FEBRUARY 17, 1985 Celebrities Veola Vonn and Frank Nelson lead a contingent of listeners aboard the train to Waukegan for a lack Benny 39th birthday celebration.
February 17 TWTD listeners climb aboard the 20th Century Railroad Club’s “Jack Benny’s 39th Birthday Special” for a trip to Waukegan, Illinois for an unforgettable day of fun at Jack Benny Junior High School. Jack’s radio cast members Frank Nelson and his wife Veola Vonn join the 400 fans who attend the special event. Frank and Veola reminisced about Jack, there was a Benny sound-alike contest and the 1942 film, “To Be or Not to Be” was shown in the auditorium. Luncheon in the school cafeteria featured, of course, Jell-O.
March 23 TV appearance: Eye on Chicago WLS-TV Channel 7, Chicago. Reporter David Sparks covers the Those Were the Days/20th Century Railroad Club trip to Waukegan. Includes Jack Benny’s home, Jack Benny Junior High School, comments by Chuck Schaden, actor Frank Nelson, actress Veola Vonn.
April 27 Those Were The Days Fifteenth Anniversary broadcast, plus live celebration at Tuxedo Junction retro night club.
August 24 Debut of the “Hall Closet Radio Service” station identification signature of TWTD. Performed by singers from Tuxedo Junction.
November 9 End of the Line Caboose Motel in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, becomes a participating sponsor of TWTD.
November 28 Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Feder writes:
WBBM is launching its own nightly broadcast of old-time radio shows, including Gunsmoke, Lone Ranger and Dragnet. Nostalgia guru Chuck Schaden is dropping his Radio Theater on WAIT to become host of WBBM Radio Classics, which will air from 8 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday starting Dec. 16.
December 13 WAIT Radio Theatre final broadcast after 380 programs.
December 16 Old-Time Radio Classics premieres on WBBM, Chicago, Monday thru Friday 8-9 p.m.
