Category Archives: Comedy
Charlie McCarthy Premiers on Royal Gelatin Hour
Seventy seven years ago, on Dec 17, 1936, Edgar Bergen brought his companion, Charlie McCarthy, to the radio waves for the first time. The show was The Royal Gelatin Hour hosted and directed by Rudy Vallee. Better known as The … Continue reading
Bumbling Humor and The Great Gildersleeve
The Great Gildersleeve premiered on August 31, 1941 on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) radio network. Sponsored by Kraft Foods, the show was actually a spin-off of another popular series, Fibber McGee and Molly. Throckmorton Philharmonic Gildersleeve, or Gildy as … Continue reading
Say The Magic Woid
Radio wasn’t always kind to Julius Marx. Better known to the world as Groucho, Julius and his brothers were pushed into show business by their mother, Minnie Marx, who hoped her sons would find their fortune like their uncle Al … Continue reading
Christmas in Wistful Vista: Part 4
Skipping down Christmas Nostaliga Lane we return to our favorite old time radio comedy, Fibber McGee and Molly: On Christmas Eve 1946 becomes special; it is one of the few times the show is broadcast on Christmas Eve. Teeny, the young girl … Continue reading
Christmas in Wistful Vista: Part 3
In our continuing journey down Christmas Nostaliga Lane from last year with our favorite old time radio comedy, Fibber McGee and Molly: In Christmas Radio Show episode from 1941, Fibber is determined not to spend money on a Christmas tree, so on Dec … Continue reading
Great Gildersleeve Christmas: Part 2
The Great Gildersleeve was one of the first households in broadcasting to feature a nontraditional family- two children being raised by an uncle with no father of mother. This doesn’t make Christmas any less special. Christmas Day, 1946 would fall … Continue reading
Fibber McGee and Molly’s Beulah: A Female African American Role on Radio played by a White Man
Beulah first appears at 79 Wistful Vista on Jan 25, 1944. At her first utterances there are peals of laughter from the studio audience, almost before she has said anything funny. Fibber McGee and Molly hire Beulah for one day … Continue reading
Eddy Bracken Old Time Radio
Eddy Bracken was one of those actors who never seemed to have a huge success, but had an enjoyable life and career. Born in 1915, by age 9 he was appearing in Vaudeville. He appeared in “Kiddie Troupers”, a series … Continue reading
“The Mouse That Jack Built” – Jack Benny in Looney Tunes Animation
Old Time Radio believes it appeals to a “Nostalgia Market”, which sadly often means that the market will dry up once the generation that remembers when the programs were broadcast moves on. Fortunately, a growing number of enthusiasts are joining … Continue reading
Happy Birthday Lucy: Lucille Ball turns 100 years old!
August 6th, 2011, will be comedienne Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday and we had to celebrate this auspicious anniversary. For decades, when ever the term “comedienne” comes up, the first image that comes to mind is Lucy. Born Lucille Desiree Ball to … Continue reading