Golden Age of Radio

Bangor Daily News – Jan 11, 2008 Writer, producer Idelson dies at 88 Actor played son on ‘Vic and Sade’ BY DENNIS MCLELLAN LOS ANGELES TIMES LOS ANGELES – Bill Idelson, an actor, television writer and producer who as a teenager played the son on the classic radio show “ Vic and Sade ” and later played the recurring role of Rose Marie’s mother-dominated boyfriend on TV’s “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” has died. He was 88. Idelson, who had been hospitalized since June after breaking his hip, died of complications from the injury Dec. 30 in a Los Angeles hospital, said his wife of 56 years, actress Seemah Wilder: As an actor, Idelson appeared in episodes of dozens of television series, including “Dragnet,” “Perry Mason,” “The Twilight Zone,” “My Favorite Martian,” “The Odd Couple,” “Happy Days” and “Will & Grace.” But he might be remembered best by TV fans for his role as Herman Glimcher, the mama’s-boy boyfriend of Rose Marie’s Sally Rogers character on several

The title  role of  Yours Truly Johnny Dollar was played by 8 actors over the 14 year run : Dick Powell played the role on a single episode on July 12, 1948 (Audition Broadcast) Charles Russell played the role from Jan 14, 1949 (Episodes 1-34) Edmond O'Brien played  Johnny Dollar   from Feb 3, 1950 on (Episodes 35-139) John Lund took the role on Nov 24, 1952 (Episodes 140 - 232) Gerald Mohr played the role on a single audition episodes on August 29, 1955  Bob Bailey assumed the role of  Johnny Dollar  on Oct 3, 1955 (Episodes 233 - 716) Robert Readick took the title role on April 12, 1960 (Episode 717 - 744) Mandel Kramer was the final Johnny Dollar on June 18, 1961 (Episode 745 - 811) Yours Truly Johnny Dollar was one of the longest running and final old time radio detectives during the golden age of radio!

Happy Mother's Day! Enjoy Mother-themed old time radio shows free and listen while eating your vegetables...

March 29, 1976 CBS RADIO SAM DANN , NORMAN MORRIS, DALE MINOR DECLARED WINNERS OF ANNUAL WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA SCRIPT AWARDS Sam Dann , for a CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER script, and Norman Morris and Dale Minor, for THE AMERICAN INHERITANCE, have been named winners in the 1975 Writer Guild of America Annual Script Awards competition. The awards were presented Thursday, March 25, at ceremonies in New York City. Dann 's radio play, “ Goodbye, Karl Erich ,” was named “best radio dramatic script.” It was broadcast on the CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER , July 12, and starred Kevin McCarthy and Paul Hecht . The “best radio documentary script” award went to Morris and Minor whose THE AMERICAN INHERITANCE was broadcast January 25 and 26 on the CBS Radio Network. Produced by CBS News, the 30-part weekend special was the first of a continuing series in observance of America’s bicentennial celebration. CBS News Correspondent Walter Cronkite served as anchor man. *     *     *

Performing was the only life that Sammy Davis Jr. knew. Sammy's parents were vaudevillians; his mother a Puerto Rican tap dancer, and Sammy Sr. was part of Will Mastin's dance troupe. When little Sammy was three his parents separated. Sammy Sr., not wanting to lose custody of his son, took him on the road. Soon the boy joined the act, which became the Will Mastin Trio. (When a theater manager would object to such a young child performing, Sammy Sr. would hand Sammy Jr. a rubber cigar and bill him as "Silent Sam, the Dancing Midget.”)  Show business and his father's protection largely shielded Sammy from racial prejudice while he was young, but he saw racism first hand when he answered the call to serve in the Army during WWII . "Overnight the world looked different. It wasn't one color anymore. I could see the protection I'd gotten my whole life from my father and Will... It was as if I had been walking through a swinging door for eighteen year, a do

March 5, 1979 “MYSTERY THEATER” WEEKEND BROADCASTS TO BE DEVOTED TO CLASSIC TALES OF MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE Broadcasts Recommended by NEA; Set To Start March 31 The Saturday and Sunday broadcasts of the CBS MYSTERY THEATER , starting Saturday, March 31, will be devoted to adaptations of the classic tales of mystery and suspense that have been presented from time to time during MYSTERY THEATER’s first five years, it was announced by Richard M. Brescia, Vice President and General Manager of the CBS Radio Network. Mr. Brescia made the announcement to station executives attending the CBS Radio Affiliates Association board meeting last week in Palm Beach, Fla. “This lineup of classics,” Mr. Brescia said, “will certainly be good news to the loyal -- and every growing -- radio drama audiences across the country. These productions by Hi Brown are adaptation of celebrated short stories, novels and plays penned by literary greats, including Edgar Allan Poe, Ambrose Bierce, O.

January 29, 1979 HIGHLIGHT LISTINGS Monday, February 19 through Sunday, February 25 (Consult local station for time of broadcast.) Monday, February 19 (Time) -- WXXX, CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER , “ The Shock of His Life ,” starring Larry Haines , with E.G. Marshall, host . After suffering a violent electric shock, a man realizes he can read the future like it was the first page of tomorrow’s newspaper. Bar and grill owner Herbie Boggs, furious because his television set goes clack just as a Sunday football game is about to begin, tries to fix the set himself. Result: an electric shock that sends him to the hospital. When he recovers, he discovers he has developed the capability of predicting what will happen the next day. Sadie, his wife, without being electrified, but with a woman’s intuition, foresees nothing but trouble ahead -- for both of them. It doesn’t take long for her prediction to come true. CAST: Herbie Boggs...........LARRY HAINES     Dr. Bains.....