April 3: Happy Birthday, Doris Day

On Mar. 28, 1952, CBS took the air with The Doris Day Show, a radio program featuring an established recording artist and actress. The show used the format that was by then a staple: soothing musical numbers and then performances by guests, most of them stars of stage, screen, and air. Guests included Kirk Douglas, Ronald Reagan, Danny Thomas, and Ray Bolger. Howard Keel was probably the most frequent guest, with Gordon MacRae not far behind.

As was the case with many of the big stars of the time period, Day also made plenty of appearances on the various big-name radio shows. The fetching singer-actress climbed the radio ladder with appearances on The Rudy Vallee Show, Command Performance, The Bob Hope Show, Kraft Music Hall and Stars For Defense.

The songstress who gave us "Till The End of Times," "My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time," and "I Got the Sun in the Mornin'" lives on in the memories of old time radio fans.

March 12: Happy Birthday, Gordon MacRae

March 12: Happy Birthday, Gordon MacRae

Broadway fixture Gordon MacRae made a name for himself with appearances in Oklahoma! and Carousel.
Just before he'd attained that level of stardom, though, he hosted several installments of radio's Texaco Star Theatre in 1948. Episode titles during his reign include "When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along," "June Is Busting Out All Over," and "Top hat, White Tie and Tails."

He also hosted the very popular The Railroad Hour in which he and his fellow cast members performed abridged versions of Broadway productions.

Do you remember his guest appearances on: The Big Show, Guest Star Radio, Martin & Lewis, The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, and The Railroad Hour show? Take a listen!