Gunsmoke The Radio Classic

Bad Boy

episode 25 season 2

originally aired February 27th 1954

CBS Radio

Gunsmoke on Radio and Television

Time for this week's double dose of Gunsmoke.  As always its the radio version followed up by the television version of the same episode.
This week we see the basic idea of the radio episode used on tv but the writers (Endre Bohem and Louis Vittes) took the John Meston's original storyline in a different direction and substituted different characters as the protagonist.  The did work in Miss Kitty to be rescued and only the bad guy dies such were the changes beginning on Gunsmoke's tv version.
The radio episode features legendary voice actor Ralph Moody as "Tobiel" the Indian.

Another big thank you to Buck Benny and his tremendous podcast that helps bring you this radio treat every week.  Follow him and hear all the classic radio shows Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Suspense, Phil Harris, Bing Crosby and many more surprises each week. 
 Click here for Buck Benny

Kick Me

originally aired November 28th 1953

Season 2 episode 12

CBS Radio

Kick Me

Originally aired January 26th 1957

Season 2 episode 18

CBS Television

Gunsmoke on Radio and TV (Custer)

This time we hear and see the episode from Gunsmoke :

Custer

Originally aired November 21st 1953

Season 2

Episode 11

CBS Radio

Custer

Originally Aired September 22nd 1956

Season 2

Episode 3

CBS Television

Gunsmoke on Radio and Television

Tonight we again visit Dodge City 

Today:

(and yes they used this title twice)

How To Kill a Woman

aired 10/31/1953

Season 2  episode 6

CBS Radio

How To Kill a Woman

aired 11/30/1957

Season 3 episode 12

CBS Television

(This was Gunsmoke's first of 4 consecutive seasons as the #1 show on prime time network TV)

Golden Age of Radio - Halloween #4 (Jack Benny)

Welcome to another installment of Halloween OTR style.   

This time we see how the legend Jack Benny celebrated Halloween.

Happy Birthday William Conrad

Yesterday September 27th  would have been the 93rd birthday for all around great actor William Conrad.  Known mostly to the tv generation as Cannon or The Fatman on "Jake and The Fatman", his last regular series on television.  But for a large number of people old and young he is and always will be "Marshall Matt Dillon" of Gunsmoke.   The radio version of Gunsmoke, the first "adult" western on radio aired on CBS radio from 1952 to 1961.  This cemented his legendary status as a radio/western icon...many people still think he should have been given the tv role of Matt Dillion but he said it wasnt for him and James Arness was a good choice.   William Conrad also gained fame as the narrator on "Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (1959-1964) and also narrator on "The Fugitive" (1963-1967).   Known for his powerful baritone he was also the voice/narrator for the radio classic "Escape" (1947-1954).

So celebrate with the Old Time Radio community with these examples of his great work.

thanks to Buck Benny and hit Jack Benny OTR Podcast for these episodes of Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke on Radio and Television (#2)

This time our Gunsmoke double feature consist of the episode "Gone Straight".  

I would be remiss if i didnt thank the podcast I listen too and who are so generous with their shows and time to allow me to use them on my blog.  The previous double feature radio show was courtesy
Bob Camardella and his Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Podcast.  This podcast features almost every radio program from the golden age of radio, even some that I had never heard of before.  Click the name of the podcast to check things out.

Today's double feature radio version is provided by my friend Buck Benny and his wonderful OTR podcast The Jack Benny Show OTR Podcast.   This of course features the entire season of the Jack Benny Show, from 60,65,70 and 75 years ago from, now, 2013.   He also features Phil Harris and Alice Faye, Fred Allen, Bing Crosby, Suspense and during this summer it has been adventure and rarely heard comedies.  He will throw in a few special surprise shows and loves feedback and suggestions.
Check him out by clicking the link in the title of the show.

Thank you for checking them out and for reading my little stress reliever blog.   Here we go!!!

Gone Straight

Season 1

originally aired on CBS radio August 22nd 1953

Gone Straight 

season 2

originally aired on CBS TV February 9th 1957

Gunsmoke on the Radio

From the Golden Age of Radio another classic episode of the original Gunsmoke.

Starring William Conrad as Marshall Matt Dillon

with Parley Baer as Chester Proudfoot, Howard McNear as Doc and Georgia Ellis as Miss Kitty

Season 1

Episode 65

Boy

written by Norman McDonnell

Originally aired August 1st 1953

thanks Buck Benny and his great OTR pocast

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

This episode of The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny ends with Jack trying to tune in the radio broadcast of the 1953 Indianapolis 500.

The 1953 Indy 500 was called "The Hottest 500" due to the track temperature exceeding 130 degrees.  This led to many drivers needing relief drivers but the winner, Bill Vukovich, did not.
 Bill Vuckovich had led 150 laps of the 200 in the 1952 Indy 500 but in 1953 he proved even more dominant.   He led 195 of the 200 and was the winner going away from the field.
This was the first of 2 consecutive wins for Vukovich and he was leading the 1955 race (which would have been his 3rd straight win), but was involved in a horrific accident that led to his car tumbling over the backstretch wall and landing upside down and killing him instantly.

Thanks to Buck Benny and his wonderful OTR podcast that features Jack and the Gang.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny

"Jack Listens to the Indy 500"

05/31/1953

Great color newsreel about the month of May in Indianapolis 1953.  

This covers time trials and race day.  Great film footage.

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

From May 24th 1953, The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny.  This season Jack would be the #2 show behind a resurgent Amon N' Andy who followed Jack on Sunday nights at 730pm.

thanks tremedously to Buck Benny and his wonderful podcast for allowing me to post this season of shows.
Please follow Buck for all the great OTR all summer long.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny

May 24th 1953

Insurance Medical Exam

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

This week Jack tries his hand at science fiction.

Thanks to Buck Benny and his podcast.  Please follow him and donate to help keep this podcast up and running with all the great OTR shows we love.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny

I Flew To Mars

05/17/1953

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

This week as part of Buck Benny's podcast he talks about the survey done by Those Were The Days, asking for listeners favorite Radio Show.   He includes results from 1986, 1999 and 2012.

This week Jack is still in San Diego and welcomes then California Lt Gov Goodwin Knight.  Mr. Knight would then become Governor later in the year when Earl Warren resigns as Governor to become Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny

From San Francisco

Air date - 05/10/1953

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

Here is another great episode from the Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny from the 1952-53 radio season.
This is a bittersweet episode in that we get to here Fred Allen with Jack once again but sadly this would be the last time the two would be together on radio.
Attached to this is also the first time Jack and Fred appeared together on radio on the Fred Allen Show in 1936.

Thanks to Buck Benny and his great podcast for old time radio, please check out his show by clicking this link.

Here is the link to this episode to see Jack and Fred together on Jack's television show.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny

From San Francisco

04/26/1953

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

The Lucky Strike Program for the 1952-53 radio season was the #2 show of the season.

thanks to Buck Benny for these episodes and his stellar podcast that also includes, Suspense, Bing Crosby, Fred Allen, Escape and Gunsmoke.  Please click this link and check him out and enjoy the great old time radio from the golden age.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny

04/19/1953

Bob Crosby Borrows $500 from Jack

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

The Easter episode from Jack and the gang for the 1952-53 season.

(thanks to Buck Benny and his podcast for all of these great episodes)

The Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny
Easter Parade
Aired 04/05/1953
CBS Radio

Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom (1992)

The 1992 HBO documentary of the career of Jack Benny was called "Comedy in Bloom", a take on his "theme song"  Love in Bloom.
This was a good tribute to the comedy and legacy of Jack's told by his closest friends and daughter Joan.

Thanks to Youtube I have almost all of it...for some reason part 5 cannot be embedded, go figure.

click here to see part 5

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

This week Jack is off to New York city on the Super Chief train.  

He is headed to the Friars celebration for Bob Hope.

(courtesy of Buck Benny OTR Podcast)

Off To New York City by Train

03/01/1953

CBS Radio

The Academy Awards for 1949 (Original radio broadcast)

Our wonderful friend Buck Benny comes through again with another of his academy award radio shows, this time its the 22nd Annual Awards.

22nd Annual Academy Awards

Host - Paul Douglas

March 23rd 1950

Los Angeles, CA

These are the last Oscar awards that will have all 5 best picture nominees that were in black and white.

All The King's Men would win Best Picture with Broderick Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge winning acting honors for All  The King's Men.

The Academy Awards for 1945 (original radio broadcast)

The 18th annual Academy Awards was held March 7th 1946 and was hosted by the legendary Bob Hope.

Click here for a complete rundown of the nominees and winners

Thanks to my friend Buck Benny he has posted the ABC radio broadcast of the first post war Oscars and it is great to hear all the legends receive their awards and to hear Bob Hope do what he did best, host the show and make the world laugh at itself.
The big winner of the night was the classic "Lost Weekend" which won Best Picture, Best Director for Billy Wilder and Best Actor for Ray Milland

I have also include a clip from the newsreel coverage of the event.

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Season

Tonight we continue in the 1952-53 radio season of The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny.
(courtesy of Buck Benny's OTR Podcast)


This episode has the legendary crooner Bing Crosby as the guest.


The Life of Bing Crosby
originally aired 02/15/1953
CBS Radio