Blog Archives - ULTIMATE OLD TIME RADIO

Jerry of the Circus

8/31/2015

Jerry of the Circus was a 1937 syndicated radio serial. The show featured the adventures of Jerry Dougan and his dog Rags,Jerry joined the Randal Brothers circus after the death of his father and his adventures would continued in a later show Jerry at Fair Oaks.

During the depression when life was tough and very tough on children many kids dream of running away and the traveling circus held a special fascination. To capture this dream was the goal of the show.

The great thing about the syndicated show of 1930's were many were taped (which most shows ran live and were never taped) and almost all of the 130 episodes exist from this show.

Let's Pretend Again!

8/30/2015

(Hey everybody...I've been gone for the last 2 weeks on a business trip to India and hoped I had good internet connection and time to post but didn't have either so I'm Back!!! and I hope to make it up by posting some more great kids shows and move on to something new for September!!)

Nila Mack created one of OTR's most enduring shows with Let's Pretend and with so many wonderful episodes I wanted to show case one of my favorites...Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp...From The Arabian Nights...Great episode!! Listen with the kids and they'll love it!!

The Quiz Kids

8/21/2015

Starting it's long run in summer of 1940 The Quiz Kids was a show for the whole family but it featured some of the smartest kids in America. It was an kids version of Information Please and was hosted by Joe Kelly who was the host of the National Barn Dance a far different show. In strange twist Kelly dropped out of school in the 3rd grade but would hold his own with the genius kids.The children that appeared were cultured and smart beyond there young ages and this helped show fascinate the adult radio audience who generally couldn't answer most of the questions though the kids always did. It was a national hit and the kids would travel the country and meet and greet their fans and these humble kids became very famous at the time. Many kids appeared on the series before it ended in 1953.

Hop Harrigan

8/14/2015

Another of the many Aviation Heroes from radios golden age, Hop Harrigan began in the page of comic books and would eventual be owned by DC comics. On radio Hop was a daredevil pilot who fought the good fight against the axis of evil. Coming to radio in 1942 and running until 1948 when many of the aviation themed shows would leave the air. Hop fought along side his pal Tank Tinker were they fought air battles over the Pacific and Nazi Germany.

It's opening was thrilling...CX-4 calling control tower. CX-4 calling control tower...Control Tower back to CX-4..all Clear! Okkkayyy this is Hop Harringannnn coming in!!!!!... and the excitement would begin!

Terry and the Pirates

8/13/2015

Terry and the Pirates was adapted from the comic strip done by Milton Caniff. Beginning in 1937 the show would have ok following until the outbreak of WW2 when it's exotic far east storyline became much more interesting. Terry was an All-American Boy on an adventure to China with pal Pat Ryan to find a goldmine but encounter evil doers everywhere which they help to stop their evil plans!!! Jackie Kelk famous for playing Homer on the The Aldrich Family play Terry for awhile and Bud Collyer know for playing Superman starred as Pat Ryan more famous was the chief villain The Dragon Lady who was played for awhile by the amazing Agnes Moorehead!!!

Terry and the Pirates was heard daily afterschool and would end it's long run in 1948 when we no longer had any famous enemies in the world to fight!!

Red Ryder

8/10/2015

Billed as "America's Famous Fighting cowboy" Red Ryder ran from 1942 to 1951. The ruff n' tuff red headed cowboy fought outlaws in the western settlement of Painted Valley with his side kick Buckskin and his Indian ward, Little Beaver, Red blazed guns and rode his trusty steed, Thunder.

The originally playing only on the west coast was acquired by Mutual to play against the other western kid icon The Lone Ranger on the NBC Blue network and early on it managed to best the Ranger in the ratings. One of Red Ryder's biggest accomplishments was it's long successful character licensing deals. The most famous was the Red Ryder Daisy Air-Rifle which was featured so hilariously in the holiday classic movie A Christmas Story.

Red appeared in 35 serialized movies and eventually made it's way to TV.

Jack Armstrong, All-American Boy

8/8/2015

One of the most popular juvenile series of the golden age was Jack Armstrong. Jack was the Super Teen who wasn't only great at sports but also could hold his own against Spies and Bad guys all over the world!! Aided by his friends Billy and Betty Fairfield and their Uncle Jim, Jack solved the toughest of mysteries. Sponsored by Wheaties for the entire 20 year run the show and would often change it's tone if parents wrote in upset by the violence. The truth was it was one of the most successful serialized juvenile programs on the air and sold a lot of product for General Mills company.

Buster Brown Gang and Smilin' Ed

8/6/2015

Starring Smilin' Ed McConnell and sponsored by Buster Brown Shoes. It featured a cast of characters Froggy the Gremlin, Squeeky the Mouse, Grandie the Piano and Midnight the Cat. Buster Brown was originally a comic about "a boy who lived in a shoe" and the Buster Brown Shoe Company bought the rights of the character and brought it to radio. Early on it was about Buster's adventure with his dog, Tige but morphed into the classic Saturday morning kids favorite running from 1944 to 1953. It move on to TV in 1950 and run many years.

Froggy the Gremlin was the show favorite and kids delighted in his badgering the long wind guest stars that appeared each week.

Big Jon and Sparkie Show

8/5/2015

Big Jon and Sparkie starred Jon Arthur playing Big Jon and the cast of characters. The show centered around Sparkie "the little elf from the land of make believe, who wants more than anything else in the world to be a real boy". The show was for the youngest of listeners and capture the hearts kids through the 1950's. It played as Big Jon and Sparkie 5 days a week for 15 minutes and called No School Today on Saturdays for 90 minutes.

The show was famous for the Birthday segment in which kids could write in to get their name mentioned on air. Another segment was Captain Jupiter adventures. The show would not go on to TV but would be replayed on Family Radio from 1962-1982.

Listen with it's famous theme son "Teddy Bears Picnic"...

Jungle Jim

8/3/2015

Based on the Hearst comic strip Jungle Jim by Alex Raymond the stories followed closely with the Sunday edition of the comic. Like most 15 minute serialized kids shows Jungle Jim relied on cliffhanger endings and high action plots. The part of Jim was played by the talented Gerald Mohr who would go on to larger fame as Phillip Marlowe. Jim was aided on his adventures by Kolu and Shanghai Lil...The show had a long run premiering in 1935 and running until 1954.