Newest Additions in 2026

The humorous Kollege of Musical Knowledge and 30+ guest appearances by bandleader and old professor himself, Kay Kyser.

Bert Parks hosted Stop the Music with Don Hancock as announcer. A quiz show, the producers would play part of a well know song and the contestant would try to guess the title.

One of the earlier old time radio variety programs sponsored by RCA to encourage radios in every American household.

Fred Allen moved from Vaudeville to radio and perfected his character over a number of years for several sponsors. One of his career highlights was a supposed feud with his good friend, Jack Benny.

Although divorce was rare during the golden age of radio, the topic still lends itself to juicy drama.

Created by Federal Civil Defense Administration as a public service program to be broadcast by participating radio stations throughout the country with music and practical advice for Americans fearful of an impending attack during the Cold War.

Featuring "the One Man Theater" - voice actor extraordinaire, Paul Frees.

From 1939 right up into the atomic 1950's, Superman was on call in Metropolis. He fought the good fight through WWII, facing Nazi spies and Japan-based spies and saboteurs, he uncovered run-of-the-lab evil-genius types with their latest beta-tests, he faced beings from other planets both humanoid and robotic as well as the common criminal and the Klu Klux Klan.

Sinatra was known for his colorful character, sometimes tough, but always loved.

Hubert Humphrey leaves behind a legacy of true liberal causes in the areas of civil rights and labor rights.

Dick Tracy came from the comic strips to the radio in this great serial. He still fights bizarre villains and the 15 minute shows are filled with cliff-hangers. Tune In!

All Star Variety, Comedy, and Music Program!

You won't want to miss this charming program featuring often spontaneous and playful interviews with citizens across the US and abroad. This extensive collection contains rare recordings previously not in circulation.

Based on the popular All-American comics star, Hop Harrigan. Harrigan is "America's Ace of the Airwaves," and he gets a lot of flying time fighting evil, and as the war developed, Hop in his radio adventures was in the thick of the real battles that were raging overseas.

Hosted by Jazz critic Rudi Blesh, This is Jazz had guests including Louis Armstrong, Leadbelly, Sidney Bechet, Bertha Chippie Hill, Canada Lee, Blue Lou Lee, and Mama Alberta Price.

Known as "First Lady to the World", Eleanor Roosevelt was the legs and face of FDR's presidency, appearing where and when he could not.

a radio program created by Eleanor Roosevelt to give the public a glimpse into life at the White House.

Les Brown and his Band of Renown was one of the longest-running acts in Swing Music

Les Brown is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the leader of the longest lasting musical organization in the history of pop music. This rare collection of shows was were recorded in Hollywood for the US Navy Recruiting Service from the 1950s.

A popular and well received music show, it was broadcast until 1953, and was the Andrews Sisters longest running radio engagement.

Address Unknown is a well-performed show about missing persons from South Africa. Each show dramatizes a real case of a missing person taken from the Missing Persons Bureau files in London.

Step aboard The Scarlet Queen and let Elliott Lewis, master captain of drama, chart a course to exotic ports of call and thrilling adventures.

This old time radio series is a wonderful blend of history and literature and sometimes a sprinkle of wartime propaganda.

Featured dreamy organ music reveries intertwined with poetry read by guest stars include Agnes Moorehead, Ona Munson, Merle Oberon, and Raymond Burr.

entertaining and informative broadcast created during the Red Scare to teach the public how to act in the case of a disaster such as flooding, tornados, food shortages, and nuclear attack.

Hilarious Parody of the Life of a Showbiz Star!

This well-done, star-studded factual show is a wonderful resource for those interested in historical highlights.

After a long career in radio writing and directing, Burrows took a break to perform songs he wrote at nightclubs. These songs became so popular that he was invited to start his own old time radio show.

US Army recruiting show features dramatized stories from Army veterans, fictional stories, and amazing music.

Recordings include the rare early 1930s comedy-musical shows starring Ed Wynn as one of his most memorable characters, "The Firechief." Best known as a fantastic character actor and vaudevillian style clown, Ed Wynn's babbling voice and trademark giggle are unforgettable.

Larger than Life Contralto Presents Singing and Variety

Stories of the Weird and Wonderful made it to Front Page Drama to help sell Hearst Newspapers. The series drew its long running collection of interesting stories from the pages of The American Weekly magazine.

Big Band Show for Saturday night with swing era favorite Benny Goodman.

Most musicians, especially jazz musicians, perform better in front of an audience, particularly one that is dancing. The solution was the remote broadcast.

is a fascinating radio show that dramatizes the major historical events between the years 1896-1934. Headlines include Spanish American War in Cuba, Volcano Mt Pelee destroys town of Saint Pierre, Republic of China established, and Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany. Every episode ends with a performance of a popular song from the year.

Jean Hersholt is an actor who specialized in gentle, intelligent roles that called for warmth and feeling in Dr Christian. This series is that kind of show and can be enjoyed as drama, as nostalgia, and as just plain old radio entertainment.

If not for his off the cuff exchange in 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, we might not be alive today to enjoy this Adlai Stevenson collection.

Angela Lansbury has been working in show business for seven decades

She was a popular character actress during the Thirties, making both features and shorts for Hal Roach. Her willowy spinster persona was the inspiration for the voice of Olive Oyl in Max Fleischer's Popeye cartoons.

Believing that Jazz could be more than just music to dance to, Kenton made no apologies for his brand of "progressive Jazz."

Welcome, welcome to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Gook, better known as Vic and Sade. Go get cozy with this delightful run of the mill and charmingly familiar Midwestern couple extraordinaire!

With her beautiful voice, friendly manner and pin-up girl good looks, Frances Langford made a splash as one of Bob Hope's favorite pretty girls. The G.I.s at Hope's USO shows liked her a lot, too.

Laugh with this old time radio comedic variety hour starring Alan Young, Francis Langford, Dick Powell, Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra, and many others!

Dick Baker was one of the jolliest music makers on the Chicago scene and a constant presence on WGN radio and TV.

Pioneering the use of magnetic tape in radio production, It's Your Life brought compelling Public Health Stories to the Air.

When he was asked what he did, Bob Crosby once quipped that he was Bing's brother. In fact, he had a very successful career in music and on radio. He took over for Phil Harris when the longtime band leader left The Jack Benny Program.

Enjoy popular country and folk music in this old time radio show from the 1950s starring Jimmy Dean and the Texas Wildcats, sponsored by the US Army Corp.

The Best of Classical and Broadway Music, presented by Ma Bell.

Eisenhower was a national hero after serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during WWII and in 1952 won the Presidential Election.

The Grand Ole Opry did not quite invent Country and Western Music, but it did bring it to the ears of many Americans who may not have heard it otherwise.

This comedy show debuted in September 1941 as The Arkansas Traveler. Featuring the music of Spike Jones, the show featured Bob Burns playing his "Bazooka," a homemade instrument that he made from a whiskey funnel and two gas pipes.

Produced by USMC in partnership with a Nashville radio station, "Take Five with Country Music" blends Nashville stardom with military recruitment.

The Adventures of Babe Ruth was produced in 1934 on the Blue Network, with sponsorship by Quaker Oats, and was the best of the lot. It told in-depth, fully dramatized episodes from the Babe's career, so there was a sense of the real man there in the dugout and on the field.

These star-packed love letters to the troops, from Hollywood during WWII.

This famous American Western music group formed in 1933 by core members included Leonard Slye (later Roy Rogers), Bob Nolan, and Tim Spencer.

By becoming the first aviator to fly non-stop from New York to Paris, Charles Lindbergh became a driving force in the practical acceptance of aviation.

Godfrey's conversational style made his show seem like a friend talking to listeners directly.

Big Band Entertainment and Trumped Tooting

This old time radio anthology featured drama and variety with top-name stars whose salaries from this show were donated to fund the Motion Picture Country Home.

This popular, high-paced, snappy spark of a quiz show testing contestants' knowledge and reaction speed.

Although Statehood was not granted until 1959, a vacation to beautiful Hawaii has long been part of the popular imagination.

Aloha! This collection includes old time radio shows from all genres from ting-ting steel guitar music to epic Hawaiian Adventure and detective stories to supernatural Tiki tales.

old time radio's favorite Fred Allen stars in this early version of Allen's Alley with his famous ad libbing and funny amateur guest stars.

starred Robert Ripley himself as he explains the weird and strange stories from his travels around the world.

Al Jolson was a master entertainer and his performing career spanned 50 years. Jolson made a break in his career by deciding one evening to perform in "black face" at a San Francisco club; this soon became his trademark in show business. A staunch Civil Rights activist, he later helped open opportunities for African-Americans on Broadway.

This musical program showcases the talent of many of the top tunesters of its era including such greats as Duke Ellington, Mel Torme, Jack Teagarden, Art Tatum and Bob Crosby.

Air Force Blues and Jazz Bands Perform for Recruits!

John Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by one tenth of one percent with 49.7 percent of the popular vote to Nixon's 49.6 percent. Ironically, by the time of his death in 1963, more than fifty percent of the American voters said that they had voted for him.

A trumpet player who hailed from The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Ray Anthony Show was syndicated by the recruiting division of the Marine Corp Reserve.

Sponsored by General Electric to increase interest and layman's knowledge of science

Famous and Creative "Chiffon Swing" Composer!

Get an education in comedy from Ray Milland as he portrays Professor Ray McNutley, head of the English Department at Lynnhaven College for Women

Smilin Ed's Buster Brown Gang was a fun Saturday morning kids shoe with fanciful characters who reminded kids to remind their parents to buy Buster Brown Shoes.

A popular music recruiting program for the Army,Forward March enjoyed the service of draftee PFC Eddie Fisher.

Incumbent President Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) defeated Adlai Stevenson (D) in a rematch, largely due to a strong economy and Cold War leadership.

Broadcasting from Chicago, the WLS National Barn Dance was just as popular as Nashville’s Grand Ol’ Opry, bringing hillbilly music to country and city folk alike.

"Learn! Investigate! Instruct!" written by physicist, Dr. Phillips Thomas, this historically accurate series includes recordings about the invention of the typewriter, automobile, penicillin, machine gun, skyscraper, and more!

WWII wartime propaganda show with fictional and outrageous tales of the evil doings of the Axis Powers.

From the pens of Ray Bradbury, Ellison and others of the science fiction genre this excellent show was from South African but was so good it became popular in America as well.

Columbia Workshop features high radio art with the newest sound technologies and top notch radio directing of its day.

Relive the swinging 1990's through the historical speeches and radio addresses of President Clinton.

During the months before Pearl Harbor, FDR appointed Elmer Davis to head up the Office of War Information. From this bully pulpit, Davis helped to whip the Nation into a fury over the aggressions of the Nazi's in Europe.

Alan Ladd in Box 13 found adventures that did not depend on a new corpse every week. Dan Holiday, retired newspaper man turned fiction writer and adventurer extraordinaire. To gain ideas for his books, he places an ad in the paper "Adventure wanted" will go anywhere, do anything "Box 13."

All of the glory and grandeur of a Broadway premier brought to your radio on First Nighter, starring "radio's first sex symbol", Don Ameche.

In this rare conversational show, Tony Wons is like an old friend who stops by for a chat. Anthony "Tony" Wons often asked the listening audience "Are you listening?"

Fans of detective stories can rest assured that the "implacable man hunter of The Metropolitan Police" always got his man, and sent the evil doer to "the chair."

Similar to a Ripley's Believe It Or Not and originally sponsored by Exlax in the 1930's, this series featured bizarre stories based cartoons created by John Hix who was a staff artist at the Washington Herald.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has represented Georgia's 14th District since 2021.

Cecil & Sally was one of the earliest old time radio shows to be syndicated nationally via electrical transcriptions. By 1930 this short format radio show had over 15 million fans and ran until 1933.

Following in the footsteps of Tom Corbett and Space Patrol, Captain Starr shoots around in his rocket, "Shooting Star," on exciting galactic adventures!

Officially a speech made from the US President to Congress; however, the advent of radio made the State of the Union a public speech heard by Americans everywhere.

was the first widely popular daytime serial soap opera created by the powerhouse producer-couple Anne and Frank Hummert in 1932.

Other vaudeville stars made the transition to the airwaves as accomplished funny men while Bing remained primarily a songman and was arguably the King of Radio. He was also a crooner with a keen sense of comic timing and an uncanny ability to connect with audiences across the airwaves. He had plenty of success with his own programs like Kraft Music Hall, The Chesterfield Show, and Philco Radio Time, but he also made regular appearances on his friends' programs.

Cloak and dagger intrigue and a thick Hungarian accent were the ingredients for Ilona Massey to foil Nazi spy rings and slip across Europe like it was an espionage playground in Top Secret.

Follow the "Flight of the Bumblebee", The Green Hornet, and his side kick, fierce fighter, skilled driver, and all around best pal Kato for even exciting listening.

This old time radio soap opera centered on handsome doctor Jim Brent and his wife Jocelyn in the small town of Merrimac. As the heroine of a medical drama, Jocelyn would suffer from almost every dread disease known to medicine.

Dukakis is a retired lawyer, Governor of Massachusetts, and aspiring Presidential Candidate in the 1980's.

This knock out music show is hosted by Al Jolson, and Bing Crosby.

The hilariously popular Spike Jones!

"Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out."

Known for his zany antics and slapstick comedy, Joe Penner kept audiences laughing during the Depression years. He was the "it-man" of radio comedy when the nation needed laugher.

Fine Music Entertainment with 50-Piece Orchestra!

Pretty Problems Solver with Dick York

popular singer and song writer in the golden age of radio. In the 1940s, Johnny Mercer was the "it-man" for Hollywood's musical entertainment.

Even when she was not on The Road in her sarong, Dorothy Lamour channeled Bing and Bob as hostess of The Sealtest Variety Theatre.

Terrific Country and Western Music from the Golden Age. While you're listening, consider a career in the Modern US Navy.

Ralph Edwards hosts the riotous game show where answers were tough, and the consequence for an incorrect answer were even tougher and funnier!

Celebrate the first woman Vice President, Kamala Harris with this collection. Follow her career as a San Francisco District Attorney to California's Attorney General to California's Junior United States Senator to Vice President of the United States.

Stories about men of industry have their own appeal, and what could be more industrious than running a railroad? The Green Valley Line may not stretch from coast to coast, but the communities it serves depend upon it.

Audience members were contestants by Host Lew Valentine who would ask questions from the stage announcing "I have a gentleman (or lady), Doctor."

was the precursor to the television show, The $64,000 Question.The old time radio show, however, dealt in smaller change (contestants could win up to $64),and took itself less seriously than its television counterpart.

She began her entertainment career at the age of three, she later became a popular guest on variety show and on the nightclub circuit.

was originally a comic strip created by Sgt. George Baker during WWII. The comic strip followed Sad Sack troubles and foibles of a misfit in military life. The situation comedy radio show picks up with Sad Sack returning home to make a civilian life.

Breaking the Sound Barrier, Working at the boundaries of Space, Tending America's Nuclear Arsenal, and enjoying driving fiddles and pedal steel Guitars?It all works together with great Nashville music brought to us by your Local Air Force Recruiter.

The Tex and Jinx Show is a husband and wife morning program which includes interviews with famous people. Starring Jinx Falkenburg (raised in Brazil and was a top model in America) and John Reagan "Tex" McCrary.

Hit yourself on the head with Theater of Romance and become star struck--Gregory Peck, Ida Lupino, Edward G. Robinson, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart and more!

A Date with Judy evolves around the life of Judy, a teenager who spends her day on the telephone, arranging, discussing, and lamenting the lack of dates.

Valiant Lady was a classic Soap from the Hummert Radio Factory, complete with long, involved story arcs, cliff hangers and swelling organ music. Follow the trials and tribulations of Joan Barrett as she gives up a promising acting career to care for her ailing father.

Romance galore when Silver Theater brings us tales of love lost and found, featuring some of the screen's biggest heart-throbs.

Join Duke Ellington Orchestra in the live 1945 broadcasts from the 400 Restaurant on Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street in New York City.

Announced by Cecil Daniels, the show features some of the best country and folk music of the era and was a United States Army syndication created for army recruitment.

An excellent police procedural drama, 21st Precinct got its stories from the NY Patrolmen's Benevolent Association. Based on true stories, 21st Precinct aired after Dragnet gained popularity and audiences were hungry to hear behind-the-scenes stories of police life.

Long lost episodes fell out of "Fibber's Closet". This is the most complete Fibber McGee and Molly collection to date. Laugh with over 450 hours of laughs with Jim and Marian Jordan as Fibber McGee and Molly in this classic radio sit-com.

Advertised in Young Dr Malone Sponsored by General Food and Post Cereals, this cereal serial has it all – love, jealousy, hate, crippling diseases, rich philanthropists, treacherous characters, death and marriage.

Song and dance man Jack Haley hosts Log Cabin Jamboree a fun variety and music show.

Hosted by Art Linkletter, stunts on this old time radio program continued to get more and more outrageous (and funny) as the show continued its 18 year run.

One of the Jazzmen who embodied the joy of the Jazz world was saxophonist and bandleader Charlie Barnet.

Sponsored by US Steel, this old time radio series produced classic and contemporary plays live and was one of the most popular Broadway drama shows of all time.

With such greats as Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman, One Night Stand was a popular musical program that lasted for over two decades on the radio.

AFRS music collection with guest stars include Rosemary Clooney, Patti Page, Helen O'Connell, Joni James, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Jill Corey and more

Listen to the great stars of stage and screen talk about where they came from and the exciting, "never-to-be-forgotten" moment they knew they made it as an actor...their Show Stopper !

"From out of the west to you," California Melodies features British director and composer David Rose and singer Maxine Gray.

buckaroos won't want to miss this early 1950s radio series full of 'rip-roaring yarns' and 'real life stories' told by movie cowboy Ken Maynard, and his horse, Tarzan.

Armed Forces Radio Service was been created by the War Department as a means to entertain and inform the troops during WWII. The service was run "by G.I.s for G.I.s" and broadcasts included performances by Glenn Miller, Kay Kyser, Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Bob Hope and many more!

Ma Perkins was one of the most successful radio Soaps, running for 27 years starring Virginia Payne for the entire run. Ms. Payne was just 23 years old when she started playing the no nonsense Ma.

Starring Arline Blackburn as Linda, the shop girl thrust into a rags to riches story as she tries to adjust to life with her new wealthy husband and his family.

Best known for her singing voice and slapstick comedy, Cass Daley got her start in Ziegfeld Follies.

The story of a crusading young doctor, The Story of Dr. Kildare feature Lionel Barrymore and Lew Ayres.

The Allied counterpart of the infamous Tokyo Rose, GI Jill was played by girl next door Martha Wilkerson.

Let Dr. Dan Danfield, criminal psychologist, give you a little of a criminal psychologist's caseload.

Thursday nights were filled with A-List talent on ABC thanks to the convenience of magnetic tape on ABC Mystery Time. Enjoy this series of mystifying tales starring Sir Laurence Olivier with these organ ripping episodes.

As much a comedy show as a game show, this old time radio broadcast was the buffoon's version of a quiz program.

Music Program with DJ Bruce Barnett spinning the Top Hits with Sinatra, Dorsey, Kyser, Herman, Goodman Stafford and more!

The Randomest and Rarest collection of them all-an OTRCAT.com original!

Minstrelsy is considered the first truly American form of entertainment, and as such provides the forms and traditions which would eventually form vaudeville and ultimately the Hollywood movies and TV shows which shape and inform the rest of the world's opinion of American culture.

Performances by The King of Jazz!