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Winter 2026 Program Highlights
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
RADIO TO ADDRESS CARDS BY
HOPALONG CASSIDY (1950) “The Santa Claus Rustlers” starring William Boyd, with Andy Clyde as California Carlson. Hoppy and California are heading home for the holidays when they stop at a ranch in Phoenix where cattle have been disappearing mysteriously. Syndicated. (28 min)
BIG SHOW (12-23-51) Mistress of ceremonies Tallulah Bankhead welcomes guests Milton Berle, Robert Merrill, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Margaret Truman, Alec Templeton, Meredith Willson and the Orchestra, who play “Jing-a-Ling.” Berle and Bankhead perform a dramatic sketch, “Christmas Present”; Margaret sings “O Leave Your Sheep.” AFRS rebroadcast. (31 min and 29 min)
BOB AND RAY (12-24-59) It’s a Christmas party, as Bob and Ray decorate the tree and sing carols with Wally Ballou, Mary McGoon and Webley Webster. CBS. (14 min)
SUSPENSE (12-13-55) “A Present for Benny” starring Jack Kruschen in “a story of Christmas shopping and a present that went astray.” A mobster’s girlfriend wants a mink coat for Christmas. Cast: Stacy Harris, Eve McVeagh, Benny Rubin, Junius Matthews, Joe Kearns. Sustaining, CBS. (30 min)
FIBBER McGEE AND MOLLY (12-20-49) Jim and Marian Jordan star, with Gale Gordon as Mayor LaTrvia, Bill Thompson as the Old Timer, Dick LeGrand as Ole, Cliff Arquette as Bessie, Herb Vigran as Herbert, announcer Harlow Wilcox, the King’s Men, Billy Mills and the Orchestra. Fibber makes plans to decorate the house for the holidays. Johnson’s Wax, NBC. (29 min)
PLUS: We’ll salute the great Dick Van Dyke on the occasion of his 100th birthday, with samples of his radio and stage career. Don’t miss it!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
RADIO TO WRAP, BAKE AND DECORATE BY
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (12-25-38) WIth Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Kenny Baker, Don Wilson, Harry Baldwin, Andy Devine and guest Joan Bennett. It’s Christmas Day and Jack is preparing to host an open house for his cast. Jell-O, NBC. (30 min)
RICHARD DIAMOND, PRIVATE DETECTIVE (12-24-49) Dick Powell stars as Diamond, with Ed Begley as Lt. Walt Levinson, Wilms Herbert as Sgt. Otis, Virginia Gregg as Helen Asher. Diamond tells his favorite story, “A Christmas Carol,” featuring Walt as Ebeneezer Scrooge, Otis as Jacob Marley and Helen as Mrs. Crachit. Cast includes Sidney Miller. Sustaining, NBC. (27 min)
OLD-TIME RADIO CHRISTMAS CAROL (12-22-90) A special play written and performed by Ken Alexander, produced by Brian Johnson, about an old man who believes in Christmas... but not in old-time radio. (18 min)
BOB AND RAY (12-25-59) For their Christmas Day broadcast, Bob and Ray present a special episode of “One Fella’s Family,” with guest appearances by Wally Ballou, Capt. Wolf Larsen. Webley Webster, The McBeebee Twins and other members of the show’s cast. Sustaining, CBS. (15 min)
BING CROSBY SHOW (12-20-50) With announcer Ken Carpenter, John Scott Trotter and the Orchestra, Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires and Bing’s wife Dixie Lee and their sons, Gary, Phillip, Dennis and Lindsay. Bing sings “Adeste Fidelis” and prepares to play Santa Claus for the boys. Chesterfield Cigarettes, CBS. (28 min)
CAVALCADE OF AMERICA (12-25-44) “America For Christmas,” starring Walter Huston, with songs written by Woody Guthrie and Earl Robinson and performed by the Sportsmen Quartet. As a group of U.S. servicemen celebrate Christmas on a small island in the Pacific, a USO troupe joins them for a Christmas show about America. DuPont, NBC. (30 min)
PHIL HARRIS-ALICE FAYE SHOW (12-19-48) With Elliott Lewis as Remley, Walter Tetley as Julius, Robert North as Willie, Jeanine Roose and Anne Whitfield as the Harris daughters, announcer Bill Forman and special guest Jack Benny. Phil must find someone to play Santa Claus for his daughters on Christmas Eve. Rexall, NBC. (30 min)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27
SEASON’S GREETINGS!
PHIL HARRIS-ALICE FAYE SHOW (12-26-48) With Elliott Lewis, Walter Tetley, Gale Gordon as Mr. Scott. It’s the day after Christmas and Phil is upset that he hasn’t received a gift from his sponsor. Rexall, NBC. (29 min)
THEATER GUILD ON THE AIR (12-24-50) “David Copperfield” starring Richard Burton, Boris Karloff, Flora Robson, Hugh Williams and Cyril Ritchard in a radio adaptation of the famous story by Charles Dickens, about a young man’s journey from boyhood to adulthood in 19th Century England. Roger Pryor hosts. U.S. Steel, NBC. (25 min and 35 min)
LIFE OF RILEY (12-27-47) William Bendix stars as Chester Riley, with Paula Winslowe as Peg, Tommy Cook as Junior, Barbara Eiler as Babs, John Brown as Jim Gillis and Digby O’Dell. In a flashback to the previous week, the family agrees to pool their money and buy a Christmas gift that all of them can use. Announcer is Ken Niles. Prell, NBC. (29 min)
WORDS AT WAR (12-26-44) “Scapegoats of History” is “a play in the Christmas spirit,” narrated by Bernard Lenrow. At a time of World War, this play explores examples of bigotry and persecution dating back to the birth of Jesus. Sustaining, NBC. (29 min)
LIFE WITH LUIGI (12-27-49) J. Carroll Naish stars as Luigi Basco, with Alan Reed as Pasquale, Jody Gilbert as Rosa, Hans Conried as Schultz, Mary Shipp as Miss Spaulding, Joe Forte as Horowitz, Ken Peters as Olsen. Luigi wants to telephone his mother in Italy on New Year’s Eve but doesn’t have the money to pay for the call. Sustaining, CBS. (30 min)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3
PATTY, MAXENE, LAVERNE… AND DANA
BOB HOPE SHOW (1-2-45) Broadcast from the Yuma Army Air Field in Yuma, Arizona, with Jerry Colonna, Frances Langford, Skinnay Ennis and the Orchestra, Barbara Jo Allen as Vera Vague and guests the Andrews Sisters, who sing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and join Bob for a Western sketch. Pepsodent, NBC. (29 min) Read the article about the Andrews Sisters in the Winter 2026 issue of Nostalgia Digest.
CAVALCADE OF AMERICA (5-14-45) “Weather is a Weapon” starring Dana Andrews as a weather forecaster in Greenland who is sent to Europe to help plan the counterattack for the Battle of the Bulge. Cast includes Ken Christy. DuPont, NBC. (30 min)
N-K MUSICAL SHOWROOM (10-31-45) Starring the Andrews Sisters, Curt Massey, Vic Schoen and the Orchestra and guest Jane Cowl, who presents a scene from the play Smilin’ Through. The Sisters sing “Did You Ever Get That Feeling in the Moonlight?”, “Down in the Valley” and others. Nash-Kelvinator, CBS. (29 min)
LUX RADIO THEATER (2-8-55) "The War of the Worlds" starring Dana Andrews and Pat Crowley in a radio adaptation of the 1953 film, about a Martian invasion of Earth. Irving Cummings hosts, with Les Tremayne, Herb Butterfield, Paul Frees, Bill Bouchey, Parley Baer, Howard McNear. Announcer is Ken Carpenter. Lux Soap, NBC. (21 min & 17 min & 22 min)
ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW (4-26-45) With Sidney Fields, Cliff Nazarro, Connie Haines, WIll Osborne and the Orchestra, announcer Ken Niles and guests The Andrews Sisters, who sing “I’m Beginning to See the Light.” Bud and Lou plan to appear in the Sisters’ new film. Camel Cigarettes, NBC. (29 min)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10
ADVENTURES OF MAISIE (11-2-50) Ann Sother stars as Maisie Revere, the character she played in the MGM film series. Maisie is taking the census in a small mountain town when she learns the residents are getting bilked by a phony screen-test racket. Cast: Will Wright, Bea Benaderet, Sammie Hill, Peter Leeds, Robert Cole, Gerald Mohr. Syndicated. (28 min)
SUSPENSE (3-24-57) “Shooting Star” starring June Lockhart as an actress who plans revenge on the studio boss who refuses to renew her contract. With Ellen Morgan, Joe DeSantis, Shepard Menken, Dick Crenna, Hans Conried. Sustaining, CBS. (26 min)
CHARLIE McCARTHY SHOW (10-19-47) Broadcasting from Occidental College in Los Angeles, with announcer Ken Carpenter, Ray Noble and the Orchestra, Anita Gordon, Pat Patrick as Ercil Twing, Hans Conried and guest Jane Wyman, who plays a nurse in a hospital sketch. Bergen tells Charlie the story of “Aladdin.” Chase and Sanborn, NBC. (30 min)
MERCURY THEATER ON THE AIR (9-25-38) “Sherlock Holmes” starring Orson Welles in a radio adaptation of the stage play inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective. Holmes must match wits with Professor Moriarty while trying to obtain a packet of letters. Cast includes Ray Collins as Watson, Mary Taylor, Brenda Forbes, Edgar Barrier, Eustace Wyatt, Morgan Farley, Alfred Shirley, William Allen, Arthur Anderson. Frank Gallop announces. Sustaining, CBS. (34 min and 20 min)
EDDIE CANTOR SHOW (6-8-48) With announcer Harry von Zell, Billie Burke, Sara Berner, Cookie Fairchild and the Orchestra and guests Michael Redgrave and Al Jolson. Eddie decides to sell his house to Michael; later, Jolson sings “The Anniversary Song.” Pabst, NBC. (30 min)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17
MURDER AT MIDNIGHT (9-20-46) “The Line is Dead” starring Raymond Edward Johnson and Betty Caine. After a man is almost buried alive by mistake, he arranges to have a telephone put in his casket in case it happens again. With Raymond Morgan, Lon Clark, Will Geer, Maurice Franklin. Syndicated. (25 min)
DUFFY’S TAVERN (5-26-48) Ed Gardner stars as Archie the manager, with Eddie Green as Eddie, Charlie Cantor as Clifton Finnegan, Sandra Gould as Miss Duffy and guest Rex Harrison. Archie's hoping to get married and asks Rex for some advice. Bristol-Myers, NBC. (30 min)
EDWARD R. MURROW AND THE NEWS (2-13-50) The renowned journalist presents news about the current coal strike, a recent Supreme Court decision and Senator McCarthy's charges of Communists in the U.S. government. Franco-American, CBS. (14 min)
MY FAVORITE HUSBAND (9-30-49) Lucille Ball and Richard Denning star as Liz and George Cooper, with Bea Benaderet as Iris Atterbury. Liz is elected treasurer of her women’s club. Cast includes Elvia Allman, Hans Conried, Frank Nelson. Jell-O, CBS. (30 min)
GREAT SCENES FROM GREAT PLAYS (1-7-49) “The Citadel” starring Walter Pidgeon in a radio adaptation of the story by A.J. Cronin, about an idealistic young doctor who leaves tuberculosis research to go into private practice. National Council of Protestant Episcopal Churches, Syndicated. (29 min) Read the article about Walter Pidgeon in the Winter 2026 issue of Nostalgia Digest.
COMMAND PERFORMANCE #26 (recorded 8-11-42) Walter Pidgeon is master of ceremonies, with announcer Don Wilson, The Mills Brothers, Barbara Jo Allen as Vera Vague, Johnny Weissmuller, The Merry Macs, Mary Martin and Marlene Dietrich, who plays a carhop in a sketch, with Pidgeon as her would-be suitor. AFRS. (29 min)
FRONTIER GENTLEMAN (6-15-58) “The Well,” starring John Dehner as J.B. Kendall, reporter for the London Times. Kendall is in Wyoming when he happens upon a dispute between a homesteader and a group of cattlemen. Cast: Virginia Gregg, Vic Perrin, Lawrence Dobkin, Jack Kruschen, Harry Bartell. Announcer is Dan Cubberly. Sustaining, CBS. (25 min)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24
ON THE AIR... MAIL
NICK CARTER, MASTER DETECTIVE (8-26-45) “The Case of the Vanishing Postman” starring Lon Clark as Nick, with Charlotte Manson as Patsy. Nick and Patsy discover a mystery when they find a mail bag that had been missing for seven years. Ken Powell announces. Lin-X, MBS. (29 min)
CLAUDIA (5-24-48) An isolated episode of the series, starring Katharine Bard as Claudia, Paul Crabtree as David. Claudia receives a mysterious letter. Coca-Cola, Syndicated. (14 min)
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DENNIS DAY (1-21-48) With Barbara Eiler as Mildred Anderson, Dink Trout and Bea Benaderet as Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, John Brown, Frank Nelson. Dennis is offered a job with the postal service. Colgate-Palmolive, NBC. (30 min)
DRAGNET (5-24-51) “The Big Mail Man” starring Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, Barton Yarborough as Sgt. Ben Romero. The police work with postal authorities to track down a mail thief. Cast includes Herb Butterfield, Jack Kruschen, Barney Phillips, Sam Edwards. Fatima Cigarettes, NBC. (28 min)
VIC AND SADE (6-9-41) With Art van Harvey as Vic, Bernardine Flynn as Sade, Bill Idelson as Rush. When Sade receives a letter from her niece Euncie, Rush admits to Vic that it’s part of a plot. Crisco, NBC. (14 min)
FIBBER McGEE AND MOLLY (1-14-47) Jim and Marian Jordan star as the McGees, with Arthur Q. Bryan as Doc Gamble, Bill Thompson as Wallace Wimple, announcer Harlow Wilcox, The King’s Men, Billy Mills and the Orchestra. McGee must go out in the snow to pick up a package at the post office. Johnson’s Wax, NBC. (29 min)
SUSPENSE (2-1-51) “Fragile: Contents Death” starring Paul Douglas in “a story of tension and heroism in the post office.” When a postmaster learns that someone has mailed a time bomb, he must go through all of the packages in his facility to find it. With Joseph Kearns, Lou Merrill, Howard McNear. Harlow Wilcox announces. Auto-Lite, CBS. (30 min)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
MY FRIEND IRMA (3-15-48) Marie WIlson stars as Irma Peterson, with Cathy Lewis as Jane, John Brown as Al, Hans Conried as Prof. Kropotkin. Jane is expecting a call from her boss and goes to the telephone company to get a dedicated phone line. Spry, CBS. (29 min)
HALLMARK PLAYHOUSE (3-24-49) “Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshall” starring Richard Conte in a radio adaptation of Stewart Lake’s biography about the legendary lawman. Cast includes Gerald Mohr; James Hilton hosts. Hallmark Cards, CBS. (30 min) Read the article about Richard Conte in the Winter 2026 issue of Nostalgia Digest.
HENRY MORGAN SHOW (4-18-50) It’s “Radio’s Bad Boy,” with Arnold Stang, Minerva Pious, Art Carney, the Billy Williams Quartet, announcer Ed Herlihy. Morgan interviews the famous swimmer “Buster” Carney and later parodies British radio. Sustaining, NBC. (29 min)
THEATRE GUILD ON THE AIR (2-24-46) “Dead End” starring Richard Conte, Alan Baxter and Joan Tetzel in a radio adaptation of the 1935 play. In a New York City slum, an architect and a gangster offer competing visions for a group of tough children. With Ann Thomas, Agnes Young, Anne Burr, Danny Leone, Arnold Stang, Harold Stone. Lawrence Langer hosts. U.S. Steel, ABC. (26 min and 34 min)
MELODY HOUR (1-31-49) Buddy Clark stars, with Ted Dale and the Orchestra and guest Dinah Shore, who sings “The Memphis Blues” and joins Buddy for a duet on “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” AFRS rebroadcast. (30 min)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (4-23-44) Broadcasting from Vancouver, Canada, for the Sixth War Loan Drive, with Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Dennis Day, Don Wilson, John Brown, Sara Berner. It’s Dennis Day's last show before joining the Navy and Jack offers to sell him his old uniform. Grape-Nuts, NBC. (30 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (4-30-44) Broadcasting from the Puget Sound Navy Yard near Seattle, with Mary, Phil, Rochester, Don, John Brown, Sara Berner and guest Dick Haymes, who sings “I Love You.” The cast talks about their boat trip from Vancouver and Phil’s new baby. AFRS rebroadcast. (30 min)
COMMAND PERFORMANCE #125 (recorded 6-17-44) Jack Benny is master of ceremonies, with Bing Crosby, Georgia Gibbs, Harpo Marx, Gary Cooper, Ann Miller, announcer Ken Carpenter. Jack wants to hire Bing as Dennis Day’s replacement; later, Harpo appears with Cooper as his “interpreter.” AFRS. (29 min)
PHILCO RADIO TIME (3-3-48) Bing Crosby stars, with announcer Ken Carpenter, The Rhythmaires, Sara Berner, John Scott Trotter and the Orchestra, and guests Jack Benny and Tom Brenneman. Jack comes to Bing with a complaint. Philco, ABC. (30 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (5-7-44) From the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island, WA, with Mary, Phil, Don, Rochester, Sara Berner and guest Dick Haymes. Jack asks Dick to join the cast; later, the cast tells the story of the Wright Brothers. Grape Nuts, NBC. (29 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (5-14-44) Broadcasting from Camp Adair in Oregon, with Mary, Don, Phil, Rochester, John Brown, Sara Berner. Guest is Pfc. Luther Balliet, who sings “A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening.” Mary recalls when the cast joined the infantry for a twenty-mile hike. AFRS rebroadcast. (30 min)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (5-21-44) With Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Don Wilson, Butterfly McQueen, Frank Nelson, Mel Blanc, John Brown. The cast is home after a five-week tour and meets at Jack’s house to rehearse, where Don suggests that Jack might have a split personality. Grape-Nuts, NBC. (30 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (5-28-44) With Mary, Phil, Rochester, Don, John Brown, Frank Nelson and guest Danny Kaye. Jack and Mary go to Warner Bros. studios and run into Danny, who sings “Stanislavski.” Grape-Nuts, NBC. (30 min)
SUSPENSE (2-2-53) “Plan X,” starring Jack Benny, with John McIntire, Joseph Kearns, Mary Jane Croft, William Conrad, Howard McNear, Stuffy Singer. In the year 2053, a mild-mannered Martian is assigned to greet an “invasion rocket” from the planet Earth. Harlow Wilcox announces. Auto-Lite, CBS. (30 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (6-4-44) It’s the last show of the season, and the cast talk about their plans for the summer. With Phil, Don, Rochester, Mel Blanc. Grape-Nuts, NBC. (30 min)
KOLLEGE OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE (8-16-44) Phil Harris substitutes for host Kay Kyser in this broadcast for servicemen in San Luis Obispo, CA, with Ish Kabibble (Merwyn Bogue), announcer Bill Forman and guests The King Sisters, who sing “I’ll Walk Alone.” The band plays “Together,” “Fellow on a Furlough” and others. AFRS rebroadcast. (29 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (10-1-44) With Mary, Phil, Rochester, Don Wilson, Joseph Kearns and guest Fred Allen. It’s the first show of the season and Jack gets a call to meet with his new sponsor. AFRS rebroadcast. (30 min)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (10-8-44) With Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Don Wilson, Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson, Sara Berner, Bea Benaderet and guest Frank Sinatra. Jack wants to hire Frank to sing on his show. Lucky Strike, NBC. (27 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (10-15-44) From the Army Air Base at Gardner Field near Taft, California, with Mary, Phil, Rochester, Wally Maher, Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson and guest John Charles Thomas, who sings “When My Boy Comes Home” and “Nelly Gray.” Mary tells the story of how Jack tried to hire Thomas as Dennis Day’s replacement. AFRS rebroadcast. (30 min)
KRAFT MUSIC HALL (12-9-48) Al Jolson stars, with Oscar Levant, announcer Ken Carpenter, Lou Bring and the Orchestra and guest Dennis Day, who sings “Clancy Lowered the Boom.” Al sings “Ma, She’s Making Eyes at Me,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “How Beautiful” and others. Kraft, NBC. (30 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (10-22-44) With Mary, Phil, Don, Rochester, Mel Blanc, Cliff Nazarro, MInerva Pious. Jack is auditioning singers for the show; later, the cast performs a sketch, “Captain O’Benny, Master Detective.” Lucky Strike, NBC. (27 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (10-29-44) With Mary, Don, Rochester, Phil, Joseph Kearns, Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson, Minerva Pious, John Brown, Charlie Cantor, Alan Reed and guests Fred Allen and Martha Tilton, who sings “The Trolley Song.” Fred suggests Jack visit “Allen’s Alley” to get a feel for what sort of singer the public wants to hear on his show. Lucky Strike, NBC. (27 min)
FRED ALLEN SHOW (6-27-48) With Portland Hoffa, Kenny Delmar, Minerva Pious, Parker Fennelley, Peter Donald, The DeMarco Sisters, Al Goodman and his Orchestra and guest Jack Benny. Fred goes to Jack’s hotel as prepares to take a trip to Europe. Ford Motors, NBC. (29 min)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (11-5-44) With Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Don Wilson, Mel Blanc, Minerva Pious. Jack and Mary go to see Dunninger the Mentallist, who has found a singer for Jack’s show. Lucky Strike, NBC. (28 min)
SPEAKING OF RADIO (10-22-98) Chuck Schaden’s conversation with Larry Stevens, who recalls his career as a singer and working on radio with Jack Benny. Recorded at the Friends of Old Time Radio Convention in Newark, NJ. (22 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (11-12-44) Broadcasting from Muro Dry Lake Army Air Base in California, with Mary, Phil, Don, Rochester, Mel Blanc and Larry Stevens, who is introduced as the show’s new singer. Larry meets the cast and sings “The Way You Look Tonight.” Lucky Strike, NBC. (27 min)
DANNY KAYE SHOW (10-26-45) Jack Benny and his cast substitute for Danny while he is overseas, entertaining servicemen. Jack and the gang go to see Danny’s new film Wonder Man. AFRS rebroadcast. (30 min)
BILL STERN SPORTS NEWSREEL (12-28-45) Broadcasting from Hollywood with guest Jack Benny. The show examines the outstanding sports stories of 1945. Colgate Shave Cream, NBC. (14 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (3-10-46) With Mary, Phil, Rochester, Don, Larry, Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson and guest Ray Milland, who joins Jack for a parody of his film The Lost Weekend. Jack thanks Larry for his work on the show and announces that Dennis Day will return the following week. Lucky Strike, NBC. (27 min)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (3-17-46) With Mary, Phil, Rochester, Don, Bea Benaderet, Sara Berner and Dennis Day, making his return to the show after two years in the Navy. Jack observes St. Patrick’s Day and the cast presents a spoof of Fred Allen and “Allen’s Alley.” Lucky Strike, NBC. (28 min)
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
INNER SANCTUM (3-26-46) “Death is a Double-Crosser” starring Lawson Zerbe. An ex-con becomes a diamond-cutter as part of a plan to steal a tremendous diamond. With Santos Ortega, Paul McGrath, Mary Bennett. Lipton Tea and Soup, CBS. (30 min)
GREAT GILDERSLEEVE (1-28-48) Harold Peary stars as Throckmorton P. GIldersleeve, with Walter Tetley as Leroy, Lillian Randolph as Birdie, Louise Erickson as Marjorie, Earle Ross, Dick LeGrand, Arthur Q. Bryan, Ken Christy, Olan Soule, Gale Gordon. Gildy tries to get new license plates for his car. Kraft, NBC. (29 min)
GUNSMOKE (8-16-52) “The Lynching” starring William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Parley Baer as Chester Proudfoot, Georgia Ellis as Kitty. Marshal Dillon looks for evidence to convict the leader of a lynch mob. Cast: Paul Dubov, John Dehner, Tom Tully, Ralph Moody, Joan Danton, Lee Millar. Sustaining, CBS. (29 min)
MARTIN AND LEWIS SHOW (2-1-52) With Carol Richards, announcer Jimmy Wallington, Dick Stabile and the Orchestra and guest Gordon MacRae, who sings “Baby Doll” and joins the boys for a parody of You Bet Your Life. Participating sponsors, NBC. (29 min)
MR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY (5-26-48) “The Deadly Snowflake,” starring Jay Jostyn, with Vicki Vola as Miss Miller and Len Doyle as Harrington. The D.A. investigates when a night watchman is killed during a robbery. Fred Uttal announces. Ipana, Sal Hepatica, NBC. (29 min)
SCREEN GUILD PLAYERS (9-2-46) “Weekend for Three,” starring Dennis O’Keefe, Lynn Bari, and Harry von Zell in a radio version of the 1941 film. A young married couple’s plans for a quiet weekend trip are interrupted by the arrival of an old friend. Lady Esther Cosmetics, CBS. (30 min)
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
A RADIO MENAGERIE
YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR (12-10-49) starring Charles Russell as the man with the action-packed expense account. Dollar travels to Georgia after someone tries to steal a black leopard from an animal show. Cast: Lawrence Dobkin, Parley Baer, Lynn Allen, William Conrad. Sustaining, CBS. (30 min)
CHALLENGE OF THE YUKON (7-3-47) “The Puppy” starring Paul Sutton as Sgt. Preston, who recalls how a lost puppy played a part in recovering gold that had been stolen during a bank robbery. Sustaining, ABC. (29 min)
RED SKELTON SHOW (2-19-46) With announcer Rod O’Connor, Verna Felton, Pat McGeehan, Gege Pearson, singer Anita Ellis, David Forrester and the Orchestra. The Skelton Scrapbook of Satire is devoted to “Stray Animals” with Red as WIlly Lump-Lump and Junior, the Mean Little Kid. Raleigh Cigarettes, NBC. (27 min)
FORT LARAMIE (6-3-56) “Don’t Kick My Horse” starring Raymond Burr as Capt. Lee Quince, Harry Bartell as Lt. Seiberts, Vic Perrin as Sgt. Gorce. A soldier’s love for his horse causes trouble when his troop is attacked. Cast includes Lawrence Dobkin, Jack Kruschen. Sustaining, CBS. (29 min)
ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET (10-7-45) With Tommy Bernard as David, Bea Benaderet as Gloria, Joseph Kearns, Verna Felton, John Brown, Veola Vonn, the King Sisters, announcer Verne Smith. The Nelsons are surprised when a camel is delivered to the house. International Silver, CBS. (30 min)
ESCAPE (7-10-54) “The Birds” is a radio adaptation of the famous story by Daphne DuMaurier. A small English village finds itself under siege when the birds start to attack. Cast: Ben Wright, Virginia Gregg, Ann Morrison, John Dehner, Anne Whitfield, Paul Frees. Sustaining, CBS. (29 min)
SATURDAY, MARCH 21
ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE (7-10-49) “The Queen Bee Caper” starring Howard Duff as Sam, with Lurene Tuttle as Effie Perrine. Sam investigates a girls’ school where a teacher has been suspected of theft. Cast includes Jeanette Nolan, Cathy Lewis, Verna Felton, Junius Matthews, Lawrence Dobkin, Joseph Kearns. Wildroot Cream Oil, CBS. (28 min)
HALLS OF IVY (10-10-51) Ronald and Benita Colman star as William Todhunter Hall and his wife Victoria, with Herb Butterfield as Mr. Wellman. When Wellman is offended by a student editorial in the campus newspaper, the Halls invite the author to dinner to discuss it. Cast: Hy Averback, Gale Gordon. Announcer is Ken Carpenter. Schlitz Beer, NBC. (29 min)
THE WHISTLER (12-3-47) “The Professor and the Fox” starring John McIntire and Howard McNear, with Bill Forman as the Whistler. A lawyer must win a case for his wealthy client or risk losing control of her finances. Household Finance, CBS. (29 min)
BIRDS EYE OPEN HOUSE (11-1-45) Starring Dinah Shore, with announcer Harry von Zell, Robert Emmet Dolan and the Orchestra and guest Rudy Vallee, who recalls his boyhood days at Yale. Dinah sings “Waiting For the Train to Come In,” “As Long As I Live” and others. Birds Eye Frozen Foods, NBC. (29 min)
STELLA DALLAS (4-25-49) An isolated episode of the series, with Ann Elstner as Stella, Bret Morrison as Paul Wyman, who visits Stella to explain why he doesn’t want his daughter to marry. ZBT Baby Powder, NBC. (13 min)
BURNS AND ALLEN SHOW (9-7-43) With announcer Bill Goodwin, Mel Blanc as the Happy Postman, singer Jimmy Cash, Felix Mills and the orchestra. When Gracie reads about a husband shortage, she decides to find another wife for George. Swan Soap, CBS. (29 min)
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
X MINUS ONE (7-3-56) “Mr. Costello, Hero,” is the story of a passenger on a rocket ship who “collects” voices... and uses them for a purpose. Cast: Wendell Holmes, Bob Hastings, Mandel Kramer, Joe DeSantis, Teri Keane, James Stevens, James Dukas, Raymond Edward Johnson. Sustaining, NBC. (29 min)
OUR MISS BROOKS (2-6-49) Eve Arden stars as Connie Brooks, with Gale Gordon as Principal Conklin, Dick Crenna as Walter Denton, Jeff Chandler as Mr. Boynton, Jane Morgan as Mrs. Davis. Principal Conklin demands greater efficiency from the faculty of Madison High. Colgate-Palmolive, CBS. (30 min)
SCREEN DIRECTORS PLAYHOUSE (11-11-49) “Body and Soul” starring John Garfield in a radio adaptation of the 1947 film, directed by Robert Rossen. A talented boxer’s life becomes complicated when he meets an unethical promoter. Cast includes Barbara Eiler, Gale Bonney, William Conrad, Steven Dunne. Sustaining, NBC. (30 min)
YOU BET YOUR LIFE (10-19-49) Groucho Marx hosts this comedy quiz show, with announcer George Fenneman. Couples answer questions about movie stars, farms, and capitals of the world. Elgin-American, NBC. (29 min)
THE SHADOW (2-23-41) “The Chess Club Murders" starring Bill Johnstone as Lamont Cranston, with Marjorie Anderson as the lovely Margot Lane. The Shadow investigates a pair of murders at the prestigious Chess Club. Ken Roberts announces. Blue Coal, MBS. (29 min)
JIMMY DURANTE SHOW (4-7-48) With Peggy Lee, Florence Halop as Hotbreath Houlihan, Alan Reed, announcer Howard Petrie, Roy Bargy and the Orchestra and guest Dorothy Lamour. Jimmy convinces Lamour that she should run for president, with Jimmy as her running mate. Rexall, NBC. (30 min)
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RADIO'S GOLDEN AGE
Our Radio's Golden Age series can be heard every Sunday evening from 6-9 pm Central time on KXEL-AM. See the schedule for Radio's Golden Age in every issue of Nostalgia Digest.
