Old Radio

  August 28, 1938: Edgar Bergen 's wooden dummy partner, Charlie McCarthy  accepted the Master of Innuendo and Snappy Comeback honorary degree from the School of Speech at Northwestern. This degree was the first-degree awarded to a dummy. This event was broadcast by Ralph Dennis radio on this day. Charlie McCarthy  was inspired by an Irish newspaper boy that Edgar Bergen knew. Although they appeared in a number of short films, the comedy duo was more successful with their radio work. They first guest starred on  Rudy Vallee 's radio program in December 17, 1936.  Their appearance was such a hit that a year after, they were given their own show.

Hey, thrill seekers, did you know that superstar Gene Kelly appeared in several episodes of Suspense ? One of today's birthday boys did just that, lending his considerable acting chops to such episodes as "Thieves Fall Out," "The Man Who Couldn't Lose," and "The Most Dangerous Game."   But what's just as thrilling is that in 1946 Cresta Blanca wines launched its radio program Cresta Blanca's Hollywood Players , on which it very proudly rolled out its stable of top Hollywood stars . Bette Davis , Gregory Peck , Joan Fontaine , and Gene Kelly were among the players. The show brought to listeners recently-written productions, both dramas and comedies. These included "Heaven Can Wait," "Kitty," "Pride of the Yankees," and "The Glass Key." The latter, in November of '46, presented Kelly's debut on the show. This show's Kelly's versatility, since no one dances on the radio. Be

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Don Pardo (1918-2014) this week at the age of 96. In most recent history, he was best known for his legendary voice on SNL ("Saturday Night Live"). He was also one of the first voices heard in 1963 reporting the assassination of John F Kennedy . During the golden age of radio , his voice talents were used on broadcasts of Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator , Just Plain Bill , The Magnificent Montague , The Catholic Hour , Pete Kelly's Blues and the sci-fi  radio classic, X Minus One . Enjoy this broadcast of X Minus One episode from 1955: "The Parade":

The secretary was a minor, nearly throwaway character in many a TV sitcom or radio comedy.  Not so with Irma of My Friend Irma , played on the radio by today's birthday girl, Marie Wilson . Irma was a Midwestern-born stenographer in the employ of a lawyer, Mr. Clyde (played by Alan Reed ).  Though, even as the star of the show, Wilson was thrust into the "dumb blonde" role, seen by some as a forerunner of Marilyn Monroe . She came to the part as a dancer of some Broadway repute, and would go on to play a role in the now-classic The Maltese Falcon. According to Robert Kistler of the LA Times, the typecasting of Wilson "belied her personal zest for learning and intellectual self-improvement."

"She was at least 50, because you can't get that ugly without years of practice"  - Jack Webb as Pat Novak for Hire , 1949