Amos 'n' Andy (1929-60)

This 15-minute daily situation comedy was probably the most popular radio show of all time.  The listening audience was estimated at 40 million, almost one-third of Americans living at that time. The story was of Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll playing Amos and Andy as black men from Harlem who owned the Fresh Air Taxi Company, so called because its only cab had no windshield.  Amos and Andy were the commonest of common men: they symbolized the poor Joe with no money, no job and no future.  It was the first significant serial utilizing the elements of sympathetic characters, comedy and suspense.

Title: Marriage Proposal Mix-up
Date: 17th November 1944

Box 13 (1948 to 49)

This popular detective adventure stars Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday, a former newsman who now writes mystery novels.  To get plots for his books he runs an advertisement that reads "Adventure wanted; will go anywhere, do anything - Box 13."  Each episode sees him head out on a brand new mystery.

Title: The Professor and the Puzzle
Date: 9th January 1949

I Love a Mystery (1939-1952)

I Love A Mystery weaves a spell over its fans.  It was a tale of three partners:  Jack Packard, Doc Long and Reggie Yorke, who had formed the A-1 detective agency.  They were adventurers who traveled the world in search of action, thrills and mystery, battling the evils of natural and supernatural and rescuing women in distress.  The episode below is part one of a multi-part story, so don't get too hooked or you might have to become a member to hear how it ends.

Title: Million Dollar Curse Part 1
Date: 12th December 1949

Fred Allen and Jack Benny in the Jack Benny Program

A classic episode from one of the longest-running comedy shows in radio history.  This episode is classic Benny and Allen at their very best.

Title: How Jack and Fred Allen Met
Date: 15th January 1950

Life of Riley

Title: Riley Talks in His Sleep About Gertrude
Date: 2nd April 1949

Sherlock Holmes (1930-1960s)

The famous Sherlock Holmes detective stories appeared on radio for more than 25 years, with a long list of performers playing the parts of Holmes and Dr. Watson. They stories were written by Edith Meiser, a self-confessed Holmes addict.  At first she used Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, but, after the series outlived the original material, she created her own new stories.  These were so well written that she was warmly praised by Arthur Conan Doyle's widow and son.

Title: Murder by Moonlight
Date: 29th October 1945

Dragnet (1949 -1957)

Dragnet was an incredible radio series for many reasons. It represented the apex of police procedural broadcasting.  It used sound effects to an extent that had rarely been seen before and it extended the boundaries of what was classed as acceptable broadcasting with some of its controversial storylines. In this episode Detective Sergeant Friday is assigned to robbery detail.  A ruthless fiend roams the streets of the city masquerading as a police officer.  For months helpless citizens have been robbed, beaten senseless and kidnapped.  The criminal is a twisted genius with cunning.  It's up to Detective Sergeant Joe Friday to get him.

Title: Red Light Bandit
Date: 14th July 1949

Life with Luigi (1948 -1954)

This wonderful comedy series was originally called The Little Immigrant, but the name was changed before the first broadcast.  The lead character was a recent Italian immigrant called Luigi Basco played wonderfully by J. Carrol Naish, an Irishman in real life.  Luigi had moved from Rome to run an antique shop next to Pasquale's Spaghetti Palace in the Little Italy section of Chicago -- and the stories revolved around his efforts to discover and integrate into his new environment.

Title: Luigi Discovers America
Date: 21st September 1948

Escape (1947 -1954)

When Radio Life wrote "These stories all possess many times the reality that most radio writing conveys" it hit the nail on the head.  Escape is everything that was good about old-time-radio drama rolled into one.  The title itself almost sums up the very essence of what radio drama is all about.  Each and every episode was a micro drama carefully planned to capture the listeners' attention for 30 minutes.

Title: Country of the Blind
Date: 26th November 1947

X Minus 1 (1955 -1958)

Title: The Green Hills of Earth
Date: 7th July 1955

Couple Next Door (1957 -1960)

Title: Union Rules
Date: 16th September 1958