Retro Old Time Radio

A special presentation and documentary to commenorate the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the Marines who fought it. The actual air date is unknown. Most likely it aired on more than one ocasion. It's earliest possible date is sometime in 1955.   The show is a short and quick one, so there are a few bonus tracks added.   Happy 4th of July.   Bonus Tracks Lucky Millander, vocals by Trevor Bacon. 1942. Are You Ready? Lucky Millander, vocals by Trevor Bacon. 1942. When the Lights Go on All Over the World. Andrews Sisters. 1941. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B. Kate Smith. 1943. God Bless America.  

After an opening song, Colonel Stoopnagel and /Bud talk about sponsers, and observing the stars. After a commercial, and musical interlude, a continuing saga continues to keep Stoopnagel out of the White House. Colonel Stoopnagel is happy to see that his votes are not rolling in, and relieved to be avoiding being elected. A song, Louisanna Hay Ride.  . Afterward, Bud and Stoopnagel talk about various topics including horses, and races. Musical interlude, Begin the Beguine. Fred Allen visits to lend his tallents to the show. They do a spoof of Gangbusters, and relate a crime involving babies. Later Stoopnagel has amateur impersonator Berny Kay to sings a medley of tunes. Then a couple of harmonica players perform. More musical tallent is introduced by Bud and Stoopnagel to include a banjo and accordian version of Hold that Tiger.   As listeners will learn, this is the last week for this Summer replacement show, and Fred Allen will return to his regular slot next week.   Bonus Tracks: None today

A lengthy interview by well known news man, Walter O'Keefe. Discover some of the history of actor and comedian, Alan Young. At the time of this interview he was the star of the television program, Mister Ed. Listeners to the Retro Radio Podcast have heard Alan Young as featured in his own radio program. I would play him more often, but there arn't many of his radio shows out there, and I'm pacing myself.  Originally formatted for a 2 hour broadcast, commercials, and station breaks have been edited out by a previous transcriber. Still it runs about 1 hour, 15 minutes. The format is to interview Alan at the top of the half hour, then go to music from 1947. Walter O'Keefe's interview covers Alan Young's early history, and his early career as a teenager. Also anecdotes of the show biz life, and wierd first jobs that Alan had. In a final segment Alan returns to tell about his musical ability, and some behind the scenes glimpses of his TV show. The show wraps up with a last tune, and Walter signs off with a deep th

Walter Wenchel, Josephine Hutchinson. Emilia Airhart was due to appear tonight, but she hadn't reached her destination yet. Maybe next week? Walter Wenchel, colorful reporter newspaper man, and film star recreates his role about a big city newspaper, big stories, and romance. Josephine Hutchinson plays the part that Joan Bennet played in the film. Walter, as Walter Burns, is a big newspaper editor. His star reporter, Hildie Johnson, makes plans to leave the newsroom and get married. There's just one problem, he stops in at the news desk to say his good byes when a big story breaks. Does he have the will power to walk away? With the pressure on from his fiancee, and his fellow reporters, which path will Hildie choose? His journalistic streak wins out, and he decides to cover the story about the hanging. As the story gets juicier, it gets harder to delay, and pacify the bride to be. When the story explodes to new levels, and Hildie not only captures, but manages to clear the name of the condemned man, he stands

Opening is a little choppy before Don and Jack tease each other about recent New Year's Eve celebrations. Mary and Frank Parker tell about their celebrations with an interuption by a man wanting to sell a bulldog. The bulldog gag, of course runs through the show. Don Besser plays, but it is chopped. Jack introduces the play. Frank sings, but it also is snipped. The play begins. A spoof of the famous story. Jack is arrested, and tossed into a French prison. The audio gets a little choppy and skippyu again. Don's song is snipped, then Jack finds himself still in prison years later. Even the old joke about "hair," from previous episodes shows up. Jack makes his escape with the help of... Schlepperman?  Bonus Tracks: Cab Calloway. 1935. I Ain't Got Nobody. Graham MacNamee. 1940. Interview with Voice Actor, Charlie Cantor

The Johnson Wax Company presents Jim and Marion Jordan, as Fibber McGee and Molly. Today Fibber has somehow been put in charge of the circus, and won the job as human cannonball. Meanwhile, he and Molly tour the midway to see the attractions. One character they encounter is a fast paced talking woman who chats it up with Fibber. The lady is voiced by Molly. The orchestra plays, Hallelujah.  As Fibber and Molly continue to take in the sights, Harlow Wilcox sneaks in the commercial. Mayor Appleton has a few words, and as Fibber takes off to handle circus business Molly tries to talk to the Mayor to get Fibber out of his cannonball job.  Just before Tommy Harris sings, My Last Love Affair, there's a voice actress who does a monotone character. Similar to Wallace Wimple, who doesn't appear on the show for a few more years to come. The character is voiced by Molly. Fibber has his fortune told. Molly does another voice of a gruff sounding woman. That sneaky old Harlow gets in another commercial. Mort Tooks, actuall

Don and Jack talk about gift exchanging this Christmas. They are joined by Frank Black, Mary, and even Don Besser. Jack shows off a little for his dad by playing violin, If I Had a Million Dollars. He talks about his orchestra days in the Barrette theater in Waukegan, and some of the folks he played with. All have gone on to be famous in their fields, whether he really played with them or not. Jack's violin playing is passable, only a deliberate squeak or two. His singing ability isn't so much, and gets booed.  Frank Parker's song is clipped. Jack introduces the night's play, Russia Through a Keyhole. The next number is also snipped. The record gets pretty skippy. Jack is on a quest through Russia, in pursuit of his girlfriend, Mary. Running gags include being refered by Jake. A throw back to the previous week, and to a tallent agent by that name. The recurring joke about hair makes a return.  Bonus Tracks: Phil Harris. 1932. The Vamp. Graham MacNamee delivers a few Letters from Listeners. Bob Howard. 1935. I

Due to spotty preservation, this episode is the only one I can find in this series in the Superman program. Sponsered by Kellogs Pep. The story thus far deals with a flaming meteor that crashed onto a nearby farm. As Clark Kent investigated, he became weak and dizzy. Fearing a doctors exam would reveal his secret identity as Superman, he is reluctant but Perry makes him go anyway. His impervious skin has broken the doctors needle.  Today, he is still in the doctor's office, but manages to get the visit over with. The mysterious word, "Krypton" keeps springing into the mind of Clark. He's certain it holds a clue to his weakness, and the meteor. There's something familiar about that word, 'Krypton,' it has a familiar ring to it, but he can't figure it out. . Back at the Daily Planet, Perry and Lois hound Clark about what he is keeping a secret from them. Are they on to his Superman identity? Lois reveals that a small group of scientists know about a planet named Krypton,m and they are certain that this meteor i

Chase and Sandbourne sponsers a musical show that features Frances Langford as host, and vocalist. Spike Jones shows his serious band leading ability when he provides the musical back up for Frances, but he also gets the chance to shine with his own unique style. Show announcer is Ken Carpenter. These early shows were often in military hospitals where injured soldiers and sailors were recuperating from wounds. Celebrities of the day also appeared on the program, tonight's show features comedian, Charlie Ruggles, and is from the Corona Naval Hospital in California.  Playlist: 1. Sunnyside of the Street. Frances Langford. 2. Frances and Spike exchange words. 3. Laura. Spike Jones. 4. Charlie Ruggles chats with Ken, Frances, and Spike on medical topics. The cast even wrap up with a spoof of Accentuate the Positive. 5. All of My Life. Frances Langford. Frances and Spike chat a little about the hospital ward. 6. Leave the Dishes in the Sink. Vocals by Dell Porter. Spike Jones.  6. Medley that includes: You Must Ha

Through some record skips, Don and Jack joke around about going to the movies. Frank Parker, and Don Besser prove they can jump into the jokes, in a pinch. All that pinching turns into a running gag for the evening. Jack wants to get some new tallent for the show, and has Mary call an agent.   As is typical for these old programs, the music is snipped. After what would have been Don Besser's song, the cast talk about Boston. The new tallent arrives. A man who tells jokes and juggles plates. Jack gives commentary on the plate juggling. More tallent arrives. More pinching jokes.  After Frank Parker's song is snipped, and another from Don Besser, the drama begins. the Rose of the Rio Grande. The cast try out their Spanish accents. Jack is the protective dad. Mary is the daughter who wants to elope with a gringo, Frank Parker. Plenty of humorous butchered dialect. The hair joke shows up again. Don Besser doesn't do dialect, but still gets a laugh. At the big climactic end, Schlepperman makes an appearance, but it

​After some interupted starts to the show by a listening couple who keeps switching off the radio, Stan encounters June Forray as Miss Jupiter. She is slightly disgruntled that she wasn't invited to be in the Miss Universe pageant. With a musical interlude by Peggy Taylor, the classic from the 1930's, Dancing Cheek to Cheek, The radio couple keeps trying to change channels. After a short act from a troop of acrobats, Stan then moves on to a history feature. A telling of Custer's Last stand.   Bonus Track. Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. (from around this same period. Oopsie, I can't remember the artist who sang it.)

The audio is a bit scratchy in spots, it skips in spots, and the musical numbers have been snipped. Other than that, it sounds pretty good. Don teases Jack about his acting ability. The conversation turns to comparing baby pictures. After the snipped number, Jack introduces the play. It's based on a popular movie of the day, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. The play begins after another snipped number. Mary plays a mom with a bunch of kids. She had been abandoned, and tries to tell the kids about their deadbeat dad. In this spoof of a melodrama, running gags try to pop up, the mortgage is due, and the family is about to be tossed out. Things are looking bad, the recording skips, the casc almost stay in character. Finally, the day is saved by Mr. Schlepperman.  To wrap up, Jack talks to an actress, comedian, and impersonator named Mitsy Green. Amazingly, her song, If I had a Million Dollars, didn't get snipped. It makes me wonder about the purpose behind having Mitsy Green on the show. In just over a month, Fr

Archie introduces the shows guest stars, and day dreams about the benefits of getting away from it all to enjoy the great outdoors. Guests are to be movie actress, Rita Hayworth, and big game hunter, Frank Buck. Clark Dennis sings, I Just Kissed Your Picture Goodnight. Frank Buck arrives and the cast talks to him about animals. Rita Hayward shows up, and brings out the animal in Archie. Frank has a similar problem in fending off Miss Duffy.  Bonus Track: Betty Hutton. 1943. Bluebirds in my Bellfrey.

Connie opens by recounting her adventure with nearly falling down an elevator shaft. She tries to tell Mrs. Davis about it, but she's oblivious, as she usually is. Of course, Mr. Conklin is more observant, and a little upset that his rival principal might learn of his secret weapon in the education world, Project X. It doesn't help that his rival recieved all the limelight for being a hero. Connie and Mr. Boynton plan to boost Mr. Conklin's ego, if only they can get away from Project X. Harriot and Walter develop their own plans. In trying to impress, and make Mr. Conklin look good the hero thing gets a little over done. Just how many people need rescuing today?  Bonus Track: The Cheers. 1955. Black Denim Trousers.

Archie is getting ready for a date, while his dad just wants to relax in a nice hot bath. Dad is distracted by a phone call and Archie takes the bathroom. After that, it all seems to fall apart for poor old dad. No more hot water. Strange sounds come from the pipes. As teenager, and parent compete for bathroom priveledges the problems pile up. Will dad ever fix the pipes? Will he ever get his bath? If I told you, it would ruin the fun of listening, and finding out for yourself.  Bonus Track: Count Basey. 1943. Basey Boogie.