Seriousness Anyone else like old radio shows?

HarryT · 06-28-2009, 10:09 AM

Does anyone else on MR enjoy listening to old radio shows - the ones from the days when radio, rather than TV, was the popular entertainment of its day?

I just love them, I must admit, especially detective and SF shows, of which huge numbers were made. We have a digital radio station here in the UK (BBC Radio 7) which broadcasts nothing but serialised books, and old (and new!) drama, comedy, etc, from the 1940s right up to the present day. I'm a huge fan - I have a digital radio with a timer and an SD card slot to record on, so I record all the "installments" of a show or book and then listen to them on my iPod.

At the moment, for example, they're doing a whole run of "Paul Temple" detective series from the 1950s. Great stuff!

Anyone else enjoy this kind of thing? What are your favourite shows?

I have to add, though, that I find old comedy shows totally "non-funny". "The Goon Show" for example - what a load of old twaddle! I suspect that such things are very "generational" in their appeal.

Snowman · 06-28-2009, 10:34 AM

I wholeheartedly agree with you. I have a digital converter permanently tuned to Radio 7, plugged into my PC, using Total Recorder to capture.

My favourite must be The Navy Lark, especially the first series with Denis Price as the Number One. It brings back memories (albeit vague!) of listening to the first broadcasts in the late '50s - on a battery operated valve wireless set. My father would be roaring with laughter at some things I did not (yet) understand. To hear them again, in such quality, is wonderful.

This is closely followed by I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, and several other marvellous '60s and '70s radio comedies. I exclude The Clitheroe Kid from the list, as this was a show I never liked, either as a child or as I grew up.

I've also build up a large collection of Radio Plays from the '40s onward that have been uploaded to the various newsgroups. I think that I must have all the American Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes, for example.

Grand day for a little nostalgia.

Snowman

zelda_pinwheel · 06-28-2009, 10:47 AM

i'm sorry i'll read that again is my favourite.

"it's the angus prune tune !"

My name is Angus Prune
and I always listen to I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again
(You Don't!)
My name is Angus Prune
and I never miss I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again
(Get Away!)
I sit in my bath
And I have a good laugh
Cause the sig tune is named after me
(Tell us yer name!)
My name is Angus Prune
And this is my tune
It goes I-S-I-R-T-A
I'm Sorry I'll Read That AGAIN!

vivaldirules · 06-28-2009, 10:54 AM

Thanks for the tip on BBC 7 radio, Harry. I'm listening now to The Man from Munich.

In the '70's I enjoyed the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre which was a program in the same vein as those decades earlier. They were nothing special about these but I enjoyed them. You can find a number of them here: http://www.archive.org/details/otr_c...mysterytheater

I also enjoyed listening to short wave broadcasts for many years until that went into decline recently. And I even remember being pleasantly surprised when I once tuned into a low-power AM radio station broadcast of a woman reading from a book. In contrast, I almost never listen to audio books - I prefer to read them. There's something about listening to a radio production which is really quite satisfying but I can't put my finger on the difference.

daffy4u · 06-28-2009, 11:11 AM

Listening to those old radio shows is what got me interested in Audiobooks. Back in the mid-eighties, one of the local National Public Radio stations would play a lot of old mystery and comedy shows in the afternoon. I had a merchandising job at the time and drove all over Los Angeles on a daily basis. I would time my stops so that I would be in the car driving when that particular programming was on. It was great!

HarryT · 06-28-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

In the '70's I enjoyed the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre which was a program in the same vein as those decades earlier. They were nothing special about these but I enjoyed them.

Yes, I know it well. All good stuff!

HarryT · 06-28-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

I wholeheartedly agree with you. I have a digital converter permanently tuned to Radio 7, plugged into my PC, using Total Recorder to capture.

My favourite must be The Navy Lark, especially the first series with Denis Price as the Number One. It brings back memories (albeit vague!) of listening to the first broadcasts in the late '50s - on a battery operated valve wireless set. My father would be roaring with laughter at some things I did not (yet) understand. To hear them again, in such quality, is wonderful.

This is closely followed by I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, and several other marvellous '60s and '70s radio comedies. I exclude The Clitheroe Kid from the list, as this was a show I never liked, either as a child or as I grew up.

You obviously prefer the comedy to the drama - I'm the other way around

.

Quote:

I've also build up a large collection of Radio Plays from the '40s onward that have been uploaded to the various newsgroups. I think that I must have all the American Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes, for example.

Yes, likewise. My main problem is trying to find time to actually listen to it! I generally do so in my car on the way to and from work.

I'm pleased to find there's such a tremendous amount of good radio drama still being made. Many of the "Radio 4 Afteroon Plays", for example, are excellent.

Quote:

Grand day for a little nostalgia.

Definitely!

mtravellerh · 06-28-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Does anyone else on MR enjoy listening to old radio shows - the ones from the days when radio, rather than TV, was the popular entertainment of its day?

I just love them, I must admit, especially detective and SF shows, of which huge numbers were made. We have a digital radio station here in the UK (BBC Radio 7) which broadcasts nothing but serialised books, and old (and new!) drama, comedy, etc, from the 1940s right up to the present day. I'm a huge fan - I have a digital radio with a timer and an SD card slot to record on, so I record all the "installments" of a show or book and then listen to them on my iPod.

At the moment, for example, they're doing a whole run of "Paul Temple" detective series from the 1950s. Great stuff!

Anyone else enjoy this kind of thing? What are your favourite shows?

I have to add, though, that I find old comedy shows totally "non-funny". "The Goon Show" for example - what a load of old twaddle! I suspect that such things are very "generational" in their appeal.

There are a lot of OTRs on archive.org. I love the Sherlock Holmes and Sam Spade OTR shows, Dragnet and Gunsmoke.

ruth1304 · 06-28-2009, 11:47 AM

I am a Radio 7 addict - they repeat things regularly so I now know some of my favourites quite well. I particularly love the Paul Temple mysteries.

The thing I particularly like about the Paul Temple series and other crime/thrillers/classics that they play is that they play one episode a day, rather than one a week so you don't forget what has happened in between and can get to the end of the series relatively quickly.

I have an internet radio so I can access the BBC listen again radio programmes without turning on a computer!

Sparrow · 06-28-2009, 11:53 AM

I love a lot of old BBC radio comedies - 'Hancock's Half Hour', 'Round the Horne', 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', 'Beachcomber by the Way' etc.

They are fabulous, and they cheer me up!

vivaldirules · 06-28-2009, 12:10 PM

How could I have failed to mention A Prairie Home Companion which is now in its 35th year? http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/

I loathe most of the music. But I just can't resist Garrison Keillor's dry, intelligent humor and the skits of Guy Noir, The Lonesome Cowboys, and News From Lake Wobegon. And Sue Scott and Tim Russell are just brilliant: http://www.prairiehomevoices.com/

Brought to you by Powder Milk Biscuits, Bebop-a-rebop Rhubarb Pie, and the Ketchup Advisory Board.

vivaldirules · 06-28-2009, 12:13 PM

...and the Professional Organization of English Majors.

Greg Anos · 06-28-2009, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to look up BBC7 on the net. I listen to OTR ocassionally, among many other things. Time.... (Books, the evening movie, music, gardening, occasional piece of travel, cooking, scanning for PD, and on, and on...)

columbus · 06-28-2009, 12:35 PM

I remember well listening with my family in the 50's, Dick Barton, Journey into space, Round the horn, Much binding in the marsh, The Navy lark and of course the Goon show. Just a few that spring to mind.

I agree that the comedy shows have become dated to a great extent, though there are still some gems there.

Radio7 is a bit more difficult out here The satellite signal is a bit weak but there is always the internet, though the beeb do block many things outside the UK. And it gobbles up bandwidth strangely.

Moejoe · 06-28-2009, 12:39 PM

Radio 7 is almost worth the license fee on its own. Apart from all the classic comedy and drama series, they have fantastic audio book adaptations of classic and contemporary fiction. Today I'm listening to a fantastic version of Walter Moseley's classic noir tale "Devil in a Blue Dress" on iPlayer catchup (i really should get a DAB radio).

If you're in the UK, or can access via a proxy, heres the address for the Moseley adaptation: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ess_Episode_1/

06-28-2009, 10:09 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Anyone else like old radio shows? Does anyone else on MR enjoy listening to old radio shows - the ones from the days when radio, rather than TV, was the popular entertainment of its day? I just love them, I must admit, especially detective and SF shows, of which huge numbers were made. We have a digital radio station here in the UK (BBC Radio 7) which broadcasts nothing but serialised books, and old (and new!) drama, comedy, etc, from the 1940s right up to the present day. I'm a huge fan - I have a digital radio with a timer and an SD card slot to record on, so I record all the "installments" of a show or book and then listen to them on my iPod. At the moment, for example, they're doing a whole run of "Paul Temple" detective series from the 1950s. Great stuff! Anyone else enjoy this kind of thing? What are your favourite shows? I have to add, though, that I find old comedy shows totally "non-funny". "The Goon Show" for example - what a load of old twaddle! I suspect that such things are very "generational" in their appeal.

06-28-2009, 12:10 PM	#11
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	How could I have failed to mention A Prairie Home Companion which is now in its 35th year? http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/ I loathe most of the music. But I just can't resist Garrison Keillor's dry, intelligent humor and the skits of Guy Noir, The Lonesome Cowboys, and News From Lake Wobegon. And Sue Scott and Tim Russell are just brilliant: http://www.prairiehomevoices.com/ Brought to you by Powder Milk Biscuits, Bebop-a-rebop Rhubarb Pie, and the Ketchup Advisory Board. Last edited by vivaldirules; 06-28-2009 at 12:15 PM.

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06-28-2009, 10:34 AM	#2
Snowman Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 3566 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London UK Device: iPhone 5, Kindle K3, Kindle Voyage	I wholeheartedly agree with you. I have a digital converter permanently tuned to Radio 7, plugged into my PC, using Total Recorder to capture. My favourite must be The Navy Lark, especially the first series with Denis Price as the Number One. It brings back memories (albeit vague!) of listening to the first broadcasts in the late '50s - on a battery operated valve wireless set. My father would be roaring with laughter at some things I did not (yet) understand. To hear them again, in such quality, is wonderful. This is closely followed by I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, and several other marvellous '60s and '70s radio comedies. I exclude The Clitheroe Kid from the list, as this was a show I never liked, either as a child or as I grew up. I've also build up a large collection of Radio Plays from the '40s onward that have been uploaded to the various newsgroups. I think that I must have all the American Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes, for example. Grand day for a little nostalgia. Snowman

06-28-2009, 10:47 AM	#3
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	i'm sorry i'll read that again is my favourite. "it's the angus prune tune !" My name is Angus Prune and I always listen to I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again (You Don't!) My name is Angus Prune and I never miss I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again (Get Away!) I sit in my bath And I have a good laugh Cause the sig tune is named after me (Tell us yer name!) My name is Angus Prune And this is my tune It goes I-S-I-R-T-A I'm Sorry I'll Read That AGAIN!

06-28-2009, 10:54 AM	#4
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Thanks for the tip on BBC 7 radio, Harry. I'm listening now to The Man from Munich. In the '70's I enjoyed the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre which was a program in the same vein as those decades earlier. They were nothing special about these but I enjoyed them. You can find a number of them here: http://www.archive.org/details/otr_c...mysterytheater I also enjoyed listening to short wave broadcasts for many years until that went into decline recently. And I even remember being pleasantly surprised when I once tuned into a low-power AM radio station broadcast of a woman reading from a book. In contrast, I almost never listen to audio books - I prefer to read them. There's something about listening to a radio production which is really quite satisfying but I can't put my finger on the difference.

06-28-2009, 11:11 AM	#5
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Listening to those old radio shows is what got me interested in Audiobooks. Back in the mid-eighties, one of the local National Public Radio stations would play a lot of old mystery and comedy shows in the afternoon. I had a merchandising job at the time and drove all over Los Angeles on a daily basis. I would time my stops so that I would be in the car driving when that particular programming was on. It was great!

06-28-2009, 11:47 AM	#9
ruth1304 Addict Posts: 394 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bristol, UK Device: Waiting for a kindle!	I am a Radio 7 addict - they repeat things regularly so I now know some of my favourites quite well. I particularly love the Paul Temple mysteries. The thing I particularly like about the Paul Temple series and other crime/thrillers/classics that they play is that they play one episode a day, rather than one a week so you don't forget what has happened in between and can get to the end of the series relatively quickly. I have an internet radio so I can access the BBC listen again radio programmes without turning on a computer!

06-28-2009, 11:53 AM	#10
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	I love a lot of old BBC radio comedies - 'Hancock's Half Hour', 'Round the Horne', 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', 'Beachcomber by the Way' etc. They are fabulous, and they cheer me up!

06-28-2009, 12:13 PM	#12
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	...and the Professional Organization of English Majors.

06-28-2009, 12:29 PM	#13
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,489 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Thanks for the tip. I'll have to look up BBC7 on the net. I listen to OTR ocassionally, among many other things. Time.... (Books, the evening movie, music, gardening, occasional piece of travel, cooking, scanning for PD, and on, and on...)

06-28-2009, 12:35 PM	#14
columbus Wizard Posts: 999 Karma: 5487540 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: In my own imagination. Device: Sony Prs 650, 505	I remember well listening with my family in the 50's, Dick Barton, Journey into space, Round the horn, Much binding in the marsh, The Navy lark and of course the Goon show. Just a few that spring to mind. I agree that the comedy shows have become dated to a great extent, though there are still some gems there. Radio7 is a bit more difficult out here The satellite signal is a bit weak but there is always the internet, though the beeb do block many things outside the UK. And it gobbles up bandwidth strangely.

06-28-2009, 12:39 PM	#15
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Radio 7 is almost worth the license fee on its own. Apart from all the classic comedy and drama series, they have fantastic audio book adaptations of classic and contemporary fiction. Today I'm listening to a fantastic version of Walter Moseley's classic noir tale "Devil in a Blue Dress" on iPlayer catchup (i really should get a DAB radio). If you're in the UK, or can access via a proxy, heres the address for the Moseley adaptation: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ess_Episode_1/