Tips from a Fellow OTR Fan Issue 15: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas Listening

By Steve Atlas

Hi. My name is Steve Atlas. Like most of you, I am a lover of Old Time Radio (OTR). My problem is there are so many OTR programs that even if I buy a collection, I am not sure which individual programs I would enjoy most. What collections are good choices if you can only pick a few? Do any of you have similar dilemmas?

Then this newsletter is for you. Here, I recommend some of my favorite OTR collections, and a few of my favorite programs, as well as tips and suggestions from other OTR fans. I hope you too will share some of your favorites with other OTR listeners. This article is issue #13: September 2022. (By the way, I may be recommending a few programs that I have already mentioned, but only if there is a good reason.)

Enjoy the Holidays with Old Time Radio

Old Time Radio offers some great ways to enjoy the holidays.

Thanksgiving

As we prepare our Thanksgiving meals, settle back and enjoy some great OTR shows for the season. OTRCat.com offers a three-volume collection of Thanksgiving related programs. Here is the link: https://www.otrcat.com/p/thanksgiving. On Volume 1: Track 2, Anthology (the unique poetry series that blends poems and music) presents “The Story of Thanksgiving.” This collection offers a wide variety of comedies, variety shows, and a few more serious programs.

“Father Knows Best” features several Thanksgiving programs. One of my favorites Is “A Modern Thanksgiving” (November 23, 1950) that blends humor (Kathy tries to read her homework assignment about Thanksgiving but is constantly interrupted by the rest of the family) and a more profound sense of the holiday (when Jim offers a prayer and some observations about why this holiday is so special).

Hanukkah

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (also known as the Festival of Lights) begins at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 18.

OTRCat.com offers a collection of 4 Hanukkah programs from the OTR series: “The Eternal Light.” Here is the link: https://www.otrcat.com/p/hanukkah. Also worth a listen are the following episodes from The Eternal Light: “Maccabees,” ((Dec. 3, 1944), “Mattathias” (November 29, 1953), and a favorite of mine: “Light in Darkness” (December 19, 1954). In ”Light in Darkness,” a grandfather tells his grandson the story of Hanukkah. I enjoyed the realism of a grandfather talking to his grandson—I could imagine myself telling the story to my own grandson.

Christmas

So often, we focus on the famous Christmas movies and shows such as “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and the many other dramas that make Christmas listening so special.

A few days ago, I discovered a wonderful—and little-known program: “Christmas Fantasy.” These 25 ½ hour programs combine myths and legends with Christmas music and are presented as we might hear them around the fireplace or around the table. Simple, almost childlike, the charm and beauty are so delightful that even the most cynical of us can get into the special beauty and spirituality of the Christmas season. Ideally, we would play one program every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas

Take a few minutes and listen to Episode 1 (the free sample episode). The story of Silent Night, a few other tales, the wonderful intimate tone of the narrator, and the beautiful yet simple music all come together in an unforgettable program of holiday cheer. After hearing this program, I will make a real effort to begin listening to one “Christmas Fantasy” show every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah programs? Do you have a few individual episodes that you would enjoy sharing with other OTR listeners? Do you have requests for other themes or programs you would like me to include in a future article? If you answered “yes” to either question, please leave a comment below.