Retro Radio Podcast

The story of the life of a ruthless business woman is recounted when Lucifer, and the Arch-angel Michael argue over who gets to claim her soul. --Find more at, CBS Radio Mystery Theater Episode Guide.

Command Performance - Olivia De Havilland, Bob Crosby. 440429. Hosted by Olivia DeHavilund. She reads greetings from the mailbag. Bob Crosby takes over with his orchestra and sings, Love Love Love. Olivia helps to present a sound from back home, an alarm clock going offf at 10AM, then being smashed. She reads more letters from the soldiers with the crazy nicknames, then introduces Ida James who sings, Knock Me a Kiss. Olivia calls on the Navy's newest recruit, Dennis Day. He dreams about having his own radio show after the war. He does various impersonations including the Old Timer, Jerry Colona, and even of Adolph Hitler. Then Dennis sings, Dear Old Donagal. Bob Crosby announces his latest addition to the Crosby clan and the birth of his latest boy. Bob and the Bobcats play, Dark Town Strutters Ball. Ella May Morse is up next to sing, Milkman Keep those Bottles Quiet. Olivia reads more from the mail bag, and due to requests the Merrymacks are next and sing, Sing Me a Song of Texas. Bob Crosby is back for a Dixieland parade with, the South Rampart Street Parade. Olivia signs off with a parting word for the troops.

Sam is a bush pilot who returns home to be with his true love, Hellen. He soon realizes that she is in love with another. After a confrontation with her, Sam lets Hellen know that he won't give her up, even if he has to kill to do it. Tension mounts for Sam as his world falls apart. Outwardly he acts civil to Jeff, but his heavy drinking begins to reveal his inner turmoil. The drunken Sam finds himself the near victim of a murder attempt. He hides out as he makes an anonymous report to the cops of his death. Then he waits to see the trouble his wife, and her lover will be in. The case isn't moving fast enough, so Sam plants incriminating clues for the cops to find. Will Sam be satisfied to know his wife and her lover are soon to face murder charges? Suddenly, Sam learns a truth that happened on that drunken night that changes everything. Can he race to stop the injustice about to be done to his wife? Did Hellen actually try to kill Sam? A witness could clear up the whole matter once and for all, but will he come forward?

Audio gets a bit warbly in spots. A snake oil salesman is in Dodge, selling his miracle cure. Will Matt have to run him out of town? Is the traveling tonic salesman doing anything illegal? Matt isn't concerned with the tonic, or whether it actually has curative powers, but that it's being sold on private property, without permission from the owner. Finney claims that he'll move out as soon as he sells off his stock. Will Medford, the land owner, be patient enough to let him put on his show, and sell his medicine? Doc is worried about the safety of the tonic. Though harmless, Matt is forced to carry out the warrant to evict the travelers. When the time comes to serve the warrant against the trespassers, Finney is missing, and a secret emerges about Medford. A loophole in the law buys Finney some time, and the real law breaker in the story is exposed. It's enough to make Medford do something stupid, like taking on Matt with his fists.

Don takes us back to the evening before, when Mary, Phil, and Dennis rave over the Danny Kaye movie they just saw, The Kid from Brooklyn. The compliments have Jack in a dark mood. Jack pokes fun at Danny's rapid fire, scat style singing style. The gang split up, but Dennis walks with the brooding Jack, whose critique of Danny Kaye's films make Jack seem more than a little jealous over the new comedian's performance. Can Jack leap over a fire plug as easily as Dennis? Dennis goes his own way, just in time for Danny Kaye to show up on the sidewalk. Suddenly Jack spouts out the wonders of the movie. Danny isn't buying the false praise. The two soon become so engrossed in teaming up for a film, they overlook a crime in progress. Right on the sidewalk, Dann Kaye breaks out into song with his hit, Concerto for Tongue and orchestra. Later, Jack finds himself locked out of his house, and he tells Rochester about how he liked the movie. Rochester tucks himself in for the night, but Jack goes to the library to unwind. A phonograph record presents Don Wilson, the Sportsmen, and the commercial. With a theme in the film earlier involving ghosts, Jack reads a ghost tory. The normally timid person around spooky things, Rochester, tries to give Jack a scare. The spooky tale finds Danny Kaye, as disembodied voices haunting Jack. Is it for real, or is Jack going to remain in a state of denial. Danny Kaye's ghost tries his best to convince him.

Welcome to another Retro Radio Vault. Taking you back to the days when radio was young, and digging out episodes from our first season. Before those old fashioned Retrobots share out dated information about the old web page, and an email address that no longer works, and is not monitored, Keith shares some historical info on Bud and Lou. Bonus Tracks * Bing Crosby 1940 Sierra Sue. y * Ben Selvin's orchestra 1930 Around the Corner. Here's my original show notes: The most famous bit that Bud and Lou are known for is the Who's on First routine. Probably the next most famous is the one we'll hear today, U-Drive. Just like U-Haul, the moving company that lets you rent a truck to transport your goods, there once was a rental car company called U-Drive. Abbott and Costello get us started with this fun bit of confusion before getting on with their attempt at having Veronica Lake star in their upcoming film. They meet and have some fun as they practice some lines. William (Bud) Abbott and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo) were an American comedy duo whose work in radio, film and television made them one of the most popular teams in the history of comedy. Thanks to those same media venues and over exposure, it was also their downfall. Bud was born in 1895 and Lou in 1906. They were both in Burlesque, Bud as a straightman for various acts including his wife. Lou first tried getting into movies, was a stuntman and did some boxing before getting into Burlesque. They first worked together in 1935 and were encouraged by all in their circle at the time to stick together and develop their act. Their first radio appearance was in 1938 on the Kate Smith show where they became regulars. Their New Jersey accented voices sounded too much alike for their rapid fire comedy and was confusing to the radio audience as to which one was talking. Lou started using a higher pitched, more childish voice. It was good enough to get the duo into Broadway and in 1940 into Universal Studios. They were support characters in their first film, but stole the show. In 1941 their first feature film was Buck Privates. In 1942, after being a summer replacement for the Fred Allen radio show, they got their own radio show that ran to the late 1940's. Both Bud and Lou were married to gals they knew from their Burlesque days. Both had some health problems and were heavy gamblers. Lou faced tragedy in October 1943 when his infant son drowned in the family swimming pool. In 1945 there was a rift between the two over Bud hiring a maid that Lou had previously fired. It was resolved in 1947 when Bud volunteered to help with a charity for underpriveledged kids that Lou was involved with. In the 1950's the comedy team began losing popularity. Their routines were all over the place and they were uncomfortable and unwilling to develop new material. Abbott and Costello pretty much retired. The IRS investigated them and charged them with back taxes, forcing them to sell their homes. In 1959, Lou died of a heart attack and Bud did a few things on television, later he died of cancer in 1974. PS: The information I presented today is summarized from a Wikkipedia article. For official information about Abbott and Costello you can visit: * http://www.abbottandcostello.net The site is the official web site and is operated by the families of Bud and Lou.

Gildersleeve has had 2 recurring habits lately, one is his lovely neighbor and sister of his rival Bullard, and the other is his interest in detective work. He drives Ellen Knickerbocker out to the house he just investigated, and conveniently runs out of gas on the lonely road. She pokes fun of his little trick, and his detective hobby. To impress her, he agrees to quit playing detective, then the next morning, he lets Leroy take possession of his mail order detective kit. Not only Leroy, but the whole family is happy over the decision, and Leroy excitedly rushes out to put it to good use. Birdie is especially relieved because detectives are always getting into trouble on the radio shows. Leroy races in to report that Ellen has had her valuables stolen, and to help her out, Detective Gildy comes out of retirement. When Bullard returns home, he's not happy that his sister turned to Gildersleeve. Will Gildy prove that he has a handle on the thieves? He plans a trap to lure the burglars in, but Bullard isn't happy to be putting himself in danger. Leroy is all too willing to go on the real life adventure, but wisely, Gildy goes it alone. Though he hides out to keep an eye on his trap, it seems that everybody can find him. Gildy stakes out the Bullard home. Suddenly there are suspicious footsteps in the night, a loud crash, and Gildy falls out of his tree stand to nab... the professional detective that Bullard hired. .

Based on Walt Disney's version of the classic fairy tale, and featuring his rendition of the characters. We find the queen who gets reassurance from her magic mirror that she is the fairest in the land… until one day she isn't. Her henchman is sent to kill the beautiful princess, but he loses heart. Heeding his warning, she flees to find the cottage of little men. Many of the songs from the film make it into this production, but some in abbreviated form. While the queen learns her rival still lives, the dwarves and Snow White bond as a family. Taking matters into her own hands, the queen disguises herself as a witch to poison the innocent Snow White. Will the dwarves be able to protect their new friend? Will the handsome prince be able to rescue the fallen maiden with love's first kiss? I think you already know, but listen to this radio presentation, and enjoy this classic once again.

One of the mainstays of early rock and country music in the 1950's were the train songs. Tonight a retrospective of the music and singers who took us on a journey via those very special "TRACKS" (Pun intended)

A modern tale of suspense. A crime that could only be formulated by a deranged mind is at hand. The matter rests at the foot of one of the top psychiatric doctors in the nation. Can the doc race to the scene of the crime in time to put an end to the mentally disturbed killer? He feels the murderer is in the room, and warns that each of the persons in the room could potentially be unstable enough to be the mad man. Interviews by the doctor with the participants in the story begin to reveal dark secrets. Why does the medical man feel just as guilty about the murder as the one who might have committed the crime? Is there really a lunatic involved, or might this be a calculated set up? Regardless, another body is found as the participants remain locked inside the mansion estate. The murder reveals one final dark secret, and in a final short scene we learn the shocking truth behind the doctor and the lunatic.

Bad boy, Lou Costello, enters with a gun and bragging about wanting to be an old West sheriff. Jokes begin about horses, cowboys, and being an indian fighter. Bud tries to talk sense to his friend, and paint him a realistic word picture of what life as a sheriff entails. If only he can finish his story with all of Lou's comic interuptions. Carl Hoff plays, Who's Sorry Now. Back in the old West of Abbott and Costello, two weeks have gone by, and Lou hasn't done anything to preserve the peace. The friends sit in the sheriff's office, and friends arrive to congradulate Lou on his becoming the sheriff. Namely Bessey May Mucho who complains of a peeping Tom. More characters parade through including: a phone call for a detective job, Scotty the Scotsman has a special job for the sheriff, and Ken Niles who wants to die with his boots on. Mrs Niles is frantic, and needs help at her ranch, but all she gets is insults from Lou. Amy Arnelle sings, I'm a Big Girl Now. Meanwhile, Bud and Lou ride out to the Niles ranch, but first need to stop for directions from a gold prospector. With a little confusion on the sound man's part, the guys make it to the ranch, and Lou talks with Mellonhead about catching the rustlers. Now it's off to catch the notorius Cactus Pete, and it's off to the saloon. Only slightly distracted by the lovely saloon girl, Rosita, Lou faces off with Cactus Pete, but who gets the last laugh?

The exciting story of a flower that was plucked from the hand of death. Mr Sloan is found murdered when Wally finds Natalie running out of the room. As the cops talk about the case, details emerge. Sloan was a wealthy man, and a large cast of quirky characters are introduced when the cops summarize what they know with the family. The Topaz Flower is a valuable gem that is missing. Wally is something of an amateur detective who is known by the cops. He is covering up for the fact that he saw Natalie coming out of the room. Should he be doing that? A matter of a new will causes a stir. Sloan was to marry, and his new will was to leave all he had to his future wife. A point that seems to clear her of any motive. Wally confronts Natalie privately, but before she can come clean, the cops report they found the Topaz Flower in a pawn shop, sold to them by a woman. The cops begin to find clues, and make implications that make waves among the family. The body count rises when the future wife, Clara is found dead. Cllues and evidence are scrutinized. Who could have committed the murder of old Mr Sloan? Why would they have wanted Clara dead, when she no longer played a part in the inheritance? When the key piece of evidence falls into place, the cop shares with the family the exposed mystery.

Feeling left out, Jimmy Wallington introduces Fred, then wants to have more to do in the show. Fred lets him in on the News Reel segment and tells how they find their stories to focus on for the week. Fred features the weather from across the country. Try as he might to show Jimmy the humor in it all, Jimmy doesn't get it. Cops, kids, siamese twins, and even a military recruiter pitch in. Kenny Baker sings, Adios. Al Goodman transitions with, Melody in F. Portland joins Fred to complain about Kenny. He has been seen in the animal cages at the circus. Fred wants Kenny to stop his dangerous career, but the singer explains how easy the circus job actually is. Win Murray sings, Just a Little Bit South of North Carolina. The Texaco roundtable assembles and includes a man from Danville IL who is in broadcasting. A woman from Toronto who is a masseuse. A New York man who runs a shoe shine stand in Fred's theater. The question: Does the thoughts of a man actually turn to love in the spring? Kenny sings a Neopolitan Medley. After a hard day at work in the donut factory a man wants to relax by sitting in front of the radio. Fred and his mighty art players spoof the kinds of radio shows that populate the airwaves. Our hero in the drama tries to do in real life, the things he heard on the radio. The radio got our man into his mess, now he turns to it to get him out of it. Of course, he learns the hard way, and humorous way, that life isn't the same as the imaginary world of entertainment.

Don announces the show is broadcast from the decks of the Saratoga. Jack shares how proud he is to give the show just before it sails for atom bomb tests at the Bikini Atoll next week. Mel plays a sailor, but a gag involves a few of the ships officers. Mary enters to tease Jack about his oldd Navy days, and tell a little about her tour of the ship. Dennis Day enters, and Jack gives him a lesson on what an atomic bomb is. Dennis claims to have sang on the ship the year before, when he was in the Navy and served on it. Will he ever get to tell his racy joke? Dennis sings, I'll Remember April. Phil makes his appearance to complain about Jack's comment about his orchestra. He shares a little about why he and Frankie Remley are so close. Mary teases Jack about their night on the town the night before. Mr Kitzel enters with a flashback to a baseball scene, and his hot dog cart song, Pickle in the Middle and Mustard on Top. A telegram comes in congradulating Jack on being an honorable Admiral, an award that happened the year before. Mary goes into flashback to tell all about the incident. Rochester joins Mary to poke fun at being in the Nebraska Navy. Jack demonstrates his expert Naval strategy with his ships in his bathtub. Afterward, Jack reads a letter of commendation from a formerly serving chaplain to the Saratoga, honoring her service in the war Note: The USS Saratoga was constructed in 1916, as a battle cruiser, and served in the First World War. Later, in 1922, she was converted into an aircraft carrier. Despite The show's title, the show wasn't 4 days before it sank, though it may have been 4 days before it set sail on it's final mission. The following exerpt is from Wikipedia: Operation Crossroads began with the first blast (Test Able), an air burst on 1 July 1946. Saratoga survived the explosion with only minor damage, notably the ignition of the teak of her flight deck. A skeleton crew boarded Saratoga the following day to prepare her for the next test on 25 July. The ship was sunk by Test Baker, an underwater blast which was detonated under LSM-60 400 yards (370 m) from the carrier. The explosion literally blew the ship out of the water, knocked everything off her flight deck and knocked most of her funnel onto the flight deck. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 August 1946.

We learn of some of the things that made radio broadcasts difficult in the early days. Namely, the quality of how certain microphones sounded. Also that early studios weren't always soundproofed to outside street noises, or stray alley cats. Sound affect of the week. Learn how to make the sound of a Roman gally ship being rowed. Diana Bourbon, well known director shares some of the highs and lows of working with temperamental stars. How does she calm matters, and get to work? Are comedians difficult? Oddities in radio. Feature prop failures. In a salute to radio performers, two piano players are reunited. We get a glimpse of the quality of the musical sounds that graced the airwaves in the 1930's. Letters from listeners. Who actually handles fan mail to the radio stars? Questions about radio theme music, quiz shows and more are answered as well. A dramatization about voodoo on a radio program is presented.. Is voodoo real? How did it affect one young woman? A psychologist helps her recover.