Information Please

In this April 4, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman moderates a captivating session with guests Lyman Bryson, professor and radio broadcaster, and journalist John Gunther, author of Inside Europe. With regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel tackles a variety of challenging topics, from the distinctions among diplomatic titles like ambassador and consul to lite...

In this March 28, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a lively trivia session featuring special guest Elsa Lanchester, the talented actress and Broadway star of They Walk Alone. Alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel explores a wide range of topics, from circus celebrities and literary ships to famous nursery rhymes and mathematical qu...

In this March 21, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads a lively session featuring returning guest Deems Taylor, composer and music critic, and Roland Young, the charming star of Topper Returns. Joining regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel tackles amusing nonsense rhymes, animal trivia, and literary enigmas with wit and humor. Taylor’s musical expertise a...

In this March 14, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a lively and educational session with special guest Claude Wickard, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Joined by regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel dives into a mix of topics, from musical entrance themes to curious agricultural facts about cabbages and crops. Wickard’s expertise adds dep...

In this March 7, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman presents a lively session featuring Notre Dame football legend Elmer F. Layden and author Christopher Morley. Joined by regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel tackles a variety of questions, from identifying famous nicknames for historical and sports figures to discussing memorable quotes from classic poetry....

In this February 28, 1941, episode of Information Please, guest host Deems Taylor steps in for Clifton Fadiman, leading an evening filled with lively trivia alongside celebrated novelist and playwright John O’Hara, known for Pal Joey. Joined by regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel takes on questions that span Pulitzer-winning works, quirky courtroom dramas, and memo...

In this February 21, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman presents an engaging trivia session featuring guest Jo Davidson, the acclaimed sculptor and raconteur known for his works of prominent figures. With regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel takes on a variety of curious questions, from scandalous sculptures that stirred public debate to prove...

In this February 14, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes two esteemed guests: Dr. Henry Noble McCracken, president of Vassar College, and Deems Taylor, renowned composer and music critic. With regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel explores questions that range from literary birds and classical references to American constitutional protections. McCrack...

In this February 7, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a delightful evening with Sir Wilmot Lewis, American correspondent for the London Times, and Jan Struther, beloved author of Mrs. Miniver. Regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran join the conversation as the panel explores questions ranging from the antics of nursery rhyme characters to notable moments in British-Ame...

In this January 31, 1941, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a particularly witty session featuring two literary legends: Alexander Woollcott, known for his biting humor and storytelling prowess, and S. J. Perelman, the celebrated satirist. With regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel tackles an array of clever questions, from identifying famous fictional sidekicks...

In this January 24, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman brings together a fascinating and unusual panel featuring horror legend Boris Karloff, known for his chilling roles in films like Frankenstein, and Lewis Lawes, former warden of Sing Sing Prison and author of Meet the Murderer. With regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel navigates questions from classic Mo...

In this January 17, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman guides an engaging evening with playwright Owen Davis, author of Mr. and Mrs. North. Regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant join Davis as the panel tackles questions about famous actresses known for unique features, curious Dickensian characters, and poetic quotations related to specific times. Davis b...

In this January 10, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads a dynamic panel with two special guests: Kenneth Simpson, New York attorney and Congressman, and Judge James G. Wallace of the New York Court of General Sessions. Together with regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel tackles questions that range from recalling historic headlines to reciting lines of p...

In this January 3, 1941, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes distinguished guests Vincent Sheean, foreign correspondent and author of Not Peace, But a Sword, and composer Deems Taylor, known for his contributions to Fantasia. Joining regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel tackles engaging questions that span literary costume descriptions, Mediterranean geogr...

In this December 27, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by special guest Walter D. Edmonds, the celebrated author of Drums Along the Mohawk. Regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant round out the panel as they tackle a mix of questions ranging from nursery rhymes that list the days of the week to heroic rides in history and literature. Edmonds brin...

In this festive December 20, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes American novelist Louis Bromfield, author of Night in Bombay, and distinguished British actor Herbert Marshall. Regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran join them as the panel navigates a lively range of questions, from historical jinxes and Shakespearean melancholy to the poetic appeal of nursery rhy...

In this December 13, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes esteemed Harvard anthropologist Earnest Albert Hooton, author of Why Men Behave Like Apes and Vice Versa. With regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel tackles a diverse set of trivia questions, covering everything from animal terminology to famous literary journeys. Hooton’s anthrop...

In this December 6, 1940, episode of Information Please, guest host Clifton Fadiman welcomes two special guests: Jan Struther, the delightful British author of Mrs. Miniver, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Elmer Rice. Joining regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel dives into an array of entertaining questions, from deciphering remedies in Mother Goose rhymes to recalling Shake...

In this November 29, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by guest Leon Henderson, economist and member of the National Defense Advisory Commission. With regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the evening’s questions span sports clichés, famous football plays, and memorable literary quotes. Henderson’s sharp intellect and the panel’s live...

In this November 22, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes the notable guests Lewis Lawes, famed warden of Sing Sing Prison and author of Meet the Murderer, and composer Deems Taylor, known for his musical work on Fantasia. Regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran join them as the panel takes on questions ranging from legendary criminal profiles to famous song lyrics...

In this November 15, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes the quick-witted comedian Fred Allen, joining regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Sponsored for the first time by Lucky Strike, the show introduces enhanced prizes and a fresh, lively atmosphere as the panel tackles clever questions, from transforming classic poetry into popular song lyri...

In this November 5, 1940, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a special election night broadcast with guest Christopher Morley, the beloved author of Kitty Foyle and a frequent visitor to the program. Joined by regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel navigates a wide range of questions that include curious plural forms, famous proposals in literature,...

In this October 29, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by special guest John Mason Brown, the insightful dramatic critic of the New York Post and author of Broadway in Review. With regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, the panel takes on a variety of intriguing questions, including famous poetic rhymes, iconic phrases in literature, and histori...

In this October 22, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads an enlightening and humorous session with two esteemed guests: Herbert Bayard Swope, celebrated journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and Deems Taylor, renowned composer and music critic. Alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel tackles a fascinating array of topics, from famous lite...

In this October 15, 1940, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by historian Louis Hacker, author of The Triumph of American Capitalism, along with regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Together, the panel faces a mix of intellectual challenges, from reciting lines about coy mistresses in poetry to explaining the curious origins of early American “wildc...