Those Were The Days Encore 2
We invite you to listen to a complete 4-hour program from the 39-year run of Those Were The Days (1970—2009) hosted by Radio Hall of Famer Chuck Schaden. The encore programs that run on this page are exactly as first broadcast over the air. They contain vintage radio shows, special guests and commercials and messages as originally presented on WLTD, Evanston (May 2, 1970 thru July 31, 1975); on WNIB, Chicago (September 6, 1975 thru February 10, 2001) and on WDCB, DuPage County (February 3, 2001 thru June 27, 2009). Encores are selected by us and are available on demand 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. Program selections are added every week on Wednesday, 6 a.m. Central Time.
Be sure to visit our Archives of TWTD Encores. If you’re a subscriber to this website, we’ll keep you posted. (See our Home Page to subscribe, free.) Thanks for listening.
NOW PLAYING
JACK BENNY MONTH #3
Originally Broadcast WNIB
Saturday, February 16, 1985
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (2-28-37) Mary’s not on the show, she’s gone to New York’ for a vacation and Kenny Baker brings his girlfriend Lena to fill in for her. Jack finally plays “The Bee” on his violin. Don Wilson, Andy Devine, Phil Harris. Jell-O, NBC-RED. (15:20; 14:50)
JACK BENNY PROGRAM (3-7-37) Broadcast from the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City with Mary Livingstone, Kenny Baker, Don Wilson, Sam Hearn as Schlepperman, and Abe Lyman and his orchestra. Guest is 10-year-old violinist Stuart Canin who started the Benny-Allen feud when he played “The Bee” on Allen’s show! Jell-O, NBC-RED. (14:55; 15:00)
TOWN HALL TONIGHT (3-10-37) Fred Allen stars with Portland Hoffa, Peter Van Steeden’s orchestra, Harry Von Zell and the Mighty Allen Art Players. A couple of lawyers try to convince Fred to sue Jack Benny! Fred comments on Jack’s March 7th broadcast, vows to show up on Benny’s next show! Sketch: One Long Pan in “Murder on the High Seas.” Ipana, Sal Hepatica, NBC-RED. (12:55; 14:10; 12:30; 19:30)
OUR SPECIAL GUESTS, scheduled to join us in our studio, will be FRANK NELSON and his wife VEOLA VONN. Mr. Nelson frequently appeared on the Jack Benny radio and TV shows as the floorwalker, ticket clerk and other characters, and Miss Vonn often appeared on the Benny show in various roles and on numerous other broadcasts during radio’s happy days. They will talk about their radio careers and the special 20th Century Railroad Club trip scheduled to visit Jack Benny’s hometown of Waukegan, Illinois on Sunday, February 17th.
Updated: 2/15/25 8:55 A.M. C.S.T.
March 27, 2015 at 11:43 pm
Thank You Chuck for letting all of us who “came late to the party” hear how great things were, even from day #1 !
The texture and background noise of the recording tells of the history of this FIRST show. Nice “patina”.
This is also a great slice of “Radio 1970” so it’s a treat, and a “history lesson”.
Looking forward to much more from WNMP and WLTD .
Really good stuff !
Jim Melka
April 30, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Thanks, Chuck, really looking forward to hearing these. I started tuning in somewhat later than these first shows. Please make sure they’re added to your page for the visually impaired!
Deb Piening
May 1, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Hi Chuck,
Just a note to let you know how great it is that you
recorded and kept that first show on WNMP! I missed
that one and often wondered what the early shows sounded like
since I started listening about 40 years ago.
Thanks for providing and preserving all the great memories.
Good health,
Ken
May 14, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Wow! This should be in the Museum of Broadcast Communications, if it isn’t already. Everyone I know who listens to old time radio considers you a legend.
April 29, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Left Chicago about 20 years ago, missed not being able to take your Saturday show with. Grew up with the old radio shows, they were the greatest. Learned patriotism, morality and much more from those old shows. Keep up the good work. Ted
May 5, 2016 at 11:26 am
Chuck this is a gold mine for old radio, black and white and classic TV fans such as myself. I look forward to receiving Speaking of Radio and cruising through hours of great old radio shows and interesting information. Those Were the Days have provided, for me , wonderful experiences , great friends and a love for radio when it was king. You know that since 1972 I have never touched that dial from 1pm to 5pm on any Saturday afternoon was it was set on Those Were the days. Sometimes I wonder how different my life would have been if I had never heard that first Jack Benny show on a Saturday afternoon. I was hooked and stayed hooked all these years. Thanks Chuck!
September 3, 2016 at 9:17 am
Chuck and crew…I have enjoyed TWTD for 25 years. Recently I moved to the Atlanta area and thanks to the Internet am able to stay in touch with my favorite Saturday radio programs. I try to promote the program myself to others who I meet that remember old time radio but are unaware of the show and the archives. There are many folks of my age (and I am not divulging my age) interested in this type of entertainment but don’t know where to find it. Thanks for all the years of fun. P.S. It’s 39
February 14, 2017 at 4:04 pm
When trying to play something from the archive the pop-up player comes up but it only shows the header with the correct selection indicated. The rest is a blank white screen and I cant start the player. Nothing happens.