Information Please

In this February 21, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes a unique guest: the multilingual baseball player Moe Berg, catcher for the Boston Red Sox and noted scholar. Alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, Berg lends his wit and knowledge to tackle a variety of questions on topics ranging from famous quarrels and romantic pairings in lite...

In this special Valentine’s Day episode of Information Please from February 14, 1939, host Clifton Fadiman celebrates the occasion with a panel featuring humorist Franklin P. Adams, sports expert John Kieran, playwright Russell Crouse, and newcomer Frank Sullivan, author of A Pearl in Every Oyster. Together, they dive into a fun mix of holiday-themed questions, from identifying famous valentines i...

In this February 7, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman brings a fresh twist by inviting University of Michigan student Myron “Mike” Wallace, the future broadcaster known as Mike Wallace, to join the expert panel. Regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant round out the lineup, facing a delightful mix of questions that range from literary figures and nursery rh...

In this January 31, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads a panel featuring two fascinating guests: fashion icon Elizabeth Hawes, author of Fashion is Spinach, and cultural critic Gilbert Seldes. Joined by regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, this star-studded panel tackles questions on topics ranging from outdated fashion trends and famous American presidents to p...

In this January 24, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman moderates a session filled with wit and humor. Joining regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant is General Hugh Johnson, the public servant known for his sharp commentary and strong opinions. Together, the panel faces an array of challenging questions, from constitutional puzzles and literary re...

In this January 17, 1939, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes two unique guests: the witty poet Ogden Nash and renowned historian Hendrik Willem van Loon. Joining regular panelists Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, Nash and van Loon bring a blend of humor and intellectual depth to the evening’s quiz. Together, they tackle a variety of questions, including identifying famo...

In this January 10, 1939, episode of Information Please, the ever-witty Alexander Woollcott returns as a special guest to join Clifton Fadiman and regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant. This intellectual and humorous session tackles an array of topics, from famous nursery rhymes in poker hands to haunting literary quotes, giving the panel a chance to showcase their literary kno...

Kick off the New Year with a lively January 3, 1939, episode of Information Please, where host Clifton Fadiman assembles a distinguished panel including philosopher Irwin Edman, actress and writer Cornelia Otis Skinner, and regular experts Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. This week’s questions challenge the experts to match American and British slang, identify crimes of famous literary character...

Celebrate the holiday season with Information Please in this December 27, 1938, episode, featuring host Clifton Fadiman and special guest William Lyon Phelps, esteemed literary critic and Yale professor. Joined by regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, Phelps brings his signature wit and charm to an evening filled with festive trivia. The panel takes on a holiday-themed music c...

In this November 29, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes novelist Kathleen Norris as a special guest. Joining regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, Oscar Levant, and John Kieran, Norris contributes her wit and literary insight to a lively evening of trivia. The panel takes on a unique range of questions, including interpreting Shakespearean phrases into modern slang,...

In this November 15, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman guides the evening’s lively quiz session, with regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant joined by distinguished foreign correspondent John Gunther, author of Inside Europe and Inside Asia. The experts tackle an eclectic mix of topics, from clever puns and Shakespearean quotes to historical even...

In this November 1, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads an all-star panel through a challenging and varied set of trivia questions. Regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran are joined by day editor Marcus Duffield and bridge expert Oswald Jacoby. Together, they dive into topics ranging from outdated slang and historical events to famous fictional characters and food-r...

In this memorable October 25, 1938, episode of Information Please, the panel of experts is joined by a special guest who brings an entirely new level of entertainment: the silent comedy genius Harpo Marx. Hosted by Clifton Fadiman, the panel features Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Bernard Jaffe, and Oscar Levant, who team up to tackle trivia questions on subjects ranging from classical music to l...

In this October 18, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads an engaging session with a panel that includes columnist Franklin P. Adams, sports expert John Kieran, editor Marcus Duffield, and special guest Gene Tunney, former heavyweight boxing champion and Shakespeare enthusiast. Together, they field questions from listeners that span a diverse array of topics, from Shakesp...

On October 11, 1938, Information Please welcomes the legendary actress Lillian Gish as the guest of honor. Clifton Fadiman moderates as the panel, including regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, dives into trivia covering a diverse array of topics. From memorable Hollywood characters to famous epitaphs and Shakespearean ghostly encounters, the experts must summon their wits to...

In this October 4, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman moderates an intellectually stimulating quiz featuring regular panelists Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. Joining them are two distinguished guests: motion picture editor William Bonell and journalist Dorothy Thompson, whose insight adds depth to the evening’s discussions. This episode explores a wide range of topics, f...

In this special September 27, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman guides a panel of experts through a range of challenging questions, with a touch of glamour added by special guest Basil Rathbone, star of stage and screen. Joining him are the regulars: humorist Franklin P. Adams, sports columnist John Kieran, and musical expert Sigmund Spaeth. Together, they tackle an enterta...

In this September 13, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads a stellar panel of returning experts, including Franklin P. Adams, journalist Marcus Duffield, Oscar Levant, and special guest Percy Waxman from Cosmopolitan magazine. The night’s questions cover an entertaining array of topics, from identifying poems that mention roses to matching songs with famous dances and ev...

In the September 6, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman guides an engaging round of trivia with regular panelists Franklin P. Adams, sports columnist John Kieran, and science writer Bernard Jaffe. This week’s special guest is the lively maestro Ben Bernie, adding his unique humor to the mix. The panel faces challenging questions that range from classic poetry and famous priso...

In the August 30, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman brings another lively session of trivia and laughs. Joining regular panelists Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran are pianist and composer Oscar Levant and special guest Ben Hecht, celebrated playwright and screenwriter. Together, they take on a range of questions that explore classical music inspirations in popular songs, q...

On August 23, 1938, Information Please returns with another entertaining round of intellectual sparring, led by host Clifton Fadiman. Joining him is a panel of knowledgeable newspapermen, including Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Marcus Duffield, and guest Percy Waxman, associate editor of Cosmopolitan magazine. Together, they tackle questions that range from classic limericks and historical feuds...

In this August 9, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman is back and brings his signature charm and intellect to a lively evening of trivia. Joined by columnist Franklin P. Adams, sports expert John Kieran, radio editor Alton Cook, and special guest, writer Alice Duer Miller, the panel tackles an array of clever and unusual questions. From poetry recitations to the history of Am...

In this special August 2, 1938, episode of Information Please, acclaimed playwright George S. Kaufman steps in as host while Clifton Fadiman is away, bringing his sharp humor and wit to the quiz show. Kaufman introduces a lively panel featuring columnist Franklin P. Adams, international affairs expert Quincy Howe, sports columnist John Kieran, and special guest Moss Hart, famed for his theatrical...

In this engaging July 26, 1938, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a lively panel featuring science educator Bernard Jaffe, pianist and composer Oscar Levant, and special guest John Gunther, the renowned foreign correspondent and author of Inside Europe. The experts face a variety of questions that range from astronomy to global politics and even tackle musical trivia along the w...

In this July 19, 1938, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman moderates a lively quiz featuring regulars Marcus Duffield and John Kieran, alongside special guests Ben Hecht, celebrated writer and wit, and Thomas Craven, noted art critic and author. This all-star panel faces a range of questions designed to test their knowledge and wit, from completing classic limericks to identifying...