Old Time Radio

As a kid I got introduced to radio shows back in the early 80s at the tail end of CBS Radio Mystery Theater’s run. After that I discovered Suspense and Dragnet and The Shadow or whatever would pop up on various stations. I still listen and enjoy them. Like you said, a great peek into the past especially if they include old commercials or news updates.

I was listening to a Buck Rogers from April of 1939, and the actor playing Buck read a commercial for Creamsicles that was so cute — “you really get your nickel’s worth!” Such an innocent time.

Radio Classic channel on Sirius XM plays old programs.

I love old time radio. While I listen to plenty of the comedy, drama, sci-fi, and detective shows, I especially love the other stuff like news, panel shows, soaps, games, and commercials. My favorites are what they used to call "sustaining" (non-sponsored) programs that were community service oriented and filled unsold airtimes on Sunday afternoons and the like.

As with so many other things, the Internet Archive is a great source of OTR for streaming and download. If you become a fan of a particular show, you will probably find every existing episode waiting for you at that site. While searching, I recommend choosing any posting marked "OTRR," which stands for the Old Time Radio Researchers Group. These folks collect the best quality copies of shows and bundle them with lots of extras like actor biographies, press material, obscure test shows, etc.

Sorry for screwing up my link above. Tyler the Creator was not involved in OTR 😓.

In all my years listening and looking into old time radio I can’t recall ever coming across any soap operas. Soaps aren’t my thing so maybe I just haven’t paid attention but I’m curious if many radio soaps survive. Maybe the serial nature prevented them from getting much replay. Also I know a lot of surviving radio shows come from recordings sent to the armed services stationed overseas. Maybe soaps weren’t popular with the military.

Do you listen to YesterdayUSA?

I enjoy some old radio shows, especially My Favorite Husband and Our Miss Brooks.

I like the SiriusXM channel, but they play the tackiest, scammiest commercials in existence. I resent having to pay for a subscription and having to listen to that crap.

I also remember listening to CBS Radio Mystery Theater in the70s. I loved the closing when E.G. Marshall would say, "Until next time: pleasant.... dreams?"

My trouble was that my brain doesn't work as well for listening as it does for reading or for watching TV or movies--I always have trouble paying attention.

You're right about the soaps, R6. It's the same for most other daytime shows. I have a few episodes of The Goldbergs and Ma Perkins in my collection, as well as a nice consecutive chunk of the reboot of my favorite soap, Myrt & Marge.

If you're curious about soaps from the era, here's a sampler from the Internet Archive.