Gunsmoke - Murder Warrant

Here we have another look at how the radio version of Gunsmoke led the way for the tv version.

From season 2 on the radio and from season 4 on tv here is the episode "Murder Warrant"
written by John Meston.

Thanks to Bob Camardella and his great podcast Boxcars711 for the radio broadcast.

Originally aired on CBS Radio April 24th 1954


Aired on CBS television April 18th 1959

Happy Birthday Jack Benny

Today would have been the 39th birthday of Jack Benny (wink wink).  To celebrate we have The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny from 02/16/1947.


Jack celebrates his birthday with Ronald and Benita Coleman, who are fantastic as always and special guest Isaac Stern.

The Golden Age of Radio - X-Minus One

Our Show for today is from the science fiction series of the mid 1950s, X Minus One. 

"A Gun for Dinosaur" written by L.Sprague de Camp in 1956.   This episode aired March 7th 1956 and was adapted for radio by Ernest Kinoy.

Golden Age of Radio - The Red Skelton Show

Today's Golden Age of Radio broadcast is from January 13th 1942 and it was never a broadcast, but a rehearsal.  The Red Skelton Show recorded their rehearsals and in some cases that is all that survives of that a particular broadcast.  
These also tended to be looser and funnier in some cases as Red ad libs even more and laughs at everything and just has a great time.
His cast included his then wife and joke writer Edna Stilwell, his bandleader Ozzie Nelson with singer/wife Harriet Hillard (Nelson).
Near the end of the broadcast Red likes to close with his "mean widdle kid" which is always a great laugh.

Read a short biography of the great hoosier comedian by going  here

Courtesy of our wonderful podcaster and friend Buck Benny here is the rehearsal of the Red Skelton Show from January 13th 1942

Have Gun Will Travel

On Saturday at 930pm, September 14th 1957 CBS television debuted a western that was to become just as legendary as Gunsmoke in the annals of TV westerns,  Have Gun Will Travel.
Starring Richard Boone this was the story of a man called Paladin, a gun for hire in San Francisco.
The show ran on tv until the end of the 1962-63 season, a total of 225 episodes and became almost more famous for its tremendous closing theme song "Ballad of Paladin" written and performed by Johnny Western.

The premiere episode was titled "Three Bells to Perdido" 

November 23rd of 1958 "Have Gun Will Travel" debuted on the CBS Radio network as one of its last radio dramas to feature continuing characters. This version featured radio veteran and Gunsmoke regular John Dehner as Paladin.
The radio version ran until November 22nd 1960 and initially each episode was a radio version of the episode that aired on television earlier in the week.  Eventually original stories were written and produced for the radio show including the finale when Paladin left San Francisco to collect an inheritance back east.

Thanks again to the great Buck Benny podcast for the posting of the debut radio episode and the second episode of Have Gun Will Travel.

Gunsmoke on Radio - Billy the Kid (1st episode)

Billy The Kid was the first regularly scheduled episode of Gunsmoke.  After 2 audition episodes that were recorded but never aired, the show would debut April 26th 1952 with William Conrad as US Marshall Matt Dillon.

Gunsmoke on Radio - The The Army Trial

Tonight's episode of Gunsmoke on Radio originally aired June 25th 1955 episode 42 of Season 3

The Army Trial written by Norman Macdonnell

The Jack Benny Show on Radio

Here is a truly classic episode from the Jack Benny Show, April 18th 1943.   This featured every classic thing Jack and his cast was known for and made it all hilarious.   This episode one saw a great performance by Rochester (Eddie Anderson).

Enjoy and thanks again to Buck Benny and his wonderful podcast

The Jack Benny Show (radio)

From 1955 here is a rare rehearsal tape of the Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny.   This episode has guest Bob Hope.

Gunsmoke in Annie Oakley

From Season 5 10/17/1959
originally aired on radio August 19th 1956