Golden Age of Radio

The Milwaukee Journal – Nov 8, 1942      Kids’ Programs Worry Everybody but Kids By Richard Match In the New York Tunes “LOOK—up in the sky!” “It’s a bird!” “It’s a plane!” “It’s Superman !” These magic syllables are “Once upon a time--,” 1942 style. They introduce the time hallowed fairy tale as the modern American youngster knows it and wants to know it. Every day, as supper time draws near, young America, aged 7 to 14, rushes for home,  hearth and radio to absorb his or her daily hour of modern children’s “literature.” Young ears listen avidly as the heroic Captain Midnight and five or six other modern Jack the Giant Killer spend 15 minutes ranging a 1942 Never-Never Land. The old fantastic two headed giant has been replaced by master spies and super-criminals. The fair damsel in distress is now a stolen airplane design. And a twin motored monoplane takes Jack farther and faster than seven league boots ever did. None of that...

Cliff Carpenter -was given the title role in Terry and the Pirates when this radio serial was revived in 1941 and is still playing it. The Army arranged a two years vacation for him, beginning in 1943. He spent it as a rifleman in the ETO and saw combat with the 102 nd Division from the Siegfried Line to the Elbe River, where his outfit met the Russians. Back at ABS, Cliff and his Pirates meet at 5:00 P.M. EDT.