There has been 100 years of cinema....50 years of television...and yet there are still more quality radio show episodes than both combined. It’s amazing how everyone is clammering about “When is it coming out on DVD?” when radio shows have barely even been released on CD. And most the time they are individual episodes and not complete seasons/series.
Luckily, there are dedicated people who have kept the spirit of radio shows alive. Not only through informative websites but also by distributing the shows via the alt.binaries.sounds.radio.oldtime newsgroup.
Think about this...an average CD holds about 2-3 hours worth of music. In mp3 format, that same CD can hold 50 or more hours worth of radio shows. And if you’re lucky enough to get an Apple iPod which has at least 5 gigs of storage...well...don’t get me started.
And yes, I know many of these shows came out decades before the television shows I’m comparing them to. But, hey...if I reversed the comparison would you understand what I was talking about? Oh...damn...well, okay...just bear with me.
Just like the television page, this one is divided into three sections.
Section One: Shows which I’m currently gathering information on. This probably means I haven’t seen enough of the shows yet to review them.
Section Two: Shows which are next to research. If you know of any good sources of information on these series then please let me know.
Second Three: A VERY long list of programs I’ll probably never get to. Either they’re too old, too obscure or just haven’t caught my eye enough to move them up.
Section One
Bradbury Thirteen - These thirteen stories are Bradbury standards expertly reinacted. There’s also a fourteen episode which consists of an interview with the author.
CBS Radio Mystery Theater - Truly astounding hour long dramas. Starting in 1974, this series through 1982 and had a total of 1400 shows. (yes, 1400!) Several well known television , broadway, and movie stars lent their voices to these radio plays including Agnes Moorehead, Fred Gwynne, Tony Roberts, John Lithgow, and Kier Dullea to name a few.
Lights Out, Everybody / Drop Dead - The Twilight Zone of radio. Incredibly intricate stories beautifully told. Creator Arch Obler won several awards, including at least one Peobody. Anyone who has cherished and respected Rod Serling’s work owe it to themselves to hear this series.
LUX - The Cliff Notes of radio programs. One wonders if teachers ever assigned these to their class. And just like CBSRMT, a massive amount of episodes were created. From 1934 to 1955 there were 927 broadcasts.
Section Two
| 2000 Plus Arch Obolers Plays Arthur C. Clarke's World of Science Fiction Before The Screaming Begins Beyond Midnight Beyond This World Beyond Tomorrow Black Book Box 13 Dark Fantasy Devil & Mr.O Escape Five Minute Mysteries Hall Of Fantasy Haunting Hour Hermits Cave Hour Of Mystery Inner Sanctum KIIS Hall of Horrors Murder At Midnight |
Mysterious Traveler Mystery House Mystery In The Air Nightfall Presenting Boris Karloff Price Of Fear Quiet Please Ray Bradbury Theater Sealed Book Starring Boris Karloff Stay Tuned For Terror Suspense Tales From The Other Side TalesOfTomorrow TerrorByNight Unexpected Weird Circle Whisperer Whistler Witches Tale |
Section Three
| Aliens in the Mind Campbell Playhouse CBS Radio Workshop Columbia Workshop Crime Classics Crime Club Crime Does Not Pay Crisis Damon Runyon Theater Dangerously Yours Electric Hour Encore Theater Every Man's Theater Family Theater Favorite Story Ford Theater Free World Theater Front and Center Future Tense General Electric Theater Great Moments From Great Plays Great Plays Gulf Screen Guild Theater Hallmark Hall of Fame Hallmark Playhouse Hallmark Reader's Digest Hollywood Sound Stage Hollywood Star Playhouse Hollywood Star Time I Love Adventure Knickerbocker Playhouse Leather Stocking Tales Matinee Theater Mercury Theater MGM Theater Of The Air Molle' Mystery Theater |
Mutual Radio Theater Mystery Theater NBC Radio Theater NBC Short Story NBC Star Playhouse NBC University Theater On Stage Packard Summer Hour Palmolive Beauty Box Theater Paul Whiteman Presents Philco Radio Hall Of Fame Philco Radio Playhouse Plays for Americans Presenting Charles Boyer Prudential Family Hour Of Stars Radio City Playhouse Radio Hall Of Fame Radio Reader's Digest Rogue's Gallery Screen Director's Playhouse Screen Guild Theater Sealtest Variety Theater Sears Mutual Radio Theater Short Story Silver Theater Somerset Maugham Theater Studio One Suspicion Texaco Star Theater Theater Five Theater Guild On The Air Theater Of Romance Theater U.S.A. Tower Playhouse WOR Summer Theater Your Radio Theater |
