Radio Journeys

This week, we start a two-month, nine-part presentation of Redbook Magazine Dramas, perhaps the first time these well-made radio short stories have been broadcast since the 1930s. Last month, we presented Episode 1, and this week we present Episode 2, dated June 2, 1932, featuring Virginia Harner's short story "He Knew Women." Plus, the latest episodes of Si and Elmer, The Family doctor, and Ann of the Airlanes, all syndicated serials originally broadcast in 1932. And... a look at what was on the air on Thursday, June 2, 1932, according to the radio page of the New York Times.

Yes, Radio Journeys is back after a brief vacation. We were delayed by technical issues at Libsyn, too. But here we are, and it's good to be back. We're continuing through the serials of 1932--basically the only surviving relics from that year in radio. We hear Si and Elmer, episode 5 of "The Lost Baby and Dog" mystery; episode 12 of The Family Doctor; episode 21 of Ann of the Airlanes; and an episode of Chandu the Magician originally broadcast on WOR on May 31, 1932. And, a special treat: We take another look at what was on the radio, straight from the newspaper radio page of May 31, 1932. We discover that among the shows heard on that date was "The Happiness Boys," aka Billy Jones and Ernie Hare (photo at right).

Our special feature this week is Redbook Magazine Radio Dramas, show #1, from May 26, 1932. Redbook Dramas were syndicated dramatizations of stories from the women's magazine, famous at the time for the quality of its fiction writing. Also: The usual serials continue, with Si and Elmer, the Family Doctor, and Anne of the Airlanes.

This week, the original horror--"The Witch's Tale," with an excellently preserved recording of the show originally broadcast on May 16, 1932. Plus, a look at how the show's creator, Alonzo Deen Cole, began his career and started a trend that still reverberates throughout media today.NEW! Now Streaming! RADIO JOURNEYS Presents ... Your Daily OTR ... 1930s Radio Programming Originally Broadcast on This Date.Tune in here!Daily Schedule Here!

This week's feature is the Majestic Theater of the Air, a show that had been a mainstay of the late '20s CBS lineup, only to become an obscure 15-minute syndicated serial in the early 1930s. And, of course, three more installments of the serials of '32: Si and Elmer, with a new mystery in "The Lost Baby and Dog;" Family Doctor, episode 8; and Ann of the Airlanes, episode 18.NEW! Now Streaming! RADIO JOURNEYS Presents ... Your Daily OTR ... 1930s Radio Programming Originally Broadcast on This Date.Tune in here!Daily Schedule Here!

Today, we inaugurate our new Stream: "Daily OTR," with background on how the stream works, and what you can expect to hear there. Then, into four more episodes from the serials of 1932: Si and Elmer, "The Family Doctor," Omar (illustration at right), and "Ann of the Airlanes." More authentic than ever, and growing more so... That's Radio Journeys.NEW! Now Streaming! RADIO JOURNEYS Presents ... Your Daily OTR ... 1930s Radio Programming Originally Broadcast on This Date.Tune in here!Daily Schedule Here!

This week, we celebrate the 50th episode, and first anniversary, of Radio Journeys with a special on Jack Benny... How and why he got into radio, featuring Benny's first "professional" appearance on the radio, from May 2, 1932. And, of course, two more episodes of the serials, "Si and Elmer" and "Family Doctor." It's the 50th episode of Radio Journeys, and that marks one full year of the Radio Nostalgia Network. Join us!NEW! Now Streaming! RADIO JOURNEYS Presents ... Your Daily OTR ... 1930s Radio Programming Originally Broadcast on This Date.Tune in here!Daily Schedule Here!

Three programs this week from the same evening, Thursday, April 21, 1932: Omar the Wizard of Persia, Episode 10, Chandu the Magician, and Anson Weeks and His Orchestra--the last is the final surviving episode of Anson Weeks. Plus, Episode 17 of "A Dangerous Mystery Case" with those clumsy country sleuths, Si and Elmer.

We're back, with more episodes of those serials from 1932. First, Si and Elmer, part 16 of the "A Dangerous Mystery Case;" then, Episode 5 of "The Family Doctor." Next, two adventure serials from the same evening of programming, April 20, 1932: "Omar, Wizard of Persia," originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on that date, and "Chandu, The Magician," originally scheduled for 8 p.m. Piecing together our fragments from the radio... on Radio Journeys.

This week: Family Doctor, episode 4; Misadventures of Si and Elmer, episode 23; From April 13, 1932, Chandu, The Magician; and from April 14, the seventh episode (one of two known surviving) of Joe Palooka. Plus, some news on the research front, as we continue to discover new dates for these shows. Radio history... on Radio Journeys.

This week, we win OTR collector's Bingo! Three shows all dated Tuesday, April 12, 1932. Here's what was on the radio on that evening, according to actual newspaper radio pages: 6:00 p.m., The Family Doctor (This one's a guess); 6:30 p.m., Omar, Wizard of Persia; 6:45 p.m., Joe Palooka; 8:00 p.m., Chandu, The Magician. This presentation of Omar is especially noteworthy: It is the first time a collector has established a date for the Omar serials, as well as a precise time of day for broadcast. Historic radio, reconstructed from schedules of the day... on Radio Journeys.

This week, we continue with the next episodes of four serials from last week: Si and Elmer, Ann of The Airlanes, episode 2 of the Family Doctor, and the second surviving episode of Chandu The Magician, from March 23, 1932. Plus, a look at the newspaper radio page for that day.Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

This week, we start two more serials from 1932: The very '30s feel-gooder "Family Doctor," and "Chandu the Magician." Chandu is one of the earliest serials of its kind--an adventure serial with a magical adventurer, a concept that would take many shapes in radio through the years. This episode is the earliest known to exist, from March 17, 1932. Plus, the next installments of Si and Elmer, and Ann of the Airlanes.Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

This week, continuing through the serials of 1932, as we finish two of them--Abroad with the Lockharts and the Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors. Also, as usual, the next installment of Si and Elmer and Ann of the Airlanes. Late afternoon radio as it sounded in 1932, on Radio Journeys.Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

This week, our cycle continues through 3 surviving radio serials of 1932, plus the very special document "Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors." Plus, we look at the history of the Cocoanut Grove and Ambassador Hotel Los Angeles.Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

The musical highlight this week is the Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors, with Jimmy Grier and His Orchestra, in a Sunday afternoon syndicated show from 1932, and from the legendary Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles. Also: The next installments of Si and Elmer, Abroad with the Lockharts, and Ann of the Airlanes, all from 1932. Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

Anson Weeks is back, in a performance from February 24, 1932. And so are Si and Elmer, The Lockharts, and Ann of the Airlanes. And, we take another peek at the newspaper radio page, from February 24, 1932.Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

The serials of '32 just keep rolling.... More from Si and Elmer, The Lockharts, Ann of the Airlanes, and George Bruce's Air Stories. Plus, a look at some of the legend and lore behind George Bruce and Aces Magazine, and yet another peek into the newspaper radio pages.Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

More of those great serials from 1932. Plus, a look at what was highlighted on the radio page of local newspapers, the first day of February 1932, with samples of the Boswell Sisters and the Mills Brothers (photo at right).Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

It's more of those mysterious serials from 1932--the first year from which a truly large number of shows survive. We continue cycling through four syndicated serials: Ann of the Airlanes, Si and Elmer, Abroad with the Lockharts, and Air Stories of the World War. Late-afternoon radio as it sounded in 1932.Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here