Suspense and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar preservation efforts

A tip of the hat to Dr Joseph Webb for his great work preserving the post-quarter hour. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar episodes.  Find a full rundown at the Internet Archive here, along with links to the restored and corrected shows.  

And if you haven't seen The Suspense Project yet, check it out as well.  You'll be glad you did...

Noise in the studio

 Some of you have asked about the noise in the studio.  It's a fan.  Not just any ordinary fan, it's an Arctic Air cooling fan.  Being in the desert with low relative humidity, this keeps the studio very cool so I can work, even in temperatures over 90 degrees.  If you are in a dry environment, I recommend this highly.

This doesn't cool a whole room.  It does cool your immediate area.  And I do run it at night to keep cool by my bed.  Your mileage may vary if your humidity exceeds 40%.  

Check it out on Amazon to support the show at This Link!  You can also find it at Walmart, Ace Hardware, or other retailers. 

Two great special resources

 Yeah, I know.  Been far too busy to write an update.  

I've found two great resources for our friends.  One of which is for a show we don't air.

First, I want to salute our friends at The Suspense Project who have done an amazing job of restoring and finding the best possible versions of the twenty-year run of great shows.  You'll also see lots of great information on each of the shows, and a link to Keith Scott's Suspense log.  (Of course, you can link to that log by clicking here!)   They've provided me with some great upgraded information and programs! 

Second, before the CBS Radio Mystery Theater came around, ABC made a serious effort called Theater 5 (Or as I always saw it stylized Theater 5ive).  The existing collections are all pretty lousy except for the collection from the Theater 5 Project.  At this link you'll find all available episodes of the series, many in better quality than they've ever been.  Plus there's also a full log and background of the series at this link.  While most of the better-known New York actors starred - Ralph Bell, George Petrie, Bob Dryden, and Joan Lorring, some well-known (well, today) Hollywood stars like  James Earl Jones, Elaine May, Conrad Nagel, Barbara Britton, Alan Alda, Ed Begley, Wendie Barrie, Melville Ruick, Arlene Francis, and Martin Gabel made appearances.  Even Yankees broadcaster Mel Allen made an appearance.  

But despite all of ABC's best efforts, the half hour (actually about 23 minute) series didn't make it past a year and only ran on about 90 stations at it's peak.  Click over and give it a listen.  

Professor Bees is no longer an advertiser.  

Now, our new sponsor.  Professor Bee's Digestive Aid.  It unites pure honey with ancient Roman Apithera to naturally balance your digestion. Experience timeless relief in every spoonful!  Check it out at https://profbees.com  and use promo code WYATT at checkout to save 10%.  What have you got to lose...but belly pain? 

All The Best!

Lum and Abner movie on YouTube

 

Lum and Abner's second picture, The Bashful Batchelor, is available for viewing on YouTube.  You can watch the movie by following this link:

By, doggies, lick here to see Lum and Abner!

If you would like to support the show...

 Here are some items that we earn a few pennies upon purchase...

Pricey, but John Dunning's authoritative encyclopedia of Old Time Radio

Carl Amari's collection of Classic Radio's Greatest Comedy Shows on CD.

Martin Grams collection of books on classic radio and TV

And Classic Radio's best Christmas Shows on CD.

One of Wyatt's favorite Science Fiction books - Earth Abides.  It's worth a read. 

And here's information on the Ecoflow Portable Power Stations!  Perfect for when the lights to out or you go on the road.

Your purchases support the podcast!

Civil Defense Information

 I know I talk a lot about Civil Defense and mention that the information is in the show notes.  But some of your podcast apps don't let you click on the links.  Here are the links.

Find the Family Fallout Shelter Booklet Here: https://www.survivorlibrary.com/library/the_family_fallout_shelter_1959.pdf

https://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.html

 

And more about the Survive-all Fallout Shelters

https://conelrad.blogspot.com/2010/09/mad-men-meet-mad-survive-all-shelter.html

Subways are for Sleeping - the original

 In case you want to see Edmund G. Love's original story that the CBS Radio Workshop production was based on...here you go, with more information! 

https://harpers.org/archive/1956/03/subways-are-for-sleeping/

Interesting

 It appears that Amazon has diabled the graphic links to our sponsored products...soooo

Here's a link to a good portable AM/FM Radio

A Study of the War of the Worlds broadcast: The Invasion from Mars: A Study in the Psychology of Panic

And speaking of books, here's  "The Who is Johnny Dollar Matter"

Note: We may (hopefully) earn a commission on some of the links to Amazon contained on this page and in this post.

Well, I'm still here...

After taking a month off, I'm back doing podcasts on a daily basis, using much of the same format that I used to. 

Not having to edit the program to fit the requirements for Over-The-Air radio makes it much easier. I hope you enjoy it. 

You can always  find our podcasts going back to the start of last year right here:

https://www.spreaker.com/show/classic-radio-theater-with-wyatt-cox

Or on your favorite podcast app on your phone.  If you don't HAVE a podcast app, download the Spreaker app for Apple or Android by clicking here. 

And as always, All The Best!

Here's an alternate streaming resource!

 Some of you have said you listened to our podcasts.  Here's a great 24 hour streaming resource.

Jay Lichtenauer still maintains his 24-hour stream of great shows at http://radio.macinmind.com with a listing around the clock of different shows.

Find his web player by clicking here.

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 page Ghoulish Delights:

Benny plays a keen-eared piano tuner who finds himself inadvertently in possession of $25,000. But this money comes with 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.

Buy me a Coffee

 Thanks to those who have bought me a coffee to help support our program and podcasts.  

Some of you said you couldn't find the link.  So here it is!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wyattcoxelA

Your support is appreciated, but not required. Thanks for listening!

 

NOTE- If you want to get one of our special offers, click on the EXTRAS tab when you click on the above link.  Thanks!

 

Stay in Touch

Follow us on Facebook

 Follow us on Twitter

 These are the easiest ways to stay in touch. 

And if you'd like to show your appreciation, buy me a Dr Pepper!

Our Podcasts are now available everywhere!

 Well, everywhere they previously were available, that is.  

 As of December 27th our podcast name changed to Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox. I tried to alert everyone of the new name, but it's taken a while to get the podcasts available.  As of today, Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox is available through:

Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Spreaker

Spotify

iHeart Radio

Amazon Music/Audible

Castbox

Deezer

Podcast Addict

Podchaser

JioSaavn

TuneIn

If I'm not on your favorite podcast app, please let me know and I'll try to get them to pick it up!

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.

Another book, more reasonably priced....

Some of you were sticker-shocked at the price of what I consider the Bible of Old Time Radio, so I thought I'd post here another more popularly priced book, Carl Amari and Martin Grams "The Top 100 Classic Radio Shows"



I've read some of Martin's writings, and I've known Carl's work for some time.  Now this book is limited in scope to just 100 shows, or should I say, 100 series, but for the price, you can sacrifice some of the less popular series and enjoy not only the photos but the three audio CD's that are included with the book.

If you're bargain minded and don't mind an older volume, Amazon still has used copies of John Dunning's Tune In Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976.  This is Dunning's earlier and less complete version of On The Air.



If you want someplace to start, this is a good spot.  For under $15, you can get some great reading.

(Disclaimer: Your buying these items through these affiliate links helps support Classic Radio Theater!)