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

The Story of Gunsmoke

Thanks to Buck Benny and in celebration of its 60th anniversary, here in 6 parts is a retrospective of Gunsmoke the radio version. This was done in the early 70s and contains interviews with William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), John Meston and Norman McDonnell (the creators,writers and producers) and Georgia Ellis (Miss Kitty).

This is a great show with a lot of behind the scenes stories and even discusses the beginning of the television version.

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

OTR Christmas

Here are several episodes that are tremendous examples from the Golden Age of Radio, thanks to Buck Benny and Bob Camardella and their wonderful podcast !!



Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show 12/23/1951



The Jack Benny Show 12/23/1951



Fibber McGee and Molly 12/16/1941 (Fibber Cuts His Own Christmas Tree)




The Jack Benny Show 12/21/1941



Gunsmoke 12/20/1952 (A Christmas Story)



Life with Luigi 12/20/1949



Duffy's Tavern (The Christmas Carol) 12/21/1945



The Martin and Lewis Show 12/12/1949



The Jack Benny Show 12/22/1946



The Bing Crosby Show (A Crosby Family Christmas) 12/20/1950



The Jello Program starring Jack Benny 12/20/1936 (An Old Fashioned Christmas)



The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show 12/15/1946

The Golden Age of Radio - The Great Gildersleeve

This episode of the Great Gildersleeve is focused on the nephew of Gildy, Leroy, who is portrayed by child impersonator and wonderful voice actor Walter Tetley.

Tetley was famous for his portrayals of young boys on radio including Julius Abruzzio on The Phil Harris and Alice Faye Show.  He had those concurrent roles on 2 of the most popular shows on radio.  He joined the Harris/Faye Show in 1948 and by the time it had finished its run on radio in 1954 he was nearly 40 years old.

He became well known to another generation of children from his role as Sherman the boy of Mr. Peabody on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show segment "Mr. Peabody's Improbable History".

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.

Golden Age of Radio - The Great Gildersleeve

Our journey into the world of Old Time Radio takes us to 1941 and the audition show for The Great Gildersleeve.   Played by Harold Peary on "Fibber McGee and Molly", this was one of the first spinoffs in radio and featured Throckmorton P Gildersleeve who was a kind but bombast sort who enjoyed a good laugh and a good argument.
The Buck Benny Podcast brings us this show to kick off his weekly podcast of The Great Gildersleeve.

Surrounded by a great cast this was a one of the funniest and best written comedies of its day.

Golden Age of Radio - Duffy's Tavern

Today I have an episode of the great OTR comedy Duffy's Tavern
thanks to Bob Carmardella's podcast.

Duffy was never heard on the show, we have the tavern manager Archie, played by show creator and head writer Ed Gardner, (who speaks to Mr. Duffy on the phone each episode....but this one)

There was Miss Duffy, daughter of Duffy,  played by different actress' in the 10 run of the show, including Shirley Booth (of Hazel fame and then wife of Ed Gardner) and Selma Diamond who was better know to younger audiences as Selma the baliff on the great 80s sitcom "Night Court".
Eddie the Waiter played by Eddie Green until his passing 1950 and Clifton Finnegan played by Charlie Cantor and later by Sid Raymond.

Archie was the brainchild of series creator Ed Gardner, but when he couldnt find an actor with the right accent he stepped and became Archie.   Famous for his get rich quick schemes and malapropism this was one of the funniest shows on radio and ran on CBS 1941-42 then moved to NBC until the shows end in 1951.
A brief stint on TV did not prove successful in the 50s.

Gunsmoke - Never Pester Chester

This episode aired on CBS TV November 16 1957, Season 3
in this episode the character of Stobo, was played by Jacob "Buddy" Baer who was the brother of heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer and uncle to Max Baer Jr, better known as "Jethro Bodine" on the Beverly Hillbillies.
Originally aired on CBS radio Season 1 July 5th 1952

The Jack Benny Show on Radio

Tonight, thanks to the great podcast by Buck Benny, I bring you a classic from the Golden Age of Radio.


The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny from December 9th 1945 featuring the first appearance by Ronald and Benita Coleman.   Anytime the Colemans made an appearance it was always hilarious.


Enjoy

Gunsmoke - Old Comrade

Fascinating episode of Gunsmoke.  Frank Sutton (Sgt Carter on Gomer Pyle USMC) plays a Gomer like character who is the son of a renowned US Army General.


Episode 16 of Season 8 aired 12/29/1962

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