Gourt > Arts > Radio > Formats > Old Time Radio (1)
Old-Time Radio (OTR) and the Golden Age of Radio are phrases used to refer to American radio programs mainly broadcast during the 1920s through the late 1950s. An impression of what the listening audience heard back then can be gathered from these portions of a complete broadcast day in 1940 on station WJSV, the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C.
Vintage radio is fondly remembered for fanfares and show openings, running gags, trademark sounds and newsworthy events, such as the headlines after The War of the Worlds was dramatized on Orson Welles' Mercury Theater on the Air. Others recall the creaking-door sound effect on Inner Sanctum Mysteries, the Dragnet theme music, the "Hi-Yo, Silver!" call of the Lone Ranger or the cackle of The Shadow: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows." In the early 1950s, music radio began to replace the many familiar comedy/drama favorites. The end of the era is often marked by the final CBS broadcasts of Suspense and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar on September 30, 1962.
The audio theatre art form was invented prior to radio, developing in the 1880s and 1890s on early wax recordings. The first examples were recordings of vaudeville sketches, sometimes modified for the medium, but original audio pieces were being created well before Reginald Fessenden first broadcast sound over the radio on Christmas Eve, 1906. Although little radio comedy or drama currently airs in the US (mainly on satellite and internet radio) it continues at full strength on British and Irish stations, and to a lesser degree in Canada. Regular broadcasts of radio plays are also heard in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. In the United States, vintage shows and new audio productions are accessible more on recordings and by satellite and web broadcasters rather than over conventional AM and FM radio.
More on [ Old-time radio ]
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No more old-time radio after 1 AM? Waagh!
bdkmat (Mat Sherer) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:13:48 -0000
No more old-time radio after 1 AM? Waagh!
Now Playing: The Blackout Pact - Do I Sound Like I'm On Old Time Radio?
headcaseradio (Head Case Radio) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:12:00 -0000
Now Playing: The Blackout Pact - Do I Sound Like I'm On Old Time Radio?
listening to old time radio broadcast of Christmas Stories. :) Today was amzing :)
TeamTayandTayy (Taylor S & Taylor L) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:48:21 -0000
listening to old time radio broadcast of Christmas Stories. :) Today was amzing :)
10 Old Time Radio MP3 CD's Now less than $30 Gobble them up here http://tinyurl.com/yds9s5c #oldtimeradio #scifi #mp3
classicotr (Brando Classic OTR) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:21:04 -0000
10 Old Time Radio MP3 CD's Now less than $30 Gobble them up here http://tinyurl.com/yds9s5c #oldtimeradio #scifi #mp3
Get the #Christmas CD Sampler - 102 Classic Old Time Radio Episodes http://bit.ly/5c961R #humor #comedy #drama #radio
classicotr (Brando Classic OTR) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:12:13 -0000
Get the #Christmas CD Sampler - 102 Classic Old Time Radio Episodes http://bit.ly/5c961R #humor #comedy #drama #radio
For Great Old Time Radio, please follow @classicotr #tcot
brandootr (brandootr) Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:01:53 -0000
For Great Old Time Radio, please follow @classicotr #tcot
Ancient Radio Players - Calendar of events and wav files for live radio plays.
Bickersons and Baby Snooks - Official website by creator, Philip Rapp.
Meta Description: [ The Official Bickersons Website, Official web site for The Bickersons and Baby Snooks be creator Philip Rapp ]
Broadcasting in Chicago: 1921-1989 - Broadcasting from the Windy City in the earliest days: entertainment personalities from NBC's studios.
CBS Radio Mystery Theater Forums - Discussion for Radio Mystery Theater and Radio Adventure Theater.
Meta Description: [ Message boards and discussion forums for fans and collectors of radio mystery and radio drama programs ]
Echoes of the Past - News broadcasts from the WWII.
Meta Description: [ Irv Mitchell's QUEST - Echoes of the Past ]
First Generation Radio Archives - Organization offering old time radio programs for loan.
Meta Description: [ The First Generation Radio Archives Association is an organization dedicated to preserving and restoring Old Time Radio shows in the best possible condition ]
I Love A Mystery - dedicated to the radio show of the same name.
Meta Description: [ Multimedia site dedicated to I Love A Mystery, I Love Adventure, Carlton E. Morse, and Old Time Radio ]
Jessica Dragonette, Radio's - Rare photos, clippings, trivia, and songs of the legendary actress.
Meta Description: [ Rare recordings and photos of Jessica Dragonette, awarded radio's Star of Stars 1938! ]
Logs - Old Time Radio - Frank Passage - Program air dates, short intro, episode titles, broadcast dates.
Meta Description: [ Downloadable or viewable logs of many old time radio shows ]
Logs - Old Time Radio - Jerry - Reference material and vast amounts of information on old time radio shows.
Meta Description: [ Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs. Largest and most complete listing of Old Radio programs on the Web ]
Mercury Theatre on the Air - Real Audio recordings of the 1930's radio show created by Orson Welles.
Meta Description: [ Recordings of The Mercury Theatre on the Air, the 1930's radio show created by Orson Welles. ]
Nostalgia Pages - Links include shows in MPG and RA, logs, photos, special events.
Meta Description: [ Includes Old Radio shows in MPEG and RealAudio, OTR and Early TV logs, photos from FOTR Conventions, Discussion Groups, special events, and much more! ]
Old Time Radio Shows MP3 CD Catalog (OTRcat) - Shows for sale or trade on CD in MP3 format: sci-fi, drama, mystery, and westerns genre. MP3 downloads also available.
Meta Description: [ Old time radio shows on CD in MP3 format: sci-fi, drama, mystery, and westerns genre. Buy vintage golden old-time radio shows for trade and sale. Free MP3 downloads of OTR shows. Winamp RealAudio Acadamy Award Theater Adventures vintage radio shows, by Morse All Star Western Theater Amos and Andy... ]
Old-Time - Educational information for collectors listeners.
Meta Description: [ Entertaining and educational information for collectors of old time radio shows. The original, and still best site to visit for old-time radio (OTR) fans. ]
Paul's Radio Museum - European broadcasts from the 1930s-70s.
Plot Spot Homepage - Resources and information on the plot lines of individual episodes from various OTR series.
Quiet, Please - Information and downloads about the 1940's radio series by the same name.
Radioville - Information and tributes to old radio stations and personalities.
Simply Radio Scripts - scripts from the golden age of radio.
Meta Description: [ Links to radio scripts, screenplays, transcripts, and excerpts from classic movies to current flicks to future films. ]
SPERDVAC - Southern California group sharing library of old time radio shows and a yearly convention.
The Navy Lark - A tribute site to the BBC classic radio comedy about the adventures of a Royal Navy frigate.
Meta Description: [ The Navy Lark - The BBC radio comedy about the crew of HMS Troutbridge ]
The Shadow Vaults - RealAudio episodes of the famous crimefighter.
Univ Memphis Radio Archive - Radio Program Archive from the University of Memphis.
Unofficial Fibber McGee and Molly Home Page - Pictures, scripts and downloads of the popular radio show.
Meta Description: [ Johnson's Wax Show with Fibber McGee and Molly, stories, pictures and sounds from the famous radio program. ]
Wisconsin Public Radio Old Time Radio Night - Broadcast live on Sunday nights.
Yesterday USA Radio Networks - Old time radio in many formats.
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