An episode of this series, discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, titled “The Female Ogre” from April 7, 1940. For amazingly complete information on the series, see the Digest…on a personal note, I was a little surprised at the…roughness of the production. While not a terrible series, it did seem a little…er…slapdash around the edges.

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Nick Harris, Detective - The Female Ogre [13:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As recently discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, here is one of the nine surviving episodes of Empire Builders, sponsored by the Great Northern Railroad and according to Elizabeth McLeod’s Documenting Early Radio page, discovered in the mid-1980s in their corporate archives. This episode, “James J. Hill,” aired February 2, 1931.

Our thanks to both Ken Stockinger and Jim Widner for providing the copies of these historical programs for the podcast!

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Empire Builders - James J. Hill [29:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

After listening to Bob Edwards interview Bob Elliott this morning on The Bob Edwards Show on XM Satellite Radio, I was going to post an article talking about the great team of Bob and Ray. But I realized I don’t have to; for those who love Old-Time Radio, Bob and Ray are no strangers, and for those who want to learn more, Bob Edwards has already written a fine article which can serve as an introduction for those few poor enough to never have laughed at this pair.

To hear the interview, hit XM OnLine and sign up for a free sample account and tune to XM channel 133, any time until tomorrow morning at 8:00am eastern, and all weekend long every fifth hour.

I knew I needed something to commemorate the 100th birthday anniversary of Edward R. Murrow, and spent quite a while going through his various reports…but I consistently came back to this program, broadcast on CBS after Murrow’s death on April 27, 1965. I am, honestly, unclear on the broadcast date, as most references list it as being broadcast on April 30, 1965, but at the University of Texas, the Joseph and Shirley Wershba Papers list the date of their recording, on seven-inch reel, as April 29th. This discrepancy may come from there being a version of this documentary broadcast on CBS television. It was also released as a record album on Columbia Special.

No matter, it seemed a little odd to play a tribute after death on the centennial of his birth…yet there isn’t really any other single broadcast to so throughly review his broadcasting career, with obvious respect and affection. The program is narrated by Robert Trout, a legend in his own right, and contains sections from all of the most famous broadcasts; D-Dog, Buchenwald, the case of Milo Radulovich, Senator Joseph McCarthy, and many many more.

We originally received this program from our friend Terry Salomonson of Audio Classics - there are thousands of programs like this one in his catalog. This one is to celebrate the career of the most important broadcast journalist in the history of the medium.

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 This Is Edward R. Murrow - CBS Radio, April 30, 1965 [45:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This episode of the podcast is a personal indulgence. Jack French reported to the Internet OTR Digest this morning that Dennis Crow, the best friend a four-inch-high stuffed bear ever had, and a good friend to the Digest and to my daughter as well, passed away suddenly yesterday, April 20, 2008. Certainly Dennis will be missed by his family, and those of us in the hobby who knew him, but he will be missed most of all right around Thanksgiving, when he gently reminded everyone to begin listening to the story of The Cinnamon Bear, so it would properly end on Christmas Eve. Each year he provided many handouts for devotees of Paddy O’Cinnamon, including maps, lyric sheets, even sheet music.

You can bet that each year, when my family gathers around to listen to the adventures of Judy, Jimmy, Paddy, the Crazy Quilt Dragon, and all of the amazing characters who populate Maybeland, we’ll think of Dennis, and be much obliged to him for everything he’s done over the years to promote the gentle magic of this timeless story.

So please indulge me; even though it’s nowhere near Christmas time, listen with me to the opening story of The Cinnamon Bear, and munch a cinnamon bun in honor of a man who always carried the wonder and joy in his heart.

 The Cinnamon Bear - Episode 1 [16:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jack French of the Metro Washington OTR Club posted a note to the Internet OTR Digest this morning announcing the passing of Dennis Crow, who died suddenly yesterday, April 20. Dennis was a member of the Metro Washington group, as well as SPERDVAC, and was the best friend a four-inch-high brown stuffed bear ever had, bar none.

Not only was Dennis a friend to the Digest, he was a good friend to my daughter as well. Each year, a little before Judy and Jimmy woke up, he would send her something related to The Cinnamon Bear - last year, he sent her a beautiful stuffed Crazy Quilt Dragon she was holding when I checked in on her as she slept Christmas Eve.

Dennis, thank you. I’m going to miss your gentle reminders about when to start The Cinnamon Bear next year, but where ever you are, know that every year when we listen, we’ll be “much obliged to you” for everything you’ve done.

This is specifically for those of us who, because of circumstances, cannot be attending this weekend’s Cincinnati Old-Time Radio and Nostalgia Convention…after all, we should have a little fun, too, shouldn’t we?

I got an early Christmas present not long ago from Jerry Haendiges, of The Vintage Radio Place. He sent some programs, suggesting I “broadcast” some here…thing is, many of the programs he sent I’d never heard, and some I’ve never heard of, even as long as I’ve been in the hobby. So over the next several months I’m going to run some of the shows he sent in low-bandwidth MP3 format - even at 32kbps mono, these shows are some of the best-sounding shows you’ll hear. But remember for even better sound, these shows (and a few bazillion others) may be purchased from Jerry in either audio CD format, or ultra-high-quality MP3 format.

This time we have an episode of Blondie from 1939 - this summer replacement for Eddie Cantor starred Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake as Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, with Bill Goodwin announcing. I chose this as the latest in the “Haendiges Series” because our friend Will Hutchins was television’s Dagwood on the CBS series back in 1968, and Tommy Cook, with whom I appeared in Paul Reversky at 2002’s FOTR Convention (he, he…I always wanted to say something like that!) played Alexander in a much later incarnation of the radio program.

In this episode in the life of Dagwood Bumstead, he disregards the sage advice of his wife Blondie and is talked into purchasing an over-priced, ill-fitting suit. And, of course, every attempt to fix things results in his problems getting worse…until Blondie takes a hand.

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Blondie - Dagwood Buys A New Suit [32:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Today on The Bob Edwards Show is a fascinating interview with Les Paul - you can listen to the show with a free three-day sample-subscription to XM Satellite Radio’s online service at listen.xmradio.com, and you’ll be able to hear the weekend version of this interview (edited for time) at the bobedwards.info website in the Bob Edwards Weekend forum. Now everyone who’s met Mr. Paul has a story to tell about it…this is mine.

A few years ago, Mr. Paul was a guest of the Friends of Old-Time Radio Convention at one of the more…er…eclectic closing performances. He spoke for a bit, answered some pre-set questions, and accepted our applause. After the evening’s performances finally ended, I sought him out…I didn’t take anything for him to sign, I just wanted to thank him for taking the time out of his schedule to visit with us, and frankly I wanted to meet the guy, someone I’d appreciated for pretty much my entire lifetime, and particularly since I learned to play guitar after losing a finger on my left hand. I found him, and did so…while shaking his hand across a table, I held it for just a moment longer than customary (men know what I’m talking about), looked him in the eye and said, “I wonder if a lick will rub off?”

He got a huge grin on his face, grabbed my hand between both of his (they seemed so large to create such a delicate sound), rubbed it between them so I could feel friction heat, and with a soft laugh said, “I sure hope so!”

Alan Bell received this from one of his students, and forwarded it to the Internet OTR Digest - it made me laugh this morning, so I’m sharing it with you.

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

I really screwed up - this was sent to me weeks ago, and ended up being blocked by the spam filters. Better late than never, here is a registration form for those interested in attending the 2008 SPERDVAC Convention (see the flyer for more info).

It’s conveniently in PDF format; most browsers will open it up directly, some will launch Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 SPERDVAC 2008 Convention Registration Form: Download

An episode of this series, discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, titled “A Woman’s Wrath” from May 23, 1939. For amazingly complete information on the series, see the Digest…on a personal note, I was a little surprised at the…roughness of the production. While not a terrible series, it did seem a little…er…slapdash around the edges.

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Nick Harris, Detective - A Woman's Wrath [14:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Again with apologies for being late, here is the 2008 SPERDVAC Convention Flyer - it has most of the information you’ll need to get there and have a great time!

It’s conveniently in PDF format; most browsers will open it up directly, some will launch Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 2008 SPERDVAC Convention Flyer: Download

As recently discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, here is one of the nine surviving episodes of Empire Builders, sponsored by the Great Northern Railroad and according to Elizabeth McLeod’s Documenting Early Radio page, discovered in the mid-1980s in their corporate archives. This episode, “Juaquin Murietta,” aired January 26, 1931.

Our thanks to both Ken Stockinger and Jim Widner for providing the copies of these historical programs for the podcast!

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Empire Builders - Juaquin Murietta [29:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Direct from Bob Burchett, an updated flier on the upcoming Cincinnati’s 22st Annual Old-Time Radio and Nostalgia Convention including the proposed schedule. Check it out!

 Updated Cincinnati Convention Flier With Schedule: Download

An episode of this series, discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, a continuation of the previously-posted episode titled “The Avenging Angel Strikes Again” from February 21, 1934. For amazingly complete information on the series, see the Digest…on a personal note, I was a little surprised at the…roughness of the production. While not a terrible series, it did seem a little…er…slapdash around the edges.

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Nick Harris, Detective - The Avenging Angel Strikes Again [14:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As recently discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, here is one of the nine surviving episodes of Empire Builders, sponsored by the Great Northern Railroad and according to Elizabeth McLeod’s Documenting Early Radio page, discovered in the mid-1980s in their corporate archives. This episode, “Glacier National Park,” aired January 19, 1931.

Our thanks to both Ken Stockinger and Jim Widner for providing the copies of these historical programs for the podcast!

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Empire Builders - Glacier National Park [29:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

An episode of this series, discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, titled “The Avenging Angel” from February 14, 1934. For amazingly complete information on the series, see the Digest…on a personal note, I was a little surprised at the…roughness of the production. While not a terrible series, it did seem a little…er…slapdash around the edges.

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

Edit: Seems the player/download links disappeared for a bit; they’re back now. Any problem in the future, just drop me a line with the button in the sidebar. –cfs3

 Nick Harris, Detective - The Avenging Angel: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Recently on the Internet OTR Digest there was a discussion about the show Can You Top This?, an audience-participation program where the listeners could send in jokes to tell; the panelists would then try to top the laughter level as measured on the meter, which would determine how much money the joke-sender would receive.

Our friend Jim Widner, he of the Radio Days website, provided a collection of episodes he’s acquired from the Net for running on this podcast. This episode is undated and has as its first topic “Barber.”

You may stream the show using the player below, or download it with the link. Remember, by subscribing to this blog with any podcasting client (Juice, iTunes, etc.) the shows will be automatically downloaded to your computer or MP3 player!

 Can You Top This? - First Topic, Barber [28:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As recently discussed on the Internet OTR Digest, here is one of the nine surviving episodes of Empire Builders, sponsored by the Great Northern Railroad and according to Elizabeth McLeod’s Documenting Early Radio page, discovered in the mid-1980s in their corporate archives. This episode, “Montana Snow/Charlie’s Flue,” aired January 12, 1931.

Our thanks to both Ken Stockinger and Jim Widner for providing the copies of these historical programs for the podcast!

 Empire Builders - Montana Snow/Charlie's Flue [29:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Welcome to something of a departure for the podcast, and the perfect example of how somedays it’s really cool being…well…me.

A while ago, I received a webmaster contact form from my website from Craig Rathbun asking about a very specific episode of the Bing Crosby Chesterfield Program, from December 19, 1951 which included Bing reading a poem, “A Korean Christmas Carol,” written by his father. Apparently Der Bingle had provided the family with a disk of the show, but time took its toll on the disk, which was eventually destroyed. Mr, Rathbun asked if I could help him in finding a copy of this program.

Of course, I immediately turned to the folks on the Internet OTR Digest. I was somewhat disheartened to hear from a handful of people who had either the show before it, or the show after it, but not this particular Christmas program. I had just about written off ever finding a copy when I received email from Frank McGurn telling me he not only had a copy, but knew he had recorded it off-air in 1978.

Frank provided me with not only the copy of this program you’re going to hear, but a precise provenance on his recording; it seems that in 1978, Frank had only two sources for Old-Time Radio…one was Chuck Schaden, who was on a number of different radio stations in the Chicago area, and the other a program that originated from a small station in Elgin, IL which, he said, had only enough power to be heard 10 or 12 miles away. The show, “Old Time Radio from the Attic,” was originated by George Barker and taken over at the time of his death in 1978 by a young man out of a community college in the area, who had apparently done some work with Chuck Schaden; a man named Carl Amari. It was from Carl’s program of December 24, 1978 that this recording originated…Frank mentions it is not excellent quality, but it does exist…and in an odd, time-warp sort of way, we have Carl Amari to thank for this podcast.

As I’ve mentioned before, I hate it when the winter holiday season ends, so I hang on to Christmas trees and New Years’ noisemakers much longer than most people do. So I hope you’ll join me in sitting one more time beside the fire, having one more cup of egg nog, and enjoying the music and fun of this program originally broadcast on December 19, 1951 sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes, with guests Trudy Erwin and Lindsey Crosby, and including a poem written by Lt. Col. Dareell T. Rathbun of St. Petersberg, Florida.

 Bing Crosby Chesterfield Program - December 19, 1951 [33:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download