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Lottery Madness in Old Time Radio

From Fibber McGee and Molly winning their house via lottery, to others betting on their lives, this collection includes radio shows from a variety of genres.

Lottery Madness

14 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 5 hours, 1798 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
6 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from August 25, 1935:

"Fibber Mcgees Win Wistful Vista"



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

To many, gambling is a vice to be controlled and prohibited. The brain chemistry of a person placing a bet is thought to be similar to that of a person having a sexual encounter, and although usually followed by the bitter disappointment of a loss, there is always the chance that the gambler will get to experience the rare ecstasy of winning.

Fred AllenBetting between individuals is very common and arguably the fairest form of gambling. The three elements of gambling are present in the transaction, consideration, the element of chance or risk, and a prize for making the right bet. There is an implication of honor between bettors, especially in these personal bets, that the loser will, in fact, pay the debt. Commercial gambling hall and casinos have a reputation to protect and will therefore never bet more than the establishment can afford to lose. Win or lose, "the house always takes a cut" ensures that the house will always be able to pay off, but that the house will always profit.

When the state or government sponsored gambling it usually takes the form of a lottery. The term rises from the casting of lots, or dice. The "game" of a state lottery is usually the drawing of a series of randomly selected numbers. In some games, the bettors are able to bet on their own "lucky numbers" and in others, they are given a number by the lottery organizers. In either case, the odds of winning are so long that selecting or accepting numbers has little effect on the outcome. The bet or buy-in for these sometimes-huge lotteries is usually negligible, but the payout can be large enough to raise an individual towards true wealth.

Since they provide a potential payoff for the eventual winner, citizens tend to be much more enthusiastic about contributing to a lottery than they are about paying a tax to fund government projects. The New York City Hall was built, in part, with lottery proceeds, and New York has also used lotteries to fund canal building and repair, road and bridge building, and other public works projects before the official New York State Lottery was established in 1967 to fund education. Fred Allen was discussing the establishment of a state lottery in New York as early as 1940, and baseball great Jackie Robinson brought up a national lottery on his show in 1958. Even though the profits of a lottery can finance many beneficial works, whenever there is so much money involved corruption cannot be far behind, and on The Big Story Keeler McCartney of the Atlanta Constitution tries to shine a light on the corruption in his city.

One of the most chilling examples of how random chance can work is in Shirley Jackson's classic short story, "The Lottery". Unlike a normal lottery where players pay for the chance to win, the winner of this lottery is expected to pay with her life for the peace and prosperity of her town. A much happier lottery result happens for former vaudevillians Jim and Marion Jordan when their characters Fibber McGee and Molly invest $2 on a lottery ticket which nets them a house at 79 Wistful Vista, which will become one of the most beloved addresses in radio for more than two decades.

See also: Poker and Gambling in Old Time Radio.

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.



    14 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 5 hours, 1798 min
    14 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 5 hours, 1798 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 14 shows – total playtime 5 hours, 29 minutes
    2. Big Story 480721 069 Lottery Racket Keeler Mccartney.mp3
    3. Fbipw 550427 500 Winner Take Nothing Aka Siesta For Lottery.mp3
    4. FMM 350826 0020 Mcgees Win 79 Wistful Vista.mp3
    5. Fred Allen Show 400131 018 Mountain Justice.mp3
    6. Funny Side Up 590000 05 Lottery Ticket Eaten.mp3
    7. Garry Moore Radio Show 590000 Funny Side Up.mp3
    8. Jackie Robinsons Radio Shots 082al Schacht.mp3
    9. Jackie Robinsons Radio Shots 085 Editorial National Lottery.mp3
    10. Lou Holtz Laugh Club 06 Show 06.mp3
    11. Mike Dewine 20210512 Vax Million Lottery.mp3
    12. Nbc Short Story 510314 04 Lottery.mp3
    13. Ports Of Call 1936 16 Argentina.mp3
    14. Tales Of Seven Seas SA Lottery.mp3
    15. Whistler 520511 519 Matter Of Odds.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    14 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 5 hours, 1798 min
    14 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    151 MB – total playtime 5 hours, 29 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 14 shows – 151 MB – total playtime 5 hours, 29 minutes
    2. Big Story 480721 069 Lottery Racket Keeler Mccartney.mp3
    3. Fbipw 550427 500 Winner Take Nothing Aka Siesta For Lottery.mp3
    4. FMM 350826 0020 Mcgees Win 79 Wistful Vista.mp3
    5. Fred Allen Show 400131 018 Mountain Justice.mp3
    6. Funny Side Up 590000 05 Lottery Ticket Eaten.mp3
    7. Garry Moore Radio Show 590000 Funny Side Up.mp3
    8. Jackie Robinsons Radio Shots 082al Schacht.mp3
    9. Jackie Robinsons Radio Shots 085 Editorial National Lottery.mp3
    10. Lou Holtz Laugh Club 06 Show 06.mp3
    11. Mike Dewine 20210512 Vax Million Lottery.mp3
    12. Nbc Short Story 510314 04 Lottery.mp3
    13. Ports Of Call 1936 16 Argentina.mp3
    14. Tales Of Seven Seas SA Lottery.mp3
    15. Whistler 520511 519 Matter Of Odds.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



    14 recordings on 6 Audio CDs. Total playtime 5 hours, 29 min
    14 recordings on 6 Audio CDs
    total playtime 5 hours, 29 min

    Lottery Madness Disc A001

    1. Jackie Robinsons Radio Shots 082al Schacht
    2. Jackie Robinsons Radio Shots 085 Editorial National Lottery
    3. Lou Holtz Laugh Club 06 Show 06
    4. Mike Dewine 20210512 Vax Million Lottery
    5. Ports Of Call 1936 16 Argentina

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Lottery Madness Disc A002

    1. Tales Of Seven Seas SA Lottery
    2. FMM 350826 0020 Mcgees Win 79 Wistful Vista

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Lottery Madness Disc A003

    1. Fred Allen Show 400131 018 Mountain Justice

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Lottery Madness Disc A004

    1. Big Story 480721 069 Lottery Racket Keeler Mccartney
    2. Nbc Short Story 510314 04 Lottery

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Lottery Madness Disc A005

    1. Whistler 520511 519 Matter Of Odds
    2. Fbipw 550427 500 Winner Take Nothing Aka Siesta For Lottery

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Lottery Madness Disc A006

    1. Funny Side Up 590000 05 Lottery Ticket Eaten
    2. Garry Moore Radio Show 590000 Funny Side Up

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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