Mon, 20 September 2021
“The Columbia Workshop” was the CBS network’s series of experimental radio dramas, frequently adapting literary works. The show openly experimented with format, sound effects, and the power of music to convey emotion and theme. Tonight, we present an adaptation of a short story by the British fantasy writer Lord Dunsany. The music is by Bernard Herrmann. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he went on to score movies like “Citizen Kane, “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad,” and “North by Northwest.” Then, we return to comedy-in-academia with “The Halls of Ivy.” Dr. Hall appears to have won a major literary award, and both the school and his wife have big plans. EpisodesThe Columbia WorkshopDecember 19, 1936“The Gods of The Mountain”3:00The Halls of IvyApril 28, 1950“The Scofield Prize”33:07
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_THE_COLUMBIA_WORKSHOP_and_THE_HALLS_OF_IVY.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 7:45pm EDT
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Fri, 6 August 2021
We start off with another classic episode of “Dragnet.” There’s a good mystery with a high-stakes villain, and I really enjoy all the throw-away, one-liner character moments. Then on “The Aldrich Family,” a typical high school situation turns in to a classic sit-com misunderstanding. But this one is executed particularly well. EpisodesDragnetJanuary 4, 1951“The Big Holdup”1:34The Aldrich FamilyDecember 11, 1947“School Ring” aka “Henry Wants a School Ring”31:47
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_DRAGNET_and_THE_ALDRICH_FAMILY.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 9:41am EDT
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Wed, 14 July 2021
There was no shortage of private detectives during the golden age of radio. We’ll start tonight with an entry new to our program: “Michael Shayne, Private Detective.” You’d never guess by listening to his tough but lovable voice here that star Wally Maher was the voice of Screwy Squirrel and the Turkey in the classic 1945 Tex Avery short “Jerky Turkey.” Tonight, he takes on a tricky case at a local college. Then on “You Bet Your Life,” Groucho Marx complains to a pharmacist about the amount of cotton in pill bottles, then banters with a Hollywood baker and a couple who have eight children. Episodes Michael Shayne, Private Detective November 5, 1946“Return to Huxley”2:23You Bet Your LifeOctober 28, 1953“The Secret Word is ‘Chair’”28:40
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_MICHAEL_SHAYNE_and_YOU_BET_YOUR_LIFE.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 6:17pm EDT
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Sat, 26 June 2021
Time to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear with “The Lone Ranger.” This time the Masked Man and Tonto intervene with competing gold strikes threaten to turn deadly. Then we see how things are going for “The Great Gildersleeve” and family. Inspired by such self-starters as Abraham Lincoln, Gildy decided to make something of himself, possibly even in politics. EpisodesThe Lone RangerJune 6, 1941“Gold Strike in the Chattos”1:32The Great GildersleeveOctober 22, 1947“Congressman Gildersleeve”31:15
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_THE_LONE_RANGER_and_THE_GREAT_GILDERSLEEVE.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 8:08am EDT
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Sun, 23 May 2021
We return to the world of crusading journalism with “Big Town.” Edward J. Pawley takes over from Edward G. Robinson as Steve Wilson, managing editor of “The Illustrated Press,” the leading newspaper in some Big Town. This episode proves conclusively that crime doesn’t pay and there is no honor among thieves. Then on “Fibber McGee and Molly,” Fibber thinks he’s found a sure-fire way to avoid taxes. Will the study of his town’s most ancient laws put him in clover or will he be eating crow?EpisodesBig TownNovember 9, 1948“The Fatal Chain”1:48Fibber McGee and MollyMay 19, 1953“Old Law to Escape Taxes”32:38
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_BIG_TOWN_and_FIBBER_MCGEE_and_MOLLY.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 9:42am EDT
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Tue, 20 April 2021
On “Rogers of the Gazette,” Will Rogers, Jr. returns as the editor of that fictional small-town newspaper, the “Illyria Weekly Gazette.” Along with dispensing homespun common sense and aphorism-filled advice to the betterment of his readers and fellow citizens, this week he’s solving a minor mystery: is Abraham Lincoln complaining about the maintenance of the town’s city hall clock? Then on “Archie Andrews,” Archie and Jughead’s passion for using all the latest slang in conversation isn’t going over so well with the rest of Riverdale’s residents. EpisodesRogers of the GazetteNovember 11, 1953“The Town Clock”2:07Archie AndrewsMay 18, 1946“Jive Talk” aka “Hip Talk”32:22
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_ROGERS_OF_THE_GAZETTE_and_ARCHIE_ANDREWS.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 6:24pm EDT
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Sat, 27 March 2021
Lucille Ball stars in a dramatic, criminal role on “Suspense.” She plays an ambitious woman who won’t let anything stand in her way – not even murder. Then, on “The Jack Benny Program,” Jack and the gang broadcast from Corona Naval Hospital. Tonight, they’re accompanied by the world-famous (really!) harmonica player Larry Adler, who amazes with his virtuosity. EpisodesSuspenseOctober 25, 1945“A Shroud for Sarah”1:43The Jack Benny ProgramNovember 19, 1944“From Corona Naval Hospital”32:24
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_SUSPENSE_and_JACK_BENNY.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 7:16am EDT
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Sun, 7 March 2021
We start off with more of Old Time Radio’s quintessential medical drama, “The Story of Dr. Kildare.” A tricky operation performed at a hospital is one thing, but a simple operation performed at in an unusual location is another. How will Dr. Kildare remove an appendix from a man who is miles away at sea? Then on “Duffy’s Tavern,” the Great Gildersleeve himself drops by to listen to another one of Archie’s business opportunities.
Episodes
The Story of Dr. Kildare August 17, 1950 Appendicitis Operation at Sea 1:53
Duffy’s Tavern November 24, 1944 “Guest: Harold Peary” 29:04
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_DR._KILDARE_and_DUFFYS_TAVERN.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 10:01am EDT
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Sun, 14 February 2021
We start off with another episode of “Information Please.” Are you up on the sizes of sports venues, the significance of ringing bells, and literary wives? Then on “Gunsmoke,” a criminal seeks revenge on a whole town for the shooting of his kid brother. Not every Western is about cowboys and Indians. Sometimes, like this episode, they can be tight, psychological dramas. EpisodesInformation PleaseDecember 12, 1941“Guest: Dr. George N. Shuster”1:37GunsmokeFebruary 21, 1953“Meshougah”29:29
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_INFORMATION_PLEASE_and_GUNSMOKE.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 10:36am EDT
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Fri, 29 January 2021
"Jeff Regan, Investigator” is a Jack Webb series that just predates “Dragnet.” This P.I. has an even drier delivery than Detective Friday, but he’s much more sarcastically verbose. In tonight’s episode, movie cowboys and racehorses get entangled in a big-money scam. Then on “The Jack Benny Program,” Jack goes into Beverly Hills to try to buy a new violin string and ends up getting a parking ticket. EpisodesJeff Regan, InvestigatorNovember 13, 1948“The Guy From Gower Gulch”2:32The Jack Benny ProgramJanuary 17, 1954“Jack Gets A Parking Ticket”32:45
Direct download: Presenting_the_Transcription_Feature_-_JEFF_REGAN_and_JACK_BENNY.mp3
Category:Presenting the Transcription Feature -- posted at: 4:58pm EDT
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