Newest Additions in 2016

She stumbled into show business after winning the Ms Burbank contest and had one of the longest careers in Hollywood.

Ray Milland got his big break in The Jungle Princess with sarong-clad Dorothy Lamour and late became a screen legend in 1945’s Lost Weekend.

A trumpet player who hailed from The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Ray Anthony Show was syndicated by the recruiting division of the Marine Corp Reserve.

Whether you were in the radar shack with your eyes glued to a 'scope or you were stuck in the galley peeling spuds for the entire cruise, there were more than enough romance and adventure to go around, the Recruiter just had to get the young men through the door.

A well written courtroom procedural drama a la Perry Mason, Defense Attorney, Indictment, and A Life In Your Hands. Update: version date added manually 2023-08

Presented drama-documentaries on a variety of topics and was conceived as a conceived as a "radio mirror" for society. Update: 9 additional recordings

Although Statehood was not granted until 1959, a vacation to beautiful Hawaii has long been part of the popular imagination.

News of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 was spread around the globe due to the miracle of radio.

Best known for his creative vocalizations or scatting and his catchphrase "hi-de-hi-de-ho."

New sampler cd with over 100 episodes from various series including This is Paris, Something for the Girls, WWII PSA Annoucements, Jack Robinson, Streamlined Shakespeare and more.

Minstrelsy is considered the first truly American form of entertainment, and as such provides the forms and traditions which would eventually form vaudeville and ultimately the Hollywood movies and TV shows which shape and inform the rest of the world's opinion of American culture.

A well-produced example of Cold War propaganda, AFRTS was able to tap considerable acting talent including Gregory Peck, Raymond Burr, and Richard Whitmore. Update: additional recordings

Hear the tales of the "Bachelor's Children," an award winning radio soap opera that ran for over a decade. Update: additional recordings

The series makes for a grand introduction to classical symphonic music at the Hollywood Bowl - selections include the opera Carmen sung in English, featured soloists Isaac Stern, Dorothy Eustis, Roman Totenberg, and Percy Grainger, with selections from Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and Cellini.

The origins of The Boys and Girls Club starts back in 1860, this program celebrates the Boys' Club with big name stars Jackie Gleason, Joe DiMaggio, Red Skelton, Roy Rogers, and more.

Just three little girls, Helen, Jane, and Patti from Macon, Georgia, who grew up singing together and they became the toast of Manhattan.

This epic collection follows the man blessed with a golden voice, Gordon MacRae including The Railroad Hour, Texaco Star, Gulf Spray and his guest appearances on various shows. Update: additional Railroad Hour recordings

Radio and libraries have always enjoyed a close relationship and have been used for locations in many radio shows.

Phillips H. Lord got his start in radio by berating the station manager. He created the first independent radio producer with the creation of the character and show Seth Parker and later the FBI-approved show G-men retooled as the hit show Gangbusters.

Dancing a polka with your best girl is a celebration of life and living. Everyone can use more OmmPahPah in their life!

One of the most important and influential American literary figures of the twentieth century, Robert Frost gave voice to a rural New England at a time that America was becoming more urbanized.

The Quiz Kids radio game show panel consisted of five extremely bright children giving entertaining answers--making the show was popular with adults and youngsters alike. Update: additional recordings

Old time radio's take on plagues, vaccines, polio, and other illnesses featuring shows from all genres from comedy to drama to adventure. Update: 1 additional recording

Burlesques are saucey variety shows that often include a playful strip tease and bawdy, but topical jokes.

The Armed Forces Radio Service realized that the troops in the field would not be able to carry their album collection into the field, so they came up with the Phonograph Album program.

Originally the product of seafarer's overactive and superstitious imaginations, mermaids are now an allegory for any time we associate a pretty girl with the water.

Larger than Life Horror Greats Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre Creep Around in the Night. Update: additional recording

Featuring John Charles Daly, this is a true variety show with drama shorts, orchestra music, celebrity guests, and comedy. Update: additional recording

As a teenager, she began her in the silent era and is best known for her role in The Maltese Falcon.

Included episodes from Adventures in Research, The Cavalcade of America, and historic sound clips referring to the tragedy.

Classic commentary from the optimistic newsman Gabriel Heatter, the broadcaster with the "good news tonight." Update: additional recording

Modern Romances was a pulp magazine that marketed to "good girls", the magazine featured articles on how to get a man and how to keep a man.

Here is a new collection of Rare Programs which will not fit in another category but are too important and entertaining not to be released in a collection.

When the Korean War broke out, AFRS had Army broadcasters working from the old American Embassy Hotel in Seoul and mobile units were attached to combat units and followed the action.

This multi-genre collection includes clowns that make you laugh, clowns that make you cry, and clowns that make you scream.

He was an actor, a pioneering director, an astute political operator, a naval warrior, and a labor organizer who was also an ardent anti-Communist.

Roland Young worked on several broadcasts promoting his films, notably on Lux Radio Theater and MGM’s Good News series and was part of the company for The Dinah Shore Program during the 1943-44 season.

Best known for his characterization of the butler Jeeves, created by P.G. Wodehouse, the butler in Shirley Temple films, and as a recurring character of Duffy's Tavern to "classy up the place."

Created in 1930 by Transco, this old time radio series dramatizes the origin stories of popular music. Update: additional recordings

He performed in on stage, movies, TV or radio often as a villain, a role he seemed to relish as a way to burn himself into the audience’s memory.

features hard driving steel guitar, and a classic version of country music that celebrates life. This is not "Cry in your Beer" country music! Update: additional recordings

She began her career as a singer and dancer in Vaudeville and later became the other half of Jazzman turned funny-man, Phil Harris. Update: additional recordings

His earliest stage successes were in Boston area amateur shows, but he is best known on radio for hosting Take It Or Leave It, which eventually became The $64 Question. Guest Appearances by the Zany Baker and his Feisty Heckler! Update: additional recordings

One of the greatest actors in American cinema, Marlon Brando was known for method acting and gripping realism that he brought to his performances.

After an hunting accident that left her wheelchair bound, Susan Peters found more work on radio than in film.

Born in 1873, he began appearing in circuses and minstrel shows as an acrobat and tightrope walker and later he worked on the stage version of The Wizard of Oz.

A faith based radio show produced by The Navy Chaplain Corp to help Armed Service Members find the right church of their choice and finding strength within.

A daytime alternative to soap operas, The Jack Berch Show offered light hearted variety and music for housewives.

Hessler interviewed coaches, managers, ball players, scouts, and individual athletes about trends in their sports and what it takes to be great in each competition.

Winning the endorsement of National Advisory Council on Radio in Education (NACRE), the producers of the Music Appreciation Hour developed an instructor's manual as a companion to the series called Radio Guild.

One of the AFRTS most popular DJs was Ira Cook whose personality comes shining through in every one of his recorded broadcasts; he is a white collared, narrow tie-wearing square, but he had an appreciation for popular music

The quarter-hour program featured traditional and Country songs by Bob Atcher and the Hometowners with comic patter between Atcher and Mary Jane Johnson (who also sang).

Best known for his role in Gone with the Wind, Leslie Howard joined the war effort and used his talents for the allied forces. Update: additional recordings

Hosted by Broadway Producer Hunt Stromberg Jr., he had a eye for talent and showcased who he found on the New York Nightclub Scene.

She began her entertainment career at the age of three, she later became a popular guest on variety show and on the nightclub circuit.

Fifteen minute sample tastes of Hollywood's greats pictures by playing some of the movie's soundtrack and interview stars.

Loretta’s career began as a child actress during the Silent Picture era and remained strong until the Fifties when she left film to make a strong presence in television. Update: additional recordings

WWII was in full force with many casualties on both sides, Americans clung to their radios for news about the war. Edward R. Murrow joined an American bomber crew on a raid over Berlin to bravely report from the warfront. Update: additional recordings

Important historic events from the year 1942, when the Americans entered WWII and the stories of the war were heard by millions of Americans. Update: 1 additional recording

Transport yourself back to the mid-1940s when everyone gathered around the radio for weekly news about the war from reporter Elmer Peterson and War Telescope. Update: 1 additional recording

A long-time member of the New York “Radio Row” players, Mandel Kramer may be best known among OTR fans as the last actor to play Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.

Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet, Oscar Wilde's works were performed on a wild variety of radio shows.

Host funny-man and talented vocalist George Jessel leads a variety show with a sparkling cast of Hollywood stars. Update: additional recordings

Beginning in 1931 he played "heavies" on a number of local melodramas, but in 1934 he was allowed to stretch his talents as the leading man in The Romance of Helen Trent.

She was said to have “the most beautiful face of film noir” during the 1940s and 1950s” and some gave her the title as the Queen of Noir.

The famous voice behind the bad guy on Gunsmoke and the good guy, Paladin, on Have Gun, Will Travel, and various guys on Suspense, John Dehner appeared in some of the greatest radio shows of yesteryear. Update: added Have Gun Will Travel (volume 6 and 7)

The US Treasury Department was able to fund America’s contribution to the Second World War chiefly through the sales of War Bond. Treasury Salutes was a public service program which highlights other contributions to the War Effort. Update: additional recordings

A summer replacement series that signed the most famous Shakespearean alive actor of the time, John Barrymore.

Jerry was noted for the hijinks and insanity of his stage act with Dean Martin with the match-up or the Clown and the Crooner

When living in Los Angeles, Barton Yarborough became a steady player among the community of "Radio Row" actors and soon landed the role as Ben Romero on Dragnet.

His autobiography is entitled Confessions of a Happy Man, Art Linkletter is a broadcasting legend. Update: additional PAF recordings

He came from vaudevillian roots, and worked in screenwriting in Hollywood following in his father's footprints.

A psychological thriller old time radio show that keeps you at the end of your seat. Update: sound quality improvements

The handsome actor worked in more than thirty films in the 1930s with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Yuletide greetings from the home of Henry "Henreeee" Aldrich as his family celebrates Christmas.

He used his "smart-aleck kid" persona for the duration of his career giving zingers to the biggest names in radio most notably as Leroy in The Great Gildersleeve and the nervy grocery boy Julius on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show.

The stories of H.G. Wells approach the future from a slightly different angle, Wells wrote less about wondrous devices and more about the future of people.

Best known as The Great Gildersleeve, Harold Peary kept Americans laughing with the Fibber McGee and Molly spin-off.

Jerry Colonna won his greatest fame as Bob Hope's sidekick, but he was an accomplished comic on his own.

Award winning music education radio show, presenting not only performances but discussions of musical theory as well as introducing both classical and popular music forms such as Jazz and folk.

A veritable jack of all trades on the radio, Willard Waterman starred in The Whistler, The Lux Radio Theater, and Amos And Andy, later he starred as the leading role The Great Gildersleeve after Harold Peary left the program.

A multi-departmental effort by Northwestern University to create an educational radio show featuring great fiction.

His distinctive white beard was "his trademark" and he is best known for his role in The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Buddy Starcher – Sunway Vitamins Program: Start your day with a healthy vitamin supplement and a healthy dose of hillbilly music from the Buddy Starcher - Sunway Vitamin Program.

Peck was best known for his Academy Award winning portrayal of lawyer Atticus Finch in the film "To Kill a Mocking Bird" -- this collection includes all known appearances of Peck in the radio airwaves. Update: additional recording

One of the first "disc jockeys", Miller's music selections were popular but it was his fun and easy patter between records which kept listeners engaged. The "drive-time radio" DJ had a popular national daily show just after Arthur Godfrey went off the air.

Originally hosted by Gene Autry, his sidekick Pat Buttram took the reins of this fun variety program. A fountain of country wit and humor, Just Entertainment was the perfect companion to a refreshing stick of chewing gum.

A feisty leading lady who's career was cut short due to the politics of the studio system and her personal shortcomings.

Fernando Lamas was originally from Argentina but came to America to become a "Latin Lover" star of stage, screen, and radio and winning the hearts of America's starlets.

The Best of Classical and Broadway Music, presented by Ma Bell. Update: additional recordings

South Africa Broadcasts were originally in English and Afrikaans, but by 1940 Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho and Tswana had been added

He has been called a quintessentially American movie director of the 1930s and 1940s.

Silent films star David Torrence began his film career at the age of 50 after leaving his native Scotland to become a cowboy in California.

The Pennsylvania Historical Commission, with the cooperation of the State Council of Defense, began broadcasting a series of dramatizations of important events from Pennsylvania history in the 1940s.

AFRS jazz broadcasts featuring New Orleans jazz for military personnel abroad. Update: additional recordings

Explore the various facets of cultures and explains not only how they differ, but how they are fundamentally the same in many ways.

Fascinating discussions with symphony musicians about their instrument, how it fits in the Symphony, and the musician's personal and professional background.

Music from around the world so everyone in AFRS heard something that they like, Vincent Price served as host through part of the show's run.

A natural to be cast as the “heavy”, tough-guy roles Donlevy appeared on radio in support of his films on movie.

A fun variety show in the vein of The Jack Benny Program, with a variety of themes and music all within a quarter hour.

Performer, songwriter, singer, and playwright, Gene Lockhart Abroad with the Lockharts

Summer replacement series for Suspense with the premise was that there are no perfect crimes, that someone, somewhere, could have the one missing clue.

A popular American actress, singer, and radio personality described as "both a hot dish and a dead pan at the same time": Virginia O'Brien AKA "Frozen Face" was best known for her comedic roles with a deadpan delivery in 1940s musicals.

Featured "genteel Dixieana" with an evangelical effort, Bible verses were often recited between the musical numbers. Just the thing to listen to on the front porch with the smells of Sunday dinner wafting through the windows...

One of the most creative minds in Science Fiction Writing, Philip K. Dick had his works adapted to radio.

A Hoot'Navy is a Hootenanny that has "gone to sea" to recruit Navy sailors which featured the music of Cliffie Stone, Rex Allen, Miriam Hall and The Sons of the Pioneers.

French Broadcasting System, the RTF or Radiodiffusion-Television Francaise, wanted to put together a program for American audiences to attract American tourist dollars and post-WWII sympathies

British born journalist, his observations of American life and culture were beloved by millions.

Elements which make the music of the bagpipes unique include the drones; pipes which are not fingered but whose reeds are tuned to harmonize with the melody pipe or chanter.

Hosted by Vic Damone's hero, Frank Sinatra, said that Vic had “the best pipes in the business” promoting evaporated milk “tin cows” of the Helvetia and Pet Milk Company.

A half hour of continuous music from the London Studios, Daphne Oram and Basil Douglas put the program together with no announcements.

Sexiest sirens ever to grace the small screen, big screen, and radio let us heat up those Winter Nights with the Hottest Vintage Hollywood Bombshells.

During the Vietnam War, Hanoi Hannah played progressive rock n roll music mixed with North Vietnamese propaganda.

Known as "the King of Western Swing", Wills was born on his daddy's cotton farm in east Texas.

One of the most popular on-air country-western charters was a philosophical corn-pone named Uncle Ezra created by Patrick Barrett.

Features a narrator, a folk singer, a "yarn spinner", and actors to present stories from the history of Tennessee.

A quarter hour play or sketch that Sexton built around a seemingly normal situation with just a dash of the ridiculous.

primarily known as a sports announcer, a large portion of his career was spent simply interviewing famous people.

Composer David Rose had his own show called California Melodies and his song "The Stripper" reached the top of Billboard's top 100.

Hosted by Jazz critic Rudi Blesh, This is Jazz had guests including Louis Armstrong, Leadbelly, Sidney Bechet, Bertha Chippie Hill, Canada Lee, Blue Lou Lee, and Mama Alberta Price.

WWII program geared to bridge the gap between the pond and forge a strong relationship between the people of Great Britain and the United States.

She became a household name playing Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, Vivien Leigh was one of the brightest stars in classic Hollywood.

With her trademark peek-a-boo hairstyle and 4 feet 11 inch frame, Veronica Lake paired with Alan Ladd in seven movies.

Her career began as a Hollywood fairy tale when a reporter found her sipping a Coke in a soda shop, bombshell Lana Turner would overcome personal tragedy and scandal to become one of the grand ladies of Hollywood.

Green-eyed beauty was a rising star in the 1950s, she was typecast as "sexy spitfire."

Known for her roles in Alfred Hitchcock films, Grace Kelly later married Prince Rainier III and became Princess of Monaco.

An American, platinum-blond film actress and sex symbol of the 1930s, Jean Harlow is known as the first Hollywood bombshell.

An American film and stage actress, she was known for her stunning beauty and later as a leading lady.

One of the most popular stars in classic films, all eyes were on her violet eyes through her lucrative career in show business.

Known as a suave and debonair ladies man, Adolphe Menjou's career spanned both silent films and talkies.