Old Radio

Daughter of working class parents in Stockholm, Sweden, graduate of the Royal Dramatic Theater, Ms. Garbo is also an enigmatic but cherished American film star.  She began in silent films, worked on her English skills, and made the transition into talkies. Garbo got her start in film in Europe and quickly came to America at the tender age of 19.  She set the tone for her reputation as a private and introverted starlet by telling reporters that her biographical details didn't matter. But her style won her great and enduring fame as a screen actress.  She can be heard on a few rare and valuable radio broadcasts.  We salute Ms. Garbo's birth on this day in 1905.

Lauren Bacall , today's birthday girl (1924) may be the only Hollywood figure to ever win the award for Prettiest Usher, a distinction Ms. Bacall garnered in 1942 while working on Broadway .  Incidentally, she made the acquaintance of ace thespian Gregory Peck while toiling in this capacity. We may best know Bacall from her "bogey and fame", but she is now of course a legend in her own right, known not just for her elegance and beauty but for her considerable acting chops. Her electrifying  voice played no small part in this, and it is what caused her to translate to radio so well.  Let's not forget that the dynamic duo of Bogey and Bacall also starred in a radio program called Bold Venture .  It was sort of about Bogart's characters' love for his small boat, but Bacall co-starred, and actors like William Conrad , David Rose , and Jester Hairston were also involved. Ms. Bacall was also a gas on such radio programs as Command Performance and Let's

Today is Sept. 15th, time to salute the birthday of Country-Western superstar, Roy Acuff .  The head of the Smoky Mountain Boys was a staple on the Grand Ole Opry and eventually the first living inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In addition to his time on the Grand Ole Opry , Acuff made great appearances on The Kemtone Hour, The Judy Canova Show , and The American Ace Coffee Show.  On the latter, he performed "Turn Your Radio On." Acuff's career also included a skirmish with Tennessee Governor Prentice Cooper about whether or not Country music was disgraceful hillbilly fare.  This would, in a roundabout way, lead to an unsuccessful Acuff run for Governor.  Not winning that office, he'd have to be content in the post of King of Country Music.

Its our pleasure to commemorate the birth (in 1915) or Edmond O'Brien , accomplished actor who starred in Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar .   YTJD was a detective series, and O'Brien's reputation as a macho actor for tough-man roles got him the part. Johnny was a sort of working man's James Bond, a travelling adventurer with a way with the ladies.  The series ran in its original guise from 1949-'54, with a 1955 revival, this time with Bob Bailey as the Johnny, O'Brien having moved on. O'Brien was born in New York City and was probably best known for his role in D.O.A.

September 9, 1926: Radio Corp. of America established The National Broadcasting (NBC) on this day. The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was a radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City, but at the time it was known as an American commercial broadcasting television network. NBC was the first major broadcast network in the United States.

  September 8, 1935: Frank Sinatra , as lead singer of The Hoboken Four, performed on Major Bowes Amateur Hour on WOR. The band won the competition, held at Capitol Theatre in New York City. Before they were known as The Hoboken, the band played under the name The 3 Flashes. The name The Hoboken was provided by Frank Sinatra when the band was preparing to perform live at the Sands in 1935, an audition for the  Major Bowes Amateur Hour . Later, Mr Bowes changed the name to The Hoboken Four. After winning on the  Major Bowes Amateur Hour , they were invited back, but this time Major Bowes had to change the name to fool any contenders and the audience from thinking it was the same winning group competing against a fresh pack of amateurs. The group did that several times.