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125 Years Ago today in Radio History: First case of Plague in Hawaii: Bubonic Plague claimed its first victim in Honolulu's Chinatown on this date, December 12, 1899. Fears and racism around the death of 22-year-old book-keeper Yon Chong in the newly annexed US Territory would lead to the destruction by fire of the district in January

Vaccines and Plagues in Old Time Radio

Old time radio's take on plagues, vaccines, polio, and other illnesses featuring shows from all genres from comedy to drama to adventure.

Vaccines and Plagues

56 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 21 hours, 3406 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
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25 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from January 30, 1951:

"Date with Death"



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

March of Dimes

Fearful manFor centuries mankind has been engaged in a war, a war made all the more treacherous because the nature of the enemy was not understood. That enemy is plague infection.

Sometimes referred to as "The Black Death", little was actually understood about plague until recent times. The only thing that was known was that the disease was often brought into a community by outsiders, and when it, hit many would be condemned to a lingering and unpleasant death.

We know now that it was not the strangers who brought the plague, rather it came with the rats who infested their ships. The rats carry fleas which in turn carry Yersinia pestis, the bacterium which causes plague. Although science has given us vaccines which has nearly eradicated "the Black Death", the best defense is sanitation and the simple expedient of washing your hands on a regular basis.

Even though we have the weapons to fight against plague and other infectious epidemics, they remain one of society's most primal fears. If an epidemic is allowed to spread unchecked, many of the victims will be the most fragile and innocent. However, plague can also bring down the toughest amongst us. This is what Superman discovers when Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen travel to a northern logging camp which has been infected with "The White Plague".

Polio Iron LungWhen science does find a weapon fight an epidemic it is usually in the form of a serum or drug which can cure the disease. Then the story becomes less about the disease and more about getting the serum to its victims. This is the case in I Fly Anything in the adventure "Date With Death". Horatio Hornblower and his crew deal with another common tactic against plague in "Quarantined Against Plague".

The fight against disease became a personal one for Americans when newly elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. The original mission of the foundation was to fight the ravages of polio. Radio star coined the phrase "The March of Dimes" to describe the fight. Cantor was making a play on the popular radio news program The March of Time while describing the Foundation's tactics. It was believed that if every child in America could contribute even one thin dime to support the fight, the resources would be there to lick polio, and the mission was accomplished. Polio has been eradicated, and now the March of Dimes focuses its effort on the prevention of birth defects.

Organization and sanitation are effective weapons against epidemics, but we have to wonder if they are as effective as the cautions taken by hypochondriac Groucho Marx when he visits Dinah Shore on Birdseye Open House.

See also: Polio in Old Time RadioThe Doctor FightsMedicine USA, Medical File, Medical Milestones, Doctor John Brinkley (Medical Quack), QuarantinedQuack Doctors in Old Time Radio, Quarantined, and Cancer and Tumors.

Health Brochure

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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    Thanks for the guffaw this morning. Among all the stress and crap today, I opened my e-mail and found that I could get a great deal on plague shows. Made me howl out loud!

    Kelly

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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 21 hours, 3406 min
    56 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 21 hours, 3406 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 56 shows – total playtime 21 hours, 56 minutes
    2. Adventures In Research 490422 E222 Red Plague.mp3
    3. Birdseye 460314 Groucho Marx Hypochondriac.mp3
    4. Calling All Detectives 481022 Dr Life Threat Serum Injecti.mp3
    5. Calv 490110 594 Experiment At Monticello.mp3
    6. Calv 520226 733 Doctor Commando.mp3
    7. Captain Starr Of Space 1953 Mercius Plague.mp3
    8. Commercial March Of Dimes.mp3
    9. Dark Fantasy 411219 05 Men Call Me Mad.mp3
    10. Dimension X 510726 41 Courtesy.mp3
    11. Escape 501126 134 Funeral Fires.mp3
    12. Escape 540408 209 Scarlet Plague.mp3
    13. Eternal Light 441105 0005 Black Death.mp3
    14. Forty Million 521108 Josephine Hull 1 Death Was Catching.mp3
    15. Ft 540331 364 Pox.mp3
    16. Have Gun Will Travel 600403 E072 Shanghai Is Verb.mp3
    17. Horatio Hornblower 530508 Quartined For Plague.mp3
    18. I Fly Anything 510130 005 Date With Death.mp3
    19. Lr 431201 0908 Plague.mp3
    20. Lr 440202 0936 Deal In Cattle.mp3
    21. Lux Radio Theater 550125 907 Sangaree Afrs.mp3
    22. March Of Dimes 410125.mp3
    23. March Of Dimes 440129 America Salutes President.mp3
    24. March Of Dimes 500000 Swonderful.mp3
    25. March Of Dimes 530000 Man Against Crippler.mp3
    26. March Of Dimes 540000 Boston Symphony Orchestra.mp3
    27. March Of Dimes 540000 Years Of Our Faith.mp3
    28. March Of Dimes Summer Concert 530000 Roumanian Fantasy.mp3
    29. March Of Time 350829 Infantile Paralysis Vaccine.mp3
    30. Medical File Sa Small Pox War.mp3
    31. Mtp 610514 Dr Jonas Salk.mp3
    32. Musa 520419 Story Of Contagious Diseases.mp3
    33. Mysterious Traveler 520617 360 Green Plague.mp3
    34. Nick Carter 450812 196 Case Of Sick Statue.mp3
    35. Peril Man Against City - Purple Death.mp3
    36. Radio Mystery Theater 801117 E1136 Eleventh Plague.mp3
    37. Sdp 490812 029 Jezebel.mp3
    38. Sherlock Holmes 461019 02 Adventure Of Black Angus.mp3
    39. Sherlock Holmes 470217 19 Adventure Of Haunted Bagpipes.mp3
    40. Straight Arrow 510309 Disgraced Doc Plague.mp3
    41. Superman 410623 214 White Plague.mp3
    42. Superman 410625 215 White Plague.mp3
    43. Superman 410627 216 White Plague.mp3
    44. Superman 410630 217 White Plague.mp3
    45. Superman 410702 218 White Plague.mp3
    46. Superman 410704 219 White Plague.mp3
    47. Superman 410707 220 White Plague.mp3
    48. Superman 410709 221 White Plague.mp3
    49. Tarzan Lord Of Jungle 510614 23 Tarzan And Stranger.mp3
    50. Top Secret 500806 E 09 Disaster In London.mp3
    51. UN Radio 1959 Fight Against Polio Frank Sinatra.mp3
    52. Vintage Commercials March Of Dimes.mp3
    53. Voice Of Army 471005 270 Hitch In Time.mp3
    54. Weird Circle 15 Great Plague.mp3
    55. Weird Circle 431205 15 Great Plague.mp3
    56. Weird Circle 441008 45 Mark Of Plague.mp3
    57. X Minus One 550818 014 Courtesy.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    56 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 21 hours, 3406 min
    56 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    596 MB – total playtime 21 hours, 56 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 56 shows – 596 MB – total playtime 21 hours, 56 minutes
    2. Adventures In Research 490422 E222 Red Plague.mp3
    3. Birdseye 460314 Groucho Marx Hypochondriac.mp3
    4. Calling All Detectives 481022 Dr Life Threat Serum Injecti.mp3
    5. Calv 490110 594 Experiment At Monticello.mp3
    6. Calv 520226 733 Doctor Commando.mp3
    7. Captain Starr Of Space 1953 Mercius Plague.mp3
    8. Commercial March Of Dimes.mp3
    9. Dark Fantasy 411219 05 Men Call Me Mad.mp3
    10. Dimension X 510726 41 Courtesy.mp3
    11. Escape 501126 134 Funeral Fires.mp3
    12. Escape 540408 209 Scarlet Plague.mp3
    13. Eternal Light 441105 0005 Black Death.mp3
    14. Forty Million 521108 Josephine Hull 1 Death Was Catching.mp3
    15. Ft 540331 364 Pox.mp3
    16. Have Gun Will Travel 600403 E072 Shanghai Is Verb.mp3
    17. Horatio Hornblower 530508 Quartined For Plague.mp3
    18. I Fly Anything 510130 005 Date With Death.mp3
    19. Lr 431201 0908 Plague.mp3
    20. Lr 440202 0936 Deal In Cattle.mp3
    21. Lux Radio Theater 550125 907 Sangaree Afrs.mp3
    22. March Of Dimes 410125.mp3
    23. March Of Dimes 440129 America Salutes President.mp3
    24. March Of Dimes 500000 Swonderful.mp3
    25. March Of Dimes 530000 Man Against Crippler.mp3
    26. March Of Dimes 540000 Boston Symphony Orchestra.mp3
    27. March Of Dimes 540000 Years Of Our Faith.mp3
    28. March Of Dimes Summer Concert 530000 Roumanian Fantasy.mp3
    29. March Of Time 350829 Infantile Paralysis Vaccine.mp3
    30. Medical File Sa Small Pox War.mp3
    31. Mtp 610514 Dr Jonas Salk.mp3
    32. Musa 520419 Story Of Contagious Diseases.mp3
    33. Mysterious Traveler 520617 360 Green Plague.mp3
    34. Nick Carter 450812 196 Case Of Sick Statue.mp3
    35. Peril Man Against City - Purple Death.mp3
    36. Radio Mystery Theater 801117 E1136 Eleventh Plague.mp3
    37. Sdp 490812 029 Jezebel.mp3
    38. Sherlock Holmes 461019 02 Adventure Of Black Angus.mp3
    39. Sherlock Holmes 470217 19 Adventure Of Haunted Bagpipes.mp3
    40. Straight Arrow 510309 Disgraced Doc Plague.mp3
    41. Superman 410623 214 White Plague.mp3
    42. Superman 410625 215 White Plague.mp3
    43. Superman 410627 216 White Plague.mp3
    44. Superman 410630 217 White Plague.mp3
    45. Superman 410702 218 White Plague.mp3
    46. Superman 410704 219 White Plague.mp3
    47. Superman 410707 220 White Plague.mp3
    48. Superman 410709 221 White Plague.mp3
    49. Tarzan Lord Of Jungle 510614 23 Tarzan And Stranger.mp3
    50. Top Secret 500806 E 09 Disaster In London.mp3
    51. UN Radio 1959 Fight Against Polio Frank Sinatra.mp3
    52. Vintage Commercials March Of Dimes.mp3
    53. Voice Of Army 471005 270 Hitch In Time.mp3
    54. Weird Circle 15 Great Plague.mp3
    55. Weird Circle 431205 15 Great Plague.mp3
    56. Weird Circle 441008 45 Mark Of Plague.mp3
    57. X Minus One 550818 014 Courtesy.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 25 Audio CDs. Total playtime 21 hours, 56 min
    56 recordings on 25 Audio CDs
    total playtime 21 hours, 56 min

    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A001

    1. Captain Starr Of Space 1953 Mercius Plague
    2. Commercial March Of Dimes
    3. Medical File Sa Small Pox War

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A002

    1. Peril Man Against City - Purple Death
    2. UN Radio 1959 Fight Against Polio Frank Sinatra
    3. Vintage Commercials March Of Dimes
    4. Weird Circle 15 Great Plague

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A003

    1. March Of Time 350829 Infantile Paralysis Vaccine
    2. March Of Dimes 410125
    3. Superman 410623 214 White Plague
    4. Superman 410625 215 White Plague

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A004

    1. Superman 410627 216 White Plague
    2. Superman 410630 217 White Plague
    3. Superman 410702 218 White Plague
    4. Superman 410704 219 White Plague
    5. Superman 410707 220 White Plague
    6. Superman 410709 221 White Plague

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A005

    1. Dark Fantasy 411219 05 Men Call Me Mad
    2. Lr 431201 0908 Plague

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A006

    1. Weird Circle 431205 15 Great Plague

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A007

    1. March Of Dimes 440129 America Salutes President

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A008

    1. Lr 440202 0936 Deal In Cattle
    2. Weird Circle 441008 45 Mark Of Plague

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A009

    1. Eternal Light 441105 0005 Black Death
    2. Nick Carter 450812 196 Case Of Sick Statue

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A010

    1. Birdseye 460314 Groucho Marx Hypochondriac
    2. Sherlock Holmes 461019 02 Adventure Of Black Angus

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A011

    1. Sherlock Holmes 470217 19 Adventure Of Haunted Bagpipes
    2. Voice Of Army 471005 270 Hitch In Time
    3. Calling All Detectives 481022 Dr Life Threat Serum Injecti

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A012

    1. Calv 490110 594 Experiment At Monticello
    2. Adventures In Research 490422 E222 Red Plague

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A013

    1. Sdp 490812 029 Jezebel
    2. March Of Dimes 500000 Swonderful

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A014

    1. Top Secret 500806 E 09 Disaster In London
    2. Escape 501126 134 Funeral Fires

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A015

    1. I Fly Anything 510130 005 Date With Death
    2. Straight Arrow 510309 Disgraced Doc Plague

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A016

    1. Tarzan Lord Of Jungle 510614 23 Tarzan And Stranger
    2. Dimension X 510726 41 Courtesy

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A017

    1. Calv 520226 733 Doctor Commando
    2. Musa 520419 Story Of Contagious Diseases

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A018

    1. Mysterious Traveler 520617 360 Green Plague
    2. Forty Million 521108 Josephine Hull 1 Death Was Catching

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A019

    1. March Of Dimes 530000 Man Against Crippler
    2. March Of Dimes Summer Concert 530000 Roumanian Fantasy

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A020

    1. Horatio Hornblower 530508 Quartined For Plague
    2. March Of Dimes 540000 Boston Symphony Orchestra
    3. March Of Dimes 540000 Years Of Our Faith

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A021

    1. Ft 540331 364 Pox
    2. Escape 540408 209 Scarlet Plague

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A022

    1. Lux Radio Theater 550125 907 Sangaree Afrs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A023

    1. X Minus One 550818 014 Courtesy
    2. Have Gun Will Travel 600403 E072 Shanghai Is Verb

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A024

    1. Mtp 610514 Dr Jonas Salk

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    Vaccines and Plagues Disc A025

    1. Radio Mystery Theater 801117 E1136 Eleventh Plague

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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