Radio America

Father Knows Best

Father Knows Best

In every generation, there are singularly outrageous comedians, and for the middle of the 20th century, Red Skelton was probably the "top banana" of all. He remained true to the clown tradition of making 'em laugh, anyway possible and as often as possible. Although known for his physical comedy, he was a master character actor and mime, and had a joke book that was reputed to have 180 thousand jokes.

In every generation, there are singularly outrageous comedians, and for the middle of the 20th century, Red Skelton was probably the "top banana" of all. He remained true to the clown tradition of making 'em laugh, anyway possible and as often as possible. Although known for his physical comedy, he was a master character actor and mime, and had a joke book that was reputed to have 180 thousand jokes.

This is Dedicated section to old time childrens stories Tickety Tock Knox Manning featuring Arthur Q. Bryan Music by Billy May

This is Dedicated section to old time childrens stories Tickety Tock Knox Manning featuring Arthur Q. Bryan Music by Billy May

The Perry Mason of radio would rather swap gunshots with evildoers than sit in a boring courtroom, waiting for the deliberation! Geared more towards action than courtroom drama, Perry Mason ran 12 seasons and later led to the development of the now-popular Raymond Burr television show, which started in the late 1950's.

The Perry Mason of radio would rather swap gunshots with evildoers than sit in a boring courtroom, waiting for the deliberation! Geared more towards action than courtroom drama, Perry Mason ran 12 seasons and later led to the development of the now-popular Raymond Burr television show, which started in the late 1950's.

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show was a comedy series. It's uniqueness makes it a hard one to describe. Basically, Gracie would goof up and try to hide her mistake from her husband. Her way of hiding it would be so easy to "see through" but she'd be sure that he wouldn't find out. Also, she would misunderstand things others told her and then assume it was they who didn't understand. Then she'd proceed to explain things to them. For example, someone might say that their doctor had to close his practice due to a lack of patients. Gracie would say that they should learn to control their anger (lack of patience). Then the person might say, "No, I mean they don't have enough people coming to see them for medical attention". Gracie would then say, "Well, of course, if you always get mad at them, they'll go to another doctor". And it would go "on and on" like that until the person would give up and Gracie would be satisfied that she had explained it to them adequately.

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show was a comedy series. It's uniqueness makes it a hard one to describe. Basically, Gracie would goof up and try to hide her mistake from her husband. Her way of hiding it would be so easy to "see through" but she'd be sure that he wouldn't find out. Also, she would misunderstand things others told her and then assume it was they who didn't understand. Then she'd proceed to explain things to them. For example, someone might say that their doctor had to close his practice due to a lack of patients. Gracie would say that they should learn to control their anger (lack of patience). Then the person might say, "No, I mean they don't have enough people coming to see them for medical attention". Gracie would then say, "Well, of course, if you always get mad at them, they'll go to another doctor". And it would go "on and on" like that until the person would give up and Gracie would be satisfied that she had explained it to them adequately.

Jack Benny is one of the great American comedians. His work spans the 20th century, from vaudeville to radio and movies to TV. In vaudeville, he delivered the snappy comebacks and one liners with intelligence and wit, but it was only with the continuing development of his personal trait comedy that he really became the Jack Benny we all know so well. "Who else could play for four decades the part of a vain, miserly, argumentative skinflint, and emerge a national treasure?

Jack Benny is one of the great American comedians. His work spans the 20th century, from vaudeville to radio and movies to TV. In vaudeville, he delivered the snappy comebacks and one liners with intelligence and wit, but it was only with the continuing development of his personal trait comedy that he really became the Jack Benny we all know so well. "Who else could play for four decades the part of a vain, miserly, argumentative skinflint, and emerge a national treasure?

Red Skelton

Red Skelton

Elliot Lewis' cult radio series is represented here by an entertaining episode, first heard over CBS on Wednesday, November 11, 1953. In "Blackbeard's Fourteenth Wife: Why She Was No Good For Him," William Conrad portrays Edward Teach - better known as Blackbeard the Pirate - who arrives in Nassau in 1714 and marries a sixteen-year-old girl who drives him to his greatest fame...and ultimately to his doom.