Favorite Sports Stories of Grantland Rice

Favorite Sports Stories of Grantland Rice was a popular old-time radio series that aired on NBC from 1943 to 1945. The show featured dramatized sports stories written by the renowned sportswriter Grantland Rice, who was known for his eloquent and evocative writing style that elevated athletes to the status of heroes.

The series was a sustaining program, meaning it was produced and aired without a commercial sponsor. It was broadcast on Saturdays, initially from 2:30 to 3:00 pm and later from 10:00 to 10:30 pm. The show was produced by Garnett Garrison and starred Grantland Rice himself as the narrator, guiding listeners through the dramatic tales of triumph and defeat on the playing fields.

The Stars

Grantland Rice was the undisputed star of Favorite Sports Stories of Grantland Rice. As the host and narrator, he lent his distinctive voice and literary flair to the dramatized stories, bringing the exploits of athletes to life. Rice was a revered sportswriter who had covered major sporting events for decades, and his intimate knowledge of the world of sports added authenticity and depth to the program.

While the show did not feature a regular cast of actors, it often included well-known performers of the era, such as Jim Backus, Santos Ortega, and Barry Hopkins, who brought the various characters to life through their skilled performances.

Key Dates

• Favorite Sports Stories of Grantland Rice debuted on NBC on December 11, 1943 and ran for over a year.
• The final episode aired on May 5, 1945.
• The series was initially broadcast on Saturdays from 2:30 to 3:00 pm, but in November 1944, the timeslot was changed to 10:00 to 10:30 pm.

Other Information

Favorite Sports Stories of Grantland Rice was a unique offering in the world of old-time radio, as it focused solely on the dramatic retelling of sports-themed stories, rather than the more common sports news or play-by-play broadcasts. This allowed Grantland Rice to showcase his exceptional storytelling abilities and his deep understanding of the human drama inherent in athletic competition.

The show was occasionally pre-empted for special programming, such as the Christmas and New Year’s broadcasts in 1944. Despite these occasional interruptions, Favorite Sports Stories of Grantland Rice maintained a consistent presence on the NBC airwaves throughout its run.

The series was well-received by listeners, who appreciated the opportunity to hear Rice’s evocative writing brought to life through the medium of radio.

Grantland Rice is considered to be one of the best known sports writers of the day, with his expressive writing helping to raise sports players to near demigod status, and he and his writing are among the reasons that the 1920s in the United States is sometimes referred to as the Golden Age of Sports.

He wrote one of the most memorable quotes of all time, coining the famous phrase "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

The program’s enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless appeal of sports stories and the enduring legacy of Grantland Rice, one of the most influential sportswriters of the 20th century.