The end of Classic Radio Theater

 I'm done fighting with my doctors.  A variety of health issues have led me to a decision that I hoped I wouldn't have to make for a couple of more years. 

Classic Radio Theater will end June 30, 2023.

I want to thank everyone who made this show possible over the years.  I know it's only about three weeks for stations to make alternate programming arrangements, but it's a choice that I had to make.  I'm nearing 70 years of age, and the grind of producing these shows is just too much. 

It has been my honor and pleasure to serve you these past eight years.

All The Best!

Wyatt Cox

Tell the Automakers DON"T DELETE OUR RADIO!

 You've no doubt heard our messages regarding automakers removing AM (and in some cases FM) radio from cars in favor of internet radio.  But in times of emergency, AM and FM radio are the prime carriers of emergency, particularly when the internet fails. 

Tell your representatives to keep LOCAL AM and FM Radio in new cars by clicking this link!

 Your safety may depend on us. 

Jack Benny on Suspense

 Jack Benny made four appearances on Suspense. 

He first appeared in an episode entitled Murder in G-Flat on April 5, 1951. As summarized by the web pate Ghoulish Delights:

Benny plays a keen-eared piano tuner who finds himself inadvertently in possession of $25,000. But this money comes with Is the murder and mystery attached!

Benny would next appear on Suspense on June 2, 1952 in A Good and Faithful Servant. The Old Time Radio Review summarized this episode as:

An accountant in a department store, who is nearing retirement, carries out an ingenious plan to steal $50,000 - yet all does not go as smoothly as he had hoped.

Jack Benny's third appearance was outta space...a science fiction episode entitled Plan X.  On the February 2, 1953 episode, Benny portrays Zeno, the Martian, who is sent to meet the first rocket from Earth to land on his planet, and to put "Plan X" into effect.

The final Benny appearance on Suspense was on January 18, 1954 in The Face is Familar.  Benny plays an innocent schnook used by a gang of bank robbers to help them with a caper. Benny is joined by Sheldon Leonard as one of the robbers. 

High comedy the shows weren't, but they attracted a nice audience at a time when radio audiences were falling. Elliot Lewis as producer/director was able to still get Hollywood's finest to take a fling at stepping outside their regular box and take a flier on doing something different, like when Fibber McGee and Molly starred in the episode Backseat Driver on February 3, 1949.  

And now you know...why Jack Benny was on Suspense!  It was Elliot Lewis.

Help the International Jack Benny Fan Club get Jack's Maxwell!

 I had a nice interview with Laura Leibowitz of the International Jack Benny Fan Club about the club's attenpt to raise money to buy the Maxwell! 

 

Laura says the Maxwell is not only in good condition still, but it also RUNS!  They've got a GoFundMe campaign right now to pay for it!   If you want to learn more about their fund raising and the Maxwell itself, follow this link or go to jackbenny.org.  This is something that you really ought to check out. 

 

 

Nice Birthday Present from Jimmy!

Our friend and listener Jimmy in Boston sent me a delightful birthday gift. 

 

 He is the President of the Marie Wilson Fan Club and to be honest, it was a shock and surprise.  Thanks, Jimmy, for such a thoughtful gift!

Here's another great Classic Radio resource!

Just want to thank Ted Davenport over at Radiomemories.com who helped me spend part of my tax refund on a quantity of new shows!  Ted is one of the few vendors who still sells CASSETTE tapes as well as mp3 CD's of darned good quality!

(Hint:  If you follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/otrteddavenport/ you'll find he posts some neat shows for free from time to time!)

FREE online Classic Radio resources

There are a great number of free or low cost Classic Radio resources online that you might be interested in exploring.

Jerry Haendiges has been in the Old Time Radio collecting hobby for YEARS and produces a weekly radio program.  His website otrsite.com has radio logs, articles. links, and programs for sale.  Some of his shows he has posted for free at vintageradioprograms.com

Another great source for Classic Radio information and collecting is the Digital Deli at digitaldeliftp.com where you'll find a lot of articles and free downloads!  Yes, they have a pay section that contains buckets full of great shows, but the prices are amazing.  If you have a little bit of tech savvy, you can grab a bunch of shows to listen to during those hours that you're NOT listening to Classic Radio Theater!   

Note:  I tried to subscribe to the Digital Deli's FTP service.  I say tried because I was unable to contact the operators of the Digital Deli for two weeks and finally ended up requesting a refund.  It now appears the site is totally offline.  You can probably access some of the information on the site by using the archive.org Wayback Machine.