Information Please

In this August 21, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a spirited panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and special guests Raymond Clapper, Scripps-Howard correspondent, and Leon Henderson, the director of the Office of Price Administration. Together, they navigate an engaging mix of literary, musical, and historical trivia. The panel explores collaborations in his...

In this August 14, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a lively panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Oscar Levant, and distinguished guest Mildred H. McAfee, President of Wellesley College and Lieutenant Commander of the Women’s Naval Reserve. The panel navigates questions about classical music, military distinctions, and Shakespearean characters, with Mildred...

In this August 7, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts an entertaining panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Broadway luminary Russell Crouse, and the inimitably droll Ned Sparks, stepping in with his signature sardonic wit. The panel navigates questions ranging from literary lines and military trivia to casting the perfect sourpuss in a movie. Russell Crouse shares...

In this July 24, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, sportswriter Paul Gallico, and prominent attorney Arthur Garfield Hayes. Together, they navigate a wide range of questions spanning legal history, literary trinities, and baseball trivia. Arthur Garfield Hayes delves into famous trials, from Sir Roger Casement’s high treaso...

In this July 17, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Oscar Levant, and special guest Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., fresh from his service in the U.S. Army Tank Corps. Together, they navigate questions ranging from military tactics to musical trivia. Senator Lodge shares insights on armored warfare, including how tank crews u...

In this July 10, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a playful and intellectual discussion featuring regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, alongside composer and critic Deems Taylor and humorist H.I. Phillips. Together, they navigate through musical trivia, poetic puzzles, and even a surprising debate about deciduous teeth. Listeners are treated to whimsical moment...

In this June 19, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a delightful panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, acclaimed author Christopher Morley, and actress-writer Cornelia Otis Skinner. Together, they explore a variety of questions spanning literature, Shakespearean soliloquies, and musical geography. The panel debates poetic coats, literary nurses like Dickens’ S...

In this May 22, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a stellar panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, composer and critic Deems Taylor, and stage and screen star Roland Young. Together, they tackle an eclectic mix of trivia spanning music, literature, and naval mysteries. The panel explores lines of poetry about snails, moths, and ants, deciphers musical selections t...

In this May 8, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Margaret Webster—renowned Shakespearean director and author of Shakespeare Without Tears—and Broadway’s premier press agent, Richard Maney. Together, they deliver a masterclass in trivia and wit. The panel explores the compass directions of historical rides, corrects poet...

In this April 17, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman is joined by regulars John Kieran, Franklin P. Adams, and Oscar Levant, along with special guest Grantland Rice, the legendary sportswriter. Together, they deliver a lively mix of sports trivia, poetry, and humor. The panel tackles everything from iconic sports moments, like Gabby Hartnett’s famous home run, to poetic challenge...

In this March 20, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts an engaging panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, celebrated actor John Carradine, and the esteemed conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. Together, they tackle an eclectic mix of cultural, musical, and literary trivia with humor and charm. Topics range from poetic lines inspired by music to the scrap metal contributions...

In this March 6, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and two distinguished guests: Jan Struther, author of Mrs. Miniver, and Julian Huxley, world-renowned biologist. The episode is a delightful blend of literary wit and scientific insight. The panel tackles questions ranging from poetic “ifs” and mythical borogoves to the pec...

In this February 27, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a distinguished panel including regulars Franklin P. Adams, Oscar Levant, and John Kieran, alongside guest of honor Emil Ludwig, the renowned author and biographer of historical figures like Napoleon and Bolívar. The panel embarks on a journey through history, music, and literature, exploring topics such as the first p...

In this February 20, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a spirited and unscripted panel featuring regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by two iconic Hollywood stars: John Carradine, celebrated for his menacing roles, and Boris Karloff, the legendary master of horror. The episode dives into a lively mix of questions spanning Shakespearean monologues, infamous h...

In this February 6, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a lively and unscripted panel featuring regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by special guests Christopher Morley, the acclaimed author of Kitty Foyle, and Ruth Hussey, the charming star of The Philadelphia Story. Together, the panel tackles an eclectic mix of trivia, poetry, and fashion insights. Listener...

In this January 23, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a session filled with humor and intellect, featuring composer Deems Taylor and critic Alexander Woollcott. Joining regular panelists Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel explores a delightful range of topics, from famous dinner parties in literature and theater to deciphering poetic riddles and Shakespearean...

In this January 16, 1942, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts an entertaining evening featuring Russell Crouse, co-author of Life with Father, and sportswriter Paul Gallico, author of The Snow Goose. Joining regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel explores questions ranging from literary ruined marriages and heavyweight boxing upsets to musical strolls and famous bir...

In this December 26, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts an entertaining trivia session featuring world-famous journalist and author John Gunther, recently returned from Europe. Joined by regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel explores topics ranging from literary heroines known for leaning out of windows to poetic rhymes and historical...

In this December 19, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a vibrant trivia session with Joseph E. Davies, former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union and author of Mission to Moscow, and returning guest Jan Struther, the celebrated author of Mrs. Miniver. Regular panelists Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran join in as the panel navigates questions about political immunity,...

In this December 12, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts an engaging evening with special guest Dr. George N. Shuster, President of Hunter College. Regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant join in to tackle a lively mix of questions about literary animals, famous quotations, and riddles involving paradoxical phrases. Dr. Shuster adds depth to discus...

In this December 5, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a lively and witty trivia session featuring novelist Edna Ferber, author of Saratoga Trunk, and composer Deems Taylor. Regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant join in as the group tackles intriguing topics like famous literary heroes, culinary creations from bouillabaisse to jambalaya, and...

In this November 28, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a lively trivia session featuring Washington correspondents Drew Pearson and Robert Allen, co-authors of Washington Merry-Go-Round. Joined by regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel tackles a variety of topics, from famous literary siblings to musical moments in theater and ope...

In this November 21, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a captivating trivia session featuring Cornelia Otis Skinner, the distinguished actress and writer. Regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant join Skinner in unraveling a variety of questions about historical women who stepped into prominent roles, famous poetic lines, and curious literary ridd...

In this November 7, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman welcomes Douglas Miller, former commercial attaché in Berlin and author of You Can’t Do Business With Hitler. Joining regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel takes on questions about political warnings from history, memorable collaborators who famously didn’t get along, and identifying fl...

In this October 31, 1941, Halloween-themed episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman welcomes two exceptional guests: the legendary comedian Groucho Marx and composer Deems Taylor. Joined by regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel embarks on a lively trivia adventure featuring vaudeville acts, classic musical arias, and Shakespearean mysteries. Marx’s qui...