Welcome to KWTNL
Old Time Radio Shows

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• Descriptions and background information for all of our Old Time Radio programs are below. Just click an "OFF" button to reveal the contents of each section.
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• Sorry, but we don't plan to offer any shows for direct download at this time.
• We hope you enjoy your visit and will check back often. We will be adding shows as time and interest allows!

OTR Program Listings

Comedy

• Abbot and Costello
  • The Abbott and Costello Show originally broadcast on January 25, 1945. Episode: "Lou The Sailor." Features a twist on "Who's On First."
  • The Abbott and Costello Show originally broadcast on April 17, 1947. Episode: "Who's On First." The uncredited announcer is Michael Roy. The last performance of "Who's On First" on the duo's radio program. [Details...]
• Fred Allen
  • The Fred Allen Show originally broadcast on December 6, 1942. No episode title. This is probably the first appearance of Allen's Alley, which is presented with no particular fanfare. The broadcast date is assumed to be correct due to Allen's comments regarding Jack Benny's program that aired earlier in the day.
  • The Fred Allen Show originally broadcast on June 26, 1949. Episode: "Final Show." The final episode of Fred Allen's last radio series.
• Jack Benny
  • The Jack Benny Show originally broadcast on June 20, 1937. Episode: "Jack's Movie." The first appearance of Eddie Anderson as Rochester.
  • The Jack Benny Show originally broadcast on May 22, 1955. Episode: Alternately referred to as "Last Radio Show" and "Trouble with Wimbly, the Sound Man." The final episode of a 32 year run on radio. Credits within the episode.

Drama

• Escape
  • Originally broadcast on May 23, 1948. Episode: "Leiningen Versus The Ants." An adaption of "Leiningen Versus The Ants" by Carl Stephenson. William Conrad stars as Leiningen in a reprise of his January 14, 1948 performance and also does the opening voiceover.
  • Originally broadcast on July 7, 1947. Episode: "The Man Who Would Be King." An adaption of "The Man Who Would Be King" by Rudyard Kipling. This was the first episode of Escape under its own title and does not have the familiar music (Night on Bare (Bald) Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky), or William Conrad introductions, heard on later episodes.
  • Originally broadcast on April 17, 1954. Episode: "The Scarlet Plague." An adaption (with additions) of the 3rd and 4th chapters of The Scarlet Plague by Jack London. The uncredited voiceover at the beginning is by William Conrad.
• Gang Busters
  • Originally broadcast on October 27, 1945. Episode: "The Case Of Bielanski & Tillotson." Credits in the broadcast. Features opening remarks by Louis J. Valentine, Police Commissioner of New York.
• Lux Radio Theater
  • Originally broadcast on January 4, 1954. Episode: "The Day the Earth Stood Still." An hour long adaption of the movie of the same name which was based on "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates. The program is hosted by Irving Cummings rather than the better known host, Cecil B. DeMille. [Details...]
  • Originally broadcast on February 8, 1943. Episode: "The Maltese Falcon." An adaption of the 1941 film of the same name, which was adapted from the 1930 novel, The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett. Stars Edward G. Robinson as Sam Spade and the host is Cecil B. DeMille.
  • Originally broadcast June 11, 1945. Episode: "Murder, My Sweet" An adaption of the 1944 movie of the same name, which was an adaption of Raymond Chandler's 1940 novel, Farewell, My Lovely. Stars Dick Powell as Philip Marlowe in this first radio appearance of the character. Host is Irving Pitchel.
  • Originally broadcast June 7, 1954. Episode: "The Naked Jungle." And adaption of the 1954 movie which was adapted from the Carl Stephenson short story, "Leiningen Versus The Ants."The end patter between the stars and the host is missing, as are the closing credits. Host is Irving Cummings.
  • Originally broadcast on Jun 8, 1936. Episode: "The Thin Man." An adaption of the 1934 film The Thin Man which was an adaption of the 1934 novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett. The program is hosted by W. S. Van Dyke
• Suspense
  • Originally broadcast on September 23, 1943. Episode: "The Most Dangerous Game." An adaption of "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. Orson Welles (Zaroff in the broadcast) may have had a hand in the adaption, as his role has lots of added material. Joseph Kearns is most likely the uncredited announcer.

Holidays

• Christmas
• The Aldrich Family
  • Originally broadcast December 12, 1948, although the date is only assumed. Episode: Actual title unknown. Common title is "Christmas Episode." Henry (Ezra Stone) wants binoculars, but... Full credits at end of episode.
• Jack Benny
  • Originally broadcast December 17, 1939. Episode: "Christmas Shopping for Perfume and a Necktie." An early episode of what was an annual event of the show: Jack does his Christmas shopping.
  • Originally broadcast December 24, 1944. Episode: "Trimming a Tree." Jack and Mary trim a Christmas tree.
• Capmbell Playhouse
  • Originally broadcast December 24, 1939. Episode: "A Christmas Carol." Stars Lionel Barrymore as Scrooge with the adaption of Dicken's novel most likely by Howard Koch. Partial credits at end of episode.
• Kraft Music Hall
  • Originally broadcast December 21, 1944. Episode: simply known as "Christmas Show." Host Bing Crosby and a number of other performers (including the Kraft Choral Club, made up of Kraft employees from Chicago) perform music for the Yuletide.Credits within the episode.
• The Long Ranger
  • Originally broadcast December 25, 1950. Episode: "The Christmas Tree." The Lone Ranger and Tonto help a family discover the spirit of Christmas. No other credits given, other than Brace Beemer.
• Lux Radio Theater
  • Originally broadcast March 10, 1947. Episode: "It's a Wonderful Life." A brisk adaption of the film of the same name, with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed reprising their movie roles. Credits within the episode.
  • Originally broadcast December 22, 1947. Episode: "Miracle on 34th Street." An adaption of the movie of the same name, with Edmund Gwenn portraying Kris Kringle. Credits at the end of the episode, but are cut off early.
• The Railroad Hour
  • Originally broadcast December 25, 1950. Episode: "Christmas Party." Stars Gordon MacRae with guests, the Norman Luboff Choir and Carmen Dragon conducting the orchestra. A program of holiday favorites and a version of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite with lyrics. Credits within the episode.
• Basil Rathbone
  • The Night Before Christmas - A dramatic reading of The Night Before Christmas performed by Basil Rathbone for a Columbia recording released in 1942. The carol singing at the beginning and the end is by The Robert Mitchell Boychoir.
• Red Ryder
  • Originally broadcast on December 23, 1948. Episode: "Christmas Story." Red Ryder, Little Beaver and the gang in a holiday tale about giving. No credits available.
• The Roy Rogers Show
  • Originally broadcast on December 25, 1952. Episode: "The Night Before the Night Before Christmas." Roy and Pat plan to go hunting cougars, but then... Credits within the episode.
• The Shadow
  • Originally broadcast on December 24, 1939. Episode: "The Stockings Were Hung." Bill Johnstone stars as the Shadow tries to bring a family together. No credits available.
• The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
  • Originally broadcast on December 24, 1945. Episode: "The Night Before Christmas." Holmes dresses up as Santa to foil Moriarty in this Christmas themed tale. Credits within the episode.
• Suspense
  • Originally broadcast on December 21, 1958. Episode: "Out for Christmas." Raymond Burr portrays a Santa who has a special present to deliver... Credits within the episode.

Horror

• Drop Dead! - An Exercise in Horror! [Details]
  • "Introduction to Horror" - Arch Oboler discusses his view of horror.
  • "I'm Hungry" - Oboler's take on movie-type horror.
  • "Taking Papa Home" - Oboler's version of suspense-type horror.
  • "The Dark" - Radio-type horror and a remake of the 1937 Light's Out episode: both written by Oboler.
  • "The Posse" - T.V.-type horror, which, at the time the album was made, means a Western.
  • "A Day at the Dentist's" - Comedy-type horror with an Oboler twist.
  • "Chicken Heart" - Science fiction-type horror and a remake of the 1937 Light's Out episode (also written by Oboler) that scared Bill Cosby.
  • "The Laughing Man" - Billed as "The Ultimate in Horror" and one of Oboler's social commentaries.
• Light's Out
  • Originally broadcast on October 13, 1942. Episode: "Revolt of the Worms." A scientist, his wife, his assistant, a growth serum and...? Most likely written by Arch Oboler. Cast unknown.
  • Originally broadcast on November 17, 1942. Episode: "Come to the Bank." Fans of the Superman television show will recognize a plot device from this episode, as a man attempts to pass through a solid object. Most likely written by Arch Oboler. Cast unknown.
  • Originally broadcast on December 29, 1942. Episode: "Valse Triste." This is a remake of the March 30, 1938 show that featured Boris Karloff as the male lead. This time around, Dinah Shore and Gloria Blondell play two women off on a pleasant canoe trip. Other cast members unknown. Written by Arch Oboler.
  • Originally broadcast on May 11, 1943. Episode: "Murder in the Script Department." Written by Arch Oboler. A couple of humorous touches at the beginning set up the story of why one might not want to work in the typing pool...Cast unknown.
• Mercury Theater on the Air
  • Originally broadcast on July 11, 1938. Episode: "Dracula." The first episode of the series that would present War of the Worlds in the Fall. Features many familiar voices and Welles' trademark narration. Includes the main elements of Stoker's classic and the adaption is probably by John Houseman. Credits within the episode.
• NBC Short Story
  • Original broadcast date unknown, although it was most likely in 1952. Episode: "The Thing in the Tunnel", an adaption of "The Signal-Man" by Charles Dickens. Cast and credits unknown.
• Quiet Please
  • Originally broadcast on August 9, 1948. Episode: "The Thing on the Fourble Board." Considered by many affinaciados to be the scariest episode ever done on Old Time Radio. Credits at end of recording.
• Suspense
  • Originally broadcast on December 5, 1946. Episode: "The House in Cypress Canyon." If Fourble Board is the scariest episode ever done, this one is a close second.

News

• No programs are in this section...yet.

Sports

• No programs are in this section...yet.

Variety

• No programs are in this section...yet.

Westerns

• Gunsmoke
  • Originally broadcast on April 26, 1952. Episode: "Billy the Kid." The first episode of a 9 year run (480 episodes) that also spun-off into the long-running television show. Stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon.
  • Originally broadcast on June 18, 1961. Episode: "Letter of the Law." The final episode of the radio series. Credits within the episode..
• Have Gun, Will Travel
  • Originally broadcast on November 11, 1958. Episode: "Strange Vendetta." The first episode of the radio series. Stars John Dehner as Palladin. [Details...]
  • Originally broadcast on November 27, 1960. Episode: "From Here to Boston." The final episode of the radio series.
• Tom Mix
  • The Tom Mix Ralston Straightshooters originally broadcast on March 10, 1939. Episode: "Jane's Father." An early episode of the long-running kid's show. This is a 15 minute episode and Tom is played by Jack Holden.
• The Six Shooter
  • Hollywood Star Playhouse originally broadcast on April 13, 1952. Episode: "The Six Shooter." This is the first appearance of Jimmy Stewart in the role of Brett Ponset. The regular series would begin on NBC in 1953.
• Straight Arrow
  • Straight Arrow originally broadcast on May 6, 1948. Episode: "Stage from Calvaydos." The first episode of the kid's series that starred Howard Culver in the title role.

Misc.

• No programs are in this section...yet.

Other Points Around the Dial