Show #42 - Singer, Comedian, Newscaster and Superhero

Yep, we have it all here this week on the OTR Express.  Dennis Day kicks off the program with his eponymous sitcom, alternatively titled, A Day in the Life of Dennis Day.

A Day in the Life of Dennis Day gave the boyish sounding Day a chance to showcase his vocal and comedic talents, and the show we picked out for you this week has no fewer than 3 songs performed by Day.

The comedy is purely of the situational variety, but that doesn't make it bad. 

We then turn  our attention to the news of the day, with a radio broadcast from H.V. Kaltenborn.  If you watch any news commentary shows nowadays, then you'll see the descendants of the Kaltenborn school of broadcasting.  A very interesting man, and you can read more about him here:  http://www.otr.com/kaltenborn.shtml

Lastly, we have the national debut of Captain Midnight.  'Nuff said.  So gather round the radio, gang, (after drinking some rich chocolately Ovaltine, of course), and enjoy a night of old time radio.

Show #41 - Escape and Frontier Gentleman

This week on the Old Time Radio Express we explore great radio dramatic writing.  The first is an adaptation of an Arthur Conan Doyle tale that even the most ardent Conan Doyle fans may not be aware of.  The second is an original tale from the pen of Antony Ellis, a veteran radio man.

In addition to stellar writing, both shows take us back in time, as Escape's production of the Conan Doyle tale is set in England of about a century ago, and the Frontier Gentleman series is set in the Wild West of our America.

Interestingly enough, the lead in the Escape program we have for you tonight auditioned for, and almost won, the role of J.B. Kendall, main character in Frontier Gentleman - a role that ended up going to John Dehner.  As it is, Dehner has a small role on the Escape program. 

As it is, Dehner is credited with some 850+ radio appearances, and Wright some 650+.  Both pretty impressive resumes. 

So not only do you get good writing, but some darn good acting today...enjoy....

The Abbott and Costello Show and The Bickersons

“C, A-M, E-L, S” Yes, that spells CAMELS, which sponsored the Abbott and Costello Show, which we have for you tonight on the OTR Express.  Enjoy the old commercials - but not too much - we don't want you to blame old time radio for a new bad habit.

Listening to cigarette commercials - which many have never heard live - is certainly an experience.  Maybe you don't realize it when you're in the moment, but marketing for products seems so...well...made up.  The makers of Camel Cigarettes invented the "T-Zone", and all of a sudden, smokers were buying cartons of Camels because of "T for taste" and "T for throat".

Between commercials, there's a nice Abbott and Costello Show that you should find enjoyable.  It's perfect light and mindless summer entertainment.

And then at the end of the show we switch from male comedy duo to a male-female comedy duo, with the battlin' Bickersons, with another classic routine.

Two completely different types of comedy shows, but both marked by great writing and better comedic timing. 

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