Information Please

In this October 24, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes music critic and composer Deems Taylor alongside poet and anthologist Louis Untermeyer. Joining regulars John Kieran and Franklin P. Adams, the panel takes on a diverse mix of questions covering everything from naval commands and courtroom phrases to poetic associations with occupations. Taylor’s musical experti...

In this October 17, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by the ever-enigmatic Moe Berg, linguist and former major league catcher known for his intelligence and diverse knowledge. Alongside regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, Berg lends his unique flair to a lively trivia session covering everything from linguistic translations to worl...

In this October 10, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by two renowned guests: the witty novelist Christopher Morley, author of Kitty Foyle, and John T. Flynn, economic commentator and biographer of John D. Rockefeller. Regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran complete the lively panel, tackling a range of questions that mix literary knowledge with clever economi...

In this October 3, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes the esteemed C. Mildred Thompson, Dean of Vassar College and expert in post-Civil War American history. Alongside regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, Thompson brings her depth of knowledge to a session that explores topics from American collegiate customs to famous pseudonyms in li...

In this September 26, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman brings together a fascinating panel featuring renowned author Rex Stout, creator of the Nero Wolfe detective series, and respected literary critic Carl Van Doren. Alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, Stout and Van Doren tackle a mix of historical mysteries and literary challenges that range from coloni...

In this lively September 19, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by bridge expert and games enthusiast P. Hal Sims, alongside regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. The evening’s trivia takes the panel through a whirlwind of topics, from fictional characters who play musical instruments to unique sporting terms and iconic fashion referen...

In this September 12, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads a trivia-filled evening featuring tennis champion Alice Marble and science writer Bernard Jaffe. Alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, the panel dives into questions spanning the worlds of sports, literature, and science, from identifying famous tennis strokes to explaining elemental mixtures. Mar...

In this September 5, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes esteemed news commentator Raymond Gram Swing as the guest of honor, joining regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Together, the panel tackles an engaging array of questions that range from popular songs with distressing titles to historical events marked by exact times and dates. Swing’s in...

In this August 29, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads an evening filled with wit and wordplay. The distinguished guests include Wilfred Funk, lexicographer and publisher, and Rex Stout, famed author of the Nero Wolfe mysteries. Regulars John Kieran and Franklin P. Adams join the fun as the panel takes on questions about hybrid fruits, memorable quotes, and characters i...

In this August 22, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads a fascinating evening of trivia with guest panelist H. Napier Moore, editor of Maclean’s magazine, alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Together, they tackle a range of intriguing questions, from famous first jobs and nursery rhyme origins to identifying musical pieces by sound effect...

In this August 1, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman invites a lively panel featuring regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by special guests Russell Crouse, the celebrated Broadway playwright, and James Kieran, the press secretary to the Mayor of New York and John Kieran’s brother. Together, they tackle quirky and clever questions involving common slang phrases...

In this July 25, 1939, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a lively quiz session featuring Maury Maverick, the outspoken mayor of San Antonio and a defender of American individualism. Joining regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, Maverick brings his colorful personality and knowledge of American history to the panel, sharing the origins of the term “maverick”...

In this exciting July 18, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman brings together an eclectic panel featuring renowned naturalist William Beebe and popular novelist Clarence Budington Kelland. Alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, this episode dives into questions that range from the mysteries of South American piranhas and quirky American slang to memorable scene...

In this July 11, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes Elliott Roosevelt, son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to join the panel of experts. Alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, Roosevelt brings his unique perspective as the team tackles a diverse range of questions, from identifying historical figures by their first names to recallin...

In this special Independence Day episode of Information Please, aired on July 4, 1939, host Clifton Fadiman leads a spirited session with panel regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by guest panelists actress Lillian Gish and journalist Marcus Duffield. Together, they take on an eclectic mix of questions that test their knowledge of literary titles, historical events, and famous movie...

In this June 27, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman invites former Connecticut Governor and esteemed scholar Wilbur Cross to join regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Together, they dive into a series of challenging and entertaining questions, exploring topics from historical literary romances to strategic formations in sports. Cross’s academic...

In this June 13, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes the multi-talented Helen Wills Moody, tennis legend and author, as the evening’s special guest. With regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant on board, the panel tackles an entertaining range of topics, from famous exterminators in folklore to tennis terminology with humorous twists. Moody brings h...

On May 30, 1939, Information Please brings an entertaining mix of wit and trivia as Clifton Fadiman moderates a session with regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Joining them is Stanley Walker, editor of the Philadelphia Public Ledger and author of The Nightclub Era. This episode’s questions explore the depths of nursery rhymes, test the panel’s knowledge of legal te...

In this May 23, 1939, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a spirited trivia session featuring regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by special guests Bernard Jaffe, author of Crucibles, and popular novelist Clarence Budington Kelland. Together, the panel dives into an array of questions, from nostalgic advertising slogans and historical poetry lines to classic America...

In this engaging May 16, 1939, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a lively quiz session with regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Joining them is special guest John P. Marquand, celebrated author of The Late George Apley and creator of the iconic Mr. Moto character. The evening features a delightful array of questions, including the unusual number of pockets...

In this April 25, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes two prestigious guests: Arthur Krock, renowned political journalist, and Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the witty daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. Joined by regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, this panel takes on an array of engaging topics, from identifying American authors’ pseudonyms and historical...

In this April 18, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is joined by the sharp-minded radio commentator H. V. Kaltenborn, along with regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Together, they delve into an array of challenging questions that span historical interruptions, mythical conquests, and linguistic curiosities. The panel faces tricky tasks like i...

In this April 11, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman presents an evening of clever and humorous trivia. This week’s panel features regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by composer and music critic Deems Taylor and journalist Marcus Duffield. Together, they tackle an assortment of quirky questions, from reimagining fairy tales as mystery thrillers to identifying...

In this March 28, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman orchestrates a delightful evening of trivia with regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by the distinguished playwright Moss Hart and Rex Stout, creator of the Nero Wolfe mysteries. Together, the panel tackles a range of entertaining and challenging questions, from completing classic childhood rhymes and identi...

In this March 21, 1939, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman leads a session filled with wit and intellectual challenge, featuring regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. Special guest John Gunther, the acclaimed foreign correspondent and author of Inside Europe, lends his expertise on global affairs and history as the panel tackles topics that range from historical br...