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Remembering 1953

The Space Age is still a few years from beginning, but in many very real ways, the future begins in 1953.

1953

56 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 25 hours, 2482 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
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28 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from December 25, 1953:

"Bob Hope Long Beach Hospital"



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

Philco 1953On January 20, 1953, the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn into office, and the American people could see the entire ceremony on television. A great many of them did, in fact, tune in to watch this historical event, but not nearly as many would watch as did the night before for an even more important historical event when America's favorite redhead gave birth to "Little Ricky" on the sitcom I Love Lucy.

The program was a very public attempt to save the marriage of Lucille Ball and Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz. Lucille Ball had starred in a popular radio series called My Favorite Husband, and the network wanted to bring some of that profitable magic to the small screen but she refused to begin a TV project unless her husband was the costar. The result was one of the biggest TV hits of all time, and the marriage flourished to the point that by the time the second season began, Lucy was pregnant with the couple's second child. A pregnant main character was almost unheard of in family TV (there was never a line about Lucy being pregnant, she was always "expecting"). The episode "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" was filmed several weeks earlier and scheduled to be shown coinciding with Lucy's scheduled caesarean delivery (the TV pregnancy only lasted seven episodes, from December 8 to January 19). On that night, 71.1% of all televisions in the US were tuned into I Love Lucy, a record which still stands.

Lucille Ball 1953Life in this atomic age was hardly a sitcom for new President Eisenhower. Just before the inauguration, out-going President Truman announced that American scientists had developed a hydrogen bomb, had been tested at Eniwetok Atoll in the South Pacific in November. Atomic testing in Operation Upshot-Knothole begins in March at the Nevada Test Site, which will involve 20,100 military personnel at Camp Desert Rock. Earlier in the month, Soviet boss Joseph Stalin suffered a stroke and died in Moscow. New Soviet Prime Minister Georgi Malenkov announces that the USSR has developed a hydrogen bomb in August and conducts a successful test a few days later. Nikita Khrushchev will become chairman of the Soviet Party.

An appeal for clemency toward convicted spies Ethel and Julius Rosenberg is made to the new President in February, which he refuses, and the couple is executed in the electric chair at New York's Sing Sing Prison on June 19. Although Eisenhower was arguably one of America's most effective warriors during WWII, he delivered his "A Chance for Peace" speech to a group of journalists in Chicago on April 16. The long and bloody Korean War comes to an end when an armistice is signed at Panmunjom on July 27, and a few days later prisoners of war are exchanged during Operation Big Switch. Eisenhower delivers an address to the United Nations General Assembly on December 8 titled "Atoms for Peace", focusing on peaceful uses for atomic energy.

Discover of DNA in 1953In many ways, 1953 was a year of discovery. The Robertson Panel, a scientific committee sponsored by listed in the Air Force's "Project Blue Book", reported that, "The Panel concluded unanimously that there was no evidence of a direct threat to national security in the objects sighted", however, the public's interest in the subject could overwhelm standard military communications.

Scientists at Cambridge University reported discovering the double-helix structure of the DNA molecule in all living cells. Dr. Jonas Salk announces his polio vaccine on March 21. Ian Fleming publishes his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, in April. Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound at Rogers Dry Lake in an RCAF F-86 Sabrejet with the encouragement of friend Chuck Yeager.

The summit of Mt. Everest if conquered for the first time by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. The first Chevy Corvette rolls off the assembly line. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Marilyn Monroe debuts on July 23. Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, the second of the Kinsey Reports, is published in August. Researchers at the University of Chicago announce the discovery of REM sleep. Scott Crossfield becomes the first man to fly past Mach 2 in November. The first color television sets go on sale for $1,175, and a year of discovery ends with Hugh Hefner publishing the first issue of Playboy magazine featuring a nude centerfold photograph of Marilyn Monroe and fascinating articles.

  • Hydrogen Bomb 1953Less than two week before leaving office, President Harry Truman announces that American scientists have developed the hydrogen bomb. A week later, the Robertson Panel begins formal meetings on January 7, the panel, formed under the direction of the CIA, publishes a report classified as SECRET (later declassified) which determines that reports of Unidentified Flying Objects pose no significant threat to national security. The CIA Technical Services Staff headed by Sidney Gottlieb approves the use of the drug LSD for the Project MKUltra mind control experiments. New Soviet Premier Georgi Malenkov announces on August 8 that the USSR has developed a hydrogen bomb, "Joe 4" is test detonated in Kazahkstan on August 12.
  • Discovery of the DNA molecule at the University of Cambridge by James Watson and Francis Crick is announced on February 28, an article describing the double-helical structure of the molecule, which is a building block of all known life, is published in the journal Nature on April 25. The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is announced on March 26, and testing of the vaccine commences. University of Chicago researchers announce the discovery of REM sleep on September 4.
  • Soviet state newspaper Pravda publishes a report on January 13 that several of the most prominant physicians in Moscow (mostly Jewish doctors) are involved in a plot to assassinate Soviet leadership using poison, the "Doctors' Plot" is eventuallyrefuted as anit-Semitic propaganda and leadership distances itself from the report after the death of Stalin on March 5. A bomb is detonated in the Soviet Embassy in Israel on February 11.in reaction to the Doctors' Plot report, the Soviet Union breaks diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
  • The 16th episode of the second season of the hit TV show I Love Lucy on January 19 is titled "Lucy Goes to the Hospital", the episode airs just hours after star Lucille Ball gave birth to her son Desi Arnaz Jr. in real life.  The show gets much greater viewership than the inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower the following day.
  • Disney's 14th animated feature film, Peter Pan, is released on February 5.
  • Casino Royale, the first novel featuring super-spy James Bond, is published in London by Ian Fleming on April 13.
  • Frank Sinatra goes into the studio at Capitol Records with arranger Nelson Riddle on April 20, creating the recording which will define Sinatra's reputation for years.
  • Marilyn Monroe on Playboy 1953The first issue of Playboy goes on sale in December for fifty cents and features a nude centerfold photograph of Marilyn Monroe, although many will claim to have only purchased the magazine for the articles.
  • The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England takes place at Westminster Abbey on June 2.
  • Yankee centerfielder Mickey Mantel knocks a 565 foot home run at Washington's Griffith Stadium, believed to be the longest home run hit of all time.
  • Flying an RCAF F-86 Sabrejet at Rogers Dry Lake in California, Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier on May 18.
  • Mountaineer Edmund Hillary with sherpa Tnzing Norgay reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, becoming the first men to ascent the world's highest mountian.
  • In October, the UNIVAC 1103 becomes the first computer to use random access memory.
  • Scott Crossfield becomes the first man to fly twice the speed of sound on November 20 when hos Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket reaches Mach 2.
  • New President Eisenhower denies a clemency appeal for convictd spies Ethel and Julius Rosenberg on February 11, the couple is executed in the electric chair at New York's Sing Sing Prison on June 19.
  • End of Korean War 1953The Korean War come to an uneasy end on July 27 when the Korean Armistice Agreement is signed in Panmunjom by representitives of the United Nations Command (Korea), the United States, the Peoples Republic of China, and North Korea; the Armistice is a ceasefire, the belligerants are technically still at war. A prisoner exchange, "Operation Big Switch" is arranged for August 5.
  • The CIA sponsors Operation Ajax which overthrows Iranian Prime Minister Mosaddegh on August 19 in response to his nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, the coup solidifies th rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
  • Nikita Khrushchev assumes leadership of th Soviet Central Committee on September 7.
  • The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, becomes a permanent agency on October 6.
  • Corvette 1953Riots break out in Iran on December 7 during a visit by Vice President Richard Nixon, the incident will be commenorated annually. The next day, President Eisenhower delivers an address titled "Atoms for Peace" the the United Nations General Assembly.
  • General Motors introduces several top-of-the-line models, including the Cadillac Eldorado, the Chevrolet Corvette, and the Buick Roadmaster Skylark, Chevy also introduces the "economy" 150 line as no frills fleet transportation and the mid-range 210. Ford celebrats its fiftieth anniversary by adding poweer-assisted brakes and steering which had only been available on Lincoln and Mercury models.
  • NBC Radio debuts The Six Shooter starring James Stewart, but Your Hit Parade, This Is Your FBI, The Aldrich Family, Life With Luigi, The First Nighter, and Father Knows Best all go off the air.

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.



    56 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 25 hours, 2482 min
    56 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 25 hours, 2482 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 56 shows – total playtime 25 hours, 41 minutes
    2. aa530315 Madame Queen's Chauffeur.mp3
    3. aa530412 Andy And The Model.mp3
    4. Affairs Of Peter Salem 530124 188 Murderous Mirror.mp3
    5. Aldrich Family 530426 E582 Delivery Bicycle.mp3
    6. Alka Seltzer Time 531029 Just to be With You'.mp3
    7. Americana 531205 011 An American Sampler.mp3
    8. Arthur Godfrey 530105 Pretty Baby.mp3
    9. Arthur Smiths Corner Store 531124 Long Gone.mp3
    10. Bergen McCarthy 531011 637 W Gordon Macrae.mp3
    11. Bob Hope 530114 542 Terry Moore Bing Crosby.mp3
    12. Bob Hope 530121 543 Zsa Zsa Gabor.mp3
    13. Bob Ray 530000 Merchandising Ice Cubes.mp3
    14. Breakfast Club 530622 20th Anniversary Special Evening.mp3
    15. Cav 530331 Time To Grow.mp3
    16. Cisco Kid 530122 054 Run On Bank.mp3
    17. Counterspy 531221 Case Of Diamond Thieves.mp3
    18. Crime Letter From Dan Dodge 530220 Preposterous Caper.mp3
    19. Dinah Shore 5403xx Chevrolet Academy Award Songs.mp3
    20. Dragnet 531222 e227 Big Little Jesus.mp3
    21. Escape 530329 189 The Invader.mp3
    22. Escape 530816 196 Thirteenth Truck.mp3
    23. Escape 530823 210 The Man From Tomorrow.mp3
    24. Fmm 530630 0740 Fishing Trip To Dugans Lake.mp3
    25. Ft 530930 338 Journey Of Pegasus.mp3
    26. GG 530107 479 Leila Back In Town Sydney Tuttle.mp3
    27. GG 530114 480 Gildy And Sidney Help Leila.mp3
    28. Grand Ole Opry 530606.mp3
    29. Guest Star 530517 0321 Halleluah.mp3
    30. Guns 531128 ep084 Kick Me.mp3
    31. Hall Fantasy 530810 Man From The Second Earth.mp3
    32. High Adventure 530120 Backlash.mp3
    33. Iwacfbi 531014 78 No Visitors.mp3
    34. Jack Benny 531213 2514 Christmas Show From Palm Springs.mp3
    35. Lets Pretend 531128 Ceres and Proserpina.mp3
    36. LR 530923 Boundery Cheaters.mp3
    37. News 530101 AFRS The AFRS Story.mp3
    38. News 530211 KOOK CBS News.mp3
    39. News 5306xx SYN March of Dimes 1953 Man Against the Crippler.mp3
    40. News 5308xx UN Radio Korea Story 01 Dag Hammarskjold Powell.mp3
    41. News 531116 Harry S Truman on IMF Harry Dexter White Case.mp3
    42. News 531221 NBC Voices Events of 1953 Morgan Beatty.mp3
    43. News 531225 NBC Bob Hope Long Beach Veterans Hospital.mp3
    44. Our Miss Brooks 531108 222 Convict.mp3
    45. Our Miss Brooks 531115 223 The Moving Van.mp3
    46. PAF 530310 Dick Haymes - Freddy Martin.mp3
    47. Richard Diamond 530726 151 Mona Lisa Murder.mp3
    48. Richard Diamond 530920 Wolfe Murder Case.mp3
    49. Six Shooter 531220 14 Britt Ponsetts Christmas Carol.mp3
    50. Sp 530404 027 The Vanishing Lake.mp3
    51. Susp 530202 Plan X.mp3
    52. Susp 531005 520 Action.mp3
    53. Theater Guild OTA 530426 2150 Nineteen Eighty Four.mp3
    54. This Is Your Fbi 530130 409 Redheaded Blackmailer.mp3
    55. You Bet Your Life 531209 Window.mp3
    56. YTJD 530123 148 Marigold.mp3
    57. YTJD 530130 149 Kay Bellamy.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    56 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 25 hours, 2482 min
    56 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    699 MB – total playtime 25 hours, 41 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 56 shows – 699 MB – total playtime 25 hours, 41 minutes
    2. aa530315 Madame Queen's Chauffeur.mp3
    3. aa530412 Andy And The Model.mp3
    4. Affairs Of Peter Salem 530124 188 Murderous Mirror.mp3
    5. Aldrich Family 530426 E582 Delivery Bicycle.mp3
    6. Alka Seltzer Time 531029 Just to be With You'.mp3
    7. Americana 531205 011 An American Sampler.mp3
    8. Arthur Godfrey 530105 Pretty Baby.mp3
    9. Arthur Smiths Corner Store 531124 Long Gone.mp3
    10. Bergen McCarthy 531011 637 W Gordon Macrae.mp3
    11. Bob Hope 530114 542 Terry Moore Bing Crosby.mp3
    12. Bob Hope 530121 543 Zsa Zsa Gabor.mp3
    13. Bob Ray 530000 Merchandising Ice Cubes.mp3
    14. Breakfast Club 530622 20th Anniversary Special Evening.mp3
    15. Cav 530331 Time To Grow.mp3
    16. Cisco Kid 530122 054 Run On Bank.mp3
    17. Counterspy 531221 Case Of Diamond Thieves.mp3
    18. Crime Letter From Dan Dodge 530220 Preposterous Caper.mp3
    19. Dinah Shore 5403xx Chevrolet Academy Award Songs.mp3
    20. Dragnet 531222 e227 Big Little Jesus.mp3
    21. Escape 530329 189 The Invader.mp3
    22. Escape 530816 196 Thirteenth Truck.mp3
    23. Escape 530823 210 The Man From Tomorrow.mp3
    24. Fmm 530630 0740 Fishing Trip To Dugans Lake.mp3
    25. Ft 530930 338 Journey Of Pegasus.mp3
    26. GG 530107 479 Leila Back In Town Sydney Tuttle.mp3
    27. GG 530114 480 Gildy And Sidney Help Leila.mp3
    28. Grand Ole Opry 530606.mp3
    29. Guest Star 530517 0321 Halleluah.mp3
    30. Guns 531128 ep084 Kick Me.mp3
    31. Hall Fantasy 530810 Man From The Second Earth.mp3
    32. High Adventure 530120 Backlash.mp3
    33. Iwacfbi 531014 78 No Visitors.mp3
    34. Jack Benny 531213 2514 Christmas Show From Palm Springs.mp3
    35. Lets Pretend 531128 Ceres and Proserpina.mp3
    36. LR 530923 Boundery Cheaters.mp3
    37. News 530101 AFRS The AFRS Story.mp3
    38. News 530211 KOOK CBS News.mp3
    39. News 5306xx SYN March of Dimes 1953 Man Against the Crippler.mp3
    40. News 5308xx UN Radio Korea Story 01 Dag Hammarskjold Powell.mp3
    41. News 531116 Harry S Truman on IMF Harry Dexter White Case.mp3
    42. News 531221 NBC Voices Events of 1953 Morgan Beatty.mp3
    43. News 531225 NBC Bob Hope Long Beach Veterans Hospital.mp3
    44. Our Miss Brooks 531108 222 Convict.mp3
    45. Our Miss Brooks 531115 223 The Moving Van.mp3
    46. PAF 530310 Dick Haymes - Freddy Martin.mp3
    47. Richard Diamond 530726 151 Mona Lisa Murder.mp3
    48. Richard Diamond 530920 Wolfe Murder Case.mp3
    49. Six Shooter 531220 14 Britt Ponsetts Christmas Carol.mp3
    50. Sp 530404 027 The Vanishing Lake.mp3
    51. Susp 530202 Plan X.mp3
    52. Susp 531005 520 Action.mp3
    53. Theater Guild OTA 530426 2150 Nineteen Eighty Four.mp3
    54. This Is Your Fbi 530130 409 Redheaded Blackmailer.mp3
    55. You Bet Your Life 531209 Window.mp3
    56. YTJD 530123 148 Marigold.mp3
    57. YTJD 530130 149 Kay Bellamy.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



    56 recordings on 28 Audio CDs. Total playtime 25 hours, 41 min
    56 recordings on 28 Audio CDs
    total playtime 25 hours, 41 min

    1953 Disc A001

    1. Dinah Shore 5403xx Chevrolet Academy Award Songs
    2. News 5306xx SYN March of Dimes 1953 Man Against the Crippler

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    1953 Disc A002

    1. News 5308xx UN Radio Korea Story 01 Dag Hammarskjold Powell
    2. Bob Ray 530000 Merchandising Ice Cubes

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    1953 Disc A003

    1. News 530101 AFRS The AFRS Story
    2. Arthur Godfrey 530105 Pretty Baby

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    1953 Disc A004

    1. GG 530107 479 Leila Back In Town Sydney Tuttle
    2. Bob Hope 530114 542 Terry Moore Bing Crosby

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    1953 Disc A005

    1. GG 530114 480 Gildy And Sidney Help Leila
    2. High Adventure 530120 Backlash

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    1953 Disc A006

    1. Bob Hope 530121 543 Zsa Zsa Gabor
    2. Cisco Kid 530122 054 Run On Bank

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    1953 Disc A007

    1. YTJD 530123 148 Marigold
    2. Affairs Of Peter Salem 530124 188 Murderous Mirror
    3. This Is Your Fbi 530130 409 Redheaded Blackmailer

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    1953 Disc A008

    1. YTJD 530130 149 Kay Bellamy
    2. Susp 530202 Plan X
    3. News 530211 KOOK CBS News

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    1953 Disc A009

    1. Crime Letter From Dan Dodge 530220 Preposterous Caper
    2. PAF 530310 Dick Haymes - Freddy Martin
    3. aa530315 Madame Queen's Chauffeur

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    1953 Disc A010

    1. Escape 530329 189 The Invader
    2. Cav 530331 Time To Grow

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    1953 Disc A011

    1. Sp 530404 027 The Vanishing Lake
    2. aa530412 Andy And The Model

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    1953 Disc A012

    1. Aldrich Family 530426 E582 Delivery Bicycle

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    1953 Disc A013

    1. Theater Guild OTA 530426 2150 Nineteen Eighty Four

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    1953 Disc A014

    1. Guest Star 530517 0321 Halleluah
    2. Grand Ole Opry 530606

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    1953 Disc A015

    1. Breakfast Club 530622 20th Anniversary Special Evening

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    1953 Disc A016

    1. Fmm 530630 0740 Fishing Trip To Dugans Lake
    2. Richard Diamond 530726 151 Mona Lisa Murder

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    1953 Disc A017

    1. Hall Fantasy 530810 Man From The Second Earth
    2. Escape 530816 196 Thirteenth Truck

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    1953 Disc A018

    1. Escape 530823 210 The Man From Tomorrow
    2. Richard Diamond 530920 Wolfe Murder Case

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    1953 Disc A019

    1. LR 530923 Boundery Cheaters
    2. Ft 530930 338 Journey Of Pegasus

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    1953 Disc A020

    1. Susp 531005 520 Action
    2. Bergen McCarthy 531011 637 W Gordon Macrae

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    1953 Disc A021

    1. Iwacfbi 531014 78 No Visitors
    2. Alka Seltzer Time 531029 Just to be With You'
    3. Our Miss Brooks 531108 222 Convict

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    1953 Disc A022

    1. Our Miss Brooks 531115 223 The Moving Van
    2. News 531116 Harry S Truman on IMF Harry Dexter White Case
    3. Arthur Smiths Corner Store 531124 Long Gone

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    1953 Disc A023

    1. Guns 531128 ep084 Kick Me
    2. Lets Pretend 531128 Ceres and Proserpina

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    1953 Disc A024

    1. Americana 531205 011 An American Sampler
    2. You Bet Your Life 531209 Window

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    1953 Disc A025

    1. Jack Benny 531213 2514 Christmas Show From Palm Springs
    2. Six Shooter 531220 14 Britt Ponsetts Christmas Carol

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    1953 Disc A026

    1. Counterspy 531221 Case Of Diamond Thieves

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    1953 Disc A027

    1. News 531221 NBC Voices Events of 1953 Morgan Beatty

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    1953 Disc A028

    1. Dragnet 531222 e227 Big Little Jesus
    2. News 531225 NBC Bob Hope Long Beach Veterans Hospital

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