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RadioClassics

Classic radio dramas & comedy

Channel 148RadioClassics is the home for the quality programs from The Golden Age Of Radio. Before television, before audio books, before podcasts, great storytelling dominated the realm of radio. It's where imagination ruled.  Superman, Dragnet, Gunsmoke, plus comedies from Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, George Burns & Gracie Allen all originated on radio. Those ageless shows (and so much more) can be found on Radio Classics. Timeless stories and laughs from the past for today's SiriusXM listeners.Connect with

Shows, Schedules & Info

Featured Show

When Radio Was

Radio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell

All times listed EST
Screen Director's Playhouse

Screen Director's Playhouse

Now Playing
30 mins

The Screen Director's Playhouse featured adaptations of famous movies and called upon the screen directors to introduce and

The Screen Director's Playhouse featured adaptations of famous movies and called upon the screen directors to introduce and highlight their work. After each show, the director and stars gathered around the microphones to reminisce about the actual making of the film.

Suspense

Suspense

Next Airs Today at 4:30 pm
30 mins

Suspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup Sep

Suspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup September 30, 1962. "Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" is recognized as one of the finest dramatic series in the history of broadcasting.

Jack Benny Program

Jack Benny Program

Next Airs Today at 5 pm
30 mins

For more than 20 years, Jack Benny reigned as the king of radio comedy. His show ran on nearly every network from 1932 to th

For more than 20 years, Jack Benny reigned as the king of radio comedy. His show ran on nearly every network from 1932 to the mid 1950s. How he turned a miserable, self-absorbed cheapskate into a beloved icon ranks among the great achievements in entertainment history. Benny revolutionized the way humor was played on radio by introducing the situation comedy and by giving most of the best lines to his supporting cast.

Charlie McCarthy Show

Charlie McCarthy Show

Next Airs Today at 5:30 pm
30 mins

Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen developed his Charlie McCarthy character in high school. Bergen performed with the newsboy dummy

Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen developed his Charlie McCarthy character in high school. Bergen performed with the newsboy dummy while attending Northwestern University and eventually left college to tour vaudeville. With the decline of vaudeville during the Great Depression, Bergen moved into night spots like New York’s trendy Rainbow Room but feared his friend wouldn’t be appreciated by high society. So he gave Charlie a monocle and top hat and a "man about town" was born. Following a three-month guest stint on Rudy Vallee’s show, Edgar Bergen was signed as headliner of The Chase and Sanborn Hour. The series premiered May 9, 1937 and ended the next three seasons as radio’s top-rated series.

When Radio Was

When Radio Was

Next Airs Today at 6 pm
1 hr

Radio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell

Radio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell

CBS Radio Workshop

CBS Radio Workshop

Next Airs Today at 7 pm
30 mins

The CBS Radio Workshop aired from January 27, 1956 through September 22, 1957 and was a revival of the prestigious Columbia

The CBS Radio Workshop aired from January 27, 1956 through September 22, 1957 and was a revival of the prestigious Columbia Workshop from the 1930s and 1940s. The CBS Workshop regularly featured the works of the world’s greatest writers. including Ray Bradbury, Archibald MacLeish, William Saroyan, Lord Dunsany and Ambrose Bierce.

The Falcon

The Falcon

Next Airs Today at 7:30 pm
30 mins

Michael Waring was a freelance detective who was also known as the Falcon. Waring's detective techniques were a cross betwee

Michael Waring was a freelance detective who was also known as the Falcon. Waring's detective techniques were a cross between Ellery Queen and Richard Diamond. He had a certain eye for detail but was frequently on the outs with the police.

Six Shooter

Six Shooter

Next Airs Today at 8 pm
30 mins

The Six Shooter aired started movie star James Stewart rode the radio range from September 20, 1953 through June 24, 1954 as

The Six Shooter aired started movie star James Stewart rode the radio range from September 20, 1953 through June 24, 1954 as Britt Ponset, "the Texas plainsman who wandered through the western territories, leaving behind a trail of still-remembered legends."

Fort Laramie

Fort Laramie

Next Airs Today at 8:30 pm
30 mins

Specially transcribed tales of the dark and tragic ground of the wild frontier. The saga of fighting men who rode the rim of

Specially transcribed tales of the dark and tragic ground of the wild frontier. The saga of fighting men who rode the rim of empire and the dramatic story of Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. Premiering in January 1956, Raymond Burr starred as Captain Quince-a soldier who followed orders and a leader who lived by his own rules of fairness and honesty.

Frontier Gentleman

Frontier Gentleman

Next Airs Today at 9 pm
30 mins

This excellent Western series, created by Antony Ellis, aired for several months on CBS in 1958. John Dehner starred as Brit

This excellent Western series, created by Antony Ellis, aired for several months on CBS in 1958. John Dehner starred as British reporter J.B. Kendall, who traveled the Wild West in search of stories of adventure. Versatile radio stars like Virginia Gregg, Jospeh Kearns, Stacy Harris and more were featured throughout.

Dragnet

Dragnet

Next Airs Today at 9:30 pm
30 mins

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent...

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent... One of the most popular police dramas in the history of broadcasting, Dragnet aired on NBC Radio from June 10, 1949 through February 7, 1957 and on television from 1952-59 and 1967-72. Dragnet introduced a new era of documentary-style realism.

The Whisperer

The Whisperer

Next Airs Today at 11 pm
30 mins

As a summer replacement series on NBC, this show only broadcast a handful of episodes from July to September 1951. The title

As a summer replacement series on NBC, this show only broadcast a handful of episodes from July to September 1951. The title character, also known as Phillip Gault, could speak only in whispers following a football injury. He's cast out of society and joins an underground crime syndicate - but after having miracle surgery that restores his voice, he becomes a double agent in hopes of destroying the syndicate from the inside. Carleton G. Young played the protagonist, alongside Betty Moran who played Gault's girlfriend and the only other person who knows about his double identity.

Fibber McGee & Molly

Fibber McGee & Molly

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1 am
30 mins

The husband-and-wife vaudeville team of Jim and Marian Jordan began their radio careers in Peoria on a bet from Jim’s brothe

The husband-and-wife vaudeville team of Jim and Marian Jordan began their radio careers in Peoria on a bet from Jim’s brother. The Jordans were heard as The O’Henry Twins and The Air Scouts before Don Quinn created Smackout in 1931. Quinn revamped the show as Fibber McGee and Molly in 1935 when Johnson’s Wax signed on as sponsor.

Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show

Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1:30 am
30 mins

The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show grew out of the popular Fitch Bandwagon series. Phil Harris played himself, continuing the

The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show grew out of the popular Fitch Bandwagon series. Phil Harris played himself, continuing the egotistical, smart-alec characterization he had perfected during his years as Jack Bennys' bandleader. Alice Faye, Phil's movie star wife, recreated her real-life role as a film star turn devoted housewife.

Academy Award Theatre

Academy Award Theatre

Next Airs Tomorrow at 4 am
30 mins

Academy Award Theater was a half-hour dramatic anthology series presenting radio adaptations of movies that had been nominat

Academy Award Theater was a half-hour dramatic anthology series presenting radio adaptations of movies that had been nominated for or had won Academy Awards. While the show was a success with critics and audiences alike, it went off the air after only nine months and 39 episodes.

Adventures of Harry Nile

Adventures of Harry Nile

Next Airs Tomorrow at 4:30 am
30 mins

This series is one of a few modern series featured by Radio Classics. A creation of writer Jim French, Harry Nile first came

This series is one of a few modern series featured by Radio Classics. A creation of writer Jim French, Harry Nile first came to radio in 1976 and continued to be adapted into the late '90s as part of the "Imagination Theatre" productions. Harry Nile, a former Chicago cop turned private detective, was played by Phil Harper for more than 20 years.

The Green Hornet

The Green Hornet

Next Airs Tomorrow at 5 am
30 mins

The Green Hornet debuted over the Detroit station on January 31, 1936. The Green Hornet was well-served by his valet Kato an

The Green Hornet debuted over the Detroit station on January 31, 1936. The Green Hornet was well-served by his valet Kato and a supercharged roadster, the Black Beauty. Al Hodge portrayed The Green Hornet during the series' first seven seasons, followed by Donovan Faust, Robert Hall and Jack McCarthy. The show ran on radio through December 5, 1952.

The Whistler

The Whistler

Next Airs Tomorrow at 6:30 am
30 mins

The Whistler whistled its way onto the airwaves beginning May 16, 1942 and its eerie 13-note theme set the tone for West Coa

The Whistler whistled its way onto the airwaves beginning May 16, 1942 and its eerie 13-note theme set the tone for West Coast radio mystery for the next decade. "I am the Whistler and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak."

Burns & Allen Show

Burns & Allen Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 7 am
30 mins

George and Gracie first performed on air over the BBC while touring England after an NBC executive rejected their act insist

George and Gracie first performed on air over the BBC while touring England after an NBC executive rejected their act insisting that "Gracie’s voice is unfit for radio." Burns and Allen won a regular spot on The Robert Burns Panatella Program February 22, 1932 and moved into the top spot when Guy Lombardo left the series. The Burns and Allen Show aired through May 17, 1950 on radio and for another decade on television. Jack Benny and George Burns were best friends in real life and often were guests on each other’s programs.

Screen Guild Players

Screen Guild Players

Next Airs Tomorrow at 8 am
2 hrs

Screen Guild Players

Screen Guild Players

The Bickersons

The Bickersons

Next Airs Tomorrow at 10 am
1 hr

Don Ameche and Frances Langford first portrayed The Bickersons as a skit on The Charlie McCarthy Show and moved into their o

Don Ameche and Frances Langford first portrayed The Bickersons as a skit on The Charlie McCarthy Show and moved into their own NBC series on September 8, 1946. John and Blanche Bickerson fought about anything and everything, especially Blanche's ne'er-do-well brother Amos, played by Danny Thomas. Many of the finest Bickersons skits revolved around the conflicts brought on by John’s narcolepsy and Blanche’s insomnia. The Bickersons initially ran for only two seasons, although the show was revived in 1951 as a summer series starring Lew Parker and Frances Langford.

Father Knows Best

Father Knows Best

Next Airs Tomorrow at 11 am
30 mins

NBC's Father Knows Best depicted the lives of the Anderson family, an average American family living in an average American

NBC's Father Knows Best depicted the lives of the Anderson family, an average American family living in an average American town. Robert Young starred as Jim Anderson, the easy-going and sensible father. Young was the only cast member to survive the transition from radio to television.

Life of Riley

Life of Riley

Next Airs Tomorrow at 11:30 am
30 mins

The Life of Riley featured the comic misadventures of riveter Chester A. Riley. Riley was a devoted family man with a talent

The Life of Riley featured the comic misadventures of riveter Chester A. Riley. Riley was a devoted family man with a talent for flying off the handle and a penchant for being worse. Movie star William Bendix played the title role of the lovable hardhat throughout the series.

Escape - Radio Classics

Escape - Radio Classics

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1 pm
30 mins

Radio's greatest series of high adventure debuted over the CBS network on July 7,1947. Escape's protagonists faced life-and-

Radio's greatest series of high adventure debuted over the CBS network on July 7,1947. Escape's protagonists faced life-and-death situations each week, as the show careened from classic adventure to Western drama to science fiction. The program was broadcast as a sustainer (unsponsored) series during most of its seven-year run.

Let George Do It

Let George Do It

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1:30 pm
30 mins

Let George Do It, stars Bob Bailey, who plays George Valentine who was a detective whose cases came from the newspaper.

Let George Do It, stars Bob Bailey, who plays George Valentine who was a detective whose cases came from the newspaper.

Screen Director's Assignment

Screen Director's Assignment

Next Airs Tomorrow at 2 pm
30 mins

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, several different programs brought Hollywood stars to radio to reprise their performa

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, several different programs brought Hollywood stars to radio to reprise their performances from popular films. However, Screen Director’s Assignment brought something to this format that no other show had: the directors. The director of a motion picture would open each broadcast by introducing the radio adaptation of their movie that the audience was about to hear, and would talk with the stars at the end of the program. Directors like Frank Capra, Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford were heard on this series. This star-studded extravaganza brought John Wayne, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Joan Crawford, Edward G. Robinson and many more Hollywood greats to radio.

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Next Airs Tomorrow at 3 pm
30 mins

Radio’s greatest adult western told the story of Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, "the first man they look for and the last they w

Radio’s greatest adult western told the story of Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, "the first man they look for and the last they want to meet." Gunsmoke grew out of a request from CBS founder William Paley for a "Philip Marlowe in the Old West," and featured grimly realistic stories set in the vicinity of Dodge City, the "Gommorrah of the West," with William Conrad as Dillon.

Have Gun, Will Travel

Have Gun, Will Travel

Next Airs Tomorrow at 3:30 pm
30 mins

Have Gun, Will Travel debuted on television on September 14, 1957 and moved to radio November 23, 1958. The program was an

Have Gun, Will Travel debuted on television on September 14, 1957 and moved to radio November 23, 1958. The program was an oddity, a western that began on television and moved to radio, featuring an ethical anti-hero whose mysterious origins were left untold until the fifth and final TV season.

Lux Radio Theatre

Lux Radio Theatre

Next Airs Tomorrow at 4 pm
1 hr

The Lux Radio Theatre was one of radio's most popular series attracting Hollywood's top stars and boasting a lavish budget.

The Lux Radio Theatre was one of radio's most popular series attracting Hollywood's top stars and boasting a lavish budget. The Lux Radio Theatre began in 1934 featuring dramas from Broadway, but there was not enough material to support the show. In an attempt to reverse the slipping ratings, the show was moved to Hollywood in 1936, where there was plenty of material and talent.

Danny Kaye Show

Danny Kaye Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 5 pm
30 mins

Danny Kaye Show

Danny Kaye Show

Lum and Abner

Lum and Abner

Next Airs Tomorrow at 5:30 pm
30 mins

Chester Lauck and Norris Goff were first heard as Lum and Abner on a radio fundraiser for flood victims. Improvising the spo

Chester Lauck and Norris Goff were first heard as Lum and Abner on a radio fundraiser for flood victims. Improvising the spot, they went on the air as the "fellers from the hills" and won a regular spot on KTHS beginning April 26, 1931. Lum and Abner moved into an NBC summer berth July 27, 1931 and aired nationally from May 22, 1933 through May 7, 1954.

Family Theater Classic Radio

Family Theater Classic Radio

Next Airs Tomorrow at 6 pm
30 mins

The Family Theater radio series, which featured hundreds of famous actors, was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System f

The Family Theater radio series, which featured hundreds of famous actors, was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System from 1947 to 1969, making it one of the longest running weekly dramatic radio programs in history.

Adventures of Philip Marlowe

Adventures of Philip Marlowe

Next Airs Tomorrow at 7 pm
30 mins

Raymond Chandler introduced readers to Philip Marlowe in his 1939 novel The Big Sleep. Humphrey Bogart, Robert Montgomery an

Raymond Chandler introduced readers to Philip Marlowe in his 1939 novel The Big Sleep. Humphrey Bogart, Robert Montgomery and George Montgomery portrayed the hardboiled detective in films before Van Heflin took over as Marlowe in NBC’s 1947 summer series.The Adventures of Philip Marlowe returned September 26, 1948, as a CBS series and starred Gerald Mohr. CBS Chairman William S. Paley was a big fan of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, and his request for a "Philip Marlowe in the West" led to the development of the legendary western Gunsmoke.

The Fat Man

The Fat Man

Next Airs Tomorrow at 7:30 pm
30 mins

The Fat Man was a detective series based on a character created by Dashiell Hammett. The show aired on ABC from 1946 to 1951

The Fat Man was a detective series based on a character created by Dashiell Hammett. The show aired on ABC from 1946 to 1951. J. Scott Smart starred as Brad Runyon, a portly, powerful and witty detective.

Halls Of Ivy

Halls Of Ivy

Next Airs Tomorrow at 8 pm
1 hr

Ronald Colman and wife Benita Hume were popularly known as Jack Benny's ever-patient, next-door neighbors. However, in Janua

Ronald Colman and wife Benita Hume were popularly known as Jack Benny's ever-patient, next-door neighbors. However, in January 1950, they left to start their own show. Ronald played William Todhunter Hall, president of Ivy College in the "town of Ivy, USA." Benita was wife Vicky, the former Victoria Cromwell of the English theatre. The stylish college president was brought down to earth by the lively former actress who happily refered to him as "Toddy-dear." Together, the Halls handled the students as well as the stodgy Board of Directors with a "modern" flair.

Bulldog Drummond

Bulldog Drummond

Next Airs Tomorrow at 9 pm
30 mins

Bulldog Drummond was a crime series based on the novels by H.C. McNeile- the stories were also made into a film series in th

Bulldog Drummond was a crime series based on the novels by H.C. McNeile- the stories were also made into a film series in the '30s. The radio show was originally set in England, however, Bulldog crossed the Atlantic and came to America after two months. It ran on Mutual from April 1941 - March 1953

The Saint

The Saint

Next Airs Tomorrow at 10 pm
2 hrs

Leslie Charteris' famous character first came to radio on January 6, 1945 with Edgar Barrier heard as the debonair Simon Tem

Leslie Charteris' famous character first came to radio on January 6, 1945 with Edgar Barrier heard as the debonair Simon Templar. The "Robin Hood of modern crime" returned to the airwaves on July 9, 1947 with Vincent Price in the title role in a short-lived CBS summer series. Price returned to the role in 1949 over Mutual and became radio's most remembered Simon Templar.

Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

Next Airs Tuesday at 12 am
1 hr

The Cavalcade of America was a historical dramatic anthology and aired from 1935 to 1953. Patriotic in nature, this series w

The Cavalcade of America was a historical dramatic anthology and aired from 1935 to 1953. Patriotic in nature, this series was created in part to improve the name of sponsor DuPont Chemical, which received backlash for profiting enormously from War World I. The show's themes were never voilent, but rather idealistic. Stories included the voyage of the Mayflower, the first telegraph, and Eli Whitney's cotton gin.

Lights Out!

Lights Out!

Next Airs Tuesday at 1 am
30 mins

Lights Out debuted January 1, 1934 over Chicago’s WENR and moved onto the NBC airwaves beginning April 17, 1935. Radio’s pr

Lights Out debuted January 1, 1934 over Chicago’s WENR and moved onto the NBC airwaves beginning April 17, 1935. Radio’s premier horror series was created by writer/ director Wyllis Cooper. Cooper was succeeded by Arch Oboler, one of radio’s greatest dramatic talents.

Dark Fantasy

Dark Fantasy

Next Airs Tuesday at 1:30 am
30 mins

Dark Fantasy originated from the Oklahoma City studios of WKY and ran from November 14, 1941 through June 19, 1942. The fina

Dark Fantasy originated from the Oklahoma City studios of WKY and ran from November 14, 1941 through June 19, 1942. The final 25 episodes of the series were aired on a sustaining basis over the NBC network.

Damon Runyon Theatre

Damon Runyon Theatre

Next Airs Tuesday at 3 am
30 mins

This anthology series dramatized the stories of fiction author Damon Runyon and aired in various forms from the late 1940s t

This anthology series dramatized the stories of fiction author Damon Runyon and aired in various forms from the late 1940s to the mid 1950s. John Brown starred as "Broadway," a fluent "Brooklynese" speaker who spun tales of old Manhattan.

Grand Marquee

Grand Marquee

Next Airs Tuesday at 3:30 am
30 mins

Pull back the curtain for another evening of excitement "in the world of make believe". This dramatic anthology series ran f

Pull back the curtain for another evening of excitement "in the world of make believe". This dramatic anthology series ran for about a year from July 1946-September 1947.

The Black Museum

The Black Museum

Next Airs Tuesday at 4 am
1 hr

This crime drama was first produced by the BBC in 1951, and aired in the US the following year. Narrator Orson Welles told t

This crime drama was first produced by the BBC in 1951, and aired in the US the following year. Narrator Orson Welles told tales of this "mausoleum of murder," with ordinary objects and the murder mysteries behind them.

Tales of the Texas Rangers

Tales of the Texas Rangers

Next Airs Tuesday at 5 am
30 mins

Tales of the Texas Rangers was broadcast over NBC from July 8 1950 through September 14, 1952 and was later revived on telev

Tales of the Texas Rangers was broadcast over NBC from July 8 1950 through September 14, 1952 and was later revived on television. Western film star Joel McCrea portrayed Ranger Jace Pearson in NBC's Tales of the Texas Rangers.

Mystery Is My Hobby

Mystery Is My Hobby

Next Airs Tuesday at 5:30 am
30 mins

Glen Langan starred as the lead character Barton Drake in this detective series that aired on Mutual Radio from 1947 to 1948

Glen Langan starred as the lead character Barton Drake in this detective series that aired on Mutual Radio from 1947 to 1948. Drake is an author and amateur crime solver fascinated by the minds of criminals. This series is full of good ole "whodunnit" storylines.

Philo Vance

Philo Vance

Next Airs Tuesday at 9:30 am
30 mins

Philo Vance was the most popular fictional detective during the late 1920s and early 1930s and influenced the creation of ma

Philo Vance was the most popular fictional detective during the late 1920s and early 1930s and influenced the creation of many later detectives. S.S. Van Dine's legendary creation was first brought to radio on July 5, 1945 in an NBC summer series starring Jose Ferrar and was also briefly portrayed by John Emery.

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Next Airs Tuesday at 10 am
1 hr 30 mins

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar told the story of the freelance insurance investigator with the "action-packed expense account."

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar told the story of the freelance insurance investigator with the "action-packed expense account." Radio’s last great detective series, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar ended its run September 30, 1962 during the final week of network radio drama.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Next Airs Tuesday at 11:30 am
30 mins

Based on the popular characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes began on coast-to-coast

Based on the popular characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes began on coast-to-coast CBS radio in 1930. By the late 1930s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes had moved to the Mutual Broadcasting Network and the series was forced to rely on invented new adventures, having run out of Doyle stories to adapt.

Night Beat

Night Beat

Next Airs Tuesday at 1 pm
30 mins

Frank Lovejoy is heard as Randy "Lucky" Stone, a hardboiled reporter who covers the "nightbeat" for the Chicago Star. Randy

Frank Lovejoy is heard as Randy "Lucky" Stone, a hardboiled reporter who covers the "nightbeat" for the Chicago Star. Randy Stone wandered the back alleys and bars of Chicago, searching for both crime and human-interest stories. Nightbeat premiered on February 6, 1950 and ran until September 25, 1952.

The Cisco Kid

The Cisco Kid

Next Airs Tuesday at 3 pm
30 mins

The Cisco Kid rode onto the Mutual airwaves on October 2, 1942, in a series that starred the versatile Jackson Beck. Cisco a

The Cisco Kid rode onto the Mutual airwaves on October 2, 1942, in a series that starred the versatile Jackson Beck. Cisco and his partner Pancho rode off the Mutual trail on December 14, 1945, but the characters returned to the airwaves two years later in a new version that was broadcast over the Don Lee Pacific Coast Network. Jack Mather and Harry Lang (later replaced by Mel Blanc) portrayed Cisco and Pancho in the later series, which ran for a decade.

Hopalong Cassidy

Hopalong Cassidy

Next Airs Tuesday at 3:30 pm
30 mins

Hopalong Cassidy's millions of fans got a New Year's Day present in 1950 when William Boyd brought the famous Bar-20 Ranch o

Hopalong Cassidy's millions of fans got a New Year's Day present in 1950 when William Boyd brought the famous Bar-20 Ranch onto the Mutual radio range. In 1950, Clarence Mulford's classic cowboy was heard on 152 radio stations, seen on 63 television outlets and appeared as a comic strip in 155 newspapers.

Inner Sanctum Mysteries

Inner Sanctum Mysteries

Next Airs Tuesday at 4:30 pm
30 mins

Inner Sanctum's sinister host welcomed listeners "through the squeaking door to another night of horror." The show’s "squea

Inner Sanctum's sinister host welcomed listeners "through the squeaking door to another night of horror." The show’s "squeaking door" was one of radio’s most-remembered openings and was inspired by the creaking hinges on a sound effects door at the radio studio.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Next Airs Tuesday at 5 pm
30 mins

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered over the NBC network on April 24, 1949 and ran through 1952 starring Dick Powel

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered over the NBC network on April 24, 1949 and ran through 1952 starring Dick Powell as "radio's singing detective." Powell had first achieved movie stardom as a baby-faced crooner, and later matured to hardboiled roles, including Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe in the 1944 film Murder My Sweet.

Boston Blackie

Boston Blackie

Next Airs Tuesday at 5:30 pm
30 mins

Boston Blackie was created by Jack Boyle, a hard-drinking opium addict who served three prison terms. While in prison, Boyle

Boston Blackie was created by Jack Boyle, a hard-drinking opium addict who served three prison terms. While in prison, Boyle began writing true-crime confession stories that were published in The American Magazine under the byline 6006, his convict number. Boyle's stories were collected in his 1919 book, Boston Blackie, and inspired a popular series of B-films, the radio series and a 1951 video version.

Michael Shayne

Michael Shayne

Next Airs Tuesday at 6 pm
30 mins

Detective Michael Shayne was created by Davis Dresser (writing under the pen name Brett Halliday). "Dividend of Death," the

Detective Michael Shayne was created by Davis Dresser (writing under the pen name Brett Halliday). "Dividend of Death," the first of more than 60 novels featuring the Miami-based private detective was published in 1939. The adventures of the "reckless red-headed Irishman," played by Wally Maher, came to radio October 16, 1944 and aired for 3 years.

Avalon Time

Avalon Time

Next Airs Tuesday at 8 pm
30 mins

TBD

TBD

Red Skelton Show

Red Skelton Show

Next Airs Tuesday at 8:30 pm
1 hr

The Red Skelton Show came to NBC on October 7, 1941 after years as a mainstay on Cincinnati's powerhouse station WLW. Red sc

The Red Skelton Show came to NBC on October 7, 1941 after years as a mainstay on Cincinnati's powerhouse station WLW. Red scored with radio audiences as Junior, "the mean widdle kid," a character he originated in vaudeville. Some of his other memorable characters included Deadeye, J. Newton Numbskull, Willie Lump-Lump, Bolivar Shagnasty and Clem Kadiddlehopper.

Kraft Music Hall

Kraft Music Hall

Next Airs Tuesday at 9:30 pm
30 mins

This musical variety show aired on NBC from June 26, 1933 through September 22, 1949 with singing stars such as Al Jolson, B

This musical variety show aired on NBC from June 26, 1933 through September 22, 1949 with singing stars such as Al Jolson, Bing Crosby and Nelson Eddy.

Crime & Peter Chambers

Crime & Peter Chambers

Next Airs Wednesday at 12 am
1 hr

Dane Clark stars as Peter Chambers, a tough private eye that plays nice with the NYPD. The series is based on "Peter Chamber

Dane Clark stars as Peter Chambers, a tough private eye that plays nice with the NYPD. The series is based on "Peter Chambers" novels, written by Henry Kane.

Space Patrol

Space Patrol

Next Airs Wednesday at 6 am
30 mins

This early 1950's space adventure series for kids ran concurrently on TV and radio, with the same performers in lead roles.

This early 1950's space adventure series for kids ran concurrently on TV and radio, with the same performers in lead roles.

Exploring Tomorrow

Exploring Tomorrow

Next Airs Wednesday at 6:30 am
30 mins

First broadcast on December 4, 1957, Exploring Tomorrow brought funny, strange and chilling tales to science fiction fans ac

First broadcast on December 4, 1957, Exploring Tomorrow brought funny, strange and chilling tales to science fiction fans across the country. Adventures in space exploration, aliens, and time travel thrilled listeners on the Mutual Broadcasting System. While the stories and their settings are unusual, the themes are familiar: jealousy, crime and punishment, the pursuit of happiness, politics and war. As with all good science fiction, the fanciful and frightening worlds of an imagined future or an alternate present bring you face to face with the real feelings, choices, beliefs and needs of human beings as we are now.

X Minus One

X Minus One

Next Airs Wednesday at 7 am
30 mins

X-Minus One premiered on April 24, 195 and was a revival of Dimension X, NBC's earlier science fiction anthology series. X-M

X-Minus One premiered on April 24, 195 and was a revival of Dimension X, NBC's earlier science fiction anthology series. X-Minus One ran until January 9, 1958 and was rerun during the 1970s as part of NBC's Omnibus series.

The Chase

The Chase

Next Airs Wednesday at 7:30 am
30 mins

This NBC thriller ran for about a year from the spring of 1952 to the summer of 1953. Each unique story entails suspense, ac

This NBC thriller ran for about a year from the spring of 1952 to the summer of 1953. Each unique story entails suspense, action and, of course, a protagonist on the run. The series often featured guest stars who were announcers or actors for other suspenseful series, and many of the scripts were also used in other dramas like The Clock and Inner Sanctum Mysteries.

The Weird Circle

The Weird Circle

Next Airs Wednesday at 1:30 pm
30 mins

This horror series consisted mostly of adapted supernatural tales from greats like Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Louis Stevenso

This horror series consisted mostly of adapted supernatural tales from greats like Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson. It aired for two seasons from 1943-1945, first on Mutual and then on NBC's Red network.

The Crime Club

The Crime Club

Next Airs Wednesday at 2 pm
30 mins

The Crime Club

The Crime Club

The Haunting Hour

The Haunting Hour

Next Airs Wednesday at 2:30 pm
1 hr

The Haunting Hour

The Haunting Hour

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons

Next Airs Wednesday at 5:30 pm
30 mins

Mr. Keen was a charming and kindly old tracer of missing persons along with his assistant Mike Clancy.

Mr. Keen was a charming and kindly old tracer of missing persons along with his assistant Mike Clancy.

All times listed EST

Greg Bell

From his native Illinois to a number of Rocky Mountain years in Colorado and Idaho, Greg Bell has done it all in radio—program director, news director, sports director, anchor, and reporter. Bell’s goal with Radio Classics is to take you back to the time when the family gathered around the radio.

All times listed EST
4 pm

Now Playing

Screen Director's PlayhouseThe Screen Director's Playhouse featured adaptations of famous movies and called upon the screen directors to introduce and highlight their work. After each show, the director and stars gathered around the microphones to reminisce about the actual making of the film.
4:30 pm

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SuspenseSuspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup September 30, 1962. "Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" is recognized as one of the finest dramatic series in the history of broadcasting.
5 pm

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Jack Benny ProgramFor more than 20 years, Jack Benny reigned as the king of radio comedy. His show ran on nearly every network from 1932 to the mid 1950s. How he turned a miserable, self-absorbed cheapskate into a beloved icon ranks among the great achievements in entertainment history. Benny revolutionized the way humor was played on radio by introducing the situation comedy and by giving most of the best lines to his supporting cast.
5:30 pm

Now Playing

Charlie McCarthy ShowVentriloquist Edgar Bergen developed his Charlie McCarthy character in high school. Bergen performed with the newsboy dummy while attending Northwestern University and eventually left college to tour vaudeville. With the decline of vaudeville during the Great Depression, Bergen moved into night spots like New York’s trendy Rainbow Room but feared his friend wouldn’t be appreciated by high society. So he gave Charlie a monocle and top hat and a "man about town" was born. Following a three-month guest stint on Rudy Vallee’s show, Edgar Bergen was signed as headliner of The Chase and Sanborn Hour. The series premiered May 9, 1937 and ended the next three seasons as radio’s top-rated series.
6 pm

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When Radio WasRadio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell
7 pm

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CBS Radio WorkshopThe CBS Radio Workshop aired from January 27, 1956 through September 22, 1957 and was a revival of the prestigious Columbia Workshop from the 1930s and 1940s. The CBS Workshop regularly featured the works of the world’s greatest writers. including Ray Bradbury, Archibald MacLeish, William Saroyan, Lord Dunsany and Ambrose Bierce.
7:30 pm

Now Playing

The FalconMichael Waring was a freelance detective who was also known as the Falcon. Waring's detective techniques were a cross between Ellery Queen and Richard Diamond. He had a certain eye for detail but was frequently on the outs with the police.
8 pm

Now Playing

Six ShooterThe Six Shooter aired started movie star James Stewart rode the radio range from September 20, 1953 through June 24, 1954 as Britt Ponset, "the Texas plainsman who wandered through the western territories, leaving behind a trail of still-remembered legends."
8:30 pm

Now Playing

Fort LaramieSpecially transcribed tales of the dark and tragic ground of the wild frontier. The saga of fighting men who rode the rim of empire and the dramatic story of Lee Quince, Captain of Cavalry. Premiering in January 1956, Raymond Burr starred as Captain Quince-a soldier who followed orders and a leader who lived by his own rules of fairness and honesty.
9 pm

Now Playing

Frontier GentlemanThis excellent Western series, created by Antony Ellis, aired for several months on CBS in 1958. John Dehner starred as British reporter J.B. Kendall, who traveled the Wild West in search of stories of adventure. Versatile radio stars like Virginia Gregg, Jospeh Kearns, Stacy Harris and more were featured throughout.
9:30 pm

Now Playing

DragnetLadies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent... One of the most popular police dramas in the history of broadcasting, Dragnet aired on NBC Radio from June 10, 1949 through February 7, 1957 and on television from 1952-59 and 1967-72. Dragnet introduced a new era of documentary-style realism.
10 pm

Now Playing

Jack Benny ProgramFor more than 20 years, Jack Benny reigned as the king of radio comedy. His show ran on nearly every network from 1932 to the mid 1950s. How he turned a miserable, self-absorbed cheapskate into a beloved icon ranks among the great achievements in entertainment history. Benny revolutionized the way humor was played on radio by introducing the situation comedy and by giving most of the best lines to his supporting cast.
11 pm

Now Playing

The WhispererAs a summer replacement series on NBC, this show only broadcast a handful of episodes from July to September 1951. The title character, also known as Phillip Gault, could speak only in whispers following a football injury. He's cast out of society and joins an underground crime syndicate - but after having miracle surgery that restores his voice, he becomes a double agent in hopes of destroying the syndicate from the inside. Carleton G. Young played the protagonist, alongside Betty Moran who played Gault's girlfriend and the only other person who knows about his double identity.
11:30 pm

Now Playing

DragnetLadies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent... One of the most popular police dramas in the history of broadcasting, Dragnet aired on NBC Radio from June 10, 1949 through February 7, 1957 and on television from 1952-59 and 1967-72. Dragnet introduced a new era of documentary-style realism.

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