| Turn back the clock a few decades to a time | | | | |
| when fresh milk was still delivered to the | | | | What happened to all of those wonderful old |
| doorstep's of the nation in glass bottles, | | | | time radio shows and why would anyone want to |
| when sliced bread was a recent innovation and | | | | listen to these shows today? |
| when pop-up toasters were the height of | | | | |
| sophistication ... back to when times were | | | | It's been over 70 years since Amos n' Andy |
| simple ... | | | | hit the airwaves, nearly 50 years since |
| | | | Fibber McGee's junk-filled closet crashed |
| ...there was old-time-radio. | | | | down on anyone that happened to open the |
| | | | door, and over 40 years since Johnny Dollar |
| Of course, we call it "old-time-radio" today | | | | filed his final expenses claim, so why would |
| but back in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, radio was | | | | anyone want to listen to decades-old radio |
| the newest, most popular and powerful medium | | | | shows when we have literally hundreds of TV |
| around. Radio was to the 1930s what the | | | | and cable channels to choose from, and an |
| Internet was to the 1990s. | | | | endless selection of movies on the big |
| | | | screen, not to mention online entertainment |
| The years between 1959 and 1962 are often | | | | with all its interactive bells and whistles? |
| referred to as the Golden Age of Radio -- and | | | | |
| radio programs that were broadcast during | | | | One of the primary reasons is nostalgia for |
| that period had significantly more variety | | | | the "Good Old Days". Old-time-radio shows |
| than radio programming today. | | | | enable listeners to take a pleasant stroll |
| | | | down memory lane to when times were simple. |
| The shows captured the hearts and | | | | For the older generations it brings back |
| imaginations of Americans from coast to | | | | memories of when they were younger, and for |
| coast. It was a time when families would | | | | todays youngsters it provides a wonderful |
| gather 'round the radio in the living room -- | | | | insight into just how much lives have changed |
| that "magic box" that had the mysterious | | | | over the years. |
| power to snatch laughter, tears, drama, | | | | |
| thrills and adventure out of the air and | | | | Another reason why the old time radio shows |
| bring it into our homes. | | | | are seeing a renaissance is the amazing |
| | | | variety of shows that were recorded during |
| The Golden Age of Radio started in 1929 with | | | | radio's golden period. There are thousands of |
| the debut of radio shows like The Goldbergs, | | | | old time-radio programs to appeal to every |
| True Detective Mysteries, National Farm and | | | | taste, mood and age group, covering |
| Home Hour, and the Rudy Vallee Show. It | | | | everything from surreal comedy through to |
| continued through into the 1930s when shows | | | | spine tingling thrillers. |
| like Fibber McGee and Molly, Lux Radio | | | | |
| Theater, The Aldrich Family, Bob Hope, and | | | | Finally, there an ever increasing desire for |
| the Al Jolson Show hit the airwaves. | | | | wholesome entertainment. Old-time-radio shows |
| | | | offer a refreshing respite from the |
| By the 1940s radio broadcasting was in full | | | | vulgarities, profanities, sex and violence |
| flow. Shows like Abbott and Costello, Escape, | | | | that punctuate modern-day TV, movies and |
| Suspense, This is Your FBI, the Judy Canova | | | | other forms of entertainment. |
| Show, You Bet Your Life, and The Adventures | | | | |
| of Phillip Marlow dominated the airwaves | | | | Fortunately, over the years many people have |
| | | | collected and restored these old shows so |
| By the time the 1950s came around radio had a | | | | that they can be enjoyed again as much by |
| serious competitor in the form of television, | | | | older listeners as a new generation coming to |
| but many high quality shows could be heard | | | | them for the first time. Ironically, it was |
| every night of the week. Gusnmoke, Dimension | | | | the growth in popularity of a brand new |
| X, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Dr. Kildare | | | | technological medium, the Internet, that |
| and The Sixty-Four Dollar Question were heard | | | | really helped to make these classic radio |
| by countless millions. | | | | shows available to a wider audience. |
| | | | |
| As the 1950s came to a close the glory years | | | | So, whether it is for nostalgia reasons, for |
| of radio were coming to an end. In September | | | | wholesomeness, or just for plain |
| 1962 the last episodes of Suspense and Yours | | | | entertainment value, old-time radio shows are |
| Truly, Johnny Dollar were broadcast. It was | | | | becoming an increasingly popular alternative |
| the end of a glorious era. An era that | | | | to today's mainstream media and one that is |
| exploded into the public consciousness in the | | | | well worth checking out whether you're 9 or |
| 1920s, but had finally been cast aside in | | | | 90. |
| favor of the new visual medium of television. | | | | |