on a Monday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The First Nighter Program , originally broadcast April 27, 1952, 74 years ago, Refresher Course starring Barbara Luddy and Olan Soule.   A domestic comedy, a bewildered husband, two kids and a frustrated wife. What this family needs is a refresher course...in marriage! Followed by The CBS Radio Workshop , originally broa...

Crime on a Sunday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Jeff Regan Investigator starring Paul Dubov , substituting for Frank Graham, originally broadcast April 26, 1950, 76 years ago, It All Comes Back to Me Now. Miss "Smith" can't remember her name. Miss Smith also had a loaded .32 caliber Smith and Wesson in her purse. Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb , originally broadcast April 26...

Comedy on a Saturday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Charlie McCarthy Show , originally broadcast April 25, 1943, 83 years ago, Showboat.   Bergen tries to explain shortwave radio to Charlie. Bill Thompson is leaving for Flageria to make a movie. He performs a Flagerian western. Guest Irene Dunne joins Charlie on a Mississippi showboat in "Uncle Tom's Cabin.". Followed by Maxwell...

Westerns and Crime on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Shadow starring Orson Welles and Margot Stevenson , originally broadcast April 24, 1938, 88 years ago, The Power of the Mind.  A famous psychiatrist, kidnapped aboard a foreign freighter, uses telepathy to call the Shadow to the rescue.  Followed by Have Gun Will Travel starring John Dehner ,  originally broadcast Apri...

Crime on a Thursday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, I Was a Communist for the FBI starring Dana Andrews , originally broadcast April 23, 1953, 73 years ago, I Walk Alone.   The Party tries to trap Matt Cvetic through his mother. Followed by Calling All Cars , originally broadcast April 23, 1935, 91 years ago, The Wholesale Murder.  Three young men steal a car in San Francisco. They h...

Variety on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Amos ‘n’ Andy , originally broadcast April 22, 1951, 75 years ago, Sapphire in Chicago. While Sapphire is away, the Kingfish is determined to be pleasant to his mother-in-law. His efforts led Mama and him to a courtroom! Followed by The Big Show starring Tallulah Bankhead,  originally broadcast April 22, 1951, 75 years ago.  Tallu...

Comedy on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Maxwell House Coffee Time starring George Burns and Gracie Allen , originally broadcast April 21, 1949, 77 years ago, S’ Wonderful?.   Are George Burns and Ida Cantor going to poison guest Eddie Cantor? Followed by The Great Gildersleeve starring Harold Peary , originally broadcast April 21, 1946, 80 years ago, The Trolley Car House...

Westerns and Crime on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Luke Slaughter of Tombstone starring Sam Buffington , originally broadcast April 20, 1958, 68 years ago, The Henry Fell Story.  Henry Fell, a dude from back East, has come to Luke's ranch to paint portraits of the Apaches.  Followed by Frontier Gentleman starring John Dehner , originally broadcast on April 20, 1958, 68 yea...

Crime on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Big Town starring Edward Pauley , originally broadcast April 19, 1949, 77 years ago, the Case of the Iron Fist.   Anton Broder, the editor of a small foreign language weekly in Big Town, is beaten and his paper wrecked by the evil forces from his home country. Followed by Nick Carter Master Detective starring Lon Clark , originally br...

(This didn't go out as scheduled.  Weird.  Here it is!) Crime on a Saturday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Lives of Harry Lime starring Orson Welles , originally broadcast April 18, 1952, 74 years ago, The Painted Smile.  Harry attends a performance of a Sicilian circus as the guest of one of the clowns. The clown has a very beautiful wife! Followed by The Adventures of Red Ryder...

ariety on a Friday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Lux Radio Theater , originally broadcast April 17, 1939, 87 years ago, Bullets or Ballots starring Edward G Robinson,  Mary Astor, and Humphrey Bogart.  Robinson starred in the original 1936 film with Humphrey Bogart.  Robinson plays a police detective who infiltrates a crime gang.  Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad ,...

Crime on a Thursday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Boston Blackie starring Dick Kollmar, originally broadcast April 16, 1946, 80 years ago, The Baseball Player Murder.  Murder takes place at the baseball game. Clem McCarthy is heard as the announcer broadcasting the game. Followed by Let George Do It starring Bob Bailey and Virginia Gregg ,  originally broadcast April 16, 1951, 75 ye...

Variety on a Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Big Show starring Tallulah Bankhead , originally broadcast April 15, 1951, 75 years ago.  Jack Carson gives Tallulah a singing lesson. Olivia de Havilland and Evelyn Vardin do a scene from "Romeo and Juliet." Martha Raye does a baseball skit. Eddie Cantor appears as "Maxie the Taxi," a Brooklyn cab driver he made famous with...

Comedy on a Tuesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Jimmy Durante Show , originally broadcast April 14, 1948, 78 years ago.  After a speech from President Truman, Jimmy proclaims the President the best guest star he’s had all season. Guest Victor Moore returns and he and Jimmy investigate the housing shortage.  Followed by Screen Directors Playhouse ,  originally broadcast April 1...

Crime on a Monday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Suspense , originally broadcast April 13, 1944, 82 years ago, The Marvelous Barastro starring Orson Welles.   Orson doing his usual magnificent job playing two roles in two different Italian dialects!  A Russian magician traveling across Europe meets a blind woman who asks for her palm to be read. Followed by Casey Crime Photographer...

Drama  on a Sunday First,  a look at this day in History. Then,   Escape , originally broadcast April 12, 1953, 73 years ago, Classified Secret starring Parley Baer.   Spies on a cross-country bus...and counterspies along for the ride.  Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb ,  originally broadcast April 12, 1953, 73 years ago, The Big Compulsion.   A lunatic has been making false police calls and...

Comedy on a Saturday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Martin and Lewis Show , originally broadcast April 11, 1952, 74 years ago, with guest Virginia Mayo.  Jerry appeals for funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  A take off of “A Streetcar Named Desire”.   Followed by The Great Gildersleeve starring Willard Waterman , originally broadcast April 11, 1951, 75 years ago, Kids...

Drama and Westerns on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Lux Radio Theater, originally broadcast April 10, 1939, 87 years ago, The Lives of a Bengal Lancer starring Errol Flynn, Brian Aherne, and Jackie Cooper..  The adaptation of the 1935 movie that starred Gary Cooper, about Her Majesty's Lancers in Northwest India, battling rebellious tribesmen. A story about the traditio...

Comedy on a Thursday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Phil Harris and Alice Faye ,  originally broadcast April 9, 1950, 76 years ago, The Easter Bunny.  Phil sees a six-foot Easter Bunny...two of them in fact! The play "Harvey" has closed two months before this program.  Followed by My Favorite Husband starring Lucille Ball and Richard Denning , originally broadcast April 9, 1950, 76...

Comedy on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, the Great Gildersleeve starring Harold Peary , originally broadcast April 8, 1945, 81 years ago, Leroy’s Pet Pig.  Gildersleeve is forced to get rid of Leroy's pet pig.  Followed by Amos ‘n’ And y ,  originally broadcast April 8, 1947, 79 years ago, Finding a Roomer.  The Stevens' rent their spare room to a boarder and get more tha...

Comedy on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Abbott and Costello ,  originally broadcast April 7, 1949, 77 years ago,  Another Sam Shovel Mystery.  Costello remembers his first girlfriend. Abbott invites Costello to his birthday party. Sam Shovel solves, "The Case Of The Thief Who Stole The Hamburgers From The Lunchroom," or, "He was a short-order crook." Followed by Amos ‘n’...

Crime on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Dragnet starring Jack Webb , originally broadcast April 6, 1954, 72 years ago, The Big Saw.  A pair of bank robbers are identified by one of the customers in the bank. The trail leads to a car rental agency. Followed by Crime and Peter Chambers starring Dane Clark ,  originally broadcast April 6, 1954, 72 years ago, Bruce Burke Murder...