The Great Radio Heroes [Paperback]

Jim Harmon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786408502 | ISBN-13: 978-0786408504 | Publication Date: February 2001 | Edition: Rev Exp

In 1967, Jim Harmon published the first edition of The Great Radio Heroes to great acclaim. Thirty-three years later comes an illustrated, corrected, revised and greatly expanded new edition... Once there was a time-and it was not so long ago-when radio listening, especially to the dramas, was one of the most important events in many a young person's life. People developed a love affair with the radio, and though the old times are now gone forever, the love affair continues. The heroes and settings of radio drama spurred the imagination to supply its own and much better images than visual media provided. There were no padded shoulders on the Lone Ranger, Superman flew with no jiggly trick photography, and the Martians whom Orson Welles helped attack the Earth were more convincing than anything the movies can provide. For those who have been under the thrall of radio's alluring call, your new host Jim Harmon provides reminiscences of the heyday of radio programming, with insights on such radio dramas as I Love a Mystery, Gangbusters, The Shadow, Inner Sanctum, Batman and Robin, Superman, Tom Mix, The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, Adventures by Morse and a couple of dozen more. Photographs, a bibliography, and an index are included to enhance the reader's journey into a past time when radio was the favorite pastime.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Radio producer Harmon here expands his 1967 original to include numerous photos of actors who starred in the radio shows of yesteryear and to update their profiles (what they are doing now, who died, etc.). Chapters cover the stars of cop shows, Westerns, comedies, adventures, and dramas. A good one-stop resource for information on the days when radio was the leading form of home entertainment.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A magnificent job in covering early radio" -- -Buffalo Courier Express

"Beautiful-just beautiful-the way he calls the sounds of the voices back from the past" -- -Arizona Republic

"Harmon actually has a hot-seller... 'Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear" -- -Newsday

"I can recommend a most pleasurable evening or two...reading [this book]" -- -Minneapolis Star

"This publication will present you with many fond memories as well as new information" -- -North American Radio Archives

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub; Rev Exp edition (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786408502
• ISBN-13: 978-0786408504
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,296,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great update about Great Radio Heroes, June 13, 2001

By 

"dltnkt" (DesMoines, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Radio Heroes (Paperback)

If you are a fan of oldtime radio you need this book in your collection. It is an update on Harmon's 1967 book of the same title and is indeed a far superior volume as I have both. From The Shadow to The Lone Ranger most of our old favorites are in there along with photos and inside details that will fascinate you. The price is a bit steep but well worth it. You will not be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Old-Time Radio Revisited, February 20, 2010

By 

Stephen A. Kallis, Jr. (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Great Radio Heroes (Paperback)

From the beginnings pf commercial broadcast radio through the 1940s, radio was the dominant entertainment medium in the United States. For those who lived through those years, Mr. Harmon's chapters evoke memories of a simpler time. Few of the chapters were devoted to a single character; mostly, they discuss certain types of character -- aviators, reporters, and heroes of the Old West. Mr Harmon was a fan of the old shows, and many of his chapters were built from fond memories, though he did have a good collection of audio files of the old shows.
To the older reader or the serious collector of Old-Time Radio shows, Mr. Harmon's coverage is entertaining, since he covers classic shows like The Shadow, The Lone Ranger, Captsin Midnight, and Jack Armstrong. To readers unfamiliar with the programs, the writings are imformative, giving a perspective on some of the shows, and may perhaps entice some younger reasders to try to find recordings of the old shows to hear what they were like. In the book, Mr. Harmon touches upon Radio Premiums -- novelties a listener could send for, using s proof-of-purchase of a sponsor's product, but the coverage was not that detailed; more depth was reserved for two of Mr. Harmon's books on the subjrct.
The era of Old-Time Radio has passed, but this provides something of an insider's view.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun & informative!, September 16, 2011

By 

Elton W. Spaulding "movie addict" (Seffner, Fl USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Great Radio Heroes (Hardcover)

I have a collection of old comedy radio shows which I am fond of but I came across this book by author Harmon who has written a couple of other books I had read ("Great Radio Comedian" & "Great Movie Serials"). I am not as big a fan of the "thriller', "drama", whatever genre it may be called for the radio but I decided to read the book out of curiosity. Very pleased. Finding out where some of the heroes originated and were adapted for radio or if they were started in radio and their fame spread and learning who had played many of the characters turned out to be a great read. I actually looked Mr. Harmon up because I would have liked to write him a fan letter but. I found, unfortunately. that he had passed away a couple of years ago. Definitely recommended if you have any interest in old time radio.