February 1 Chuck joins North West Federal Savings as Vice President and Director of Public Relations
February 2 Hall Closet V becomes a pre-recorded weekday morning series on WXFM.
February 12 Memory Club movie is “Heavenly Days” (1944) starring Fibber McGee and Molly.
February 26 When Radio Was Radio re-runs conclude on WBEZ after 57 programs.
March 14 TV appearance: A.M. Chicago WLS-TV Channel 7, Chicago. Guest Chuck Schaden critiques a “re-enactment” of an old time radio show from a previous A.M. Chicago program that featured host Steve Edwards, co-host Jenny Crimm, disc jockey Bob Sirott, actor Martin Milner, and singer Monica Lewis. Chuck tells how the actual vintage shows were created and shares audio clips.
March 26 Memory Club movie is “To Be or Not To Be” (1942) starring Jack Benny and Carole Lombard.
April 2 Memory Club movie is “Hollywood Canteen” with Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Jack Carson, Joan Leslie.
April 8 TWTD broadcast time moves today only to 4-7 p.m. because of special opera broadcast on WNIB. Some 345 listeners call before 4 p.m. asking what happened to TWTD!
May 1 Metro Golden Memories shop expands and moves to larger quarters at 5941 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago.
May 7 “Riverview Night of Nostalgia” a Special Event at Lane Technical High School Auditorium, hosted and produced by Chuck Schaden and Riverview Amusement Park historian Chuck Wlodarczyk. For several years prior to this event — and for many years after — there were multiple Riverview programs at Memory Club events at North West Federal Savings.
June 11 Memory Club movie is “Love in Bloom” (1935) starring Burns and Allen.
June 25 Memory Club movie is “Check and Double Check” (1930) starring Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll as Amos ‘n’ Andy.
July 1 Hall Closet V final broadcast on WXFM after 480 programs.
July 21 Chuck and big band historian Karl Pearson interview bandleader Tex Beneke at the Union League Club in Chicago.
AUGUST 10, 1977 Singers Ray Eberly and Helen O’Connell at Ravinia Park’s “Nostalgic Sounds of the Summer of ’42.”
August 10 “Nostalgic Sounds of the Summer of ’42” is presented at Ravinia Park in Highland Park, Illinois starring Tex Beneke, Helen O’Connell and Ray Eberly with Chuck Schaden as master of ceremonies.
September 10 Memory Club movie is “Love Thy Neighbor” (1940) starring Jack Benny and Fred Allen.
October 15 Chicago Daily News front page article: “Bing: Thanks for the Memory” by Chuck Schaden, following the death of Bing Crosby. Excerpt:
It was Bing Crosby’s very relaxed ways that led him into becoming a crusader who revolutionized American radio. Because he wanted to be someplace other than in a studio (most notably on any golf course), he demanded that his programs be recorded. When he finally achieved this, the use of recordings soon spread through the industry.
Before World War II [instead of “live” programs] Bing proposed using recordings (electrical transcriptions, they called ’em) but the networks refused. The old 16-inch records (often made of glass) were difficult to edit and sometimes were a little shy on quality. But during the war the Germans developed the tape recorder… and Crosby joined in a company called Ampex to popularize the tape recording method.
Because the tape was high quality and easy to edit, Bing went to his employer at the time, NBC and suggested anew that the [Kraft] Music Hall be recorded. NBC and Kraft said no. So Bing dodged over to ABC… and his Music Hall became Philco Radio Time.
November 5 Memory Club movie is “Wake Up and Live” (1937) starring Alice Faye, Jack Haley, Walter Winchell, Ben Bernie, Joan Davis.
November 26 When Radio Was Radio, final broadcast on WAIT, after 858 5-minute programs.
December 3 With the opening of the new 299-seat auditorium at North West Federal’s Irving Park office, the first Memory Club movie shown is “Sweethearts” (1938) starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald.
December 24 TWTD expands to six hours, from 1 to 7 p.m. on WNIB, for a special Christmas Eve broadcast with no commercials.
