Radio Drama: A Comprehensive Chronicle of American Network Programs, 1932-1962 [Library Binding]

Martin Grams Jr. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 078640051X | ISBN-13: 978-0786400515 | Publication Date: May 2000

The free-standing radios of the middle decades of the 20th century were invitingly rotund and proudly displayed-nothing like today's skinny televisions hidden inside "entertainment centers." Radios were the hub of the family's after-dinner activities, and children and adults gorged themselves on western-adventure series like "The Lone Ranger," police dramas such as "Calling All Cars," and the varied offerings of "The Cavalcade of America." Shows often aired two or three times a week, and many programs were broadcast for more than a decade, comprising hundreds of episodes. This book includes more than 300 program logs (many appearing in print for the first time) drawn from newspapers, script files in broadcast museums, records from NBC, ABC and CBS, and the personal records of series directors. Each entry contains a short broadcast history that includes directors, writers, and actors, and the broadcast dates and airtimes. A comprehensive index rounds out the work.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Grams (CBS Radio Mystery Theater) has unearthed a mother lode of information about old-time radio. Over 300 programs are alphabetically arranged by title, not just drama and genre programs but documentaries, variety shows, and musical comedies. The titles of individual episodes are listed with air dates and cast members. Directors, producers, writers, and musical personnel are credited, and meticulous care is given to title changes, sponsor, and the day and time of broadcast. Sometimes, though, attention to minutiae obscures more important facts. The entry on The Return of Nick Carter, for instance, notes that the first two episodes were called Nick Carter, Master Detective but neglects to mention that after a three-year run the program used this title again for another eight years. Better use of cross references (only one now appears) would help clarify connections among various programs. Also, some popular shows are inexplicably omitted, notably Little Orphan Annie, The Lone Ranger, and The Shadow, and the 39-page three-column index gives ample access to the people involved but doesn't refer to program titles, sponsors, or networks. While avid devotees of radio history will cherish this awesome piece of research, librarians looking for informative and highly readable resources on this subject should consider new editions of John Dunning's On the Air (LJ 9/1/98) and Ron Lackman's The Encyclopedia of American Radio (LJ 3/1/00). Recommended for libraries with comprehensive collections on media and radio history.
-Vivian Reed, Long Beach P.L., CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Thirty years' worth of radio programming is documented in this alphabetical roster of more than 300 broadcast logs. (Broadcast logs are simply chronological listings of a radio program's episodes and their air dates). From Academy Award Theater, in which an adaptation of an award-winning (or at least nominated) Hollywood film was presented, sometimes with the original stars taking part, to Your Story Parade, a children's program of 15-minute sketches based on favorite stories, each entry offers a capsule broadcast history followed by the listing of numbered and dated episodes and often cast names. Unfortunately, there are no photographs, but this is radio! An index of personal names allows the reader to look up favorite stars and locate the series in which they performed. TV fans will be interested to find out that many fabled programs, like The Adventures of Superman, Dragnet , and Studio One , had their origins on radio, and that television stars such as Lucille Ball, Danny Kaye, and Loretta Young first performed on the radio. As a chronicle of a particular type of radio program (the dramatic serial), this is a worthy addition to the growing body of reference works about radio. There is overlap with Luther Sies' more comprehensive Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960 [RBB Jl 2000], but Sies does not provide lists of episodes. Recommended for large reference collections or specialized broadcasting or performing arts collections. REVWR
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 584 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078640051X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786400515
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,177,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radio Drama: A Growing Field of Research, June 4, 2008

By 

Tim Lasiuta "Comic Fan 42" (Red Deer, Alberta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Radio Drama: A Comprehensive Chronicle of American Network Programs, 1932-1962 (2 Volume Set) (Paperback)

A Comprehensive Chronicle of American Network Programs: 1932 to 1962

When the first strains of radio drama hit the airwaves in the early 1930's, America was in the beginning of a depression. Culturally, the newsstands featured pulp magazines focusing on romance, science, adventure, horror, and western adventure. The Shadow, Doc Savage, the Lone Ranger, and other influential characters were born out of either genius, or desperation. Movie serials packed kids and their parents in as the silent cinema gave way to talkies, and the first stars of the genre.

The future was bright for radio. While sponsors were not necessary for success, they helped. The airwaves were filled with every conceivable style of adventure. Some series ran only a few episodes, while others ran over 20 years, and then turned into TV shows as well.

What started out as mere escapism for listeners from all corners of America, turned into a regular ritual at different times. Some waited for Sherlock Holmes, Amos and Andy, My Favorite Husband, X Minus One, The Black Museum, the Shadow, or even Abbott and Costello. With such an emphasis upon entertainment, who would have thought such a degree of scholarship would eventually develop surrounding the medium?

True academic scholarship today has few resources. Some radio logs do exist from the time periods. For instance, the Lone Ranger (WXYZ) sound man kept meticulous records. This is truly a shared passion. Authorities like Terry Salomonson have contributed greatly to the field, and this book by Martin Grams, Jr.

The result is a book that will keep active fans of radio drama entrhalled for hours. Look for your favorite show, research the episodes, look for copies. That's what fans/collectors do. However, as good as this book is in the two volumes and 584 pages, it still lacks something. Look for the Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Abbott and Costello, The Shadow, The Whistler, Captain Midnight, and Straight Arrow. They're not here. However, as the Lone Ranger ran for over 2,000 episodes, and logs of the other series are nearly as long, that can be forgiven. Just make sure we all know how to get Salomonsons' logs. The broadcast dates are a good feature and useful for nit pickers.

I appreciate the short history of the various shows listed in the book, and the image of Orson Welles reading 'War of the Worlds' in 1939. What other image could you use?

This book is only one part of a greater picture that is now a cultural history and appreciation of Radio Drama. The internet has spawned an amazing amount of 'free' material, and books like this will only increase the accuracy of an often incorrect websource.

Tim Lasiuta