Do you have other OTR favorites?

[CBSRMTFAN]

My first love is CBSRMT. However, over the past couple of years I have branched out and discovered several other series that are quite good. I'd love to hear what everyone is listening to/collecting besides CBSRMT.

My wife loves Burns & Allen. Actually it was one of the methods I used to get her hooked on OTR. Some of you asked how I did it. Well, in the beginning we would alternate programs each night. One night I would put on a radio mystery and the next she would choose a Burns & Allen episode. However, there are many fewer Burns & Allen episodes than there are CBSRMT episodes. By the time she ran out of her episodes, she had begun to take a liking to CBSRMT.

A program I just recently stumbled across and really like is Nero Wolfe. He is kind of like an eccentric Sherlock Holmes and solves mostly murder mysteries. However, there are only 28 episodes that I am aware of.

Another program I started collecting is called Suspense, but I have to admit that the half hour format doesn't allow enough time for character development. That is one of the reasons why I think CBSRMT is so good. An hour (45 minutes) gives the writer enough time to fully develop the character and story line.

I also collect The Great Gildersleeve but have to admit that since finding this site I've refocused my attention on CBSRMT. There are just so many great episodes and it will be a long time before I've had a chance to listen to them all.

So what other programs do you listen to? Any favorites other than CBSRMT?

Bruce

[Lagavulin]

This is an easy one!

Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Not so much a series... only about 3 or 4 hours total programming, but it's amazing.

Originally a radio drama created by British writer Douglas Adams, it was adapted to novel form, and then to a campy BBC television production.

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is on my annual listen-to, and must-read lists.

If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to share the episodes online. They're brilliant and funny.

cheers
Miles

[vgarci]

Miles and CBSRMTFan,
First, I have a few Jack Benny's and Charlie has sent me the "Mutual Radio Theater" series (stereo!), the "General Mills Adventure Theatre (younger audience but classic tales told with flair) and the "CBS Radio Workshop" series which are very interesting. Also, I have some of the following series, "You Bet Your Life", "Inner Sanctum", "Lights Out", "Whistler" and "Father Knows Best". Holler if you want any of these.

Miles,
I'd love the Hitch Hiker set! Send to vgarci at Streamload, if you would be so kind.

[Lagavulin]

Vince and webb3201

you should have the hitch hikers' guide to the galaxy series in your streamload boxes.

cheers
miles

[NAtlantis]

:roll: Hmmm what else do I like...

Apart from the CBSRMT I enjoy [i:8b81fec8c3]The Jack Benny Show[/i:8b81fec8c3], [i:8b81fec8c3]Fibber Magee and Molly[/i:8b81fec8c3], [i:8b81fec8c3]The Life Of Riley[/i:8b81fec8c3], [i:8b81fec8c3]Abbott & Costello[/i:8b81fec8c3],[i:8b81fec8c3] Inner Sanctum[/i:8b81fec8c3], [i:8b81fec8c3]Suspense[/i:8b81fec8c3], [i:8b81fec8c3]The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries[/i:8b81fec8c3].

Hmmm... :roll: Oh yeah how could I forget! [i:8b81fec8c3]Richard Diamond Private Detective[/i:8b81fec8c3]!

I am sure there are others... but that's what came to mind without having to think about it. These are the ones I listed to fairly regularly.

:wink:

NAtlantis (John in Charleston, SC)

[hamlet2003]

I think CBSRMT is what got me hooked on radio drama and since it wasn't available for purchase, I went looking for recordings of other OTR programs. Some of my favorite include:

[b:18ebbe71de]The Shadow [/b:18ebbe71de](particularly if Orson Welles is playing the Shadow)
[b:18ebbe71de]Lights Out[/b:18ebbe71de] (Ever hear the one about the chemistry student who makes this acid that creates a hole that threatens to eat away at the entire planet?)
[b:18ebbe71de]Dimension X[/b:18ebbe71de] and [b:18ebbe71de]X Minus One[/b:18ebbe71de] - great radio sci-fi that included stories by the likes of Bradbury, Asimov and Heinlein.
[b:18ebbe71de]Suspense[/b:18ebbe71de] - Great mysteries (usually murder mysteries)
[b:18ebbe71de]Escape[/b:18ebbe71de] - tales of adventure and suspense!
[b:18ebbe71de]The Mysterious Traveler[/b:18ebbe71de] -great fantasy and sci fi stories

I'm also a fan of several series that were produced in more recent history:

[b:18ebbe71de]Hitchhiker's Guide[/b:18ebbe71de] - this is a fantastic example of radio comedy
[b:18ebbe71de]Nightfall[/b:18ebbe71de] - a creepy, scary series that ran on NPR back in the '80's, I think.
[b:18ebbe71de]Bradbury Thirteen[/b:18ebbe71de] - Dramatizations of some of Bradbury's best short stories.

I also used to enjoy an NPR show that ran in the '80s that did suspense and horror stories and it was hosted by a character named "Graves." Anybody remember the name of that program?

[Texas]

"Tales of the Texas Rangers" :026:

"Quiet Please" (I think that's the show on which the episode "The thing on the fourble board" aired.)

[Lagavulin]

I just found a site with links to hundreds of old programs available free online.
An excerpt from the index page:

Comedies: Abbott & Costello | Amos & Andy | A Date with Judy | Barrel of Fun | Benny Goodman | Bob Hope Show | Blondie | Evening with George Burns | Camel Comedy | More..

Dramas: Avenger | Defense Attorney | Charlie Chan | More..

Mysteries: Boris Karloff | Cloak and Dagger | Dark Venture | More..

Variety: Al Jolson Show | Alan Young Show, The | Arthur Godfrey and his talent scouts | Artie Shaw | Authors Playhouse | Big Bands | Eddie Arnold Show | Ernie Ford | More..

Westerns: Hopalong Cassidy| Death Valley Days | Gene Autry | Gunsmoke | More..

SciFi/Superheros: 2000 Plus | Batman | Buck Rogers | More..

Music: Big Bands | Benny Goodman | More..

Misc: Afloat with Henry Morgan | Archie Andrews | Les Miserables | Breakfast Club | Amazing Mister Malone | Complete Broadcast Day | Eddie Arnold Show | Educating Archie | More..

http://radiolovers.com/

[dnagle]

Hello all,
The Shadow will always be one of my faves. Lately I've been streaming from radiospirits.com and have been able to sample a wide variety of shows. Pat Novak For Hire is one I enjoy ... starring Jack Webb ... kindof the dark side of Dragnet, Joe Friday a la Raymond Chandler. I find the humor in Fibber McGee and Molly to be surprisingly modern at times, and I always laugh at Dennis Day on Jack Benny.
Miles -- I remember listening to the original broadcast of Hitchhiker's Guide, let me know if you can get it to me at Streamload (dnagle). I also recall cracking up to The Goon Show back in the 70's.

[Lagavulin]

Dan -

You whould have them. I believe there are at least 3 versions floating around. The original radio play, the play as released on vinyl (which i used to have), and the ones i'm sending you. The vinyl copy was much better, I thought, than this one, in my opinion. I'm not sure what the source of this is, but it'll do until I can track down the original smile.gif

cheers
Miles

[dnagle]

Thanks Miles, I have pulled them down and hope to start listening this weekend.

[Ross]

The Shadow and Suspense mainly. I also have tons of stuff I have recorded over the years that I'll pop in from time to time.

- Ross

[Lagavulin]

If you've noticed the internet chugging along a little slower, it's because there has been some great collections posted on the newsgroups in the last month. I'm not sure that I'll have the time anytime soon to verify the completeness of these collections, but there's a good bunch here to get people started. So far I have the following collections available via streamload and am willing to zip them to anyone who asks.

[size=9:c43bf2bbb3]Tarzan (68 episodes)
The Cisco Kid (41 episodes)
X minus 1 (144 episodes)
Quiet Please (90 episodes)
Jean Shepherd (449 episodes)
Richard Diamond (29 episodes)
The Creaking Door (38 episodes)
Tales of the Texas Rangers (42 episodes)[/size:c43bf2bbb3]

The next batch of uploads will include
[size=9:c43bf2bbb3]Gangbusters (68 episodes)
Gunsmoke (100+ episodes)
Inner Sanctum (6 episodes)
Mystery in the Air (8 episodes)
Unopened Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (6 episodes* complete)
5 Minute Mysteries (61 episodes)
Nick Carter Master Detective (67 episodes)[/size:c43bf2bbb3]

[Ross]

Oh yeah, I'd be interested in those!

Ross

[Lagavulin]

Ross -

will be happy to send - do you have a streamload account? that's by far the easiest way to send 50+GB of data! Otherwise, we can chat about alternatives.

cheers
Miles

[geospart]

I have collected now about 250 CD's full of OTR MP3's and Have listened to a lot of OTR. I have about 30K episodes of all kinds now and still growing so for me this could be a never ending process.

My favorite shows so far from what I have listened to:
-- CBSRMT - Of Course
-- Quiet Please - CBSRMT like shows really weird stuff
-- The Shadow
-- Mercury Theater/Campbell Theater
-- Academy Award Theater
-- Abbott and Costello
-- Jack Benny
-- Broadway Is My Beat
-- Dimension X
-- Harry Lime
-- Haunting Hour
-- I Love A Mystery
-- Inner Sanctum
-- Let George Do It
-- Lux Radio Theater.
-- Murder at Midnight
-- Nero Wolf
-- Phillip Marlow
-- Sam Spade
-- Stand By For Crime
-- Black Museum
-- Weird Circle

[Lagavulin]

geo -

wowzers!! you have enough listening for a lifetime!! do you have any of them uploaded to streamload? i've been upping stuff for the last week, have 20+GB of files now...

The companion piece to my CBSRMT experience was the Classic Radio Programs that ran after RMT from 11 - 12pm. Green Hornet, Dragnet, Jack Benny, Amos and Andy, The Bickersons, Dr. Kildaire... whatever they selected to run that night. Quite often I was already asleep, but every once in a while I'd still be awake to hear them.

here's what i've got currently on streamload ready to zap to whomever wants it

[size=9:b88d9726ca]CBS Radio Mystery Theater (14)
Dr Kildare (56)
Five Minute Mysteries (61)
Gangbusters (68)
General Mills Radio Adventure Theater (52)
Gunsmoke (197)
Hitch Hikers' Guide to the Galaxy (12)
Hopalong Cassidy (19)
Inner Sanctum (6)
Jean Shepherd (449)
Mercury Theater (21)
Mystery in the Air (8)
Nick Carter Master Detective (67)
Quiet Please (90)
RadioCityPlayhouse (62)
Richard Diamond (29)
Tales of the Texas Rangers (42)
Tarzan (68)
The Cisco Kid (65)
The Creaking Door (38)
Theater 1030 (19)
Unopened Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (6)
XMINUS1 (148)[/size:b88d9726ca]

[RaisinCain]

Great Question!

My collection includes (In approximate order of my enjoyment):

Suspense
Inner Sanctum
Mysterious Traveler
Escape
Quiet Please
Weird Circle
X Minus One


I really enjoy the dramas as opposed to the westerns and the comedies, both of which are great but not really my cup of tea.

[vgarci]

Miles,
If it isn't too much problem, could you send me the whole shootin' match? I'd love to have these files! (streamload = vgarci)

[Lagavulin]

no trouble at all -

cheers

[storytellermommy]

If the offer is still standing, I'd love a Streambeam to storytellermommy!


[quote:3b34d4a7f2="Lagavulin"]This is an easy one!

Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Not so much a series... only about 3 or 4 hours total programming, but it's amazing.

Originally a radio drama created by British writer Douglas Adams, it was adapted to novel form, and then to a campy BBC television production.

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is on my annual listen-to, and must-read lists.

If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to share the episodes online. They're brilliant and funny.

cheers
Miles[/quote:3b34d4a7f2]

[Lagavulin]

Karen -

they've all been sent - enjoy!

cheers
miles

[storytellermommy]

Thanks, Miles!

[MikeH]

As a new member am I allowed an ignorant question? I am pretty good at figuring out things but I haven't cracked what "OTR" stands for -- I think the TR stands for talk radio or theater radio or something similar -- but the "O" has whipped me. Can some one scratch my curiosity itch before I go crazy?

Thanks
Mike H

[brian1984_2001]

OTR stands for "Old Time Radio".

[Lagavulin]

*scratch* *scratch*

welcome, Mike

cheers
Miles

[MikeH]

Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h, that's much better.

Thanks,
Mike H.

[vgarci]

Mike and Lag,
Great responses! LOL