When Radio Ruled

When Radio Ruled

A look at Old Time Radio and the world around it. A chronological look at the original mass media.

Episodes

When Radio Ruled #140 – SoundScape 1939 part 16

August 17, 2025
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. August 27 – September 5, 1939 History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s SoundScape: Picking up Girls with Alan Mowbray! The Most Fateful Broadcast in History! On the Boat with Edgar and Charlie! Nutrition with … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #140 – SoundScape 1939 part ...
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When Radio Ruled #139 – Vera Vague 1939

August 9, 2025
Sometimes an actor playing a character becomes so popular with their audience that it becomes more than a character, it becomes a persona that the actor inhabits. Such was the case with Vera Vague, a creation of actor/writer Babara Jo Allen. Vera Vague was a constant presence on Old Time Radio, man-hungry, misinformed, and most … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #139 – Vera Vague 1...
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When Radio Ruled #138 – SoundScape 1939 part 15 July 30-August 13, 1939

August 2, 2025
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s SoundScape: Donald Dixon Tries to Tell a Joke! Charlie McCarthy Interior Decorator! Charlie McCarthy Astronomer! Charlie McCarthy Coin Collector! Charlie McCarthy Boy Scout! Charlie McCarthy Talent Agent! And … Continue reading When Radio Rule...
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When Radio Ruled #137 – Fred Allen’s People You Didn’t Expect to Meet 1939

July 26, 2025
Fred Allen and the people you didn’t expect to meet 1939. Fred Allen was famously a control freak on his radio shows. Although he used a staff of writers, it was just to generate ideas and jokes that would be incorporated into the final script that Fred always wrote personally. Each minute of those shows … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #137 – Fred Allen’s People You Didn’...
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When Radio Ruled #136-SoundScape 1939 part 14

July 19, 2025
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s SoundScape: Meet a Real English Butler! Edgar Bergen Gets Airsick! The Pie Eyed Piper of Hamlin! And More!! Featuring: Cecil B Demille Charlie McCarthy Dorothy Lamour Don Ameche … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #136-SoundScape 1939 part...
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When Radio Ruled #135 – Origins of the Mutual Network 1934-39

July 11, 2025
Old Time Radio was dog eat dog, CBS and NBC scooped up the all the best stations and biggest talent, leaving all the little local stations in the dust. Not all the independent stations wanted to let NBC and CBS run away with their audiences In 1934 WGN and 3 other independents, WOR in New … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #135 – Origins of the Mutual Network 1934-39
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When Radio Ruled #134-SoundScape 1939 part 13

July 4, 2025
Old Time Radio highlights originally broadcast live June 29 to July 9, 1939. Chronologically curated clips of live broadcasts from popular shows of the day. History told by the people living it, as reported by radio. In Today’s SoundScape: The Making of Wizard of Oz Meadow Mouse Grabs 40 Winks! Charlie and Edgar visit the … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #134-SoundScape 1939 part 13
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When Radio Ruled #133 -Orson Welles and Guests 1939

June 27, 2025
Voices from 1939 talking with one of the Greatest Voices on Old Time Radio In 1939 Orson Welles was only 24 years old but a veteran of Radio. He’d been a regular on The March of Time and was enjoying a very successful run playing the Shadow. These excerpts are from the Campbell Playhouse in … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #133 -Orson Welles and Guests 1939
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When Radio Ruled #132 – SoundScape 1939 part 12

June 20, 2025
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s SoundScape: The Town Hall News! A Newsreel Camera Man! Fred Allen Bad Mouths Jack Benny! Life Begins at 40! And More Featuring: Cecil B DeMille Dr. Ronald W. … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #132 – SoundScape 1939 part 12
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When Radio Ruled #131 – Eddie Cantor vs Father Coughlin 1939

June 14, 2025
In public, Eddie Cantor was known as a charming clown with a side of song. In private, Eddie Cantor was a concerned citizen who dedicated much of his personal time and wealth to Jewish charities and causes. The more he saw the rising hatred directed at the Jewish people, the more he felt the need … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #131 – Eddie Cantor vs Father Coughlin 1939
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When Radio Ruled #130-SoundScape 1939 part 11

June 5, 2025
Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s SoundScape: Royalty are just regular folks! Jack Benny with the Hollywood Gossip! The Patent Office is Your Friend! Frank Morgan talks Wizard of Oz and World Fairs! A … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #130-SoundScape 1939 part 11
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When Radio Ruled #129 – Charlie McCarthy and Guests 1939 part 2

May 29, 2025
Edgar Bergen was also Charlie McCarthy but Charlie McCarthy was one of a kind. The cutest little obnoxious guy on the radio.  A big personality in a tiny package. Charlie McCarthy took radio by storm and Edgar Bergen rode his coattails to fame and fortune. Actually Bergen rode his own coat tails, but it was … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #129 – Charlie McCarthy and Guests 1939 ...
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When Radio Ruled #128 – SoundScape 1939 #10

May 22, 2025
1939 SoundScape part 10, Radio highlights originally broadcast live May 22 through June 4, 1939 Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s SoundScape: Youth committing crimes! American Freedom! The Death of John Brown! Jack Benny: Ladies … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #128 – ...
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When Radio Ruled #127 – Wynn Murray Sings 1939

May 15, 2025
17 year old Wynn Murray already had two Broadway hits on her resume when she joined The Fred Allen show as the resident Female Vocalist in 1939. Fred Allen’s decision to bring a famous female vocalist onto his show in 1939 was a recognition that female singers were now in vogue. Singers like Connie Boswell … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #127 – Wynn Murray Sings 1939
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When Radio Ruled #126 – SoundScape 1939 part 9, May 4-21 1939

May 8, 2025
SoundScape part 9, Radio highlights originally broadcast live May 4 through May 21, 1939 Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s SoundScape: Mother’s Day 1939 with Jack Benny! Where are the real high class professional … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #126 – SoundScape 1939...
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When Radio Ruled episode 125 – Charlie McCarthy and Guests 1939 part 1

May 1, 2025
Charlie McCarthy is really Edgar Bergen. Or the other way around. It was a ventriloquist act. On the radio. Go figure. But you can’t argue with success and the Charlie McCarthy show was more than a success, it was a cultural phenomenon. The Kids loved Charlie McCarthy, so did the parents and Grandparents. The biggest … Continue reading When Radio Ruled episode 125 – Charlie McCarthy and ...
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When Radio Ruled #124 – SoundScape 1939 part 8, April 6-30 1939

April 24, 2025
Radio highlights originally broadcast live April 6 through April 30, 1939 Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s soundscape: A Tribute to Man’s Best Friend, my Dog Pearl Buck Talks China with Anna Mae Wong … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #124 – SoundScape 1939 part 8, Apr...
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When Radio Ruled #123 – The Merry Macs Sing 1939

April 16, 2025
Close harmony groups were popular in the 1920’s, 30’s,40’s and  50’s. The Merry Macs were among the most successful and were certainly the longest lived of all the Old Time Radio harmony groups. Close Harmony singing evolved from the Barbershop Quartets of the 1880s and 1890s, but with a jazz age sensibility. Closer harmonic chords … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #123 – The Merr...
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When Radio Ruled #122 – SoundScape 1939 part 7, March 22 – April 5, 1939

April 9, 2025
Radio highlights originally broadcast live March 22 through April 5, 1939 Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day. History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio. In today’s soundscape: Nothing about the war in this one, things were quiet there and we were more than … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #122 – SoundScape 1939 part 7, Mar...
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When Radio Ruled #121 – Cecil B DeMille Interviews part 2 The Movers and Shakers

April 2, 2025
Cecil B. DeMille was a legend, a trailblazer, and a person of ambition and talent. In this episode, DeMille talks with others like him, movers and shakers who have risen to the top of their chosen fields. Greatness, talking with greatness on the Lux Radio Theater. DeMille’s guests include: Father Flanagan H.V. Kaltenborn Grand Duchess … Continue reading When Radio Ruled #121 – Cecil B De...
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