Classic Radio Theater

Hudson River Radio .com
  • 4.3 (30)
  • FICTION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Hudson River Radio's own Big Jim Wheeler is thrilled to share his personal collection of classic radio shows from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s! Jim grew up on a farm in upstate New York, where TV shows were scarce, and where radio was king. It was a time where families would gather around the radio to hear the latest episode of their favorite shows.

  1. 1D AGO

    Fibber McGee & Molly- Goin' Fishin'

    Fibber McGee & Molly was a very popular radio sitcom on NBC, running from 1935 to 1956. The stars of the show were played by husband and wife team Jim and Marian Jordan, who had started their radio careers in the 1920s.  “Goin’ Fishin’” aired on May 11, 1948.

    28 min

  2. FEB 15

    Hansel & Gretel

    Hansel & Gretel is an old German fairy tale. The Brothers Grimm published a collection of fairy tales in 1812, including Hansel & Gretel, that they compiled from various sources, bringing the story to the masses. Hansel and Gretel are brother and sister who have been abandoned in the woods by their lovely parents. They were taken in by a witch who intended to cook and eat them. So, one could say this is a both a lesson on wandering alone in the woods and also a cooking show. We won’t ruin the twist ending here, even thought it’s over 200 years old. This version was produced by Tale Spinners for Children, who released stories for young audiences on vinyl records in the 1960s.

    28 min

  3. FEB 8

    The Pajama Game

    The popular musical “The Pajama Game” is a staple in school and community theater productions. The plot revolves around romance and labor issues in a pajama factory. The musical premiered in 1954 on Broadway and in 1955 on London’s West End. This version stars the original Broadway cast. John Raitt, father of musician Bonnie Raitt, was known for playing many lead roles on Broadway and in film. He plays the lead character Sid Sorokin. Babe Williams is played by Janis Paige, one of the last stars from The Golden Age of Hollywood. Vernon Hines is played by Eddie Foy, Jr., whose 60 plus year career spanned from vaudeville and theater to film and television.

    55 min

  4. FEB 1

    Dragnet- Big Look

    Aired on May 11, 1954.

    27 min

  5. JAN 25

    Dragnet- Big Stop

    Aired on May 4, 1954.

    27 min

  6. JAN 18

    Dragnet- Big Lift

    Dragnet was created and produced by Jack Webb, who also starred as Sergeant Joe Friday. His goal was to create a show that was realistic, so he attended police academy classes and did ride-alongs with the Los Angeles Police Department as part of his research. The cases in the shows were based on actual cases handled by the LAPD. Dragnet was broadcast on NBC radio stations from 1949 to 1957. It overlapped with its TV version which ran from 1951 to 1959 in black and white, and was brought back to TV in color from 1967 to 1970.   “Big Lift” aired on April 27, 1954. As always, please don't believe the cigarette ads.

    27 min

  7. JAN 11

    South Pacific

    The hit musical South Pacific by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II premiered on Broadway in New York City in 1949 and ran for 1,925 shows. It is based on the 1947 book “Tales of the South Pacific,” by James Michener and follows the story of a nurse based in the south Pacific during World War II.

    49 min

  8. JAN 4

    The Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy

    This episode of The Edgar Bergen Show with Charlie McCarthy aired on November 9, 1952, and features Marilyn Monroe as their special guest. Charlie was a puppet, and having puppets on the radio seemed to make sense at the time.

    28 min
See All (157)

4.3
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

Hudson River Radio's own Big Jim Wheeler is thrilled to share his personal collection of classic radio shows from the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s! Jim grew up on a farm in upstate New York, where TV shows were scarce, and where radio was king. It was a time where families would gather around the radio to hear the latest episode of their favorite shows.

Information

  • Creator
    Hudson River Radio .com
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    157
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Hudson River Radio .com
  • Show Website
    Classic Radio Theater

You Might Also Like