Radio Programs 1927-1945

Radio Programs 1927-1945

chart by Lawrence Lichty and C. H. Sterling for the book Thirty-Year History of Programs on National Radio in the United States 1926-1956

"Red, Red Robin" (popular music, 1927)
Interwoven song by the Happiness Boys (ad, 1927)

Billie Jones and Ernie Hare 1921-1939

"King's Henchman" (opera, 1927)
Eastes candy song (ad, 1930)
"Major Bowes and His Original Amateur Hour" (variety, 1935)

with "the wheel of fortune" catchphrase and a gong sound if contestant lost

Dodge ad (ad, 1936)
"Jack Benny Program" (comedy, 1934)

featured character interacting with his "gang" of Mary (Mary Livingstone), Dennis (Dennis Day), Phil (Phil Harris), Don (Don Wilson), and Rochester (Eddie Anderson), one of the first regular black radio performers, at 7 pm Sundays on NBC for Jell-O

NBC network chimes (1934)
"Fred Allen Show" (variety, 1936)

"feud" with Jack Benny and a face-to-face meeting March 14, 1937, for one of the largest radio audiences of the 1930s.

"Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy" (adventure serial, 1933)

on CBS sponsored by Wheaties

"Let's Pretend" (children, 1934)

in the "public interest" without commercials by CBS until the 1940s

Maxwell House coffee (ad, 1935)
"Amos and Andy" (comedy, 1928)

originated as "Sam 'n Henry" in 1926, then syndicated nationally using transcription records of shows mailed to radio stations; early example of the sitcom genre with Freeman Gosden as Amos and Charles Correll as Andy, at 7-7:15 pm 5 nights per week on NBC, dramatically boosted the sales of Pepsodent in 1929, appealed to families and was the most popular show during the depression 1930-32, with 40 million listeners, emphasizing optimism and traditional values

Jello (ad, 1935)
"Easy Aces" (comedy, 1930)

from Kansas City written and acted by Goodman Ace, a witty, urbane domestic comedy

"Fibber McGee and Molly" (comedy, 1935)

created for Johnson Wax with commercials integrated into the show's narrative, at 9:30 pm Tuesday ("comedy night" on NBC), with opening closet by Fibber at home on Wistful Vista, running for 15 years, one of radio's longest shows

Carters liver pills (ad, 1935)
"Abbott and Costello" (comedy 1942)
Jello (ad, 1935)
"Will Rogers" (comedy, 1931)
Pepsi (ad, 1935)
"Goldbergs" (serial drama, 1929)
Bromoseltzer (ad, 1935)
"Just Plain Bill" (serial drama, 1932)
Ponds cold cream (ad, 1935)
"Romance of Helen Trent" (serial drama, 1933)
Cresta Blanca (ad, 1935)
"Our Gal Sunday" (serial drama, 1937)
Crisco (ad, 1935)
"Joyce Jordan, M.D." (serial drama, 1940)
"Life Can Be Beautiful" (serial drama, 1938)
"Gibsons" and Ivory soap (serial drama, 1938)
"Shadow" (mystery drama, 1936)
"Whistler" (mystery drama, 1945)
"Inner Sanctum" (mystery drama, 1945)
Fitch hair tonic (ad, 1945)
"Gangbusters" (crime drama, 1936)
Pabst beer (ad, 1935)
"Lights Out" (thriller drama, 1938)
"Suspense" (thriller drama, 1942)
"Lux Radio Theater" (drama, 1935)
"Columbia Workshop" (drama, 1936)
Rinso soap (ad, 1935)
Lewis-Schmeling (boxing, 1938)
"Walter Winchell" (comment, 1940)