Don't Touch That Dial

Ricky Voltage

Ricky Voltage spins retro TV commercials, movie trailers, TV themes and the songs that went with them, with a fact, a story and a cheesy one-liner between them. From Stupid Potato: 60 free 24/7 channels of classic radio and vintage TV, and 189 podcasts, at stupidpotato.com.

  1. 15h ago

    Cheerio from Across the Pond

    Don't Touch That Dial for November 5, 2026: Cheerio from Across the Pond. 12 pieces (vintage commercials and promos, songs and theme tunes, short pieces): Ron Grainer - Doctor Who, Hartley's New Jam, McLean's Toothpaste and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Stupid Potato0:12 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:27 Ron Grainer - Doctor Who4:01 Hartley's New Jam (commercial)4:12 McLean's Toothpaste (commercial)4:42 Danger Man (TV theme, 1964) — The theme song to the British spy television series Danger Man, released as a Pye A-side single in 1964. The track is titled "Highwire" and was part of a collection of British TV themes.6:34 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato6:44 Persil (commercial)6:53 Pelican Crossing (PSA)7:25 Dad's Army (TV theme, 1969) — Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War, written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC1 from 31 July 1968 to 13 November 1977. The show ran for nine series with 80 episodes total, plus a 1971 film, stage show, and radio version, regularly attracting 18 million viewers and continuing to be shown internationally.8:35 Buttercups Butter (commercial)8:54 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato9:02 Captain Scarlet (TV theme, 1967) — The theme to Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson using Supermarionation puppetry. This is the 1967 Pye Records A-side edit version.10:56 Classic British Adverts, Spot 1311:32 Doctor Who Shalka (TV theme) — Scream of the Shalka is a Flash-animated adaptation of the British science fiction series Doctor Who, produced as a special marking the show's 40th anniversary. It first appeared online in six weekly installments, running from 13 November to 18 December 2003, on the BBC's Doctor Who website.12:06 Mastermind (TV theme, 1970)14:15 Ricky Voltage signs off15:09 More free classic radio at stupidpotato.comStupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

  2. 1d ago

    Fizz Wars: Cola Commercials

    Don't Touch That Dial for November 4, 2026: Fizz Wars: Cola Commercials. 10 pieces (vintage commercials and promos, songs and theme tunes): Pepsi, Chickenman - Will Chicken Man Fly, Coca-Cola Drive-In Ads and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:14 Pepsi (commercial, 1950) — Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink with a cola flavor and the main product of PepsiCo. In 2023, Pepsi ranked as the second most valuable soft drink brand in the world, behind only Coca-Cola, with the two companies engaged in a long-standing competition known as the "cola wars".2:01 Chickenman - Will Chicken Man Fly — Chickenman was an American radio series created by Dick Orkin in 1966 at Chicago radio station WCFL that spoofed comic book heroes, inspired by the mid-1960s Batman TV series. The show aired nearly daily from 1966 to 1969 with episodes lasting one or two minutes, and was syndicated to over 1,500 radio stations, including Armed Forces Radio during the Vietnam War. The series has been translated into German, Dutch, and Swedish.3:51 Coca-Cola Drive-In Ads (commercial, 1953)4:57 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato5:07 Get Smart Theme (TV theme, 1965) — Get Smart is an American comedy series created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry that debuted on NBC on September 18, 1965, parodying the secret agent genre popularized by James Bond films in the early 1960s. The show starred Don Adams as agent Maxwell Smart, Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, and Edward Platt as The Chief, and was created at the request of Daniel Melnick to capitalize on James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. Brooks described the show as "an insane combination of James Bond and Mel Brooks comedy".7:27 Royal Crown Cola (commercial, 1962)8:32 A&W Root Beer (commercial, 1972) — A&W Root Beer is an American root beer brand started in 1919 by Roy W. Allen and sold mainly in the United States and Canada. Roy W. Allen partnered with Frank Wright in 1922, which led to the creation of the A&W brand and the founding of A&W Restaurants that same year. The original price of A&W Root Beer was five cents.9:35 The Zipps - The Struggle For Ice-Cold Milk (1967)11:53 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato12:02 Pepsi Free (radio spot, 1982) — Caffeine-Free Pepsi is a cola from PepsiCo that leaves out the caffeine normally found in colas, and it has been sold since 1982. A sugar-free version called Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi is also available. The drink is identified by its gold-colored branding and packaging.13:04 Tom Donahue - Town & Country (1967)14:48 Coca-Cola Classic (commercial, 1989)15:19 Ricky Voltage signs offStupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

  3. 2d ago

    Down on the Sitcom Farm

    Don't Touch That Dial for November 3, 2026: Down on the Sitcom Farm. 11 pieces (songs and theme tunes, vintage commercials and promos, short pieces): I Dream of Jeannie, Winston Cigarettes, Kansas Mobile Homes and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:13 I Dream of Jeannie (1987)2:33 Winston Cigarettes (commercial, 1960s) — Winston is a cigarette brand named after Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where R. J. Reynolds founded his business. The brand is currently made by ITG Brands in the United States and by Japan Tobacco outside the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maxwell Report, Winston had the seventh-highest U.S. market share of all cigarette brands as of 2017.3:54 Kansas Mobile Homes (commercial, 1981)4:35 Petticoat Junction (TV theme, 1963) — Petticoat Junction is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970, centered on the Shady Rest Hotel run by Kate Bradley, her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Betty Jo, and her uncle Joe Carson. Created by Paul Henning following the success of his earlier sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971), the show was part of three interrelated rural-themed series and itself spawned the spin-off Green Acres (1965–1971). The series was produced by Filmways, Inc. and CBS Productions.6:08 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato6:17 F-Troop (TV theme, 1965) — The theme song from the 1960s sitcom F-Troop, included on Television's Greatest Hits: 65 TV Themes! From the 50's and 60's, a 1985 compilation album of television theme songs released by Tee-Vee Toons.7:33 Invasion of the Blood Farmers — Invasion of the Blood Farmers is a 1972 horror film. Ed Adlum directed it, and he co-wrote the script with Ed Kelleher.8:30 Star Trek: The Cage (TV theme, 1965) — Alexander Courage composed the instrumental "Theme from Star Trek" for the science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. The show originally aired between September 8, 1966, and June 3, 1969.9:26 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato9:36 Ivory Snow (commercial, 1960)10:34 Bat Masterson (TV theme, 1958) — Bat Masterson was an American Western television series that dramatized the life of the real marshal, gambler, and journalist Bat Masterson, with Gene Barry playing the title role. The half-hour black-and-white show aired on NBC from 1958 to 1961 and was produced by Ziv Television Productions. In the fictional version, the character's name is William Barkley Masterson, though "Bat" is actually a nickname for the real Masterson's first name Bartholemew.11:43 Roto-Rooter (radio spot, 1979)…and 2 more. The whole running order: Don't Touch That Dial Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

  4. 3d ago

    Badges, Sirens and Theme Songs

    Don't Touch That Dial for November 2, 2026: Badges, Sirens and Theme Songs. 10 pieces (songs and theme tunes, vintage commercials and promos): Ray Anthony - Dragnet Theme, Chesterfield Cigarettes, Perry Mason and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:13 Ray Anthony - Dragnet Theme3:56 Chesterfield Cigarettes (commercial, 1951)5:14 Perry Mason (theme) — Perry Mason is an American legal drama that aired on CBS from September 21, 1957, to May 22, 1966, featuring Raymond Burr as a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer. The character originally came from detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner, and many episodes of the series were based on stories written by Gardner.7:15 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato7:23 Perry Mason (commercial)7:44 Honey West (TV promo)7:56 Police Woman (TV theme)9:26 Police Woman promo (1982)9:45 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato9:54 Hawaii 5-0 (theme) — "Hawaii Five-O Theme" is an instrumental composed by Morton Stevens for the CBS television series Hawaii Five-O, which aired from 1968 to 1980, and is widely regarded as one of the best television themes ever made. The Ventures recorded a cover version in 1968 that reached the top five of the singles charts in the United States and Canada, becoming one of the band's biggest hits.11:42 Matlock Promo (1986)12:03 Mike Post - Hill Street Blues Theme15:14 Ricky Voltage signs offStupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

  5. 4d ago

    Sunday Supper with Lassie

    Don't Touch That Dial for November 1, 2026: Sunday Supper with Lassie. 10 pieces (vintage commercials and promos, songs and theme tunes): Al Caiola - Bonanza, General Foods, Pac-Man Pasta and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:11 Al Caiola - Bonanza (1961) — "Bonanza" is the theme song for the NBC western television series Bonanza, which stars Lorne Greene. The music was written for the series by Jay Livingston and Raymond Evans.3:32 General Foods (commercial, 1950)4:27 Pac-Man Pasta (commercial, 1980s)5:01 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato5:11 My Three Sons (TV theme, 1959) — My Three Sons is an American sitcom that ran from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972, first airing on ABC in black-and-white for five seasons before moving to CBS for seven seasons in color. The show follows Steven Douglas, a widower and aeronautical engineer, as he raises his three sons.6:14 Cream of Wheat (commercial, 1960s)7:55 The Disney Sunday Movie (TV theme, 1986) — The Walt Disney Company has been making an anthology television series since 1954 that has gone by different names and formats over the years. The show was called The Wonderful World of Disney from 1969 to 1979 and again starting in 1991. After appearing on various networks during its first four decades, the program has been on ABC since 1997.8:54 Disney promo (1987)9:05 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato9:14 Swiss Family Robinson (commercial)9:47 Kentucky Fried Chicken (commercial, 1976)10:18 Bonanza - Johnny Cash & Lorne Greene14:27 Ricky Voltage signs offStupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

  6. 5d ago

    Trick or Treat at the Drive-In

    Don't Touch That Dial for October 31, 2026: Trick or Treat at the Drive-In. 8 pieces (songs and theme tunes, vintage commercials and promos, short pieces): John Carpenter - Halloween Theme, Halloween II, Pop Rocks and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:15 John Carpenter - Halloween Theme — The iconic synthesizer theme composed and performed by John Carpenter for the 1978 horror film Halloween, featuring a minimalist piano melody that became one of the most recognizable pieces in cinema history.4:04 Halloween II (TV spot, 1981) — Halloween II is a 1981 American slasher film produced and written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill and directed by Rick Rosenthal in his feature directorial debut. The film continues directly from the first Halloween (1978), following Michael Myers as he pursues survivor Laurie Strode to a local hospital while her psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis tracks him down. The cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Charles Cyphers, Lance Guest, Pamela Susan Shoop, and Hunter von Leer.4:34 Pop Rocks (commercial, 1979) — Pop Rocks is a popping candy owned by Zeta Espacial S.A. that contains pressurized carbon dioxide gas bubbles which create a popping sensation as the candy dissolves, unlike regular hard candy. The candy is made from sugar, lactose, and flavoring.5:00 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato5:10 Rocky Horror Picture Show - Time Warp9:12 Drive-In Intermission Bumper — A drive-in theater is an outdoor movie venue with a large screen, projection booth, concession stand, and parking area where customers watch films from their cars. Some drive-in theaters include playgrounds for children and picnic tables or benches for visitor use.9:47 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato9:57 Mars Milky Way Bar (commercial)10:59 The Hit Crew - Ghostbusters15:01 Ghostbusters Cereal (commercial, 1980s)15:35 Ricky Voltage signs offStupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

  7. 6d ago

    Zacherley Opens the Crypt

    Don't Touch That Dial for October 30, 2026: Zacherley Opens the Crypt. 11 pieces (songs and theme tunes, vintage commercials and promos, short pieces): Vic Mizzy - The Addams Family, Sound effect: Halloween 2 promo, The Mummy and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:17 Vic Mizzy - The Addams Family (TV theme)3:14 Sound effect: Halloween 2 promo — Halloween II is a 1981 American slasher film directed by Rick Rosenthal in his directorial debut and written and produced by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence reprise their roles as Laurie Strode and Dr. Sam Loomis in this direct sequel to Halloween (1978). The story continues immediately after the first film's ending, with Michael Myers following Laurie Strode to a local hospital while Dr. Loomis pursues him.3:32 The Mummy (trailer) — The Mummy is a 1959 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher and featuring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Yvonne Furneaux. Jimmy Sangster wrote the screenplay, while Michael Carreras and Anthony Nelson Keys produced it for Hammer Film Productions. The film was released in the UK on 25 September 1959 and in the U.S. in December 1959, where it was shown as a double feature with either The Bat or Curse of the Undead.4:21 Billy Strange - The Munsters Theme6:03 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato6:12 Prell Concentrate (commercial, 1960s)7:00 Zacherley - Monster Blues10:27 Vaseline Hair Tonic (commercial, 1960s)11:00 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato11:10 Mobil Gasoline (commercial, 1960s)11:26 Marty Manning - Twilight Zone13:26 Milton Bradley Voice of the Mummy (commercial, 1971) — Voice of the Mummy is a three-dimensional board game made by Milton Bradley in 1971 that featured a record player to give instructions to players as they played.14:49 Danny Elfman - Tales from the Crypt16:56 Ricky Voltage signs offStupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

  8. Oct 29

    Hero Worship & Horror Spots

    Don't Touch That Dial for October 29, 2026: Hero Worship & Horror Spots. 12 pieces (songs and theme tunes, vintage commercials and promos, short pieces): Joey Scarbury - Greatest American Hero, Dragnet, Hawaiian Punch and more, with Ricky Voltage. In this episode: 0:00 Don't Touch That Dial opens: Ricky Voltage welcomes you1:16 Joey Scarbury - Greatest American Hero4:29 Dragnet (TV theme, 1951) — Dragnet is an American media franchise created by Jack Webb and owned by Mark VII Limited and Universal Pictures that follows LAPD Detective Joe Friday and his partners solving crimes in Los Angeles by strict procedure. The franchise began as a radio drama on NBC in 1949 and has since been adapted into multiple successful television shows and films. The name comes from the police term "dragnet," which refers to coordinated efforts to apprehend criminals or suspects.4:47 Hawaiian Punch (commercial) — Hawaiian Punch is an American fruit punch brand now owned by Keurig Dr Pepper that was first created in 1934 by A.W. Leo, Tom Yeats, and Ralph Harrison as an ice cream topping. The original syrup flavor, called Leo's Hawaiian Punch, contained orange, pineline, passion fruit, guava and papaya, and the brand has offered 14 flavors since 2020. While earlier versions of the drink contained 10% fruit juice, the current version is made with 3% fruit juice.5:47 The Addams Family (TV theme, 1964) — The theme for the 1964 TV series The Addams Family was written and arranged by composer Vic Mizzy and featured a harpsichord, bass clarinet, and finger-snaps. Actor Ted Cassidy, using his "Lurch" voice, added words like "neat", "sweet", and "petite" to punctuate the lyrics. The theme was popular enough to be released as a single, but it did not make the national charts.7:13 Don't Touch That Dial on Stupid Potato7:23 Clash of the Titans (trailer, 1981) — Clash of the Titans is a 1981 fantasy adventure film directed by Desmond Davis and written by Beverley Cross that draws from the Greek myth of Perseus. The film stars Harry Hamlin, Judi Bowker, Burgess Meredith, Maggie Smith and Laurence Olivier, and showcases Ray Harryhausen's final stop-motion visual effects work, with Harryhausen and Charles H. Schneer serving as producers.7:52 Gillette Adjustable Razor (commercial, 1962)8:23 Jonny Quest (TV theme, 1964) — Jonny Quest is an animated science fiction adventure series about a boy who travels with his scientist father on remarkable adventures. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Screen Gems and was created and designed by comic book artist Doug Wildey.…and 7 more. The whole running order: Don't Touch That Dial Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

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About

Ricky Voltage spins retro TV commercials, movie trailers, TV themes and the songs that went with them, with a fact, a story and a cheesy one-liner between them. From Stupid Potato: 60 free 24/7 channels of classic radio and vintage TV, and 189 podcasts, at stupidpotato.com.

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