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

For New Year’s, we sum up all of 1939.  First it’s “Information Please” from January of that year.  The guest is Alexander Wolcott, the inspiration for the titular character in our previous episode, “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”  The panelists take questions from columnist Walter Winchell, make up poker hands from Mother Goose, and identify famous generals.  Then on the “The Jack Benny Show” it’s New Year’s Eve.  Jack has a date, but forces conspire to prevent him from keeping it.  Western star Andy Devine drops by to talk about taking his parents to Phil Harris’ wild late show.

Episodes

Information Please

January 10 1939

Guest:  Alexander Wolcott

2:22

The Jack Benny Show

December 31,1939

“Gladys Zybisco Disappoints Jack on New Year’s Eve”

33:19

We present two Christmas-themed comedy programs this time.  First up, on “The Bob Hope Show,” guest Gregory Peck debates with Bob about who’s the handsomer.  Then Bob tries to buy a cheap Christmas tree.  On “The Great Gildersleeve,” Gildy spends considerable time and effort selecting just the right present for his old pal Fibber McGee.  Enjoy these broadcasts – which aired exactly seven years apart, as it happens – while trimming your tree or wrapping your gifts.

Episodes

The Bob Hope Show

December 21, 1948

Guest:  Gregory Peck

4:15

The Great Gildersleeve

December 21, 1941

 “Christmas Gift for Fibber McGee”

 35:51

“The Man Who Came to Dinner” was a 1939 Broadway comedy written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.  It has since become a classic.  When radio commentator and professional wit Sheridan Whiteside is visiting a prominent family in a small town in Ohio a few weeks before Christmas, he injures himself and is confined to their house for a month.  He may be stuck but the show must go on.  “Sherry,” as his friends call him, continues to run his business, see friends and associates, and drive his nice suburban hosts crazy.  This one-hour adaptation stars Clifton Webb and Lucille Ball.

Episodes

Lux Radio Theater

March 27 1950

“The Man Who Came to Dinner”

5:58

We present two comedies, both Thanksgiving-themed, and both featuring the perils of trying to save money by buying a live turkey.  First on "Our Miss Brooks," teachers never have enough money, so Connie tries to work herself and her date into a big dinner with all the fixings at her principal’s house.  Then on “The Jack Benny Program,” you can trust Jack to try to save a few pennies by getting his turkey the hard way.  And it turns out to be even harder than he anticipated.

Episodes

Our Miss Brooks

November 19, 1950

“Thanksgiving Turkey”

2:01

The Jack Benny Program

November 29, 1953

“Thanksgiving Dinner”

32:40