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Basketball in Old Time Radio Collection

The only equipment needed is two hoops and a ball, but Basketball is a worldwide phenomenon with important lessons.

Basketball

32 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 11 hours, 3434 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
13 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from October 27, 1948:

"Aldrich Family: Detention Or Basketball Game"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

The "Father of Basketball" was Dr. James Naismith. Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada, and orphaned at an early age. As a youth, he struggled with his school lessons but developed considerable physical strength and a strong work ethic working on his uncle's farm where he was raised. There was plenty of play along with the hard work, and a favorite game of James and his cousins was "Duck on a Rock", a combination of marksmanship and "tag" where a stone is placed on another stone or stump. Players take turns tossing rocks attempting to knock down the first stone, and when the stone falls there is a mad scramble as the players retrieve their rocks before being tagged "it" and having to take a turn guarding the "duck" (children in the Philippines, where basketball is a national obsession, play a similar game called tumbang preso, rather than stones, the equipment is an empty tin can and the missiles are the kid's flip-flop slippers). Little James quickly figured out that a soft, lobbing toss was more effective than a hard throw.

Naismith

Although Naismith struggle with his studies as a child, when he entered high school and later McGill University, staff took extra time tutoring the young man whose athleticism was greatly valued in Canadian Football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, and gymnastics. He attained a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and was eventually hired as Athletic Director at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts. The purpose of the YMCA movement was, in part, to provide a physical outlet for young men, especially those who had come into the city from the surrounding countryside during the Industrial Revolution. The rowdy gang at the Springfield Y usually channeled their extra energy into track and field, soccer, and baseball, but being trapped inside by the harsh New England winter meant trouble sooner than later. The facility's director assigned Naismith to come up with a game to provide an "athletic distraction".

He had an indoor gymnasium to work with, but the "rough and tumble" of rugby or soccer on a hard floor was a recipe for injuries. The large, soft soccer ball would be less dangerous than a hard baseball, and since most injuries outside occurred from hard physical contact while carrying the ball, passing would be the primary way to move the ball around the gym. Remembering his lobbing tosses from "duck on a rock", Naismith had a peach basket nailed to the mezzanine rail at either end of the gym, the class was divided into teams, and the resulting game became more than a distraction for the rowdies, it became an obsession.

There were a few problems. Play was delayed when the school custodian had to be called to get the ball out of the basket until someone was inspired to cut the bottom of the basket out. Spectators would gather on the mezzanine and in their enthusiasm sometimes blocked balls from going into the basket, so Naismith had backboards installed between the basket and the fans, not only preventing interference but allowing shots to rebound into the basket. When asked what to call the new game, one of the players suggested "Naismithball" but the ever-modest athletic director replied the had baskets and a ball, so basketball it was.

The universal appeal of basketball is its accessibility. The poorest of communities can fund the installation of hoops at either end of a public court, and the only other equipment needed is a ball. These same communities will rally behind their local team as the lads learn important lessons, not only about athletics but teamwork and community pride. Unfortunately, enthusiasm for the game can degenerate into crime when betting is involved.  The Life of Riley, Big Town, Easy Money, Dr. Christian, Suspense, This is Your FBI, and even Superman have episodes which show the corruption resulting from betting on basketball. However, this insipid evil is more than counterbalanced by the life lessons found on the basketball court on Fibber McGee and Molly, Our Miss Brooks, Jerry at Fair Oaks, The Aldrich Family, and, again, Superman.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    32 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 3434 min
    32 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 11 hours, 3434 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 32 shows – total playtime 11 hours, 57 minutes
    2. Adventures Of Frank Merriwell 481211 Bench Warmer.mp3
    3. Adventures Of Frank Merriwell 481218 Quarantined.mp3
    4. Aldrich Family 481028 435 Detention Or Basketball Game.mp3
    5. Big Town 490125 464 Fatal Fix.mp3
    6. Bill Stern Sports Newsreel 471003 418 Bucky Harris.mp3
    7. Bob Feller Show 600000 08 Basketball History.mp3
    8. Crime Does Not Pay 510321 Through Hoop.mp3
    9. Defense Attorney 520717 Basketball Fix.mp3
    10. Dick Cole 460000 06 Basketball Tournament.mp3
    11. Dr Christian 510606 653 Runaway.mp3
    12. Easy Money 550109 15 Basketball Pool Racket.mp3
    13. Fabulous Dr. Tweedy 470108 19 Athletic Trophies.mp3
    14. Fibber Mcgee And Molly 580323 1468 Its Ymca Week.mp3
    15. Fmam 550103 1065 Getting Basketball Tickets.mp3
    16. Ft 471218 045 Rose By Any Other Name.mp3
    17. Ft 530513 318 To Victor.mp3
    18. Jerry At Fair Oaks 380000 058 Practice Basketball Game.mp3
    19. Life Of Riley 490107 227 Riley Coaches Jr Basketball Team.mp3
    20. Life Of Riley 510323 310 Basketball Game Bribe.mp3
    21. Meeks 481211 [066] Peggy Problem Tickets To Basketball Game.mp3
    22. New National Guard Show 32 Luck Of Roaring Camp.mp3
    23. Our Miss Brooks 490213 028 Stretch Basketball Star.mp3
    24. Our Miss Brooks 510311 122 Tex Barton Basketball Star.mp3
    25. Quiz Kids 501112 544 Song Suggests College Football Player.mp3
    26. Superman 480824 E1497 Mysteryoftheletterthe7.mp3
    27. Superman 480825 E1498 Mysteryoftheletterthe8.mp3
    28. Superman 480826 E1499 Mysteryoftheletterthe9.mp3
    29. Suspense 510924 Mckay College Basketball Scandal.mp3
    30. This Is Your Fbi 520201 357 Campus Crime Wave.mp3
    31. Tom Duggan Sports 530116 X Basketball Scores.mp3
    32. We People 390131 Clip James Naismith Inventor Basketball.mp3
    33. Wormwood Forest 490129.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    32 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 11 hours, 3434 min
    32 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    328 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 57 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 32 shows – 328 MB – total playtime 11 hours, 57 minutes
    2. Adventures Of Frank Merriwell 481211 Bench Warmer.mp3
    3. Adventures Of Frank Merriwell 481218 Quarantined.mp3
    4. Aldrich Family 481028 435 Detention Or Basketball Game.mp3
    5. Big Town 490125 464 Fatal Fix.mp3
    6. Bill Stern Sports Newsreel 471003 418 Bucky Harris.mp3
    7. Bob Feller Show 600000 08 Basketball History.mp3
    8. Crime Does Not Pay 510321 Through Hoop.mp3
    9. Defense Attorney 520717 Basketball Fix.mp3
    10. Dick Cole 460000 06 Basketball Tournament.mp3
    11. Dr Christian 510606 653 Runaway.mp3
    12. Easy Money 550109 15 Basketball Pool Racket.mp3
    13. Fabulous Dr. Tweedy 470108 19 Athletic Trophies.mp3
    14. Fibber Mcgee And Molly 580323 1468 Its Ymca Week.mp3
    15. Fmam 550103 1065 Getting Basketball Tickets.mp3
    16. Ft 471218 045 Rose By Any Other Name.mp3
    17. Ft 530513 318 To Victor.mp3
    18. Jerry At Fair Oaks 380000 058 Practice Basketball Game.mp3
    19. Life Of Riley 490107 227 Riley Coaches Jr Basketball Team.mp3
    20. Life Of Riley 510323 310 Basketball Game Bribe.mp3
    21. Meeks 481211 [066] Peggy Problem Tickets To Basketball Game.mp3
    22. New National Guard Show 32 Luck Of Roaring Camp.mp3
    23. Our Miss Brooks 490213 028 Stretch Basketball Star.mp3
    24. Our Miss Brooks 510311 122 Tex Barton Basketball Star.mp3
    25. Quiz Kids 501112 544 Song Suggests College Football Player.mp3
    26. Superman 480824 E1497 Mysteryoftheletterthe7.mp3
    27. Superman 480825 E1498 Mysteryoftheletterthe8.mp3
    28. Superman 480826 E1499 Mysteryoftheletterthe9.mp3
    29. Suspense 510924 Mckay College Basketball Scandal.mp3
    30. This Is Your Fbi 520201 357 Campus Crime Wave.mp3
    31. Tom Duggan Sports 530116 X Basketball Scores.mp3
    32. We People 390131 Clip James Naismith Inventor Basketball.mp3
    33. Wormwood Forest 490129.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    32 recordings on 13 Audio CDs. Total playtime 11 hours, 57 min
    32 recordings on 13 Audio CDs
    total playtime 11 hours, 57 min

    Basketball Disc A001

    1. New National Guard Show 32 Luck Of Roaring Camp
    2. Jerry At Fair Oaks 380000 058 Practice Basketball Game
    3. We People 390131 Clip James Naismith Inventor Basketball
    4. Dick Cole 460000 06 Basketball Tournament

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A002

    1. Fabulous Dr. Tweedy 470108 19 Athletic Trophies
    2. Bill Stern Sports Newsreel 471003 418 Bucky Harris

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A003

    1. Ft 471218 045 Rose By Any Other Name
    2. Superman 480824 E1497 Mysteryoftheletterthe7
    3. Superman 480825 E1498 Mysteryoftheletterthe8

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A004

    1. Superman 480826 E1499 Mysteryoftheletterthe9
    2. Aldrich Family 481028 435 Detention Or Basketball Game

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A005

    1. Adventures Of Frank Merriwell 481211 Bench Warmer
    2. Meeks 481211 [066] Peggy Problem Tickets To Basketball Game

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A006

    1. Adventures Of Frank Merriwell 481218 Quarantined
    2. Life Of Riley 490107 227 Riley Coaches Jr Basketball Team

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A007

    1. Big Town 490125 464 Fatal Fix
    2. Wormwood Forest 490129

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A008

    1. Our Miss Brooks 490213 028 Stretch Basketball Star
    2. Quiz Kids 501112 544 Song Suggests College Football Player

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A009

    1. Our Miss Brooks 510311 122 Tex Barton Basketball Star
    2. Crime Does Not Pay 510321 Through Hoop

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A010

    1. Life Of Riley 510323 310 Basketball Game Bribe
    2. Dr Christian 510606 653 Runaway

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A011

    1. Suspense 510924 Mckay College Basketball Scandal
    2. This Is Your Fbi 520201 357 Campus Crime Wave

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A012

    1. Defense Attorney 520717 Basketball Fix
    2. Tom Duggan Sports 530116 X Basketball Scores
    3. Ft 530513 318 To Victor

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Basketball Disc A013

    1. Fmam 550103 1065 Getting Basketball Tickets
    2. Easy Money 550109 15 Basketball Pool Racket
    3. Fibber Mcgee And Molly 580323 1468 Its Ymca Week
    4. Bob Feller Show 600000 08 Basketball History

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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