"Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" ran 15 minutes a day, five days a week.  The tales of the freelance insurance investigator, who had an action-packed expense account, were full of action, cleverness, and style.  In this binge-listen of a full week’s adventure, Dollar is hired to protect a very special laird, one with four legs and a tail.

April 9-13, 1956

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

“The Laird Douglas-Douglas of Heatherscote Matter”

3:11

Eve Arden returns, or perhaps premiers, in “Our Miss Brooks,” as we present the very first episode of that comedy classic.  There’s a new principal, and Miss Brooks just can’t stop bumping into him.  Then on “Gunsmoke,” Marshal Matt Dillon tries to help a family from being unfairly run off their land.

Episodes

Our Miss Brooks

July 19, 1948

“The First Episode”

2:07

Gunsmoke

October 24, 1952

“The Mortgage”

33:00

This month marks the 124th birthday of radio legend Fred Allen.  Though best known for his “feuds” with fellow comedian Jack Benny, Allen had a long and prolific career.  We present tonight a classic episode of “The Fred Allen Show.” First, Fred takes us on a walk down Allen’s Alley to meet the colorful characters who live there, then Frank Sinatra drops by songs and laughs.  Then, on “Information Please,” Fred starts out as a contestant and ends up as host.

Episodes

The Fred Allen Show

October 21, 1945

“Hillbilly”

5:15

Information Please

February 15, 1943

“Guest: Fred Allen”

34:10

First up on “You Bet Your Life,” Groucho Marx interviews a female Air Force sergeant and the parents of triplets.  Then on “Dragnet,” a brightly-colored car leads detectives Friday and Romero all around Los Angeles, from its mean streets to an amusement park.

Episodes

You Bet Your Life

June 27, 1951

"The Secret Word is Table"

1:47

Dragnet

November 30, 1950

“The Big Car”

31:52

First up, on “Fibber McGee and Molly,” two duo race around town trying to reclaim a very valuable coin accidentally spent on some cigars.  The comic coincidences and tongue-twisters will leave your head spinning.  Then we present, for the first time, an episode of “Boston Blackie.” Blackie is a righter of wrongs, a reformed safecracker and jewel thief.  He first appeared in 1914, and his tough-but-clever style has taken him from magazines to films, television, and, of course, radio.  This is a baseball-themed episode.

Episodes

Fibber McGee and Molly

April 15, 1947

"1880 Quarter"

Boston Blackie

April 29, 1947

“Baseball and Gambling”

“Vic and Sade” is the driest of domestic comedies.  We present two 15-minute visits to “the small house half-way up on the next block.”  First, Sade may have at last found a place to store all of her husband’s fraternal lodge regalia that’s always cluttering up the house.  Then, what did people do for entertainment at the height of the Depression?  Rush’s pal Rotten makes performance art out of a collapsed porch.  Finally, on “Escape,” we all escape to Kafiristan, via an adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic story, “The Man Who Would Be King.”

Episodes

 Vic and Sade

[1939]

“Mr. Gumpox Offers Sade a Stall”

 June 13, 1939

“Porch Collapses, Rotten Takes the Blame”

2:37

Escape

August 1, 1948

“The Man Who Would Be King”

29:18

Bing Crosby leads “The Kraft Music Hall” with special guest, Lucille Ball.  Before she was “Lucy,” the comedy legend, she was a would-be glamour girl with a knack for comedy.  Then on “The College Quiz Bowl” students from Barnard College and Syracuse University tackle topics as diverse as mythology, anatomy, and politics.

Episodes

The Kraft Music Hall

March 2, 1944

“Guest: Lucille Ball”

2:40

The College Quiz Bowl

October 20, 1954

“Syracuse vs Barnard”

33:04

On “The Great Gildersleeve,” Gildy receives a visit from his old friends (and stars of their own radio show), Fibber McGee and Molly.  Knowing he’s in for some ribbing, Gildy tries to hide the fact that he’s engaged to be married.  Then on “X Minus One,” we have an adaptation of a classic bit of science fiction by Fredric Brown, “The Last Martian.”

Episodes

The Great Gildersleeve

January 10, 1943

“Fibber McGee and Molly Visit”

2:48

X Minus One

August 7, 1956

“The Last Martian”

32:45

It’s February, and that means Valentines Day – or at least couples.  First up, it’s “Life With Luigi,” the adventures of a recent Italian immigrant in Chicago.  Luigi has a date for Valentine’s Day, and nothing could possibly go wrong.  Then on “Information Please,” there are two female guest panelists and lots of questions about couples:  separated couples, couples in literature, broken courtships, and even the phrase "ladies and gentlemen" are all covered.

Episodes

Life With Luigi

February 14, 1950

“Valentine’s Date at the Pump Room”

2:18

Information Please

April 5, 1943

Guests:  Jan Struther and Cornelia Otis Skinner

30:36

First up, on “Dragnet,” a movie set is the scene of a murder.  Jack Webb’s Sergeant Friday hits the soundstage and talks with gaffers, best boys, and directors while investigating a murder that puts the tarnish on Tinseltown.  Then on “You Bet Your Life,” Groucho interviews two doctors -- one for people and one for the birds.  Later, there’s a woman who met her husband while selling underwear door-to-door and an engaged couple who work at the same department store.

Episodes

Dragnet

November 2, 1952

“The Big Light”

2:45

You Bet Your Life

December 7, 1949

“The Secret Word is Dust”

32:37