Network Radio Classics (1920s to date/various/MP3)
Sound: C
One of the most underrated artforms that has yet to be
revived is that of the radio drama. In
the glory days of network radio before it was overtaken by television
(ironically invented by radio money) starting in the 1920s, thousands of great
shows were waxed and taped over several networks. They included CBS, NBC, Mutual and there was syndication and name
sponsors who took on entire shows.
There were also big names of the time, all pretty much the pre-Rock era,
capturing the culture as much as any of its music.
We have wanted to cover these titles, but the companies
and independents who carry them all the way to auction websites are not in the
habit of sending out press copies, but one dealer has set us up with some
samples for us to consider. One was in
the Western genre with singing cowboys and comic stories, while two comedy
shows included one from Abbott and Costello between their film and TV careers. Finally, one from the Detective genre was
with Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead in a strong episode from an anthology
show around the time they did The Shadow for two sponsors in the late
1930s.
Especially when they include their advertisements like the
many fun and usually inexpensive DVDs of classic TV we have covered on the
site, it makes the experience more interesting. The great thing about this material is once you start listening
to it, you want to hear more. He even
has more recent, hard to get shows that are from occasional revivals of the
artform.
The MP3 sound we heard was new to the site. I am not a fan of the format and even with
the poor monophonic sound quality of MP3, there is still a fullness missing
from these shows that were on old vinyl, PCM CD and even audio cassette
versions. However, you can fit far more
programs onto a CD in MP3 than CD, so that is the advantage.
Be sure to write Jesterr@Adelphia.net
for more information about ordering copies of the many classics Phil Conley has
to offer. They include CBS Radio
Mystery Theater, the last great such show from the era in the 1970s, and
the likes of Charlie McCarthy, Counterspy, Doc Savage, Flash
Gordon, The Green Hornet, Groucho Marx, The Lone Ranger,
Nero Wolfe, Superman, Zero Hour and many more.
- Nicholas Sheffo
