Old Time Radio was dog eat dog, CBS and NBC scooped up the all the best stations and biggest talent, leaving all the little local stations in the dust

Not all the independent stations wanted to let NBC and CBS run away with their audiences

In 1934 WGN and 3 other independents, WOR in New York, WLW in Cincinnatti, and WXYZ in Detroit entered into a program sharing agreement. They called themselves the Mutual Network but they were more Mutual than Network. There was a coordination committee, but the real power was with the individual stations who maintained their autonomy as equals.

It was a bottom-up business model. Socialized Radio that shared shows for a several hours a week, but also did their own local thing with the lion’s share of their airtime.

From these humble beginnings, Mutual would grow to cover the entire country and compete head to head with NBC and CBS.

Old Time Radio highlights originally broadcast live June 29 to July 9, 1939.

Chronologically curated clips of live broadcasts from popular shows of the day.

History told by the people living it, as reported by radio.

In Today’s SoundScape:

The Making of Wizard of Oz

Meadow Mouse Grabs 40 Winks!

Charlie and Edgar visit the Grand Canyon!

Featuring:

Judy Garland

Harold Arlen

Robert Young

Bert Lahr

Ray Bolger

Frank Morgan

Don Ameche

Charlie McCarthy

Edgar Bergen

Donald Dixon

Dorothy Lamour

Jackie Cooper

Alan Mowbray

Cecil B DeMiille

H.V. Kaltenborn

The Green Hornet

Tony Galento

Voices from 1939 talking with one of the Greatest Voices on Old Time Radio

In 1939 Orson Welles was only 24 years old but a veteran of Radio. He’d been a regular on The March of Time and was enjoying a very successful run playing The Shadow.

These excerpts are from the Campbell Playhouse in 1939, previously named Mercury Theater of the Air.

These interviews were a regular feature of the Campbell Playhouse. And were meant to deepen the audience understanding of that week’s Radio Play.

FEATURING:

Orson Welles

Dorothy Hall

The Warden of Sing-Sing Prison

Laurence Olivier

Noah Beery

Jane Allen

Pearl Buck

Anna Mae Wong

John P. Maquand

George Jean Nathan

Gertrude Lawrence

Mary Astor

Paulette Goddard

Edna Furber

And More!!

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

The Town Hall News!

A Newsreel Camera Man!

Fred Allen Bad Mouths Jack Benny!

Life Begins at 40!

And More

Featuring:

Cecil B DeMille

Dr. Ronald W. McCorkle

Fibber McGee and Molly

Harry Van Steeden

Fred Allen

Portland Hoffa

The Merry Macs

Jack Benny

Don Wilson

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Andy Devine

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Edgar Bergen

Charlie McCarthy

Don Ameche

Ginger Rogers

And More!

In public, Eddie Cantor was known as a charming clown with a side of song.

In private, Eddie Cantor was a concerned citizen who dedicated much of his personal time and wealth to Jewish charities and causes. The more he saw the rising hatred directed at the Jewish people, the more he felt the need to ease their burden.

Radio Priest Father Charles Coughlin preached we should give the Germans benefit of the doubt. Communism was just as bad. And did you notice all those Commies are Jews?

Not subtle, but effective and a message that would meet with brave resistance from Eddie Cantor.

A real life Radio Feud with national political implications.

Also appearing:

The Mad Russian

Baby Snooks

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

Royalty are just regular folks!

Jack Benny with the Hollywood Gossip!

The Patent Office is Your Friend!

Frank Morgan talks Wizard of Oz and World Fairs!

A Big Dose of Great Swing Music!

And More

Featuring:

Cecil B Demille

Fibber McGee and Molly

Jack Benny

Mary Livingstone

Don Wilson

Kenny Baker

Orson Welles

Zasu Pitts

The Green Hornet

Barney Rapp and His New Englanders featuring Ruby Wright

Baby Snooks and Daddy

Frank Morgan

Connie Boswell

Doris Day

Phil Harris

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

Andy Devine

And More!

Edgar Bergen was also Charlie McCarthy but Charlie McCarthy was one of a kind. The cutest little obnoxious guy on the radio. A big personality in a tiny package.

Charlie McCarthy took radio by storm and Edgar Bergen rode his coattails to fame and fortune. Actually Bergen rode his own coat tails, but it was so easy to forget they were the same person. Charlie seemed to have a life of his own.

Given his first big radio break by Rudy Vallee, Edgar Bergen himself doubted the wisdom of a ventriloquist act on Radio. But audiences couldn’t resist Charlie McCarthy and history was made.

This episode features some of the biggest stars in Hollywood cavorting with our wooden protagonist, Charlie McCarthy, thanks to Edgar Bergen and Chase and Sanborn!

FEATURING:

Joan Blondell

Constance Bennett

Fred MacMurray

Helen Broderick

Anita Louise

David Niven

Loretta Young

Charles Laughton

Clark Gable

John Garfield

Geraldine Fitzgerald

1939 SoundScape part 10, Radio highlights originally broadcast live May 22 through June 4, 1939

Curated clips of live broadcasts from popular radio shows of the day.

History through the eyes of people as they lived it, reported by radio.

In today’s SoundScape:

Youth committing crimes!

American Freedom!

The Death of John Brown!

Jack Benny: Ladies Man!

Interviews with Civil War Veterans!

Airmail to Europe!

Featuring:

Cecil B Demille

Courtney Riley Cooper

Fibber McGee and Molly

Harlow Wilcox

Orson Welles

Don Wilson

Jack Benny

Phil Harris

Mary Livingstone

Kenny Baker

The Green Hornet

Baby Snooks

Eddie “Rochester” Anderson

And More!