RUSC

Articles

Features, history and stories from the world of old-time radio.

Remembering Bob Bailey – The Voice of Johnny Dollar

On 13th June 1913, Bob Bailey was born — a name that will always be warmly remembered by lovers of old time radio, particularly for his portrayal of one of radio’s most enduring detectives: 'Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar'.

Remembering Dean Martin: From Dino Crocetti to King of Cool

Dino Paul Crocetti came into the world on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, the son of Italian immigrants from the Abruzzo region.

Celebrating Bob Hope’s Birthday: Radio’s Tireless Friend to the Troops

May 29 marks the birthday of Bob Hope, born in 1903 in London and raised in the United States, where he became one of the most enduring entertainers of the 20th century.

Memorial Day - Monday May 25th, 2026

Memorial Day arrives each year on the last Monday in May, a quiet hinge between spring and summer that asks us to pause, remember, and give thanks.

The Fabulous Dr Tweedy: a short-lived campus charmer returns

I’m delighted to be adding seven episodes of The Fabulous Dr Tweedy to RUSC this week—a compact little gem from radio’s post‑war years that doesn’t get talked about nearly as much as it deserves.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday the 10th of May, and it’s a fitting moment to turn the dial back to an era when radio was the hearth of the home—especially in anxious times.

Mother's Day Shows

Celebrate Mother’s Day with classic radio gems—from stirring tributes and heartfelt dramas to Jack Benny’s laugh-filled comedy. Tune in for stories of love, courage, and the everyday magic of moms.

Sons of the Pioneers on Radio

For lovers of Western harmony, the Sons of the Pioneers were radio naturals—polished, lyrical, and unmistakably American.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Smooth, Smart, and Still a Joy to Hear

Few shows in the RUSC library strike the balance between hardboiled mystery and easygoing charm as deftly as Richard Diamond, Private Detective.

Mr. and Mrs. North: Radio’s Most Likable Sleuths Next Door

When Mr. and Mrs. North signed off the air on April 18, 1955, it marked the end of one of radio’s most endearing detective series—one that proved you didn’t need a license, a trench coat, or tough-guy talk to solve a good mystery.

Cecil and Sally: A little love story that helped invent the soap opera

Long before daytime drama became the well-oiled, sponsor-driven machine we think of as the “soap opera,” there was a modest, heartfelt serial called Cecil and Sally.

Easter with Jack Benny: A Weekend of Wit, Warmth, and Springtime Cheer on RUSC

Easter has always brought out the gleam in old-time radio, and few captured the season’s sparkle better than Jack Benny.

Those Days of Yesteryear - Poem From A Friend of RUSC

April Fool's Day Shows

If you can't think what to do on April Fool's Day this year, well look no further than our list of shows below to give you some great ideas for pranks!

Boston Blackie: “Friend to those who have no friends”

Few names in old-time radio come with as much breezy confidence and twinkling charm as Boston Blackie.

Jack Kruschen: a life in voices, from Broadway Is My Beat to Hollywood acclaim

Jack Kruschen was born on March 20, 1922, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and became one of the most dependable and distinctive character actors of radio’s golden age.

Shows For St Patrick's Day

St. Patrick is the patron Saint of the Irish. He died on March 17 in AD 461 and that day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

The Origins of Superstition - Friday Thirteenth

In 2026, the calendar serves up a neat little curiosity: three Friday the 13ths. They fall on February 13, March 13, and November 13.

Beyond Midnight From Springbok Radio South Africa

We’re delighted to add a rare and remarkable gem to the RUSC library: Beyond Midnight, a South African thriller anthology that aired from November 1968 through April 1970.

American Novels: Radio’s curtain call for the classics

Long before streaming, the glow of the dial brought great literature to life in living rooms across America.

George Washington

As we celebrate George Washington's birthday this week, a remarkable coincidence emerges from classic radio archives.

Shows For Presidents' Day And A New RUSC Radio Station

Presidents' Day is observed on the third Monday in February, which always falls between two great Presidents' birthdays, Abraham Lincoln’s February 12th and George Washington’s February 22nd.

Abe Lincoln Birthday, Valentines Day & Jack Benny's Birthday

This week, all hearts that hope to romance are celebrating St. Valentine’s Day, but February's jam-packed with other important dates too, all falling within days of one another - and here on RUSC we've got you covered!

Exciting New Find: Columbia Workshop’s The Giant’s Stair (Dec 1, 1938)

We’re thrilled to share a long-missing Columbia Workshop production that has resurfaced from a home recording.

New Episodes of Defense Attorney on RUSC

Defense Attorney is one of old-time radio’s most quietly radical achievements: a legal drama that puts the presumption of innocence at its center and hands the microphone to a woman whose intelligence is never treated as novelty.

Les Crutchfield

He started his career amidst the roar of explosives and the grit of mines, but Les Crutchfield found his true calling in the hushed intimacy of radio drama.

Screen Directors’ Playhouse - Movie Magic Where The Director Takes The Bow

Screen Directors’ Playhouse was one of classic Hollywood’s most charming crossovers—a project that brought notable feature films to new audiences on radio, (later on television), while putting directors’ names front and center.

Have Gun—Will Travel: A Sophisticated Six-Gun Classic That Shines on Radio

Among old-time radio’s late golden-age gems, Have Gun—Will Travel stands out for its polish, intelligence, and enduring charm.

Candid Microphone

Candid Microphone was radio’s quiet revolution: a hidden recorder, a gentle premise, and the belief that ordinary conversations could be extraordinary if you listened closely enough.

Happy New Year!

As we turn the page on another year of listening together, all of us at RUSC want to say a heartfelt thank you. Your support, enthusiasm, and love for old-time radio are what keep this community vibrant.

Leftover Turkey

Joy and I hope that you had a very Merry Christmas and have managed to get through all of the wonderful food and drink. We were fortunate to have ours filled with warmth, laughter, and maybe even a little old time radio!

Merry Merry Christmas To You

Warm traditions: kettles simmer, twinkle lights glow, and old-time radio plays softly as everyone gathers. Christmas shows how a simple voice carries hope into every home, and why the season feels so special on RUSC.

Christmas Sing with Bing - Christmas Eve 1961

By the early 1960s, radio’s golden age had largely ceded the spotlight to television, but Bing Crosby’s annual Christmas Eve special remained a cherished exception.

Palm Beach Santa Claus from Damon Runyon Theater

Damon Runyon Theater was a syndicated half-hour radio anthology from 1949–1950 that adapted Damon Runyon’s short stories of Broadway characters, swells, and small-time operators.

The Cinnamon Bear - A Little Magic From Thanksgiving To Christmas!

The Cinnamon Bear is one of those rare pieces of radio magic that still feels charming and alive decades after it first aired.

Happy Thanksgiving

With gratitude in our hearts and classic tunes in our ears, we want to wish all our members and supporters a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day Recommendations

For all you history buffs out there here are two great Thanksgiving historical dramas both aired on past Thanksgiving days.

My Thanksgiving comedy pick: Jack Benny dreams he’s a turkey

With Thanksgiving Day just around the corner it made me think of an all-time favorite episode to get you in the mood for the occasion.

Wilbur Daniel Steele's short stories on Columbia Workshop (1938)

Wilbur Daniel Steele, one of the most honored American short story writers of the early twentieth century had the kind of short-story writing radio loves.

Eight decades since the end of World War II: Command Performance’s Victory Extra

Eight decades on, the end of World War II still feels immediate when you hear it as Americans first did—over the radio, in voices that carried relief, gratitude, and a dawning sense of peace.

Tune the dial to “Macabre” — 8 eerie gems coming to RUSC

Macabre arrived at the tail end of radio’s golden age, a final shiver down the spine of a medium that had already ceded center stage to television.

RUSC Radio Spooky Stories

When the lights dim and shadows creep across the walls, there's nothing quite like settling in with a good old-time radio horror show.

The Enigma of Mystery House: Radio's Pioneering Thriller Series

Mystery House stands as a captivating landmark in early radio broadcasting history, enchanting listeners with its spine-tingling tales since its 1929 NBC debut.

Cloak and Dagger: A Classic Espionage Radio Series

Cloak and Dagger, an enthralling NBC radio series, aired from May 7 to October 22, 1950, blending authentic espionage stories with gripping narratives.

Columbus Day and Life with Luigi: A Radio Celebration of Discovery and Culture

As the crisp autumn air settles in and leaves begin to turn, October brings with it the annual observance of Columbus Day.

Theater Five: A Transition in Radio Drama

As the Golden Age of Radio began to draw to a close, "Theater Five" emerged as a multi-genre anthology series that encapsulated the spirit and stylistic changes of the 1960s.

The Minnesota School of the Air: A Legacy of Educational Broadcasting

With the school year back in full swing after the summer holidays, it’s a fitting time to reflect on innovative educational programs that have shaped learning in unique ways.

RUSC Guide to Old Time Radio Podcast: An Update

I wanted to provide you with an update on the RUSC Guide to Old Time Radio podcast project that I've been working on.

The Legacy of Tarzan: A Pioneering Radio Series

On September 12, 1932, an iconic character made his radio debut, marking a significant moment in the history of American entertainment. Tarzan.

The Origins of Grandparents Day: Celebrating Family Bonds

Sunday September 7th is Grandparents Day a special occasion dedicated to honoring the invaluable role that grandparents play in our lives. It is a day to celebrate family, to reflect on the wisdom and love imparted by our elders.

Commemorating VJ Day: Reflection on a Historical Milestone and the Legacy of The Fifth Horseman

This year marks a poignant milestone as we reflect on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, the day that symbolizes the end of World War II for the Allied nations.

86 Years of "The Wizard of Oz" Magic

It’s hard to believe that it has been 86 years since "The Wizard of Oz" enchanted audiences on August 25, 1939.

Exploring “Marconi: The Man and His Wireless” – A Columbia Workshop Retelling

I hope you enjoyed the first episode of my new podcast, titled "How Radio's Golden Age Changed Entertainment Forever."

The RUSC Guide to Old Time Radio Podcast Is Live!

For the last few months I've been beavering away on a pet project and I'm excited that today I can finally share it with you.

A Dramatic Flight Through History: The Hindenburg Disaster on "Recollections at 30"

On August 1, 1956, amidst the celebratory tones of NBC’s 30th anniversary, audiences were invited to revisit one of radio’s most profound moments—the coverage of the Hindenburg disaster.

Police Headquarters: The Pioneering Crime Drama of Early Radio

In the rich tapestry of American radio history, few programs have made a mark quite like Police Headquarters, a groundbreaking crime radio drama that aired in 1932.

The Birth of a Nation: Celebrating Independence Day with The Cavalcade of America

As Independence Day approaches, there's no better way to connect with America's founding spirit than through the dramatic retelling of the events that birthed our nation.

June Weddings: Traditions, Tales, and Timeless Love

June is often heralded as the month of love, and for good reason. Year after year, engaged couples around the world choose this month to exchange vows, driven by a combination of tradition, weather, and symbolism.

Ray Bradbury Collection

Born on August 22, 1920, Ray Bradbury's captivating stories found new life on many radio series showcasing his innovative themes of science fiction and fantasy to audiences eager for his imaginative narratives.

The Forgotten Airwaves of American Ambition: Revisiting "Captains of Industry"

On the airwaves from 1933 to 1952, CBS Radio's "Captains of Industry" featured America's most influential business titans in compelling radio drama that captivated a nation desperately seeking economic hope and inspiration.