Old Radio

On this day in 1936, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show made its debut.

On this day in 1918, Jeff Chandler was born.

On this day in 1910, Van Heflin was born.

On this day in 1920, Eddie Firestone Jr. was born.

On this day in 1914, Dorothy Lamour was born.

On this day in 1902, Brace Beemer was born.

On this day in 1906, famed radio writer producer, William Spier was born.

On this day in 1917, Ezra Stone was born.

On this day in 1886, Rex Stout was born.

On this date in OTR: The "Grand Ole Opry" debuted on WSM in Nashville Nov. 28, 1925. NBC carried a 30-minute segment of the program 1939-1957.

Norman Macdonnell and Orson Welles On this day in 1916, Norman Macdonnell was born.

On this day in 1943, Molle Mystery Theater made its debut.

On this day in 1910, Grace Matthews was born.

On this day in 1920, Ray Bradbury was born.

On this day in 1905, Alice Frost was born.

On this day in 1912, radio announcer  Jackson Beck was born.

On this day in 1948, Jeff Regan premiered.

On this day in 1939, The Aldrich Family made its radio debut!

On this day in 1899, Santos Ortega was born.

On this day in 1933, Gary Crosby was born.

On this day in 1904, Peter Lorre was born.

The persona Phil Harris created on the radio was one who was easy to like. He was a happy-go-lucky hep cat who never met a bottle or a pretty girl that he didn't like. By reputation, he made acquaintances with plenty of both. Most of all, the radio Phil Harris was easy to like because he was a fundamentally happy fellow, as willing to laugh at himself as he was to laugh at those around him. When your boss is Jack Benny , of course, there is plenty around you to laugh at. Phil is best remembered as one of Benny's many “second bananas”, although he had a relatively successful career beyond the Jack Benny Program. He was never quite a superstar, but that seems to have been just alright with him. On June 24, 1904, Wonga Philip Harris was born to circus performers Harry and Dollie Harris in Linton, Indiana. Harry, a circus band leader, taught the lad to play several instruments and gave his son his first gig, playing drums under the big top. The boy played in movie houses...

On this day in 1944, Boston Blackie made its radio debut!

On this day in 1912, Martin Gabel was born.

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1913, Bob Bailey was a noted actor that did most of his career doing radio programs. Although his early years did catch him working films for 20th Century Fox, Bailey created a radio presence that attracted more attention for himself than film ever could. The early 40’s found him in Chicago handling radio programs that were on the air. It was not until 1946, that he became a regular on detective radio shows like, Let George Do It and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar . His time as George Valentine on the first mentioned program was from 1946 until the 50’s. In 1955, Bailey became the legendary Johnny dollar. That program ran until 1962, although Bailey had left the program in 1960. Although this time of his life found Bailey ending his acting career; he did find room as a cameo reporter on the film the Birdman of Alcatraz. Irony played around with Bailey as one of the actors from the film, Edmund O'Brien had played the insurance detective Johnny Dollar in t...

On this day in 1980, Junius Matthews was born.

On this day in 1914, Gerald Mohr was born.

On this day in 1900, Fred Waring was born.

On this day in 1895, William Boyd was born.

On this day in 1918, Howard Culver was born.

On this day in 1890, Herbert Marshall was born.

On this day in 1859, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born.

Today marks the 1904 birth of Thomas "Fats" Waller , one of the great jazz pianists of the mid-20th century. The Harlem native began playing at rent parties, raising some cash for the hosts. He broke into the music business writing novelty songs, and started recording with Victor Records in 1926. Waller played the organ in addition to piano, and also laid down the vocals on his solo songs. His technique was considerable--he was an innovator in the difficult realm of stride piano, which requires fast alternation on the bass end of the keyboard, with the right hand augmenting the basic melody. He hosted a radio show called " Fats Waller 's Rhythm Club" from 1932-34. Waller's virtuosity and his smooth, comic patter made him a very popular entertainer in Depression-era America . Happy Birthday, Fats!

On this day in 1942, The Whistler made its radio debut.

On this day in 1904, Clifton Fadiman was born.

On this day in 1910, Paul Sutton was born.

On this day in 1912, Bret Morrison was born.

On this day in 1932, Jack Benny Program made its radio debut.

On this day in 1908, Eve Arden was born.

On this day in 1878, Lionel Barrymore was born.

On this day in 1955, X-Minus One made its debut.

On this day in 1935, Lights Out made its radio debut.

On this day in 1935, Fibber McGee & Molly made its radio debut.

On this day in 1917, Hans Conried was born.

On this day in 1943, Falcon made its debut.

On this day in 1943, The Adventures of Nero Wolfe made its radio debut.

On this day in 1906, Bea Benaderet was born.

On this day in 1924, Doris Day was born.

On this day in 1912, Frank Lovejoy was born. As Randy Stone, he was your favorite newspaperman on trail of crime and corruption in Night Beat .

March 28: Happy Birthday, Frank Lovejoy We can't know if Frank Lovejoy was voted "Most Likely To Be The Blue Beetle " by his high school class, but it seems possible. The steely-eyed, square-jawed actor exuded intensity and a detective's predatory determination. If we were alive, he'd be celebrating his one hundred and first birthday. Lovejoy's voice was one of the most recognized in the business, for Blue Beetle and several other shows.  Blue Beetle  hit the airwaves in May of 1940. Lovejoy gave voice to the title character, a superhero (whose alter-ego's name was Dan Garrett) with the strength of ten men. He carried a beetle pendant and left it around town to alert evil-doers he was on to them. Lovejoy held down this gig only for a Summer, and then future episodes went uncredited as to the voice. Frank Lovejoy is also well-known for his parts in Box 13 , Nightbeat , Dragnet , and This Is Your FBI . When they needed a stern cop or investiga...