Friday, August 30, 2013

The Great Gildersleeve - August 30, 1942 - Fishing Trip

When Gildy's doctor recommends that he go on a fishing trip, he loads the family into the car and takes off.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Our Miss Brooks - August 28, 1955 - Audio Visual Experiment

Connie attempts to rent a filmed version of the poem "Lady of the Lake" to show in class, but gets a Marilyn Monroe picture instead.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Dennis Day - August 27, 1947 - The Drama Critic

Dennis is jealous when Mildred begins seeing the director of a play, and tries to get the play to close after its first performance. Dennis sings "Feudin and Fightin".

Monday, August 26, 2013

Fibber McGee & Molly - August 26, 1935 - The McGees Win 79 Wistful Vista

The McGees pass by a new housing development, and win a house in a drawing.

In this seminal episode of the series, the eventual sitcom formula is set up. For the first few months of the show, the McGees had traveled America by car, the better to promote Johnson's Car Wax. Starting with this episode, they're anchored at 79 Wistful Vista, where they would remain for 24 years (and add Johnson's Floor Wax to the mix).

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Jack Paar - August 24, 1947 - Cinderfella

Trudy Erwin sings "Nice Work if You Can Get It". A modern version of Cinderella is presented.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Bob Hope - August 23, 1953 - David Niven

Bob plugs his recent book; Bob and guest David Niven celebrate the history of radio.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Jack Benny - January 22, 1939 - Phil Wants to Quit

Phil is planning to leave Jack to star in his own show; Jack reminisces about appearing with Fred Allen in his vaudeville days. Frank Nelson plays a doctor in a straight fashion.

Our Miss Brooks - August 21, 1949 - Weekend at Crystal Lake

Mrs. Conklin invites Connie to bring Mr. Boynton to the Conklins' cabin on the lake.

My Favorite Husband - August 20, 1948 - Liz Teaches the Samba

Liz teaches the samba to the son of a bigwig at George's bank.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Burns & Allen - August 19, 1940 - George Late for Show

George is late arriving to the show after spending time with a girl who thinks she's going to be his new partner. The Smoothies sing "Madame La Zonga", a song that inspired the film "Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga" the next year.

This episode is during the period where George and Gracie are still doing a "flirtation act", and their characters aren't married.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Jack Paar - August 17, 1947 - Jack Benny

Jack stages a talent contest to find his winter replacement. Will Jack Benny win?
Trudy Erwin sings "Just One of Those Things".

Friday, August 16, 2013

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Jack Benny - December 27, 1942 - Fred Allen

The show is performed at the Vanderbilt Theater in New York, to an audience of servicemen. Benny Goodman and Fred Allen are the guests; Fred plays Uncle Sam in the New Year's Pageant.

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Our Miss Brooks - August 14, 1949 - The English Test

Stretch is giving a party that Connie wants to attend with Mr. Boynton, but he'll only be allowed to give the party if he wins a school English award.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Jack Paar - August 3, 1947 - Buying a House

When talk turns to the possibility of Hawaii becoming a state, Jack and Hy Averback do a routine with Jack as Fred Allen and Hy as a Hawaiian version of Senator Claghorn.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Bob Hope - August 12, 1944 - Somewhere in the South Pacific

Bob Hope brings his show to a naval hospital "somewhere in the South Pacific" (such a nicer phrase than "undisclosed location".) Frances Langford sings "I'll Be Seeing You".

Saturday, August 10, 2013

You Bet Your Life - August 10, 1959

This broadcast from 8/10/59 is a repeat of an earlier episode. By this time, NBC's nighttime radio schedule was all contained under the "Monitor" umbrella, so there's an introduction by Skitch Henderson before the show.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Our Miss Brooks - August 7, 1955 - Cat Burglars

When the Conklins don't want to leave Harriet alone during a rash of buglaries, Connie agrees to stay with her.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Magnificent Montague - August 4, 1951 - $500 Prize

Montague's theater colleague wants him to help raise $500 for the theater fund without any contributions from radio actors, but he doesn't know that Montague has taken a radio job.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Fibber McGee & Molly - January 3, 1950 - At Aunt Sarah's

The McGees stay with Fibber's wealthy Aunt Sarah, who doesn't appreciate his efforts to help in the household.

Friday, August 2, 2013

You Bet Your Life - January 2, 1952

Groucho meets a highway worker and Anna Mahler, daughter of composer Gustav Mahler; also, a dancing teacher and a stevedore.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Jack Benny - January 7, 1945 - First Show with the Vault

Jack prepares for the gang's trip to New York; Larry Stevens sings "Don't Fence Me In".

When Jack realizes he needs $5 for expenses on the trip, he opens his safe. The beginnings of the vault gag are here, with Ed, the guard, and lots of crazy sound effects. The vault gag was also used on television, notably in an episode of "The Lucy Show", but it was a perfect gag for radio, becoming more outrageous over the years.

At the station, Jack has to deal with Frank Nelson at the ticket counter, of course, as well as the racetrack tout (not played by Sheldon Leonard). Mel Blanc's "Anaheim, Azuza and Cucamonga" routine also begins with this show, as the announcer gets more and more frantic when no one will board that train.

This is an Armed Forces Network version of the show.