Episodes
Friday Feb 22, 2019
So long and thanks for listening
Friday Feb 22, 2019
Friday Feb 22, 2019
Well, that wraps up this season on the blog. This will probably be the last round of posts I make here.
As I mentioned when I put the blog on hiatus before the round of current posts, I’m finding fewer discs “in the wild” of the type of unusual programs I collect, so I’m picking up relatively few new transcriptions.
I’m also refocusing my interests a little bit and concentrating on some non-Old Time Radio projects I’ve been working on for several years. I’m in the middle of doing transfers and restoration work on about nine hours of recordings by an obscure vaudeville and nightclub performer, so there may be news on that front in a few months. And I’m getting back to two of my long-time interests, screenwriting and vintage films.
I didn’t realize it, but the first posts went up on the blog in March 2008, more than a decade ago. Since then, I’ve posted over a thousand shows. So I think the blog has had a pretty good run.
Thanks again for listening and for all of your kind support and well wishes!
Saturday Jan 05, 2019
The Lives of Harry Towers on BBC Radio Four Extra
Saturday Jan 05, 2019
Saturday Jan 05, 2019
Saturday Oct 13, 2018
Welcome back and update on “Nightbeat”
Saturday Oct 13, 2018
Saturday Oct 13, 2018
Well, the blog is back for a run for a run through the a few weeks. I’ve spent some time obtaining new discs and have gotten a large donation of discs from listener William Harris in New York state, so we’re back for a new run of more obscure and esoteric old time radio programs.
I’d like to thank blog listener Don Ramlow for forwarding me an article from the February 8, 1950 issue of “Variety” that mentions the “Nighbeat” promotional 45 rpm record set I found a few years ago. At the time, I wondered if there were other similar box sets sent out to agencies and potential advertisers.
According to the article, NBC produced 45 rpm box sets promoting the “Henry Morgan Show”, the “Mindy Carson Show”, “Dangerous Assignment” with Brian Donlevy, “Christopher London”, “Archie Andrews”, “Voices and Events” and “Trouble with the Truitts”.
“NBC and its parent RCA company are effecting a unique tie-in to window-dress network shows being peddled to agencies for potential clients.
The web is currently in the process of whipping together a flock of house-built programs and personalities in the form of 45 rpm package presentations. Thus the small disks can be carried about at will, taken home by agency men, etc.”
Anyone else ever see one of these 45 rpm radio promotional sets?
Thursday Jun 22, 2017
Interview on Yesterday USA
Thursday Jun 22, 2017
Thursday Jun 22, 2017
On Wednesday evening, I was interviewd by Larry Gassman and Walden Hughes of Yesterday USA. We had a great time talking about the old time radio hobby, collecting transcriptions and my blog.
The one-hour interview was broadcast on Yesterday USA Friday, June 23rd at 11:15 pm Eastern time. It will be repeated ten days later, on Monday, July 3rd on the "Blue" network on the site.
If you missed it, here's an mp3 version you can hear.
Thursday Jun 15, 2017
Thank you and goodnight
Thursday Jun 15, 2017
Thursday Jun 15, 2017
Well, we’ve reached the end of the shows for this run of posts in the blog. We’re going on hiatus again as I search for new discs.
I’ll spend the next few months looking for new esoteric shows of interest to the discerning Old Time Raido Collector and start some new posts when new discs start rolling in. It’s getting harder to find material for the blog. I scout auctions, eBay and other sources for discs and I’m not seeing the selection of programs available when I started the posts about my collection a few years ago. We’ll see what turns up!
Thanks so much for your support - I hope you’ve enjoyed the shows I’ve posted or at least found them useful to fill in some of the blanks in Old Time Radio history.
Until I start posting again, explore some of the older posts to hear some summer reruns!
Sunday Oct 27, 2013
War of the Worlds - An Update on the Paul Stewart lacquer set
Sunday Oct 27, 2013
Sunday Oct 27, 2013
Note: The mp3 attached to this post is the same transfer I put up earlier in the summer; it is included here as a convenience.
Since my original post, I've dived into researching the background on the set, surviving copies of the broadcast, and have concluded this set is, indeed, a "live" master, probably ordered up by Mercury actor and associate producer Paul Stewart.
In this post, I'll share some details on my research into the set, highlighting what we know and don't know about how the show was recorded and preserved over the years.
Sunday Oct 27, 2013
War of the Worlds interview on KFJC-FM
Sunday Oct 27, 2013
Sunday Oct 27, 2013
If you are near Los Altos, California, tune in to KFJC-FM 89.7 on Wednesday, October 30th at 8:30 pm. The station will be carrying a special on the 75th anniversary of "War of the Worlds" that includes an interview with me on my find of the "Paul Stewart" "War of the Worlds" lacquer set and collecting transcriptions. Information on the anniversary special is here. You can listen live to the broadcast on the KFJC stream.
Sunday Mar 24, 2013
Posting a few shows every few weeks - app availability
Sunday Mar 24, 2013
Sunday Mar 24, 2013
I'm still pretty busy with work and family, but I'll be trying to post some news shows every few weeks, particularly more unusual items that are rare or previously lost. I've also activated a new feature provided by Podbean - if you go to http://randsesotericotr.podbean.com/mobile/ with your mobile device, such as an iPhone or iPad, you can see the blog in a special format. There's also an option on this link to add it to your device as an app. Thanks for reading and listening!
Tuesday Jul 10, 2012
Your humble host featured on public radio's The Story
Tuesday Jul 10, 2012
Tuesday Jul 10, 2012
If you'd like to get a peak "behind the scenes" at the blog and my collection of radio transcriptions, tune in to public radio's "The Story, on Thursday, July 12th. Sean Cole, who is filling in for vacationing regular host Dick Gordon, stopped by my apartment on Monday to listen to some of my discs, take a look at the transcription collection and talk about old time radio as a hobby. You can find a list of stations carrying the show and the time it will be heard in your area at "The Story" website. They should have it available for listening online Thursday night after the broadcast. Update: You can listen or download the episode at "The Story" archives here. And here are links to the full shows heard in the program:
- Night Beat - February 6, 1950 - Promo 45 set version
- Rosemary - July 22, 1946
- Lum n' Abner - "Accidentally Yours" - July 1947
- American Family Robinson - Pgm 42
- American Family Robinson - Pgm 62
- Hearts in Harmony - Confidential Prevue - circa 1941
- Plantation Echoes - Pgm 9 - circa 1929-30
- Suspense - "Sorry Wrong Number" - May 25, 1943 - AFRS Pgm 8
- Suspense - "The Lost Special" - Sept 30, 1943
Thursday May 03, 2012
New posts on occaision
Thursday May 03, 2012
Thursday May 03, 2012
Well, I'm still quite busy with work and family, but I'll be popping up to post an interesting show once in a while on the blog. These won't be on a regular schedule - just a little something now and again when I have the time that I hope you find interesting. I want to thank all of you following the blog for your kind words and thoughts over the past few months. -rand