"The Big Broadcast" Live Sunday 6/12 7-11pm est

"The Big Broadcast is a Sunday night tradition for families throughout the WAMU listening area. Each week, Big Broadcast host Ed Walker offers listeners priceless recordings of popular radio programs from the '30s, '40s and '50s. Priceless, especially, for a man whose first sentence as a child was, 'Turn the radio on.' "

1 posted on 06/12/2011 1:15:57 PM PDT by Vision

To: .30Carbine; Arthur McGowan; BluesDuke; Cold Heat; Country Eagle; Fantasywriter; ...

Happy Sunday Night...Classic Radio Time...

2 posted on 06/12/2011 1:17:03 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

07:00 p.m. Johnny Dollar
#677 The Sidewinder Matter (Multi-Sponsored) (CBS) (xx:xx)
07:30 p.m. Line Up
02/22/51 Charlie's Story (Sus.) (CBS) (29:52)
08:00 p.m. Gunsmoke
10/17/52 #26 Lockinvar (Sus.) (CBS) (29:52)
08:30 p.m. Jack Benny
01/12/41 #394 Jack Is Late For The Show (Jello) (NBC) (29:50)
09:00 p.m. Our Miss Brooks
11/07/48 Workign Too Hard (Colgate) (CBS) (29:26)
09:30 p.m. Sam Spade
07/18/48 #108 The Missing Newshawk Caper (Wildroot) (CBS) (29:34)
10:00 p.m. Suspense
11/10/42 #17 Will You Make A Bet With Me w/Michael Fitzmaurice,  Lesley Woods (Sus.) (CBS) (29:46)
10:30 p.m. Mysterious Traveler
04/02/44 #18 Out Of The Past (Sus.) (MBS) (27:06)

3 posted on 06/12/2011 1:17:35 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

Suspense and Mysterious Traveler in the 10pm hour. Nice.

4 posted on 06/12/2011 1:18:49 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

01/12/41 #394 Jack Is Late For The Show (Jello) (NBC) (29:50)

Do the listing ever reflect the Red vs. Blue networks or do they use NBC as a catchall for anything from either of those?

5 posted on 06/12/2011 1:24:12 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)

6 posted on 06/12/2011 1:29:13 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

Huh?

Here's some essential radio history to put my query into context.

When NBC (National Broadcasting Company) came into being in 1926, it had a defacto monopoly in the realm of network radio until CBS and Mutual came along.

Due to NBC's power (a consortium formed by RCA, GE and Westinghouse), it had a powerhouse lineup of affiliates across the country and more programming than could fit on just one network. Thus, it divided itself into the NBC Red and NBC Blue network. The names had nothing to do with politics but were the colors of the thumbtacks used on the national map to denote the location of each affiliate.

Typically the big budget entertainment programs aired on NBC Red with the news, commentaries and dance band programs on NBC Blue (one of which was Walter Winchell, who morphed from a dance band announcer to a commentator).

The duopoly with NBC Red and Blue remained until 1943 when NBC spun off Blue, which eventually became ABC.

7 posted on 06/12/2011 1:41:29 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)

To: re_nortex; Vision

One more not of possible interest concerning the two networks (Red and Blue) run by NBC during the "Golden Age of Radio".

The Blue Network, being the smaller of the pair, positioned itself as somewhat more hi-brow than its big sister. For example Milton Cross' iconic broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera were staples on the Blue Network whereas the Grand Ole Opry was carried from the late 1930's into the mid-1950's on the Red Network.

The situation then is somewhat analogous to the current ESPN and its various subnets, each of which tries to achieve some distinct branding while under the aegis of the mothership.

8 posted on 06/12/2011 1:53:25 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)

Thanks for the information, that's all new to me. Unfortunately I don't know. You could email ed walker. Maybe a poster here can help you out.

9 posted on 06/12/2011 1:56:14 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

Hello, everyone! We’re burning up down here on the MS Gulf Coast. It hasn’t rained on the beach in our city for weeks! Even the weeds are starting to shrivel!

We were glad to see the Suspense and Mysterious Traveler, too!

10 posted on 06/12/2011 2:05:42 PM PDT by WXRGina

That’s interesting, and we didn’t know that history, either.

I don’t recall Mr. Walker ever mentioning anything about the Red and Blue networks, but I’ll bet he knows all about them.

As Vision said, you can e-mail Mr. Walker, and he would likely respond. He’s good about answering enquiring e-mails.

He seems to just play what he (and the audience) likes, though, not necessarily to balance Red and Blue programming.

11 posted on 06/12/2011 2:09:08 PM PDT by WXRGina

Hey. Yes, hot. Though we have rain. Very steamy. I’m getting used to be sweaty when working, or spending much time outside. Sorry to hear you still have no rain.

I’ll be in San Antonio this week and can’t imagine it will be better.

12 posted on 06/12/2011 2:13:34 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

You’re right; it won’t. You’ll see a hundred degrees every day this week in San Antonio.

Gads!

13 posted on 06/12/2011 2:40:10 PM PDT by WXRGina

To: WXRGina; Vision

Above and beyond the content of radio programs from the "Golden Age" is the philosophy of the founders of the two major corporations that owned the biggest networks.

David Sarnoff (NBC) came from a mostly technical background, working for the Marconi Company. Legend has it that he received the dispatch from the Titanic as she foundered, although that's subject to dispute. As he was forming NBC (both Red and Blue), his emphasis was on building a network comprised of big, powerful stations. In short, to Sarnoff, the medium itself was the message. He felt that people listened to the network not to the programs.

On the other hand, William Paley (CBS) was more involved with the marketing and programming side of the still-new medium. The young Columbia Broadcasting System, as it was then known, typically was relegated to second-tier, weaker stations in most cities. But like Avis, he tried harder. Over time, CBS assembled better talent and more appealing programming, ultimately raiding NBC for stars like Jack Benny, Red Skelton and even Amos and Andy. To use the overworked phrase, to Paley "content was king". He felt that audiences would put up with a fading signal and static if the programming was sufficiently compelling.

14 posted on 06/12/2011 3:32:43 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)

Content is indeed king!

Thank you for these history lessons today. This is fascinating stuff to a young, 43-year-old punk like me.

We rarely miss the Big Broadcast and our time here on this thread each week. We even listen occasionally during the week to shows on the Internet Archive website: http://www.archive.org/details/oldtimeradio

15 posted on 06/12/2011 3:44:26 PM PDT by WXRGina

My flight had several delays. Just got in.

Thanx again, Vision !

June 12, 2011 (WARNING: These Raw Notes Contain Spoilers)

7:00 p.m. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
2/7/60 "The Sidewinder Matter" Matter #677 Bob Bailey, Virginia Gregg (Mrs. Chisholm), Joseph Kearns (Jake Kessler), Barney Phillips (Buster Favor), Sam Edwards (Wayne Chisholm), Ralph Moody (Raf "The Sidewinder" Chisholm), Junius Mathews (Jerry "Mac" McCoy), Bill James ; Writer/ Producer/Director - Jack Johnstone ; Announcer - John Wald ; Expense Account Total = $345.40 ; "The whole thing happens out in the middle of the great Mojave Desert. Believe me it doesn't take long for me to recognize that the desert can be a mighty dangerous place." Jake Kessler of Greater Southwest Insurance Company calls Johnny on a case. In Kingman, Arizona, Raf "The Sidewinder" Chisholm, a bad character, owns a small ranch, the Circle RC, and his beef cattle are being poisoned. He knows who the culprit is and it is likely that somebody is going to die. Greater Southwest Insurance company has a $30,000 policy on Chisholm and sends Johnny to try to straighten things out. Dollar enlists the help of his old friend Buster Favor who tells him that Jerry McCoy is an enemy of Chisholm. They go to the Circle RC and meet Raf's wife. She explains that her son, Wayne, had found McCoy fixing to poison the water. Raf took out after McCoy with his .45 pistol. Wayne left, too. Dollar and Favor set off after them. They hear three pistol shots from Black Canyon, and then see dusk over a mesa and find themselves in a major sandstorm. They take cover in a cave in Shadow Mountain. Wild creatures have taken refuge there as well. Following the sandstorm came a hail storm. After the storm they find Wayne Chisholm who has been shot by his Pa, unintentionally. He says that he overheard as his Pa ordered Jerry McCoy to tie him up with fresh cut rawhide, even after Mac admitted that he had poisoned his cattle. He makes him take his knapsack as well - and the knapsack has been booby-trapped with a three sidewinder rattlesnakes. It gives Raf a perfect alibi, when Wayne finds him. Johnny and Favor head for Raf and find him dead of rawhide that shrank around his neck until it choked him to death. (Multi-Sponsored) (CBS)
7:30 p.m.Line Up
2/22/51 Charlie's Story (Sus.) (CBS) (29:52) 2/22/51 "Charlie's Story" (29:52) I have the title "The Silver Swan Case" for this date. Ed had this on his 11`/7/10 show. William Johnstone, Wally Maher, Jay Novello, Junius Matthews, Sidney Miller, Pat McGeehan, Mary Jane Croft, Sammie Hill, John McIntire ; Producer/Director - Jaime del Valle ; Writer - Charles E. Israel ; Organ Music - Eddie Dunstedter ; Announcer - Dan Cubberly ; CBS ; AFRTS rebroadcast ; Edna Hawley, who works in the Silver Swan Dance Hall, has been strangled. The cops know whodunit, but they have no proof.
8:00 p.m. Gunsmoke
10/17/52 "Lochinvar" Program #26 William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester Proudfoot), Georgia Ellis (Miss Kitty Russell) Howard McNear (Doc Adams), Herb Ellis (Frank Craig), Vivi Janiss (Ardis Nash), Tom Tully (Ben Martin), Barney Phillips (Express clerk, Reverend) ; Director - Norman Macdonnell ; Writer - Les Crutchfield; Music Composer/Conductor - Rex Koury ; Announcer - Clancey Cassels ; In three days Benjamin Martin will be marrying Barbara Ardis Nash. Frank Craig, a born drifter, pulls into town and claims that Ardis is still his girl even though he has been gone for a year. Craig insists that he will stop the marriage and threatens to kill anyone who stands in his way. Frank is at the saloon when Ben and two of his boys enter. Ben warns Frank that two men with rifles are guarding Ardis' residence with orders to shoot him if he approaches. There is a holdup at the Express office. The clerk was shot and is dying. The wounded man, while Doc tends to him, is able to tell Matt that it was a man with a red silk handkerchief over his face who robbed and shot him. Frank has a red handkerchief. Matt and Chester lie in wait for Frank to return. When he shows up he resists arrest, and breaks away. During the marriage ceremony Frank shows up and just stands there looking. Ardis faints and is placed in the preacher's study. Later, the Reverend tells Matt that Frank carried Ardis off. The clerk has died. Matt goes into his office. Frank and Ardis are there. She says that Ben took her red silk scarf to implicate Frank. Matt sends them off with luck for Wyoming when Ben Martin approaches. Matt says he is going to arrest Ben for murder. Ben futility tries to draw on Matt. Ben's marriage license falls out of his pocket. (Sus.) (CBS) (29:52)
8:30 p.m. The Jell-O Program Starring Jack Benny
1/12/41 "Jack Is Late For The Show" Program #394 Jack Benny, Don Wilson, Mary Livingston, Eddie "Rochester Van Jones" Anderson, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Harry Baldwin ; Writer/Performer - Ed Beloin & Bill Morrow ; Music Conductor - Mahlon Merrick ; Sponsor - Jello ("Calendar Of Desserts" premium) ; NBC Red network ; The program begins with an unknown tune titled, "Grounded In Glendale." The two previous programs as well also had unknown tunes with local names, replacing the hit tunes that usually began the show (there was a ten-month dispute between ASCAP and the networks that began December 21, 1940). Jack's writers have failed to come up with a script for the show. The "writers" finally come up with a mystery script titled, "The Murder Of Malcolm Smith." (29:50)
9:00 p.m. Our Miss Brooks
11/7/48 "Working Too Hard" Program #17 Eve Arden (Connie Brooks), Gale Gordon (Osgood Conklin), Jeff Chandler(Mr. Boynton), Richard Crenna (Walter Denton), Gloria McMillan (Harriet Conklin), Jane Morgan (Mrs. Margaret Davis) ; Writer/Director - Al Lewis; Producer - Larry Berns ; Musical Director - Wilbur Hatch ; Announcer - Bob Lemond ; Pitchman - Verne Smith ; Sponsor - Palmolive Soap, Lustre Creme Shampoo & Colgate Tooth Powder (Treasure Hunt contest). ; ; aka "The Workhorse" , Connie The Workhorse. Connie's Hobby. Hobbies. Overwork Leads To Hobby. Faculty Hobbies. ; . Miss Brooks has been working like a horse...literally! (29:26)
9:30 p.m. Sam Spade
7/18/48 "The Missing Newshawk Caper" Program #108 Howard Duff (Sam Spade), Lurene Tuttle (Effie Perrine), Alan Reed (Alex M. Youngblood), William Conrad (Otter/Ray McCully), Sara Berner, Bea Benaderet (possibly) ; Creator - Dashiell Hammett ; Producer - William Spier ; Director - Gil Doud , in William Spier's absence ; Writer - Bob Tallman & Gil Doud ; Music - Lud Gluskin ; Announcer - Dick Joy ; Sponsor - non-alcoholic Wildroot Creme Oil Hair Tonic with lanolin ; Sam dictates a letter to his San Francisco client, Alex M. Youngblood, a newspaper publisher. The case started when Sam goes to Youngblood's office. He is escorted into Youngblood's office by his secretary, Phyllis Watson. Youngblood is upset about having lost a campaign to criminal elements despite the fact that the criminal activities were chronicled in an expose by reporter Ray McCully. The reporter is now missing and Youngblood wants Sam to find him. Next, Sam interviews Mr. Otter, a subject of McCully's expose. Otter sends Woody to stay with Sam. They go to Leo's Place. While there, Phyllis Watson shows up in a plunging neckline dress. Sam gets rid of Woody with a punch. Sam follows Phyllis and meets up with McCully, who has been hiding out. McCully punches Sam out. When Sam wakes up McCully has been stabbed to death with a long kitchen knife. Among other things, Sam finds a slip of paper on McCully for Ruthie's Booth, Manson Bowling Alley, along with the number 9. Obviously a numbers racket. Sam goes there. A girl tells her that the number was purchased by a Mr. Spinelli, who has been betting larger and larger amounts as if he is developing a system. She sends him to see Arturo Spinelli, but he has just been murdered. Spinelli's wife says that her husband had just withdrawn all $10,000 of their savings. Back at Youngblood's office, Sam confronts Phyllis. Youngblood and McCully were involved in falsifying weather reports of the high in Phoenix which was used to set the number for the racket. Spinelli was killed by one of the policy racket hoods to get the money back that he had won. (CBS) (29:34)
10:00 p.m. Suspense
11/10/42 "Will You Make a Bet with Death?" Program #17 Michael Fitzmaurice (Robert "Bob" Pendrill), Lesley Woods (Betty Andrews), Nicholas Joy (John Destry), Ted de Corsia (sergeant), Charles Slattery (Inspector Melon) ; Original Writer - John Dickson Carr ; Producer - William Spier ; Director - Max B. Loeb ; Announcer - Joseph Kearns ; Music Composed & Conducted - Bernard Hermann ; A dying, wealthy, John Destry bets his stepson, Robert Pendrill, an analytical chemist, that he can kill him within six months, beginning January 10 and ending June 10. If Robert lives, he will inherit $25,000. The two admittedly hate each other. Robert's mother, who was John's wife, is dead. As June 10 approaches Robert starts to lose his mind, worrying about just how and when his stepfather intends to murder him. Shouldn't his uncle have done something by now? He is hiding in an amusement park ride with a girl he just met named Betty Andrews. Betty turns out to be Destry's secretary. A police sergeant arrests Robert for the murder, by poisonous HgCN, of John Destry. The circumstantial evidence seems air tight, and Robert, if convicted, will go to the electric chair. Betty saves him by saying that Destry died with a laugh on his face of a heart attack as he reached for the brandy that he himself had poisoned to with HgCN that he had stolen from Robert's laboratory. He died before ever grasping the bottle. (Sus.) (CBS) (29:46)
10:30 p.m. Mysterious Traveler
4/2/44 "Out Of The Past" Episode #18 1945 Maurice Tarplin, Santos Ortega, Roger De Koven, Ann Shephard ; A rich woman is being blackmailed. The script was also used on "The Sealed Book" on May 13, (Sus.) (MutualBS) (27:06)

16 posted on 06/12/2011 6:52:59 PM PDT by steelyourfaith (If it's "green" ... it's crap !!!)

To: steelyourfaith

Hey. How was DC besides the miserable heat and humidity?

Really, for some reason the shows tonight have left me a little flat. You’re just in time for the best shows.

17 posted on 06/12/2011 7:04:30 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

“A tale well calculated to keep you in...suspense.”

18 posted on 06/12/2011 7:12:27 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

Jeepers. DC seemed a steam bath at times. 102ºF one day the news claimed.

I'll be catching the Big Broadcast during the week when I can relax a bit. Gotta unpack and tend to some issues for the rest of this night.

19 posted on 06/12/2011 7:20:36 PM PDT by steelyourfaith (If it's "green" ... it's crap !!!)

To: steelyourfaith

Alright, see you next week.

20 posted on 06/12/2011 7:33:24 PM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)

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