Here are the first and final broadcasts of some of the most popular radio series of all time. Including the First Jack Benny Program, Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve and Suspense and the final broadcasts of The Charlie McCarthy Show, The Fred Allen Show, The Jack Benny Program and Fibber McGee and Molly.
RADIO’S FAMOUS FIRSTS Milestone first broadcasts from the Golden Age of Radio: CANADA DRY PROGRAM STARRING JACK BENNY (5-2-32) Jack’s first appearance on the air in a program of his own; FIBBER McGEE AND MOLLY (4-16-35) Jim and Marian Jordan in the first program of their series; GREAT GILDERSLEEVE (8-31-41) Harold Peary stars in the first show of his own series as Gildy, who moves from Wistful Vista to Summerfield to care for his orphaned niece and nephew; SUSPENSE (6-17-42) Charlie Ruggles stars in “The Burning Court,” the first program in the long-running series.
RADIO’S FAMOUS LASTS Milestone final broadcasts from the Golden Age of Radio: CHARLIE McCARTHY SHOW (12-26-48) Edgar Bergen and friends in the last show for NBC and their long-running sponsor Chase and Sanborn; FRED ALLEN (6-26-49) After a 16-year broadcast career, it’s Fred’s last program in a series of his own; FIBBER McGEE AND MOLLY (5-23-50) Final broadcast for the McGee’s original sponsor, Johnson’s Wax; JACK BENNY PROGRAM (5-22-55) Jack wraps up a 23 year radio career before moving exclusively to TV.