Joy’s favorite, year after year, is Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince from The Railroad Hour. She always says, “If you only listen to one show at Christmas this should be it. It touches my heart every time…” It’s a timeless reminder of friendship, sacrifice, and the compassion that lifts us all—just the sort of story that stays with you long after the closing music fades.

Throughout December we’ve been adding Christmas-themed shows to the site, and we’ve gathered a handful of favorites below. Whether you’re discovering them for the first time or revisiting an old companion, each one offers something a little different—laughter, reflection, and that unmistakable holiday warmth that old-time radio delivers so well.

  • Cavalcade of America - A Child is Born A reverent, beautifully told nativity drama that has become a seasonal classic.
  • Duffy's Tavern - The Cast Does A Christmas Carol A spirited, comic riff on Dickens with plenty of behind-the-bar banter.
  • Glenn Miller - Chesterfield Show Christmas Eve 1941 A poignant wartime broadcast brimming with music, morale, and memories.
  • Gildersleeve - Needy Children's Christmas Party Gildy at his generous best, with community spirit at the forefront.
  • Gunsmoke - Twelfth Night Frontier Christmas storytelling with heart, set against the quiet of the prairie.
  • Jack Benny - Trimming a Tree Trimming a Tree: Familiar shenanigans meet holiday cheer in Benny’s inimitable style.
  • Screen Directors' Playhouse - It's A Wonderful Life A cherished adaptation of the classic film, rich with hope and second chances.
  • Our Miss Brooks - Magic Tree Classroom capers give way to holiday magic and good will.
  • Richard Diamond - Contemporary Christmas Carol A modern spin on Dickens that still finds the spirit of the season.
  • The SIx Shooter - Brit Ponset's Chritmas Carol A gentle western parable with Jimmy Stewart’s warmth front and center.

If you’d like hours of festive listening without lifting a finger, head to RUSC Radio and choose Christmas Classics. It’s a themed, non-stop stream you can keep on while you work, wrap, bake, or simply put your feet up and sip something warm. Let the stories roll from one to the next and see what memories they stir.

We also have a brand-new Hear It, Know It Quiz where you listen to a soundbite and drag the correct series to match, Have a go and then share it with your friends and see how they do. Arriving on Christmas Day a Quiz in the form of a Spot The Difference Challenge— just for fun, and just for you. Keep an eye out for it on the site by clicking on Quiz in the left border.

For so many of us, these shows are more than entertainment. They are companions through quiet mornings and late evenings, touchstones that connect generations, and reminders of virtues that never go out of season—kindness, charity, humor, and hope. Whether you’re listening alone, sharing a favorite with someone new, or gathering the whole household around the speaker for an hour, we hope these classic broadcasts bring you comfort and joy.

To you, our RUSC family, from the golden days of radio we love to share with you,

Joy and I wish you a Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!