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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Old radio shows were wonderful, and who is left to remember them? Cox is a fan who appreciates the historical impact of the radio and the intimacy the hosts had with their listeners, an intimacy that is rare in television. He defines audience participation shows as those "on which there were frequent exchanges between a host (or other figures) and a live, on-premise audience."

Cox focuses on 17 archetypal programs, including "Art Linkletter's House Party," "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts," "Truth or Consequences," "Queen for a Day," and "You Bet Your Life." The entries, which are four to ten pages long and appear in alphabetical order by program name, begin with a description of the premise followed by lists of on-air and production staff, sponsors, ratings, and broadcast dates and times. Cox then discusses the backgrounds of the hosts, the development of the shows, the history of the shows on radio and television, and the impact the shows and their hosts had on society. The analysis of the programs is informative and deep. The entries are interesting to read, with some fun facts about the history of radio in general, sponsorship, the interactions of the personalities, and the scandals that sometimes occurred. A few photographs are included.

The appendix lists additional audience participation shows with brief descriptions, networks, and years of broadcast. The volume wraps up with a bibliography and an index.

As fun as this book is, it may not be that helpful to the reference desk except in libraries with comprehensive radio collections. It seems better to put it in the circulating collection so patrons can take it home and savor the memories. RBB
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Review
"extensive bibliography...Coxs informal writing style makes it acc

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