RadioClassics

Classic radio dramas & comedy

Channel 148RadioClassics is the home for the quality programs from The Golden Age Of Radio. Before television, before audio books, before podcasts, great storytelling dominated the realm of radio. It's where imagination ruled.  Superman, Dragnet, Gunsmoke, plus comedies from Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, George Burns & Gracie Allen all originated on radio. Those ageless shows (and so much more) can be found on Radio Classics. Timeless stories and laughs from the past for today's SiriusXM listeners.Connect with

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Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

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When Radio Was

Radio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell

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The Saint

The Saint

Next Airs Monday at 12 am
1 hr

Leslie Charteris' famous character first came to radio on January 6, 1945 with Edgar Barrier heard as the debonair Simon Tem

Leslie Charteris' famous character first came to radio on January 6, 1945 with Edgar Barrier heard as the debonair Simon Templar. The "Robin Hood of modern crime" returned to the airwaves on July 9, 1947 with Vincent Price in the title role in a short-lived CBS summer series. Price returned to the role in 1949 over Mutual and became radio's most remembered Simon Templar.

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Now Playing
30 mins

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar told the story of the freelance insurance investigator with the "action-packed expense account."

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar told the story of the freelance insurance investigator with the "action-packed expense account." Radio’s last great detective series, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar ended its run September 30, 1962 during the final week of network radio drama.

The Unexpected

The Unexpected

Next Airs Today at 1:30 am
30 mins

These frightening 15-minute tales always ended with a - you guessed it - unexpected twist. Barry Sullivan, Virginia Gregg, a

These frightening 15-minute tales always ended with a - you guessed it - unexpected twist. Barry Sullivan, Virginia Gregg, and Lurene Tuttle appeared in this syndicated series in 1948.

Lux Radio Theatre

Lux Radio Theatre

Next Airs Today at 2 am
1 hr

The Lux Radio Theatre was one of radio's most popular series attracting Hollywood's top stars and boasting a lavish budget.

The Lux Radio Theatre was one of radio's most popular series attracting Hollywood's top stars and boasting a lavish budget. The Lux Radio Theatre began in 1934 featuring dramas from Broadway, but there was not enough material to support the show. In an attempt to reverse the slipping ratings, the show was moved to Hollywood in 1936, where there was plenty of material and talent.

The Abbott and Costello Show

The Abbott and Costello Show

Next Airs Today at 3 am
30 mins

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello made their radio debut on CBS’ The Kate Smith Show as replacements for Hollywood-bound Henny You

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello made their radio debut on CBS’ The Kate Smith Show as replacements for Hollywood-bound Henny Youngman. The former burlesque comics reintroduced and preserved the classic comedy sketches of vaudeville in their films and radio and television series. The Abbott and Costello Show debuted as a 1940 summer replacement for Fred Allen and later aired from October 8, 1942 through June 29, 1949.

Burns & Allen Show

Burns & Allen Show

Next Airs Today at 3:30 am
30 mins

George and Gracie first performed on air over the BBC while touring England after an NBC executive rejected their act insist

George and Gracie first performed on air over the BBC while touring England after an NBC executive rejected their act insisting that "Gracie’s voice is unfit for radio." Burns and Allen won a regular spot on The Robert Burns Panatella Program February 22, 1932 and moved into the top spot when Guy Lombardo left the series. The Burns and Allen Show aired through May 17, 1950 on radio and for another decade on television. Jack Benny and George Burns were best friends in real life and often were guests on each other’s programs.

Suspense

Suspense

Next Airs Today at 4 am
30 mins

Suspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup Sep

Suspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup September 30, 1962. "Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" is recognized as one of the finest dramatic series in the history of broadcasting.

Man Called X

Man Called X

Next Airs Today at 4:30 am
30 mins

Wherever there is mystery, adventure, intrigue, in all the strange and dangerous places in the world, there you will find--T

Wherever there is mystery, adventure, intrigue, in all the strange and dangerous places in the world, there you will find--The Man Called X! Debonair British actor Herbert Marshall stars as FBI agent Ken Thurston, "the man who crosses the ocean as readily as you and I cross town; he is the man who fights today's war in his unique fashion, so that tomorrow's peace will make the world a neighborhood for all of us." The Man Called X debuted over CBS on July 10, 1944, moved to NBC in 1950 and continued through May 20, 1952.

The Cisco Kid

The Cisco Kid

Next Airs Today at 5 am
30 mins

The Cisco Kid rode onto the Mutual airwaves on October 2, 1942, in a series that starred the versatile Jackson Beck. Cisco a

The Cisco Kid rode onto the Mutual airwaves on October 2, 1942, in a series that starred the versatile Jackson Beck. Cisco and his partner Pancho rode off the Mutual trail on December 14, 1945, but the characters returned to the airwaves two years later in a new version that was broadcast over the Don Lee Pacific Coast Network. Jack Mather and Harry Lang (later replaced by Mel Blanc) portrayed Cisco and Pancho in the later series, which ran for a decade.

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

Next Airs Today at 5:30 am
30 mins

Radio’s greatest adult western told the story of Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, "the first man they look for and the last they w

Radio’s greatest adult western told the story of Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, "the first man they look for and the last they want to meet." Gunsmoke grew out of a request from CBS founder William Paley for a "Philip Marlowe in the Old West," and featured grimly realistic stories set in the vicinity of Dodge City, the "Gommorrah of the West," with William Conrad as Dillon.

Adventures of Harry Nile

Adventures of Harry Nile

Next Airs Today at 7 am
30 mins

This series is one of a few modern series featured by Radio Classics. A creation of writer Jim French, Harry Nile first came

This series is one of a few modern series featured by Radio Classics. A creation of writer Jim French, Harry Nile first came to radio in 1976 and continued to be adapted into the late '90s as part of the "Imagination Theatre" productions. Harry Nile, a former Chicago cop turned private detective, was played by Phil Harper for more than 20 years.

The Falcon

The Falcon

Next Airs Today at 7:30 am
30 mins

Michael Waring was a freelance detective who was also known as the Falcon. Waring's detective techniques were a cross betwee

Michael Waring was a freelance detective who was also known as the Falcon. Waring's detective techniques were a cross between Ellery Queen and Richard Diamond. He had a certain eye for detail but was frequently on the outs with the police.

Family Theater Classic Radio

Family Theater Classic Radio

Next Airs Today at 8 am
30 mins

The Family Theater radio series, which featured hundreds of famous actors, was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System f

The Family Theater radio series, which featured hundreds of famous actors, was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System from 1947 to 1969, making it one of the longest running weekly dramatic radio programs in history.

The Weird Circle

The Weird Circle

Next Airs Today at 8:30 am
30 mins

This horror series consisted mostly of adapted supernatural tales from greats like Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Louis Stevenso

This horror series consisted mostly of adapted supernatural tales from greats like Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson. It aired for two seasons from 1943-1945, first on Mutual and then on NBC's Red network.

Jack Benny Program

Jack Benny Program

Next Airs Today at 9:30 am
30 mins

For more than 20 years, Jack Benny reigned as the king of radio comedy. His show ran on nearly every network from 1932 to th

For more than 20 years, Jack Benny reigned as the king of radio comedy. His show ran on nearly every network from 1932 to the mid 1950s. How he turned a miserable, self-absorbed cheapskate into a beloved icon ranks among the great achievements in entertainment history. Benny revolutionized the way humor was played on radio by introducing the situation comedy and by giving most of the best lines to his supporting cast.

Six Shooter

Six Shooter

Next Airs Today at 11 am
30 mins

The Six Shooter aired started movie star James Stewart rode the radio range from September 20, 1953 through June 24, 1954 as

The Six Shooter aired started movie star James Stewart rode the radio range from September 20, 1953 through June 24, 1954 as Britt Ponset, "the Texas plainsman who wandered through the western territories, leaving behind a trail of still-remembered legends."

When Radio Was

When Radio Was

Next Airs Today at 12 pm
1 hr

Radio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell

Radio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell

Pursuit

Pursuit

Next Airs Today at 1 pm
30 mins

Inspector Peter Black of Scotland Yard chased bad guys in this CBS detective drama from October of '49-May March '52. Black

Inspector Peter Black of Scotland Yard chased bad guys in this CBS detective drama from October of '49-May March '52. Black would be portrayed by Ted de Corsia, John Dehner, and Ben Wright in the show's lifetime.

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons

Next Airs Today at 1:30 pm
30 mins

Mr. Keen was a charming and kindly old tracer of missing persons along with his assistant Mike Clancy.

Mr. Keen was a charming and kindly old tracer of missing persons along with his assistant Mike Clancy.

Academy Award Theatre

Academy Award Theatre

Next Airs Today at 2 pm
30 mins

Academy Award Theater was a half-hour dramatic anthology series presenting radio adaptations of movies that had been nominat

Academy Award Theater was a half-hour dramatic anthology series presenting radio adaptations of movies that had been nominated for or had won Academy Awards. While the show was a success with critics and audiences alike, it went off the air after only nine months and 39 episodes.

Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

Next Airs Today at 3 pm
30 mins

The Cavalcade of America was a historical dramatic anthology and aired from 1935 to 1953. Patriotic in nature, this series w

The Cavalcade of America was a historical dramatic anthology and aired from 1935 to 1953. Patriotic in nature, this series was created in part to improve the name of sponsor DuPont Chemical, which received backlash for profiting enormously from War World I. The show's themes were never voilent, but rather idealistic. Stories included the voyage of the Mayflower, the first telegraph, and Eli Whitney's cotton gin.

Fibber McGee & Molly

Fibber McGee & Molly

Next Airs Today at 4 pm
1 hr

The husband-and-wife vaudeville team of Jim and Marian Jordan began their radio careers in Peoria on a bet from Jim’s brothe

The husband-and-wife vaudeville team of Jim and Marian Jordan began their radio careers in Peoria on a bet from Jim’s brother. The Jordans were heard as The O’Henry Twins and The Air Scouts before Don Quinn created Smackout in 1931. Quinn revamped the show as Fibber McGee and Molly in 1935 when Johnson’s Wax signed on as sponsor.

Great Gildersleeve

Great Gildersleeve

Next Airs Today at 5 pm
30 mins

The Great Gildersleeve featured one of radio’s greatest casts of comedic players. The Great Gildersleeve aired until March 2

The Great Gildersleeve featured one of radio’s greatest casts of comedic players. The Great Gildersleeve aired until March 21, 1957, with Willard Waterman taking over the title role for the final seven radio season and three television seasons.

Big Story

Big Story

Next Airs Today at 6:30 pm
30 mins

This series revolved around true crime stories reported in newspapers. The stories were dramatized retellings of heroic repo

This series revolved around true crime stories reported in newspapers. The stories were dramatized retellings of heroic reporters uncovering big truths in the name of public service. At the end of every episode the show gave a $500 reward to the real reporter on whose stories the episode was based. The Big Story aired from April 2, 1947 through March 23, 1955.

Philo Vance

Philo Vance

Next Airs Today at 7 pm
30 mins

Philo Vance was the most popular fictional detective during the late 1920s and early 1930s and influenced the creation of ma

Philo Vance was the most popular fictional detective during the late 1920s and early 1930s and influenced the creation of many later detectives. S.S. Van Dine's legendary creation was first brought to radio on July 5, 1945 in an NBC summer series starring Jose Ferrar and was also briefly portrayed by John Emery.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Next Airs Today at 7:30 pm
30 mins

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered over the NBC network on April 24, 1949 and ran through 1952 starring Dick Powel

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered over the NBC network on April 24, 1949 and ran through 1952 starring Dick Powell as "radio's singing detective." Powell had first achieved movie stardom as a baby-faced crooner, and later matured to hardboiled roles, including Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe in the 1944 film Murder My Sweet.

Command Performance

Command Performance

Next Airs Today at 8 pm
2 hrs

Command Performance aired between 1942 and 1949 on the Armed Forces Radio Network, which meant it was transmitted exclusivel

Command Performance aired between 1942 and 1949 on the Armed Forces Radio Network, which meant it was transmitted exclusively to American troops overseas. Though produced in California, troops abroad sent requests and ideas for performers, music, and sketches. The show featured some of the biggest stars of the day like Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Judy Garland and more. CBS created a spinoff series called Request Performance, which aired from 1945-46.

Dimension X

Dimension X

Next Airs Tomorrow at 12 am
30 mins

Dimension X aired over NBC from April 8, 1950 through September 29, 1951 featuring "adventures in time and space told in fu

Dimension X aired over NBC from April 8, 1950 through September 29, 1951 featuring "adventures in time and space told in future tense." The series adapted stories by the modern masters of science fiction adapting works by Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Clifford Simak, Theodore Sturgeon and many others.

X Minus One

X Minus One

Next Airs Tomorrow at 12:30 am
30 mins

X-Minus One premiered on April 24, 195 and was a revival of Dimension X, NBC's earlier science fiction anthology series. X-M

X-Minus One premiered on April 24, 195 and was a revival of Dimension X, NBC's earlier science fiction anthology series. X-Minus One ran until January 9, 1958 and was rerun during the 1970s as part of NBC's Omnibus series.

Murder at Midnight

Murder at Midnight

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1 am
30 mins

This transcribed mystery-horror series was syndicated from WJZ in New York and aired from 1946-1947. The creepy voice in the

This transcribed mystery-horror series was syndicated from WJZ in New York and aired from 1946-1947. The creepy voice in the opening piece was provided by Raymond Morgan, a New York minister who gave up his ministry to act on the radio. Other actors included Mercedes McCambridge, Berry Kroeger, and Elspeth Eric.

The Whistler

The Whistler

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1:30 am
30 mins

The Whistler whistled its way onto the airwaves beginning May 16, 1942 and its eerie 13-note theme set the tone for West Coa

The Whistler whistled its way onto the airwaves beginning May 16, 1942 and its eerie 13-note theme set the tone for West Coast radio mystery for the next decade. "I am the Whistler and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak."

Rogue's Gallery

Rogue's Gallery

Next Airs Tomorrow at 3 am
30 mins

Rogue's Gallery came to the Mutual network on September 27, 1945 with Dick Powell portraying Richard Rogue, a private detect

Rogue's Gallery came to the Mutual network on September 27, 1945 with Dick Powell portraying Richard Rogue, a private detective who invariably ended up getting knocked out each week and spending his dream time in acerbic conversation with his subconscious self Eugor (Rogue spelled backwards). The series was revived as a 1947 summer season with Barry Sullivan in the lead and returned in 1950 for two sustaining seasons starring Chester Morris, the original Boston Blackie.

Bob Hope Show

Bob Hope Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 4 am
30 mins

Bob Hope was born in England in 1903 and immigrated to the U.S. four years later. After an early career in vaudeville and m

Bob Hope was born in England in 1903 and immigrated to the U.S. four years later. After an early career in vaudeville and musical revues, Hope made his radio debut on Rudy Vallee’s Fleischmann Hour in 1933 and joined the cast of James Melton’s Intimate Revue in 1935. After introducing his "Thanks for the Memory" theme song in Paramount’s The Big Broadcast of 1938, Hope returned to radio as star of NBC’s The Pepsodent Show beginning September 27, 1938.

The Alan Young Show

The Alan Young Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 4:30 am
30 mins

This sitcom aired from 1944-1949, first as a summer replacement series for Eddie Cantor's show. Then, after signing on as a

This sitcom aired from 1944-1949, first as a summer replacement series for Eddie Cantor's show. Then, after signing on as a regular on the Jimmy Durante show, young scored his own show with Tums as a sponsor. Today he is best known as TV's Wilbur Post, who talked with Mr. Ed the horse.

Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show

Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 5 am
30 mins

The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show grew out of the popular Fitch Bandwagon series. Phil Harris played himself, continuing the

The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show grew out of the popular Fitch Bandwagon series. Phil Harris played himself, continuing the egotistical, smart-alec characterization he had perfected during his years as Jack Bennys' bandleader. Alice Faye, Phil's movie star wife, recreated her real-life role as a film star turn devoted housewife.

Police Headquarters

Police Headquarters

Next Airs Tomorrow at 7:30 am
30 mins

This police procedural series was syndicated on NBC stations in 1932. It features quarter-hour stories typically based on tr

This police procedural series was syndicated on NBC stations in 1932. It features quarter-hour stories typically based on true crimes.

Stan Freberg Show

Stan Freberg Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 8 am
30 mins

Stan Freberg Show

Stan Freberg Show

CBS Radio Workshop

CBS Radio Workshop

Next Airs Tomorrow at 8:30 am
1 hr

The CBS Radio Workshop aired from January 27, 1956 through September 22, 1957 and was a revival of the prestigious Columbia

The CBS Radio Workshop aired from January 27, 1956 through September 22, 1957 and was a revival of the prestigious Columbia Workshop from the 1930s and 1940s. The CBS Workshop regularly featured the works of the world’s greatest writers. including Ray Bradbury, Archibald MacLeish, William Saroyan, Lord Dunsany and Ambrose Bierce.

Broadway is My Beat

Broadway is My Beat

Next Airs Tomorrow at 11 am
30 mins

Broadway Is My Beat debuted over CBS on February 27, 1949 and continued through August 1, 1954. Anthony Ross starred as Clov

Broadway Is My Beat debuted over CBS on February 27, 1949 and continued through August 1, 1954. Anthony Ross starred as Clover during the first two seasons, with Thor taking over the role on July 3, 1950. Homicide detective Clover pounded the Broadway beat for five years in one of radio's last great detective series.

Escape - Radio Classics

Escape - Radio Classics

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1 pm
30 mins

Radio's greatest series of high adventure debuted over the CBS network on July 7,1947. Escape's protagonists faced life-and-

Radio's greatest series of high adventure debuted over the CBS network on July 7,1947. Escape's protagonists faced life-and-death situations each week, as the show careened from classic adventure to Western drama to science fiction. The program was broadcast as a sustainer (unsponsored) series during most of its seven-year run.

Let George Do It

Let George Do It

Next Airs Tomorrow at 1:30 pm
30 mins

Let George Do It, stars Bob Bailey, who plays George Valentine who was a detective whose cases came from the newspaper.

Let George Do It, stars Bob Bailey, who plays George Valentine who was a detective whose cases came from the newspaper.

Adventures of Topper

Adventures of Topper

Next Airs Tomorrow at 2 pm
30 mins

TBD

TBD

Fred Allen Show

Fred Allen Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 2:30 pm
30 mins

John Steinbeck recognized Fred Allen as "unquestionably the best humorist of our time, a brilliant critic of manners and mor

John Steinbeck recognized Fred Allen as "unquestionably the best humorist of our time, a brilliant critic of manners and morals." Following in the footsteps of Will Rogers, Fred reintroduced topical political humor to radio. Fred introduced his classic "Allen’s Alley" segment December 13, 1942.

The Third Man

The Third Man

Next Airs Tomorrow at 3:30 pm
30 mins

The Third Man was an adventure series starring Orson Welles as Harry Lime, the character created by author Graham Greene. It

The Third Man was an adventure series starring Orson Welles as Harry Lime, the character created by author Graham Greene. It first aired on the BBC in 1951 and was then syndicated for American radio in 1952.

Red Skelton Show

Red Skelton Show

Next Airs Tomorrow at 5 pm
30 mins

The Red Skelton Show came to NBC on October 7, 1941 after years as a mainstay on Cincinnati's powerhouse station WLW. Red sc

The Red Skelton Show came to NBC on October 7, 1941 after years as a mainstay on Cincinnati's powerhouse station WLW. Red scored with radio audiences as Junior, "the mean widdle kid," a character he originated in vaudeville. Some of his other memorable characters included Deadeye, J. Newton Numbskull, Willie Lump-Lump, Bolivar Shagnasty and Clem Kadiddlehopper.

The Whisperer

The Whisperer

Next Airs Tomorrow at 6 pm
30 mins

As a summer replacement series on NBC, this show only broadcast a handful of episodes from July to September 1951. The title

As a summer replacement series on NBC, this show only broadcast a handful of episodes from July to September 1951. The title character, also known as Phillip Gault, could speak only in whispers following a football injury. He's cast out of society and joins an underground crime syndicate - but after having miracle surgery that restores his voice, he becomes a double agent in hopes of destroying the syndicate from the inside. Carleton G. Young played the protagonist, alongside Betty Moran who played Gault's girlfriend and the only other person who knows about his double identity.

Blackstone, Magic Detective

Blackstone, Magic Detective

Next Airs Tomorrow at 7:30 pm
30 mins

This magical mystery show aired from 1948-1949 on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Ed Jerome starred as Harry Blackstone, a s

This magical mystery show aired from 1948-1949 on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Ed Jerome starred as Harry Blackstone, a skilled magician who told his tales of adventure and escape in flashbacks. At the end of each episode, Blackstone would perform and describe a new magic trick for his kid listeners to practice at home. Ted Osborne and Fran Carlon also starred as Blackstone's friends John and Rhonda.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Next Airs Tomorrow at 9 pm
30 mins

Based on the popular characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes began on coast-to-coast

Based on the popular characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes began on coast-to-coast CBS radio in 1930. By the late 1930s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes had moved to the Mutual Broadcasting Network and the series was forced to rely on invented new adventures, having run out of Doyle stories to adapt.

Tales of the Texas Rangers

Tales of the Texas Rangers

Next Airs Tomorrow at 10 pm
30 mins

Tales of the Texas Rangers was broadcast over NBC from July 8 1950 through September 14, 1952 and was later revived on telev

Tales of the Texas Rangers was broadcast over NBC from July 8 1950 through September 14, 1952 and was later revived on television. Western film star Joel McCrea portrayed Ranger Jace Pearson in NBC's Tales of the Texas Rangers.

Dragnet

Dragnet

Next Airs Tomorrow at 10:30 pm
30 mins

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent...

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent... One of the most popular police dramas in the history of broadcasting, Dragnet aired on NBC Radio from June 10, 1949 through February 7, 1957 and on television from 1952-59 and 1967-72. Dragnet introduced a new era of documentary-style realism.

Big Town

Big Town

Next Airs Tomorrow at 11:30 pm
30 mins

Edward G. Robinson starred as crusading newspaper editor Steve Wilson from October 19, 1937 through July 2, 1942. The Holly

Edward G. Robinson starred as crusading newspaper editor Steve Wilson from October 19, 1937 through July 2, 1942. The Hollywood great was glad to play an idealistic role in contrast to his many film gangster portrayals. Big Town at its peak was radio’s highest-rated drama and was only eclipsed by The Jack Benny Program in ratings. The series was canceled when Edward G. Robinson quit in 1942 but was resurrected the following year with Edward Pawley (and later Walter Greaza) as Wilson and Fran Carlon as Lorelei. The revived Big Town aired from October 5, 1943 through June 25, 1952.

Our Miss Brooks

Our Miss Brooks

Next Airs Wednesday at 1:30 am
30 mins

Eve Arden portrays Miss Connie Brooks, an overworked and underpaid teacher of 10th grade English at Madison High School. Our

Eve Arden portrays Miss Connie Brooks, an overworked and underpaid teacher of 10th grade English at Madison High School. Our Miss Brooks called her radio classroom to order beginning July 19, 1948. The final bell rang for Our Miss Brooks on July 7, 1957.

Screen Director's Playhouse

Screen Director's Playhouse

Next Airs Wednesday at 2 am
1 hr

The Screen Director's Playhouse featured adaptations of famous movies and called upon the screen directors to introduce and

The Screen Director's Playhouse featured adaptations of famous movies and called upon the screen directors to introduce and highlight their work. After each show, the director and stars gathered around the microphones to reminisce about the actual making of the film.

Casey, Crime Photographer

Casey, Crime Photographer

Next Airs Wednesday at 3 am
30 mins

Jack "Flashgun" Casey was first introduced in the March 1934 issue of Black Mask, the classic pulp fiction magazine. Created

Jack "Flashgun" Casey was first introduced in the March 1934 issue of Black Mask, the classic pulp fiction magazine. Created by pulp wordsmith George Harmon Coxe, Casey appeared in dozens of stories in Black Mask, which were later collected into six books. Flashgun Casey came to radio as a CBS sustaining series on July 7, 1943. The series was renamed Casey, Press Photographer in 1944 and became Casey, Crime Photographer on September 12, 1945.

The Line-Up

The Line-Up

Next Airs Wednesday at 6:30 am
30 mins

This CBS cop procedural pulls back the curtain on crime fighting in San Francisco. The Shadow's Bill Johnstone starred as co

This CBS cop procedural pulls back the curtain on crime fighting in San Francisco. The Shadow's Bill Johnstone starred as cool-mannered Lt. Ben Guthrie, foil to hot-tempered Sgt. Matt Grebb. Director Elliot Lewis was one of the busiest men in radio, having a hand in the Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show, Suspense, Broadway Is My Beat, and many more.

The Sealed Book

The Sealed Book

Next Airs Wednesday at 7:30 am
30 mins

This mystery/horror series aired on Mutual from March-September of 1945. Philip Clarke played the cackling "keeper of the bo

This mystery/horror series aired on Mutual from March-September of 1945. Philip Clarke played the cackling "keeper of the book," who told spooky tales of black magic, not unlike in The Witch's Tale or The Hermit's Cave

Boston Blackie

Boston Blackie

Next Airs Wednesday at 1:30 pm
30 mins

Boston Blackie was created by Jack Boyle, a hard-drinking opium addict who served three prison terms. While in prison, Boyle

Boston Blackie was created by Jack Boyle, a hard-drinking opium addict who served three prison terms. While in prison, Boyle began writing true-crime confession stories that were published in The American Magazine under the byline 6006, his convict number. Boyle's stories were collected in his 1919 book, Boston Blackie, and inspired a popular series of B-films, the radio series and a 1951 video version.

Frontier Fighters

Frontier Fighters

Next Airs Wednesday at 5:30 pm
30 mins

This series consisted of 15-minute episodes about true historical adventures in the American West. Some of the stories inclu

This series consisted of 15-minute episodes about true historical adventures in the American West. Some of the stories include Lewis & Clark, the Oregon boundary dispute, and the purchase of Alaska. The original broadcast dates for Frontier Fighters are still unclear; the series ran sometime during the 1930s.

All times listed EST

Greg Bell

From his native Illinois to a number of Rocky Mountain years in Colorado and Idaho, Greg Bell has done it all in radio—program director, news director, sports director, anchor, and reporter. Bell’s goal with Radio Classics is to take you back to the time when the family gathered around the radio.

All times listed EST
12 am

Now Playing

The SaintLeslie Charteris' famous character first came to radio on January 6, 1945 with Edgar Barrier heard as the debonair Simon Templar. The "Robin Hood of modern crime" returned to the airwaves on July 9, 1947 with Vincent Price in the title role in a short-lived CBS summer series. Price returned to the role in 1949 over Mutual and became radio's most remembered Simon Templar.
1 am

Now Playing

Yours Truly, Johnny DollarYours Truly, Johnny Dollar told the story of the freelance insurance investigator with the "action-packed expense account." Radio’s last great detective series, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar ended its run September 30, 1962 during the final week of network radio drama.
1:30 am

Now Playing

The UnexpectedThese frightening 15-minute tales always ended with a - you guessed it - unexpected twist. Barry Sullivan, Virginia Gregg, and Lurene Tuttle appeared in this syndicated series in 1948.
2 am

Now Playing

Lux Radio TheatreThe Lux Radio Theatre was one of radio's most popular series attracting Hollywood's top stars and boasting a lavish budget. The Lux Radio Theatre began in 1934 featuring dramas from Broadway, but there was not enough material to support the show. In an attempt to reverse the slipping ratings, the show was moved to Hollywood in 1936, where there was plenty of material and talent.
3 am

Now Playing

The Abbott and Costello ShowBud Abbott and Lou Costello made their radio debut on CBS’ The Kate Smith Show as replacements for Hollywood-bound Henny Youngman. The former burlesque comics reintroduced and preserved the classic comedy sketches of vaudeville in their films and radio and television series. The Abbott and Costello Show debuted as a 1940 summer replacement for Fred Allen and later aired from October 8, 1942 through June 29, 1949.
3:30 am

Now Playing

Burns & Allen ShowGeorge and Gracie first performed on air over the BBC while touring England after an NBC executive rejected their act insisting that "Gracie’s voice is unfit for radio." Burns and Allen won a regular spot on The Robert Burns Panatella Program February 22, 1932 and moved into the top spot when Guy Lombardo left the series. The Burns and Allen Show aired through May 17, 1950 on radio and for another decade on television. Jack Benny and George Burns were best friends in real life and often were guests on each other’s programs.
4 am

Now Playing

SuspenseSuspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup September 30, 1962. "Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" is recognized as one of the finest dramatic series in the history of broadcasting.
4:30 am

Now Playing

Man Called XWherever there is mystery, adventure, intrigue, in all the strange and dangerous places in the world, there you will find--The Man Called X! Debonair British actor Herbert Marshall stars as FBI agent Ken Thurston, "the man who crosses the ocean as readily as you and I cross town; he is the man who fights today's war in his unique fashion, so that tomorrow's peace will make the world a neighborhood for all of us." The Man Called X debuted over CBS on July 10, 1944, moved to NBC in 1950 and continued through May 20, 1952.
5 am

Now Playing

The Cisco KidThe Cisco Kid rode onto the Mutual airwaves on October 2, 1942, in a series that starred the versatile Jackson Beck. Cisco and his partner Pancho rode off the Mutual trail on December 14, 1945, but the characters returned to the airwaves two years later in a new version that was broadcast over the Don Lee Pacific Coast Network. Jack Mather and Harry Lang (later replaced by Mel Blanc) portrayed Cisco and Pancho in the later series, which ran for a decade.
5:30 am

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GunsmokeRadio’s greatest adult western told the story of Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, "the first man they look for and the last they want to meet." Gunsmoke grew out of a request from CBS founder William Paley for a "Philip Marlowe in the Old West," and featured grimly realistic stories set in the vicinity of Dodge City, the "Gommorrah of the West," with William Conrad as Dillon.
6 am

Now Playing

Lux Radio TheatreThe Lux Radio Theatre was one of radio's most popular series attracting Hollywood's top stars and boasting a lavish budget. The Lux Radio Theatre began in 1934 featuring dramas from Broadway, but there was not enough material to support the show. In an attempt to reverse the slipping ratings, the show was moved to Hollywood in 1936, where there was plenty of material and talent.
7 am

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Adventures of Harry NileThis series is one of a few modern series featured by Radio Classics. A creation of writer Jim French, Harry Nile first came to radio in 1976 and continued to be adapted into the late '90s as part of the "Imagination Theatre" productions. Harry Nile, a former Chicago cop turned private detective, was played by Phil Harper for more than 20 years.
7:30 am

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The FalconMichael Waring was a freelance detective who was also known as the Falcon. Waring's detective techniques were a cross between Ellery Queen and Richard Diamond. He had a certain eye for detail but was frequently on the outs with the police.
8 am

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Family Theater Classic RadioThe Family Theater radio series, which featured hundreds of famous actors, was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System from 1947 to 1969, making it one of the longest running weekly dramatic radio programs in history.
8:30 am

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The Weird CircleThis horror series consisted mostly of adapted supernatural tales from greats like Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson. It aired for two seasons from 1943-1945, first on Mutual and then on NBC's Red network.
9 am

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Burns & Allen ShowGeorge and Gracie first performed on air over the BBC while touring England after an NBC executive rejected their act insisting that "Gracie’s voice is unfit for radio." Burns and Allen won a regular spot on The Robert Burns Panatella Program February 22, 1932 and moved into the top spot when Guy Lombardo left the series. The Burns and Allen Show aired through May 17, 1950 on radio and for another decade on television. Jack Benny and George Burns were best friends in real life and often were guests on each other’s programs.
9:30 am

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Jack Benny ProgramFor more than 20 years, Jack Benny reigned as the king of radio comedy. His show ran on nearly every network from 1932 to the mid 1950s. How he turned a miserable, self-absorbed cheapskate into a beloved icon ranks among the great achievements in entertainment history. Benny revolutionized the way humor was played on radio by introducing the situation comedy and by giving most of the best lines to his supporting cast.
10 am

Now Playing

Lux Radio TheatreThe Lux Radio Theatre was one of radio's most popular series attracting Hollywood's top stars and boasting a lavish budget. The Lux Radio Theatre began in 1934 featuring dramas from Broadway, but there was not enough material to support the show. In an attempt to reverse the slipping ratings, the show was moved to Hollywood in 1936, where there was plenty of material and talent.
11 am

Now Playing

Six ShooterThe Six Shooter aired started movie star James Stewart rode the radio range from September 20, 1953 through June 24, 1954 as Britt Ponset, "the Texas plainsman who wandered through the western territories, leaving behind a trail of still-remembered legends."
11:30 am

Now Playing

GunsmokeRadio’s greatest adult western told the story of Matt Dillon, U.S. Marshal, "the first man they look for and the last they want to meet." Gunsmoke grew out of a request from CBS founder William Paley for a "Philip Marlowe in the Old West," and featured grimly realistic stories set in the vicinity of Dodge City, the "Gommorrah of the West," with William Conrad as Dillon.
12 pm

Now Playing

When Radio WasRadio Spirits' nationally syndicated radio program hosted by old-time radio expert Greg Bell
1 pm

Now Playing

PursuitInspector Peter Black of Scotland Yard chased bad guys in this CBS detective drama from October of '49-May March '52. Black would be portrayed by Ted de Corsia, John Dehner, and Ben Wright in the show's lifetime.
1:30 pm

Now Playing

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost PersonsMr. Keen was a charming and kindly old tracer of missing persons along with his assistant Mike Clancy.
2 pm

Now Playing

Academy Award TheatreAcademy Award Theater was a half-hour dramatic anthology series presenting radio adaptations of movies that had been nominated for or had won Academy Awards. While the show was a success with critics and audiences alike, it went off the air after only nine months and 39 episodes.
2:30 pm

Now Playing

SuspenseSuspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup September 30, 1962. "Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" is recognized as one of the finest dramatic series in the history of broadcasting.
3 pm

Now Playing

Cavalcade of AmericaThe Cavalcade of America was a historical dramatic anthology and aired from 1935 to 1953. Patriotic in nature, this series was created in part to improve the name of sponsor DuPont Chemical, which received backlash for profiting enormously from War World I. The show's themes were never voilent, but rather idealistic. Stories included the voyage of the Mayflower, the first telegraph, and Eli Whitney's cotton gin.
3:30 pm

Now Playing

Burns & Allen ShowGeorge and Gracie first performed on air over the BBC while touring England after an NBC executive rejected their act insisting that "Gracie’s voice is unfit for radio." Burns and Allen won a regular spot on The Robert Burns Panatella Program February 22, 1932 and moved into the top spot when Guy Lombardo left the series. The Burns and Allen Show aired through May 17, 1950 on radio and for another decade on television. Jack Benny and George Burns were best friends in real life and often were guests on each other’s programs.
4 pm

Now Playing

Fibber McGee & MollyThe husband-and-wife vaudeville team of Jim and Marian Jordan began their radio careers in Peoria on a bet from Jim’s brother. The Jordans were heard as The O’Henry Twins and The Air Scouts before Don Quinn created Smackout in 1931. Quinn revamped the show as Fibber McGee and Molly in 1935 when Johnson’s Wax signed on as sponsor.
5 pm

Now Playing

Great GildersleeveThe Great Gildersleeve featured one of radio’s greatest casts of comedic players. The Great Gildersleeve aired until March 21, 1957, with Willard Waterman taking over the title role for the final seven radio season and three television seasons.
5:30 pm

Now Playing

SuspenseSuspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup September 30, 1962. "Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" is recognized as one of the finest dramatic series in the history of broadcasting.
6 pm

Now Playing

SuspenseSuspense debuted on June 17, 1942 as a sustaining summer replacement, returned that fall and continued in the CBS lineup September 30, 1962. "Radio's outstanding theatre of thrills" is recognized as one of the finest dramatic series in the history of broadcasting.
6:30 pm

Now Playing

Big StoryThis series revolved around true crime stories reported in newspapers. The stories were dramatized retellings of heroic reporters uncovering big truths in the name of public service. At the end of every episode the show gave a $500 reward to the real reporter on whose stories the episode was based. The Big Story aired from April 2, 1947 through March 23, 1955.
7 pm

Now Playing

Philo VancePhilo Vance was the most popular fictional detective during the late 1920s and early 1930s and influenced the creation of many later detectives. S.S. Van Dine's legendary creation was first brought to radio on July 5, 1945 in an NBC summer series starring Jose Ferrar and was also briefly portrayed by John Emery.
7:30 pm

Now Playing

Richard Diamond, Private DetectiveRichard Diamond, Private Detective premiered over the NBC network on April 24, 1949 and ran through 1952 starring Dick Powell as "radio's singing detective." Powell had first achieved movie stardom as a baby-faced crooner, and later matured to hardboiled roles, including Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe in the 1944 film Murder My Sweet.
8 pm

Now Playing

Command PerformanceCommand Performance aired between 1942 and 1949 on the Armed Forces Radio Network, which meant it was transmitted exclusively to American troops overseas. Though produced in California, troops abroad sent requests and ideas for performers, music, and sketches. The show featured some of the biggest stars of the day like Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Judy Garland and more. CBS created a spinoff series called Request Performance, which aired from 1945-46.
10 pm

Now Playing

Cavalcade of AmericaThe Cavalcade of America was a historical dramatic anthology and aired from 1935 to 1953. Patriotic in nature, this series was created in part to improve the name of sponsor DuPont Chemical, which received backlash for profiting enormously from War World I. The show's themes were never voilent, but rather idealistic. Stories included the voyage of the Mayflower, the first telegraph, and Eli Whitney's cotton gin.

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