Golden Age of Radio

The Milwaukee Journal – Nov 8, 1942      Radio Stock Troupe Does Well SEVEN actors, an actress and a director are today earning a place in dramatic history. They are radio’s first and only stock company, heard on the Cavalcade of America ” and known as the Cavalcade Players. Since that day in the dim past when men first entertained their fellows with ballads and play, actors have banded together to form “stock companies” that left their mark on theatrical history. From Euripides of Greece to America’s famous chautauquas, groups of actors have traveled together, worked together and suffered together. Today the Cavalcade Players form another noteworthy of radio. The hardships of travel, the tribulations of the road, the grease paint and footlights, the irregular work are replaced by an NBC microphone and a luxurious, air conditioned studio. Aside from somewhat unusual working hours, the players live normal lives—more like businessmen then the ba...

February 1945 Radio find of the year is Jack Benny ’s new singer, Larry Stevens. The baritone was completely unknown, and had never performed commercially, until he participated in a Freddy Martin bond rally at Los Angeles’ Cocoanut Grove . Spotted by a scout immediately, Larry soon tried out for Mary Livingstone —and was signed up for the place vacated by Dennis Day on the NBC show.

  The Pittsburgh Press- Oct 18, 1943 Broadcasts Appeal And His Wife ‘Joins Up’ By SI STEINHAUSER Bennett Kilpack, Radio’s “ Mr. Keen ,” who traces lost persons, did too good a job for the WAC. He went on the air with a fervent appeal the every woman who felt herself able join the Army ’s girls in uniform. He was sincere in his heart and soul talk to his feminine audience, explaining that those who could and didn’t were “laggards, dullards and not very patriotic.” That evening when he went home Mrs. Bennett announced “I’m joining up with the WAC right away.” Bennett almost swooned, but he admired his wife’s determination, for she is a frail woman with more spirit than stamina. She kept her word, “joined up” but fell ill and was given a medical discharge after three months. And the unhappiest woman in America is radio’s “ Mrs. Keen ,” because she couldn’t go through with her plan to be one of America ’s girl soldiers . Her husband is still amazed at his own...

Introducing HENRY MORGAN He auctioned off a network—vice-president by vice-president! WHAT is this Henry Morgan —the brash young man who has injected the first real touch of originality into radio comedy with his wit, sharp satire? The only way to find out—because interviewing him won’t tell you—is to listen to his program on ABC , Wednesdays at 10:40 PM, EST. A good looking, blue-eyed, brown-haired chap, neatly dressed, Morgan might be mistaken for what he likes to call “the average man.” That is, until he opens his mouth. According to Morgan, he was born if mixed parentage—man and woman—on the day before April Fools Day, 1915 . A native New York er, he started poking fun at radio years ago when, at the age of 17, he went to work as a page boy’s opinions concerning programs, announcer or talent were not only not solicited, they were not welcome. In spite of a bit of discomfort here and there on the staff, however, Morgan did work himself up to an announcer’s job at W...

Charles Webster -better known as “Chuck”, is heard on The Abbott Mysteries and on Official Detective , both over the MBS. Born and raised in Pittshurgh, he had years of experience with stock companies all over the Untied States before he tried radio—back in Pittsburgh. Next came six years at a Detroit station, with his own program, Know Your America. In 1945 he moved with his wife and children, to New York .

He was the most popular member of Jack Benny 's supporting cast. He was a fixture of American popular culture for more than thirty years. He was one of the wealthiest African-Americans of his generation. And, he was a pioneer in promoting racially-integrated employment in the United States defense industry. He was Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, a man of many accomplishments who is practically unknown to anyone under the age of forty-five...unless they happen to be Old Time Radio enthusiasts. Eddie Anderson never set out in life to be a pioneer in anything. All he ever wanted to do was entertain, and that was an ambition he came by naturally. His parents had greasepaint in their blood -- his father was a minstrel-show comedian of many years' experience, while his mother was a circus acrobat, specializing in tight-wire tricks. Even his older brother Cornelius earned his show-biz spurs as a singing comedian. Eddie might have thought about being a singer himself, had ...