6/10/2009 7:48:08 AM

What we need is a rainy Saturday across the XM world so we can have a 24-hour marathon of Old West (Name them all folks), Detectives All Over (Dragnet, Diamond, Dollar), and then finish it with Sci-Fi/Horror....make sure it's raining when you plan this Greg....my wife has a Honey Do list a mile long...

Thanks again for everything....

Michael

6/10/2009 2:25:45 PM

Hi, Gang! Greg...you could do what Michael suggests even if it's sunnier than FLorida in summer! I like the idea of a 24-hour westerns, sci-fi and mystery/detectives and mystery/horror. 24 hours of William Conrad and John Dehner and Orson Welles (8 hours of each) also would work wonders for my psyche!
Micheal - tell your wife you'll take care of the "Honey Do" list as long as she leaves XM on the radio and lets you control it!

Rosemary

6/10/2009 3:17:10 PM

Alas, I just finished the lawn but I did hear a Richard Diamond first so all is well....

Greg, do you know of any film available of these radio stars actually performing? There must be something out there where we can see these stars work. I have heard rumors (urban legends) that some stars dressed as their characters when they did the shows live...I think Jimmy Stewart was one of them for Six Shooter.

Wrong?

Michael

6/10/2009 4:45:31 PM

More early evening comedy would be very appreciated.
I love Our Miss brooks, Fibber McGee & Molly,
My Favorite Husband and The Great Gildersleeve.

Oh and thanks for having commercials before
and after shows rather than during. This has made
it so much more enjoyable to listen.

Thanks for all you have done to bring these gems to our ears.

Jill

6/11/2009 4:57:58 PM

I wish that you would set up another series of police dramas and westerns ( Dragnet, have gun will travel, gunsmoke, the six shooter, true stories of the texas rangers ) you get my drift. I find myself lestining less and less to Radio Classics no that Sirius has mergded with XM. It was great going down the road and listening to a line up that you new was coming on at a certain time. I am sorry, but I liked it the old way. never herd alot of these shows are driving off alot of truck drivers that I talk to. Alot of our channels have changed as well. Not the same like it was. Since XM came on board with XM, you'd figure that you can hear Baseball. No you can not. You want to keep us happy? Put on Baseball on Sirius and How about a fishing channel. One that you can call in to the pros and pick their minds. Keep the TRUCKER HAPPY. We are 90% of your subscribers.

Jeff McWhorter

6/11/2009 6:46:09 PM

I must say, I do miss knowing what was comming on and when... however, I adore pritty much everything but the comedy shows... They get a bit old after a while... no pun intended !P Can't get enough Dragnet, Twilight Zone, Rocky Fortune!! And even the Westerns!! Too many to mention realy!! I love this station!!!

Shama aka Beyond Bombshell

6/12/2009 8:51:45 AM

Hi, Gang! I'm with you, Shama - I LOVE THIS STATION, too. I feel like I'm a salesman for XM. I was at the wedding I mentioned last week and I ended up sitting next to a friend of mine. She said she and her gang all love old-time (classic) radio so I went on for 20 minutes about the beauty, joy, etc., of XM and Classic Radio. We're all poor as church mice but I think I talked her into at least looking into it.
Shama (aka Beyond Bombshell) - I'm with you --- I also can't get enough of "Dragnet" and I do enjoy Rocky Fortune. We never got "The Twilight Zone" on XM so I don't know how I feel about it (I can't give an honest opinion. But if it's anything like the TV series, which I love, or if it's anything like Arch Obler (have you heard "Lights Out"?) then I imagine TZ is excellent.
Greg: I shall have to listen to the W. Somerset Maugham show you featured on "Escape" today --- I just didn't get it (this is one of the benefits of repeats). After the show, you said many of WSM's books that were made into movies but you left out my FAVORITE WSM story/movie --- "The Letter" - the 1940 Bette Davis/Herbert Marshall/Gale Sondergaard CLASSIC where she says "With all my heart, I still love the man I killed" (that line cracks me up). By the way, here's a great piece of trivia about that movie: In the story (it's actually a short story), Leslie Crosbie survives to "live another day." Because of the morality code in the 19390s and 1940s, she had to die for her adultery so the powers-that-be changd the ending. I actually think it makes a better ending but not because I'm so holier than thou - believe me, a saint I ain't! It's the way she dies --- with Gale Sondergaard waiting with the knife up her sleeve as the full moon moves in and out of the clouds. Oh, MAN, it's such a good scene. If they remade the movie and IF they left that part in, no doubt they'd show the slaughter. Instead, it's implied and that makes it so much better.
More tomorrow, gang! Keep those blogs coming - I love reading every one. If Shama is a bombshell and Margo is "the lovely Margo Lane," then I'll have to come up with a name. I fear Wonder Woman is taken...

Rosemary

6/12/2009 11:36:45 AM

There has been on YouTube two parts of a film showing the Jack Benny Program being staged at Camp Haan, California in 1942. Ive also seen other places a few moments of Fibber and Molly in action..(The Hall Closet)..But very little otherwise..

First part of the Camp Haan show


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqUjciB0Q80

Tim Lones

6/12/2009 11:42:49 AM

Greg...the wife and I listen all the time...she swears that she heard that there were episodes to download at the website...any truth to that??..I can't find them...

Terry McDonald

6/12/2009 11:55:54 AM

Hi, Terry! If you go to www.radiospirits.com, the company that sponsors XM-164 (Classic Radio), you can buy a subscription for $19 a month where you may download shows to your heart's content. Of course, you may want to buy and Ipod or MP3 player or else you can burn a CD and play it on a CD player. Check out the website for more information on how to download shows. Also, do a google on old-time radio and you'll find other companies that offer MP3 discs and other downloading options. Good Luck - this is from someone who still uses CASSETTES! I do have and use a CD player, though!

Rosemary

6/12/2009 2:18:57 PM

Greg, Are you getting closer to haveing the rights to The Lone Ranger and Preston restored to you. I was wondering why they'll let you have the Hornet and not the other two. Or am I off base here. I know I really miss the masked man and Preston. Charles

Charles H

6/12/2009 10:56:28 PM

Gosh Greg,

There is no way that you can appease everyone. That is what makes this station so great, the variety. I have my own preference of mystery/suspense but if there is something that I don't like that is on right now, I just flip to another channel and then return when my favorite shows come on.

Lana

6/13/2009 9:19:36 AM

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with most of you. The comedies are the best thing on the channell! Haven't you ever heard Laughter is the best medicine!Both my husband and I are disabled and need lots of rest so we listen (to this channell almost exclusively) on an average of 5 hours a day not to mention we sleep with it on at night so thats another 8 hours at least. Jack Benny, Fibber Mcgee & Molly, Our Miss Brooks, The Bickerson's, Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show, The Life of Riley, My friend Erma, etc... are what make this channell so special. While we enjoy Johnny Dollar and Dragnet we could not do with out our comedies! They brighten our life and Greg does such a good job with the programing [u]that is why we bought a lifetime subscription.[ /u]

jen&travis

6/13/2009 10:59:19 PM

Hay Greg thanks for going back to the two hour subject theme. I am a over the road truck driver and it is hard to remember to change channels at every half hour break. I love the classic radio but don't like some of the themes so I listen to the ones that I like in blocks.

Thanks Greg. Keep up the good work

Mike from MI

Mike

6/14/2009 2:30:18 AM

Thanks for another Johnny Dollar Greg! You're the best!

Amanda

6/14/2009 10:17:26 AM

Another good week of shows. Looking forward to even more new shows in the future.

Bob Irish

6/14/2009 10:21:55 PM

Greg--What does it mean when a show is (for example) "transcribed in Hollywood"? Thanks!

Anne

6/15/2009 6:18:46 AM

Hi, Gang...specifically to Jen & Travis! Welcome aboard, first of all. Please keep writing, OK?
I like the comedies, too but not as much as the mysteries/horror and mysteries/detective. My favorite comedies are Jack Benny, Burns & Allen, Bob Hope and My Friend Irma. I like Fibber McGee and Molly but a little at a time. Not sure I could take a(n) 2-hour FM&M marathon. My favorite character on FM&M is Mr. Wimple, who keeps getting hasseled by his wife, whom he calls "Sweetie Face."
But what inspired me to write to you was when you said you keep your radio on all night. Anyone who has followed me on this blog know I do the same thing. I often awaken at night in a sweat or I have to "hit the head" and the radio is on, steady and faithful. But I do NOT recommend listening to "the scary stuff" at 2 AM, especially if that scary stuff is anything by Arch Oboler.
So keep listening and I hope you write back!

Rosemary

6/15/2009 9:32:14 PM

the Plant Agent Matter (JD) is at the #2 slot of all time favorites in the series, right behind the The Nick Shurn Matter

Kyler

6/15/2009 11:13:27 PM

I want to add my agreement with the comments indicating great enjoyment from the comedies on XM radio. I LOVE The Great Gildersleeve, Fibber McGee & Molly, My Friend Irma, The Life of Riley, My Favorite Husband, Ozzie & Harriet, Father Knows Best, Jack Benny, Our Miss Brooks, The Aldrich Family, etc. I also enjoy the westerns, mysteries, and detectives, but I always look on the schedule to see when the comedies are playing. I love to laugh while I am driving. I also have a portable unit that I use while exercising and the comedies are a great way to escape from the drudgery of the exercise. Please add more of them--not less. Thanks for reading my comment.

Linda Green

6/16/2009 1:48:54 AM

Hi, Gang! Run, don't walk, to the radio the next time Greg plays the "Suspense" episode titled "Kaleidoscope" - in other words, drop whatever you are doing and listen. It's one of the best "Suspense" or "Dimension X" episodes ever. I'd heard it before when Greg played it and, this time, I heard it early in the morning but, like the characters, I drifted in and out. However, I heard it again at 3:30 PM today and OMG, I was AMAZED, especially at the ending (I knew the ending but it's still amazing. I won't reveal it so you'll HAVE to listen).
Now I'm listening to "Ford Theater: Double Indemnity." DI is one of my all-time favorite movies and this one is pretty darn good; it's the script of the movie almost verbatim but with the extraneous stuff left out. I agree with Greg though: The man playing Barton Keys is good but that part was MADE for Edward G. Robinson (aka "Eddie"!); he was absolutely perfect. And although Burt Lancaster is good, Fred MacMurray was much better. And Barbara Stanwyck was made to play Phyllis Dietrichson. (by the way, here's your trivia for today: Phyllis' last name in the book was Nerdlinger. Somehow I don't think that translates well on film! Oh, and did y'all know the 1981 steamy blockbuster "Body Heat" is a modern rendition of "Double Indemnity"? Watch it closely; you'll see I'm right.).
Linda - thanks for the tip on listening to comedies while exercising. I'd rather pull out my own eyes than exercise but maybe listening to comedies would make it more tolerable.
More later, Gang! Meanwhile, take care and God Bless, as Red Sketon used to say.

Rosemary

6/16/2009 6:31:44 AM

Greg, very pleased to see your dad's picks again this year A great feature..

john buxbaum

6/16/2009 6:34:23 AM

What are the names of the two guys who used to be radio announcers (in NYC I think) and also did radio comedy skits. They were great. There were to old guys on TNT's "Raising the Bar" show tonight that sounded a lot like them, but were uncredited.

Thanks!

PaatorJim

6/16/2009 4:38:32 PM

i think you are talking about Bob and Ray
you can find more out about them at
http://www.bobandray.com

hope that helps

John

john buxbaum

6/16/2009 5:42:53 PM

Greg, thanks for adding Sky King! I was so excited when I heard you mention it. I remember Saturday mornings watching reruns of the Sky King, the Lone Ranger and the Rifleman back-to-back-to-back with my father. It brought back great memories. Thanks!

Matt Pelc

6/16/2009 5:44:10 PM

Paator Jim, one of the elderly gentlemen on Raising the Bar last night was Shelly Berman, who was a famous comedian of yesteryear I do believe. Not sure about the other one though.

Matt Pelc

6/16/2009 6:00:33 PM

Thanks!

PaatorJim

6/17/2009 2:23:57 AM

PaatorJim...The Rifleman brings backs memories....being from New England we remember Chuck Connors as a center for the Boston Celtics.....I always wanted a rifle like his but never got one. I guess I'll stick to my old Red Ryder Daisy.

Greg, how is Red Ryder doing?

Michael

6/17/2009 3:23:00 AM

Hi, Gang! I agree - Greg's annual tribute to his dad is a nice feature. Now, I hope next year he'll do the same for his mother.
I was so pleasantly surprised at hearing Sky King! I remember the TV show ... and Mike Wallace. I also love the Superman story and the "new" show titled "The Fat Man" and "Cloak and Dagger."
Does anyone else use www.radiogoldindex.com to find out what the title of the show and what the shows are about? I wasn't able to sign on to the area where you find out what the show is about. I kept getting "Error 404" followed by something about my browser not recognizing the URL I listed. I didn't list any URLs - I've done it the same way for more than a year and this is the first time I've had a problem. I suspect it's them, not me. Let me know, OK? If it doesn't get solved, I may have to find another way to find out what I'm looking for. Thanks, everyone.

Rosemary

6/17/2009 4:01:06 PM

Hi, Bill from NY: Thanks for reminding me "Earth Abides" will come back soon. Since I've managed to get some cassettes, I can record it and have it for my car (yes, my old Klunker has a cassette player instead of a CD player). I really liked this story and, of course, John Dehner being in it is a double bonus.
I hope I'll be able to attend the convention - at least during a day if not throughout the weekend! Then perhaps I'll meet you and your wife as well as GREG!
Hey, gang - if you do a Google on a show you like, such as Gunsmoke - and add "radio log" or "episode log," (google: Gunsmoke Radio Log or Gunsmoke Episode Log) you may be able to forego www.radiogoldindex if necessary. It turns out my computer, not RGI, had a glitch last night. It's fixed now so I'll go back to getting show content (story) that way. But it's still nice to know what's out there. It is absolutely amazing to see the number of sites out there devoted to Classic Radio.

Rosemary

6/17/2009 4:09:31 PM

Hello Everyone. I haven't Blog'ed here for awhile but that dosen't mean I haven't been listening. I love the new Formate Greg. Great job as always. I hope to see you at the Old Time Radio Convebtion in Newarl in Oct. Keep up the Great work. I know Earth Abides will be coming Soon. But between you and me I have it recorded on my XM Radio.

Take Care.

Bill From NY

Bill

6/19/2009 10:50:44 AM

Thanks for the welcome rosemary and i just checked out the website you had in your post it is great source of info! thank you

jen&travis

6/23/2009 2:36:47 AM

Listen to your listeners. They want marathon programming....all westerns, all detectives, all comedy...play a marathon a month like the flavor of the month club....lose Fred Allan and that obscure folksy "something and Say". You suggested that we should give it a try and it will grow on us. I don't listen to be "educated". I listen for nostalgia, childhood memories....let your Dad pick the shows. We love the same ones.......

roberta

7/29/2009 1:58:37 PM

My only comment on the marathons - don't run them from Friday night until Saturday night - some of us can't listen that day.

My next comment is on the Schedule posted on your website. The "Excel" version does not seem to work on any program that I have - any thoughts? The other part of this is that you have PT and ET on each side of the list - you have an excellent place - the right side of the page to put CT and MT. It would help those of us here in the heart of the country.

Otherwise - keep up the great work.

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