THOSE WERE THE DAYS
39th ANNIVERSARY SHOW
“Radio Stars at Age 39”

Originally broadcast on WDCB
Saturday, May 2, 2009

We’ll say “thanks for listening” as we com­plete 39 years on the air with an afternoon of vintage broadcasts featuring radio stars at their actual age of 39. Don’t miss it if you can!

BOB HOPE SHOW (10-13-42) Hope does the first radio broadcast from the new Hollywood Canteen, which opened just 10 days earlier. Guest is Bette Davis, president of the Canteen, who tells how it was formed. Bette also joins Bob in a sketch: she’s a female gas station attendant and he’s a motorist. Cast: Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna, Vera Vague, Skinnay Ennis and the orchestra. Bob Hope, born May 29, 1903, was 39 years old at the time of this broadcast. Pepsodent, NBC. (30 min)

CHARLIE McCARTHY SHOW (6-21-42) Edgar Bergen is joined by Charlie, Mortimer Snerd, Judy Garland, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Pat Patrick. Bud and Lou do a “mudder-fodder” horse routine; Judy and Charlie go shopping for a Father’s Day gift. Edgar Bergen, born February 16, 1903, was 39 years old at the time of this broadcast. Chase and Sanborn, NBC. (30 min)

SPEAKING OF RADIO (7-3-73) Excerpt from Chuck Schaden’s conversation in Beverly Hills, California, with Jim Jordan, star of Fibber McGee and Molly. Chuck Schaden, born June 29, 1934, was 39 years old at the time of this interview. (8:05)

FIBBER McGEE AND MOLLY (12-9-35) The McGees are at the Wistful Vista Department Store doing some early Christmas shopping. Cast: Rico Marcelli and the orchestra, singer Kay Donna, announcer Harlow Wilcox. Jim Jordan, born November 16, 1896, was 39 years old at the time of this broadcast. Johnson’s Wax, NBC. (30 min)

THE LONE RANGER (12-12-41) “The Iron Box” starring Brace Beemer as the Masked Man with John Todd as his faithful Indian companion, Tonto. An isolated episode from a very long story arc dealing with the “Legion of the Black Arrow.” The Lone Ranger and Tonto hold up a stage coach to get a mysteri­ous strong box. Brace Beemer, born December 9, 1902, was 39 years old at the time of this broadcast. Syndicated, WXYZ. (27 min)

BILL STERN’S SPORTS NEWSREEL (10-­25-46) From New York, where he will broad­cast the Army-Duke game on Saturday, Bill’s guest is Gene Autry. Speaking from Madison Square Garden, Gene tells how he was encouraged by Will Rogers. Bill Stern, born July 1, 1907, was 39 years old at the time of this broadcast. Colgate, NBC. (15 min)

JACK BENNY PROGRAM (3-31-33) Jack and the gang do a parody of the latest Mae West picture, “She Done Him Wrong.” Cast: Mary Livingstone, James Melton, Frank Black and the orchestra, announcer Howard Claney. Jack Benny, born February 14, 1894, was really 39 years old at the time of this broadcast. Chevrolet, NBC. (28 min)