Old Radio

Dracula both on stage and on film, Bela Lugosi was born Bela Ferenc Dezso Blasko in Hungary, on this day in 1882.  In addition to his famous role as the diabolical vampire, Lugosi acted in many horror films, also co-starring with Boris Karloff . He lent his distinctive voice to radio series Suspense , Texaco Star Theatre , Candid Microphone , and Command Performance . Later, the Goth rock band Bauhaus recorded a song called "Bela Lugosi's Dead." Today, we commemorate the man's birth.

Not a lot of show biz icons got their start in a library, but that's exactly how it happened to Fred Allen , born on this day in 1894. Bless that Boston Public Library for hosting a little variety show for patrons--it gave Allen a chance to take up some juggling and perform a bit of comedy. The encouragement he got from impressed audience members sent him into local amateur night competitions, and the rest is history. We today know Fred Allen as a master satirist and pioneer of meta-humor, with one example being his fictional feud with Jack Benny . This reality-bending brand of comedy would later become more commonplace, finding homes in the repertoires of Andy Kauffman, Sacha Baron Cohen, and David Letterman, whose pugnacious exchanges with various guests were infused with a mock-venom. We also know him as the long-time host of The Fred Allen Show and then Texaco Star Theater You may recall, from the latter, Allen's Alley , home to Sampson Souse, John Doe, Socrate...

March 12: Happy Birthday,  Gordon MacRae Broadway fixture Gordon MacRae made a name for himself with appearances in Oklahoma! and Carousel. Just before he'd attained that level of stardom, though, he hosted several installments of radio's Texaco Star Theatre in 1948. Episode titles during his reign include "When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along," "June Is Busting Out All Over," and "Top hat, White Tie and Tails." He also hosted the very popular The Railroad Hour in which he and his fellow cast members performed abridged versions of Broadway productions. Do you remember his guest appearances on: The Big Show , Guest Star Radio , Martin & Lewis , The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy , and The Railroad Hour show? Take a listen!