Encyclopedia of American Radio, Updated Edition [Paperback]

Ron Lackmann (Author), Ronald W. Lackmann (Author), Norman Corwin (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2000

This updated edition of Same Time...Same Station (Facts On File, 1995, ISBN 0-8160-2862-1) is a true celebration of the medium, as well as a fact-filled reference of radio broadcasting history. More than 1,000 entries cover all major radio programs, including their characters, sponsors, storylines, the stations that carried them, and more. Also featured are 120 photographs that capture the characters and go behind-the-scenes of radio programs; appendixes on show chronologies; vintage radio show clubs; newsletters, organization, dates, and cast lists. Among the personalities, characters, and topics covered are:

Lucille Ball, whose "My Favorite Husband" became TV's "I Love Lucy"
Orson Welles, who began his radio career as Lamont Cranston, a.k.a. "The Shadow" The comedy shows of Bob Hope and Jack Benny
The Mercury Theater's broadcasts of literary classics, such as H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds"
Characters such as Dick Tracy, Li'l Abner, The Lone Ranger, and Fibber McGee and Molly
Today's radio personalities such as Don Imus, "shock jock" Howard Stern, and Rush Limbaugh

Descriptions of radio genres, from soaps, mysteries, and comedies, to sports, talk radio, and news broadcasts.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This reference book of more than 1000 entries on major radio programs is a revision and repackaging of Lackman's Same Time Same Station (LJ 11/1/95). This edition presents capsule descriptions of radio's most important dramas, comedies, game shows, news programming, and personalities from the 1920s to the present. Not much has changed from the previous edition, but Lackman's attention to details such as programming schedules and show sponsors is noteworthy. Invaluable as a guide to dramatic programming during the "Golden Age" of radio, this book is also a useful source of information about contemporary radio personalities such as Howard Stern and Don Imus. Vintage black-and-white photographs are sprinkled throughout the book. Lackman also includes several appendixes (e. g., a list of radio stations that currently broadcast old-time radio shows and an exhaustive list of radio dramas that appeared in anthology programs). Recommended for public libraries and for academic libraries serving schools with communications departments that don't already have Same Time Same Station.
-David M. Lisa, Mercyhurst Coll. Lib., Erie, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"For those who were listeners in the early days of radio, there is good news, it is all here in this book...a pleasurable page-turner invoking remembrances of that time..." -- George Edwards, morning host for 39 years on WQXR, the radio station of the New York Times

[Praise for the previous edition (Same Time...Same Station, Facts On File, 1995, ISBN 0-8160-2862-1)] "You could spend hours curled up with this book-and never get bored." -- Radio World

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books; 2 Updated edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081604077X
• ISBN-13: 978-0816040773
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,818,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Errors in book detract from its value, April 7, 2003

By 

Leonard Price "Paladin" (Ruther Glen, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of American Radio: An A-Z Guide to Radio from Jack Benny to Howard Stern (Hardcover)

Nice photos, but how much faith can you put into the text when simple errors stick out like sore thumbs

For instance:

Man Called X: Ken Thurston did not have a girlfriend and had nothing to do with the Cafe Tamborine (that was an entirely different program.)

Jack Moyles did NOT replace Frank Sinatra as Rocky Fortune. That series ended when Sinatra left it. Moyles DID star in Rocky Jordan, an entirely different show.

It is little things like this and make the book suspect for me. How many more errors are in this book? What can one take as fact and not with a grain of salt?

Excellent concept, faulty execution. I would not buy this book again and am considering returning my copy for credit. I do not consider this book to be a valuable reference item. Casual reading yes...reference work...no

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Definitely Not An Encyclopedia, January 31, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Encyclopedia of American Radio, Updated Edition (Paperback)

As the former editor of an Old-Time Radio club newsletter, a writer for several other Old-Time Radio clubs, and an Old-Time Radio researcher, I know that careful research is an important step in the writing of accurate factual material.

While this book is an improvement over its predecessor, "Same Time, Same Station," there are still too many factual errors in this book for it to warrant consideration as an Old-Time Radio "Encyclopedia."

A few examples of factual errors.

It was Virginia Christine and not Virginia Gregg who appeared the motion pictures "Judgement at Nuremberg" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Janet Waldo did not play Alice in the Disney classic "Alice in Wonderland;" Kathryn Beaumont played Alice. Janet Waldo played Alice in the Hanna-Barbera 1966 version of "Alice in Wonderland."

These are easily verifiable facts and yet the author got them wrong.

I verified that Virginia Gregg did not and that Virginia Christine did appear in the preceding two motion pictures by checking the cast credits of the movies in several motion picture reference books.

I verified my facts on "Alice in Wonderland" by checking the Disney and Hanna-Barbera cast lists and by talking to Janet Waldo about her role as Alice during the course of an interview.

I cannot recommend this book.

One's money would be better spent by purchasing John Dunning's "On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio."

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Better than his earlier edition, but....., December 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of American Radio: An A-Z Guide to Radio from Jack Benny to Howard Stern (Hardcover)

Mr. Lackmann has improved this book very much from the earlier edition which was loaded with made up facts and apparently little research. Mr. Lackmann, in his acknowledgements, though has not given credit to the many readers who had written him to correct his mistaken information. He acts as if somehow these facts were miraculously corrected by themselves. There are better reference books on radio than this one. Don't waste your time.