Old Radio

Happy Veterans Day! "This nation will remain the land of the free so long as it is the land of the brave."  - Elmer Davis, News Commentator

November 11, 1940: Mandrake the Magician  aired on Mutual for the first time, and the song ‘invovo legem magicarum’ (I invoke the laws of magic) was also broadcast for the very first time on the show. Mandrake the Magician  was a famous radio kids serial  established around the United States. The broadcast lasted for about 15 minutes. The radio show featured Raymond Edward Johnson, the unique host on Inner Sanctum , and ran for a year-and-a-half.

November 10, 1950: On this date, the Magnificent Montague was presented for the first time on NBC. Monty Woolley performed the title role. Anne Seymour played opposite Monty Woolley in the show as his wife. Together, the two captivated audiences with their charm and comedy . Monty became known for his white beard that became his trademark.

November 2, 1931: On this date, CBS aired the radio show Myrt and Marge for the first time. The program revolved around the competition of two chorus girls for the same parts and the same men. Myrtle Vail, who created the series and wrote the script as well (with help from Cliff Thomas), also played the part of Myrt. Vail's daughter, Donna Damerel, was the original Marge. Unfortunately, Donna died giving birth and three other performers took her place during its run. The program went on for 11 years. Vail based the story idea off of her experiences during her stay in Chicago where she worked as a vaudeville actor play along with her husband, George Damerel . Almost all the stories she wrote were based on their experiences.  She presented the idea to the chewing gum manufacturer Wrigley, which was then not yet a sponsor for his show.  Manufacturer Wrigley liked Vail's idea an Wrigley finally agreed to sponsor the show. Myrt & Merge debuted as a prime time program in th

Tied for Halloween for greatest significance today is the birthday of singer, actress, and pioneer, Ethel Waters . Waters was a groundbreaker and trailblazer for many later African-American singers and performers of all stripes.  She ground out a living on the hard-scrabble vaudeville circuit in the early 20th century, then became a staple of the still-developing artform known as jazz.  She's best known for her big hit songs such as "Dinah," "Stormy Weather," and "Heat Wave." She was the first African-American woman to star in a nationally-broadcast radio program, and turned in great appearances on Jubilee, The Tex and Jinx Show , The Big Show , and Command Performance .  We salute a strong and successful woman and a great addition to the universe of oldtime radio .

I'm sure we're all grateful that the world of old-time radio is peopled by lovable hams and charming cut-ups. However, Fredric Brown injected some very deep thought into the medium. Not a song and dance man nor announcer, Brown was a sci-fi writer whose works were adapted into radio programs. One of the most interesting and cerebral of the pulp sci-fi writers of the mid-century, Brown wanted to experiment with the form and push the boundaries. One of his most noted short stories, "Knock," opens with the last man on Earth receiving a visitor. He challenged himself and worked his imagination so hard that, according to his wife, he actually hated writing. But listeners of Lux Radio Theater and other shows featuring his work probably wouldn't have guessed, and they themselves probably loved what Brown put to paper.

October 28, 1946: The Mars Candy sponsored program  Sky King went on the air for the final time on ABC. It originally featured Lester as Sky, followed by Earl Nightingale. and lastly Roy Engel. Beryl Vaughn performed the role of Sky’s niece while Jack Biven performed as Chipper, and Cliff Soubier starred as the ranch foreman. Sky King  was a radio adventure series aired in the 1940's and 50's on radio and TV. The main character, Schuyler "Sky" King, was said to be based on a true-to-life personality named Jack Cones. King's character was both a rancher and a pilot, and his adventures involved chasing spies and criminals with the help of his plane, Songbird. Although different planes were used during the series' entire run, it was always called by that name.  The actors that portrayed Sky in the  radio and TV series included John Reed King, Earl Nightingale, and Kirby Grant.