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Rare Holiday Broadcasts

There are several holidays on a year’s calendar, and they all deserve to be celebrated.

Rare Holiday

42 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 13 hours, 1563 min)
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1 MP3 CD
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16 Audio CDs


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

The concept of holidays goes back to the ancient Church. Each of the most important Saints was given their own "Holy Day" on the calendar, often in conjunction with a particular Saint's birthday. The degree of celebration on a Saint's Day would usually be tied to the importance of this or that Saint. A relatively minor Saint might warrant extra mention in daily prayers while the patron saint of the local parish or the patron Saint of the local monarch might be an occasion for a feast or even a day's long festival.

WWII Holiday Meal

Since a Saint's Holy Day held relatively more importance than the weekly non-working Sabbath day, holidays also became times of rest and relaxation. This led to the connotation that a holiday could also mean a vacation from work. In the United States, most workers count themselves fortunate if they are given two weeks of paid vacation each year, while many of their European counterparts sometimes have three times that much, which is often used for traveling.

The most important figure in Christianity is Jesus Christ, which is given as the reason for the celebration of His birth evolving into the biggest holiday of the year. Christmas has grown in importance for largely secular reasons.

Many scholars point to the pre-Christian celebration of Saturnalia when daylight hours began increasing while nights began to get shorter, signifying that spring was bound to return. In modern times, marketers have latched upon the tradition of gift-giving and feasting at Christmas, making the period from the last weekend of November through New Year's Day the time which could spell success of failure for an entire business year in the retail sector.

  • Armed Forces Radio Service Thanksgiving Program 1944, November 23, 1944, AFRS. Although many G.I.s had been existing on a steady diet of C-Rations, the Brass felt very strongly that during late November 1944, it was important for everyone in uniform to at least get a taste of roast turkey for Thanksgiving so as to remember what they were fighting for. AFRS pulled out the stops as well; Lionel Barrymore hosts, the program features Doris Day, Percy Faith, Wally Brown, and Harry von Zell are featured.
  • Horace HeidtAFRTS Station Library 1958 Christmas Songs, A disk of original Christmas tunes, including the fun masterpiece "Reach for the Rafters Santa!".
  • The Allen Prescott Show, June 21, 1946, WJZ New York, "What to do this weekend." Reasons for New Yorkers to spend Saturday and Sunday in the city. The program features an extended ad for Holiday Magazine.
  • Anniversary Night with Horace Heidt, March 7, 1945, audition program. Band leader Heidt hands out prizes for couples' celebrating their first, fifth, tenth, twentieth, and fiftieth anniversary. Listeners are encouraged to nominate couples with upcoming anniversaries to be flown to Hollywood and featured on later broadcasts.
    Spike Jones and His City Slickers, New Years 1949. The Slickers share their well-thought-out New Year's Resolutions.
  • California Caravan, December 21, 1947, Don-Lee Network, sponsored by California Physician's Service, "How Santa Claus Came to Simpson's Bar". Based on the story by Bret Harte, the rain has life at a standstill on Christmas Eve in the mining town of Simpson's Bar, and the bachelor miners are getting restless, but they come together to make a merry holiday for a sick boy.
  • Mr. Pickwick's Christmas, May 9, 1944, World Broadcasting Syndication. Charles Laughton stars in this reading of Dicken's "other" Christmas story, a much cheerier story than A Christmas Carol.
  • Lionel Barrymore & Agnes MooreheadRare Performances of A Christmas Carol, Various. Charles Dickens' tale of Scrooge, the misanthropic miser who discovered the joy of life after being visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts is hardly a rarity in Old Time Radio. The novella, first published in 1843, maybe as widely known as the Nativity tale in the Christian gospel, and has as much of a moral lesson. Dickens made a good deal of cash by holding public readings of his work (not being inspired to compose another Christmas tale) and the work was quickly adapted for the stage. The story first appeared on film in a British silent feature dated 1901, and it was broadcast by the British radio as early as 1923. The great Lionel Barrymore performed the role of Scrooge for CBS Radio every year from 1934 until 1953 (except for 1936 when mourning the passing of his wife, brother John Barrymore played the role; Orson Welles assumed the role in 1938 when Lionel was ill). Included in this collection is a 1951 BBC version starring Alec Guinness, and a broadcast with uncredited actors from the 1940s, apparently syndicated for Popular Science Monthly. Lionel is featured in this collection on NBC Monitor more than a decade after his passing.
  • Christmas Eve with Ferde Grofé and his Orchestra, 1935 Thesaurus Syndication. The former arranger for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra puts together this delightful medley of instrumental Christmas music. Many Jazz critics have criticized Grofé and his arrangements for being too flowery and commercial, but we are sure you will agree this piece is music to enjoy with a mug of hot chocolate in your hand.
  • Bing ChristmasChristmas in California, December 24, 1952, CBS Pacific net, sponsored by Bank of America. The story of shepherds on the first Christmas as it would have been told in an early California Mission Chapel to the Indians and Mexicans living nearby.
  • Christmas Message for Libby-Owens-Ford, 1951 Syndication. The great Lionel Barrymore recorded this message of Holiday hope and patriotism for the then 100-year-old manufacturer of plate glass.
  • The Christmas Miracle of Jasper Crown, Thesaurus Syndication. Charlie Ruggles stars in this heartwarming Holiday tale of a mean old man, a sweet little girl, and the miracle of a thread-bare rented Santa Claus suit.
  • Christmas Reunion, December 25, 1943, NBC Sustained. A globe-circling broadcast on the third Christmas of the War which attempts to bring together civilians and their fighting sons in every theater of the conflict.
  • Christmas Sing with Bing, December 24, 1961, CBS, sponsored by the Insurance Company of North America. In terms of Christmas celebrities, Bing Crosby ranks up there with Santa Claus. This is the sixth annual broadcast and features a Charlie McCarthy sketch of Edgar Bergen's sidekick butchering "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
  • Coronet Story Teller, Mutual net, December 24, 1944. An inspiring telling of the story of the Little Shephard who sees a great light and finds a babe lying in a manger in Bethlehem.
  • Gracie Fields ChristmasGracie Fields Christmas Greeting from Vancouver, B.C., recorded December 18, 1941, rebroadcast via British Shortwave on December 21. Beloved British film and music star was born over a fish and chips shop in Lancashire. She arrived in North America via Pan Am Clipper in August 1941 to stump for support for the War effort in Canada and the States and raised a good deal of money as well as goodwill.
  • Harry Truman Christmas Peace Address, December 24, 1948, the President quotes from Acts 17:26.
  • Horace Heidt Show, December 25, 1944, Mr. Heidt leads a Christmas broadcast from the stage of the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Opening with "The Santa Claus Express", Horace and the choir find time to call for Peace on Earth in consideration of his War Time audience.
  • The Human Family Tree, broadcast December 25, 1937, syndicated. A series of Christmas greeting from syndicated radio personalities, hosted by Ray "Santa Claus" Knight.
  • King George VI Christmas Address, via CBS, December 25, 1941. His Majesty takes time to thank those brave men who have come from throughout the Empire to serve in defense of the Homeland. The King speaks slowly and clearly in the broadcast, a reminder of the months of therapy He underwent to overcome a crippling stammer before ascending to the throne.
  • The Mystery Castle, December 1947, WKBN, Youngstown, Ohio. An after-school Christmas serial, a la The Cinnamon Bear. During the lead up to the big day, kids tune in each afternoon to hear the adventures of Ronnie and Happy the Rabbit as they approach Santa's Castle to get their hand on the mysterious key which will unlock all the presents. Not as nefarious as it sounds, Santa is a rather unsavory character in this story.
  • National Boys' Club Week Fund Drive. The Boys' Clubs were formed in Hartford, Connecticut, 1860, to provide boys (and later, girls) constructive and beneficial activities in the period between the end of school classes and the tie their parents were done with work. Currently, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is considered the number one charitable organization in America.
  • The Passing Parade, Special Edition, December 1943, NBC sustaining. Harlow Wilcox and John Nesbitt host this inspirational telling of the founding of the Christmas Seals movement.
  • Teller of Hawaiian Tales, Bell Transcriptions. Holiday also means vacation, and even before regular jet service to the islands, a Hawaiian vacation was a dream holiday for many Americans. These programs of Island legends helped to feed desires for Island Romance.
  • These the Humble, World Program Service Transcription. Joe E. Brown stars as dancer Johnny Quick in this Christmas story of how those who seem to have everything sometimes are less thankful than those who are just starting out.
  • Twelve Days of Christmas. This ancient Christmas song was first published in Mirth Without Mischief (1780) as a 'memory and forfeit' game. Beginning in 1984, the cumulative costs of the 364 items mentioned in the song have been used as the Christmas Price Index, a sort of tongue-in-cheek economic indicator. In 2017, the Christmas Price Index estimated the True Price of Christmas at $157,558.00.
  • White House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, December 24, 1941. After the American fleet was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Prime Minister Winston Churchill sailed across a U-boat filled Atlantic to visit and support his friend, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was widely assumed that lighting the Christmas tree on the White House lawn would be canceled because of the War, but Churchill counseled to "Let the children have their night of fun and laughter" and joined in the ceremony.

 

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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    Hi there, Couldn't find Doris Day on this show. So the label doesn't match. Armed Forces Radio Service Thanksgiving Program 1944, November 23, 1944, AFRS. Although many G.I.s had been existing on a steady diet of C-Rations, the Brass felt very strongly that during late November 1944, it was important for everyone in uniform to at least get a taste of roast turkey so as to remember what they were fighting for. AFRS pulled out the stops as well; Lionel Barrymore hosts, the program features Doris Day, Percy Faith, Wally Brown, and Harry von Zell are featured.

    Peter Verified Purchase

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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.



    42 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 13 hours, 1563 min
    42 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 13 hours, 1563 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 42 shows – total playtime 13 hours, 26 minutes
    2. Afrs Thanksgiving Program 1944.mp3
    3. Afrts Station Library 1958 Christmas Songs Ch58.mp3
    4. Allen Prescott Show 460621 What To Do This Weekend.mp3
    5. Anniversary Night With Horace Heidt 450317 Audition Show.mp3
    6. April Showers And Happy New Year Spike Jones.mp3
    7. California Caravan Show.mp3
    8. Charle Llaughton Mr Pickwicks Christmas.mp3
    9. Chase And Sanborn Nows Time To Fall In Love 311200.mp3
    10. Christmas Carol Starring Alec Guinness 1951.mp3
    11. Christmas Carol Studio 1940s Popular Science Monthly Ed Dept.mp3
    12. Christmas Eve Ferde Grofe Orchestra Thesaurus 187 1935.mp3
    13. Christmas For Evelaraine Day World Program Service 425.mp3
    14. Christmas Message Libbey Owens Ford 1951 Lionel Barrymore.mp3
    15. Christmas Miracle Nbc Thesaurus 1873 1874 Charlie Ruggles.mp3
    16. Christmas Morning Clancys Billy Jones Company Edison 51619.mp3
    17. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 1.mp3
    18. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 2.mp3
    19. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 3.mp3
    20. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 4.mp3
    21. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 5.mp3
    22. Christmas Sing With Bing 611224.mp3
    23. Christmasincalifornia 195212241.mp3
    24. Coronet Storyteller 441224 Gift Of Little Shepherd.mp3
    25. Gracie Fields Christmas Greeting From Vancouver Canada.mp3
    26. Harry Truman Christmas Peace Acts 17 26 481224.mp3
    27. Horace Heidt Show 441225 Santa Claus Express.mp3
    28. Human Family 371225 Christmas Program.mp3
    29. King George Vis Christmas Message 411225.mp3
    30. Monitor 651225 A Christmas Carol W Lionel Barrymore.mp3
    31. Mystery Castle 471200 Trying To Solve Mystery Of Packages.mp3
    32. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Chordettes Excerpt.mp3
    33. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Jackie Gleason.mp3
    34. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Joe Dimaggio Excerpt.mp3
    35. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Red Skelton Excerpt.mp3
    36. National Boys Club Week Roy Rogers And Gang Excerpt.mp3
    37. Pass 431200 Story Of Christmas Seals.mp3
    38. Radio Doctor 421224 Advice For Xmas.mp3
    39. Teller Of Hawaiian Tales 01 Ghost Dance On Punch Bowl.mp3
    40. Teller Of Hawaiian Tales 02 One Ditch Menehune Built.mp3
    41. These Humble Starring Joe E Brown World Program Service 325.mp3
    42. Twelve Days Of Christmas Tom Glazer Keynote Pre 1942.mp3
    43. White House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 411224.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    42 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 13 hours, 1563 min
    42 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    368 MB – total playtime 13 hours, 26 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 42 shows – 368 MB – total playtime 13 hours, 26 minutes
    2. Afrs Thanksgiving Program 1944.mp3
    3. Afrts Station Library 1958 Christmas Songs Ch58.mp3
    4. Allen Prescott Show 460621 What To Do This Weekend.mp3
    5. Anniversary Night With Horace Heidt 450317 Audition Show.mp3
    6. April Showers And Happy New Year Spike Jones.mp3
    7. California Caravan Show.mp3
    8. Charle Llaughton Mr Pickwicks Christmas.mp3
    9. Chase And Sanborn Nows Time To Fall In Love 311200.mp3
    10. Christmas Carol Starring Alec Guinness 1951.mp3
    11. Christmas Carol Studio 1940s Popular Science Monthly Ed Dept.mp3
    12. Christmas Eve Ferde Grofe Orchestra Thesaurus 187 1935.mp3
    13. Christmas For Evelaraine Day World Program Service 425.mp3
    14. Christmas Message Libbey Owens Ford 1951 Lionel Barrymore.mp3
    15. Christmas Miracle Nbc Thesaurus 1873 1874 Charlie Ruggles.mp3
    16. Christmas Morning Clancys Billy Jones Company Edison 51619.mp3
    17. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 1.mp3
    18. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 2.mp3
    19. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 3.mp3
    20. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 4.mp3
    21. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 5.mp3
    22. Christmas Sing With Bing 611224.mp3
    23. Christmasincalifornia 195212241.mp3
    24. Coronet Storyteller 441224 Gift Of Little Shepherd.mp3
    25. Gracie Fields Christmas Greeting From Vancouver Canada.mp3
    26. Harry Truman Christmas Peace Acts 17 26 481224.mp3
    27. Horace Heidt Show 441225 Santa Claus Express.mp3
    28. Human Family 371225 Christmas Program.mp3
    29. King George Vis Christmas Message 411225.mp3
    30. Monitor 651225 A Christmas Carol W Lionel Barrymore.mp3
    31. Mystery Castle 471200 Trying To Solve Mystery Of Packages.mp3
    32. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Chordettes Excerpt.mp3
    33. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Jackie Gleason.mp3
    34. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Joe Dimaggio Excerpt.mp3
    35. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Red Skelton Excerpt.mp3
    36. National Boys Club Week Roy Rogers And Gang Excerpt.mp3
    37. Pass 431200 Story Of Christmas Seals.mp3
    38. Radio Doctor 421224 Advice For Xmas.mp3
    39. Teller Of Hawaiian Tales 01 Ghost Dance On Punch Bowl.mp3
    40. Teller Of Hawaiian Tales 02 One Ditch Menehune Built.mp3
    41. These Humble Starring Joe E Brown World Program Service 325.mp3
    42. Twelve Days Of Christmas Tom Glazer Keynote Pre 1942.mp3
    43. White House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 411224.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



    42 recordings on 16 Audio CDs. Total playtime 13 hours, 26 min
    42 recordings on 16 Audio CDs
    total playtime 13 hours, 26 min

    Rare Holiday Disc A001

    1. Afrs Thanksgiving Program 1944
    2. Afrts Station Library 1958 Christmas Songs Ch58
    3. April Showers And Happy New Year Spike Jones

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    Rare Holiday Disc A002

    1. California Caravan Show
    2. Charle Llaughton Mr Pickwicks Christmas

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    Rare Holiday Disc A003

    1. Christmas Carol Starring Alec Guinness 1951
    2. Christmas Carol Studio 1940s Popular Science Monthly Ed Dept
    3. Christmas Eve Ferde Grofe Orchestra Thesaurus 187 1935

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    Rare Holiday Disc A004

    1. Christmas For Evelaraine Day World Program Service 425
    2. Christmas Message Libbey Owens Ford 1951 Lionel Barrymore
    3. Christmas Miracle Nbc Thesaurus 1873 1874 Charlie Ruggles
    4. Christmas Morning Clancys Billy Jones Company Edison 51619

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    Rare Holiday Disc A005

    1. Christmasincalifornia 195212241
    2. Gracie Fields Christmas Greeting From Vancouver Canada
    3. National Boys Club Week Roy Rogers And Gang Excerpt

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    Rare Holiday Disc A006

    1. Teller Of Hawaiian Tales 01 Ghost Dance On Punch Bowl
    2. Teller Of Hawaiian Tales 02 One Ditch Menehune Built
    3. These Humble Starring Joe E Brown World Program Service 325
    4. Twelve Days Of Christmas Tom Glazer Keynote Pre 1942
    5. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Chordettes Excerpt

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    Rare Holiday Disc A007

    1. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Jackie Gleason
    2. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Joe Dimaggio Excerpt
    3. National Boys Club Week 000000 00 Red Skelton Excerpt
    4. Chase And Sanborn Nows Time To Fall In Love 311200

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    Rare Holiday Disc A008

    1. Human Family 371225 Christmas Program

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    Rare Holiday Disc A009

    1. White House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 411224
    2. King George Vis Christmas Message 411225
    3. Radio Doctor 421224 Advice For Xmas
    4. Pass 431200 Story Of Christmas Seals

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    Rare Holiday Disc A010

    1. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 1
    2. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 2

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    Rare Holiday Disc A011

    1. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 3
    2. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 4

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    Rare Holiday Disc A012

    1. Christmas Reunion 431225 Part 5
    2. Coronet Storyteller 441224 Gift Of Little Shepherd

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    Rare Holiday Disc A013

    1. Horace Heidt Show 441225 Santa Claus Express
    2. Anniversary Night With Horace Heidt 450317 Audition Show

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    Rare Holiday Disc A014

    1. Allen Prescott Show 460621 What To Do This Weekend
    2. Mystery Castle 471200 Trying To Solve Mystery Of Packages
    3. Harry Truman Christmas Peace Acts 17 26 481224

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    Rare Holiday Disc A015

    1. Christmas Sing With Bing 611224

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    Rare Holiday Disc A016

    1. Monitor 651225 A Christmas Carol W Lionel Barrymore

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