Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Westerns on a Thursday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Lux Radio Theater ,  originally broadcast March 12, 1951, 75 years ago, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon starring John Wayne.  Wayne stars in the adaptation of the 1949 John Ford Western.  Captain Nathan Brittles, on the eve of retirement, takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be...

Comedy on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Our Miss Brooks starring Eve Arden ,  originally broadcast March 11, 1951, 75 years ago, Tex Barton, Basketball Star.  After 39 straight defeats, the Madison High basketball team has a chance with a new student named Tex Barton.  Followed by Amos ‘n’ Andy ,  originally broadcast March 11, 1947, 79 years ago, Adopting a Baby.  The K...

Comedy on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Abbott and Costello ,  originally broadcast March 10, 1948, 78 years ago, Costello Pays Income Tax.   Looking through Costello's family album. Costello (prophetically) has a meeting scheduled with the income tax collector. Abbott explains the difference between capital and labor. They then visit an accountant.  Followed by Jimmy Dur...

Drama on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Arch Oboler’s Plays ,  originally broadcast March 9, 1940, 86 years ago, Johnny Got His Gun starring James Cagney.  A dramatization of the superb, shocking, best-seller by Dalton Trumbo about the legless, armless, blind, deaf and dumb war veteran. An eloquent anti-war statement, Cagney was never better on the air.  Followed by Lights O...

Drama on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Lux Radio Theater ,  originally broadcast March 8, 1937, 89 years ago, Madame Butterfly starring Cary Grant and Grace Moore.   Beautiful Cio-cio-San is betrayed by Lieutenant Pinkerton in a drama that uses only two arias by Puccini. Robert Cobb, the president of the Brown Derby (owned by Cecil B. DeMille) tells about the famous restau...

Comedy on a Saturday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny ,  originally broadcast March 7, 1954, 72 years ago, Jack's big date at the Acme Plaza Hotel.   Jack is back in New York and is staying at the Acme Plaza. Jack and guest Gisele MacKenzie start off for dinner.  Followed by My Friend Irma starring Marie Wilson , originally broadcast March 7...

Westerns on a Friday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Frontier Town starring Reed Hadley , originally broadcast March 6, 1953, 73 years ago, Mystery At Burnside Falls.   A "good" brother battles his "evil" brother for the future county seat and railroad terminal.  Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad ,  originally broadcast March 6, 1954, 74 years ago, The Gentleman.    A Phil...

Drama on a Thursday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Lux Radio Theater ,  originally broadcast March 5, 1951, 75 years ago, Panic In The Street starring Richard Widmark.  Widmark stars in an adaptation of his 1950 Elia Kazan motion picture.  A doctor and a policeman in New Orleans have only 48 hours to locate a killer infected with pneumonic plague. Followed by Mr. President starring E...

Drama on a Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Man Called X starring Herbert Marshall, originally broadcast March 4, 1952, 74 years ago, Alaska Weather Station.   A man is shot on a pier in Yokohama, right in front of Pegan Zellschmidt (Leon Belasco)! His dying words were, "Ken Thurston." Followed by Dangerous Assignment starring Brian Donlevy ,  originally broadcast March...

Comedy on a Tuesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Screen Directors Playhouse ,  originally broadcast March 3, 1950, 76 years ago, The Paleface starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell.    A western comedy lightly adapted from the 1948 Bob Hope and Jane Russell film. Followed by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello , originally broadcast March 3, 1949, 77 years ago, Caught With His Prints Down.  An...

Comedy on a Monday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Phil Harris and Alice Faye , originally broadcast March 2, 1952, 74 years ago.    Phil and Alice are going to Las Vegas, and Remley is not going along with them.  Followed by The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ,  originally broadcast March 2, 1943, 83 years ago, Gracie Plays Carnegie Hall.  The Burns' check into a swanky hotel, w...

Drama on a Sunday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Suspense ,  originally broadcast March 1, 1955, 71 years ago, The Screaming Woman.   A couple of kids hear a screaming woman, who is buried alive!  Sherry Jackson stars.  Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb , originally broadcast March 1, 1953, 73 years ago, The Big Want.  The search for a "George Richmond" leads to a killer of cops...

Westerns and War on a Saturday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Have Gun Will Travel starring John Dehner , originally broadcast February 28, 1960, 66 years ago, Dollhouse in Diamond Springs.  Paladin is hired to get back the $20,000 taken during the Diamond Springs bank robbery.  Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad ,  originally broadcast February 28, 1953, 73 years ago, Tro...

Comedy on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Lum and Abne r,  originally broadcast February 27, 1949, 77 years ago, Who Called Lum?  Abner has taken a phone message for Lum, but has forgotten who called. Lum is determined to find out who it was.  Followed by The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny , originally broadcast February 27, 1955, 71 years ago, Jack’s TV Breaks.  Ja...

Drama on a Thursday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Casey Press Photographer starring Staats Cotsworth , originally broadcast February 26, 1944, 82 years ago, The Clues in the Clouds.  A helicopter flies over the city out of control and crashes into the sea. Casey suspects that murder has taken wing, and the clue is literally in the clouds!  Followed by Calling All Cars ,  originally...

Comedy on a Wednesday First, a look at this day in History. Then, Father Knows Best starring Robert Young ,  originally broadcast February 25, 1954, 74 years ago, Betty’s Independence.  Betty struck a deal with her parents to be independent, and the house is in havok.  Followed by Fibber McGee and Molly , originally broadcast February 25, 1941, 85 years ago, Bottle Collector.  Fibber decides to ca...

Comedy on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Lux Radio Theater , originally broadcast February 24, 1941, 85 years ago, The Whole Town’s Talking starring Fibber McGee and Molly.  Jim Jordan, er,  Fibber McGee, takes the role played by Edward G. Robinson from the 1935 motion picture.  Fibber is a mild-mannered clerk who bears a striking resemblance to an escaped convict.   F...

Crime and Fantasy on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Dragnet starring Jack Webb ,  originally broadcast February 23, 1954, 74 years ago, The Big Pipe.  Mrs. Ada Fitzgerald has been found murdered. She was bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe! Followed by The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe starring Sydney Greenstreet , originally broadcast February 23, 1951, 75 years ago, The Ca...

Comedy on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Great Gildersleeve starring Harold Peary , originally broadcast February 22, 1942, 84 years ago, Selling the Drugstore.  It's Washington's birthday, a time for telling the truth. This makes doing business rather difficult.  Followed by Father Knows Best starring Robert Young , originally broadcast February 22, 1951, 75 years ago,...

Westerns and Crime on a Saturday  First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Have Gun Will Travel starring John Dehner ,  originally broadcast February 21, 1960, 66 years ago, That Was No Lady.  Paladin travels to Brackwater to close down the Paradise Saloon, run by the notorious A.J. Bannion. But Bannion turns out to be a lady...or at least a female! Followed by Y ours Truly Johnny Dollar starr...

Comedy on a Friday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Jack Benny , originally broadcast February 20, 1949, 77 years ago, Jack wants to appear on the Ford Theater.  Guests Fletcher Markle and Jack Warner try to talk Jack out of doing, "The Horn Blows At Midnight" on "The Ford Theatre." Followed by The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet , originally broadcast February 20, 1949, 77 years ago,...

Romance on a Thursday  First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Lux Radio Theater,  originally broadcast February 19, 1940, 86 years ago, Made for Each Other starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray .   A melodrama about a young lawyer, his wife, his sickly baby, and his disappearing mother.  Carole Lombard reprises her role form the 1939 film.   Followed by Romance , originally broadcast Fe...

Comedy on a Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Phil Harris Alice Faye Show originally broadcast February 18, 1951, 75 years ago, U.S.O. Entertaining at an Army Camp.  Phil and Remley "volunteer" to perform at a local army base.  Followed by The Jimmy Durante Show , originally broadcast February 18, 1948, 78 years ago, A Night at Ciro's.  Jimmy and guest Victor Moore go to...

Movies on a Tuesday  First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Screen Directors Playhouse ,  originally broadcast February 17, 1950, 76 years ago, It’s In The Bag starring Fred Allen.   A flea circus operator searches for a hidden fortune within a Louis XIV chair. An adaptation of Allen’s 1945 film.  Followed by Theater Guild on the Air , originally broadcast February 17, 1946, 80 years ago, On...

Drama on a Monday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring John Lund , originally broadcast February 16, 1954, 72 years ago, The Uncut Canary Matter.   A huge yellow diamond has disappeared from a ritzy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb , originally broadcast February 16, 1954, 72 years ago, The Big Sucker.  A con-man uses r...