Four Different Christmas Carol's on Old Time Radio

Here are some more Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week as he has gone 100% Christmas episodes. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!


Here is our cat Cosmo in the Christmas Tree back in 2008!

So when you are thinking about Christmas, it is very easy to think about Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (available here via Project Gutenberg).  Well this has been a very commonly used them in popular media since...well, a longtime.  Not only is it used on numerous television shows and movies, it was the theme on many old time radio programs - either in a faithful adaptation or a nice retelling to fit the theme of the show.  Here are four of my favorites.  Enjoy!

1. Orson Welles' A Christmas Carol on the Campbell Playhouse (December 24, 1939)
Orson Welles served as the narrator and Lionel Barrymore played Ebeneezer Scrooge in this hour long presentation.  Here are some additional Links:

• Different online files of this performance
• Other episodes of the Campbell Playhouse

2. Lionel Barrymore on Mayor of the Town (December 24, 1942)
Staying with Lionel Barrymore, this is a shorter presentation on his show Mayor of the Town.  This is a great series that is something I discovered not that long ago.  Here are some additional Links:

• Other episodes of Mayor of the Town (batch 1 - 1942)
• Other episodes of Mayor of the Town (batch 2 - 1943)
• Other episodes of Mayor of the Town (batch 3)
• Episode from January 21, 1948 - The Burning Christmas Tree (it is great catch it)

3. A Christmas Carol from Richard Diamond, Private Detective (December 24, 1949)

This is definitely a fun one.  Richard Diamond is a great series staring Richard Powell.  Powell's Richard Diamond was smart, funny and could sing a great tune as he solved crimes in New York City.  The wonderful element of A Christmas Carol from Richard Diamond was how he used his normal supporting cast as the characters in the story.  This story was written by Blake Edwards, who was a regular writer for Richard Diamond before gaining fame in the movies. Visit this link to hear more Richard Diamond.

4. Britt Ponsett's Christmas Carol from The Six-Shooter (December 20, 1953)

This is another great one staring Jimmy Stewart, who played Britt Ponsett in the NBC Series The Six-Shooter.  Jimmy Stewart was a frequent star on old time radio programs and this is a real treat.  The story is set in the old west and was produced and directed by Jack Johnstone.  Besides a great story, there is a fantastic advertisement prior to the show encouraging men to get their wives a radio for Christmas, so they can listen to the great programs on NBC while they are in the kitchen.  Visit this link to hear other episodes of The Six-Shooter.

There are many, many more - and you may find them on the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.  Let us remember the words that Charles Dickens gave to Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!"

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas in Connecticut (Old Time Radio) with Ronald Reagan

As we are getting close to Christmas, I am going to try to showcase some of the Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!


Here is a old Westinghouse Radio that I saw on display at the John Wayne Airport (Orange County, California) in 2012. Thought it was appropriate.

This is a really cool item that I found on Old Time Radio. Is is the Screen Guild Theater production of Christmas in Connecticut, The recording is from August 5, 1946 - so it is not in the middle of the holiday season - but it does the trick. The recording features the married couple of Ronald Reagan (yes, the President of the United States) and his wife at the time, Jane Wyman. Besides being interesting with the former president serving as the star of the recording, it is very cool to learn about one of Radio's charity programs. From the Digital Deli: "Why charity? From the outset, the various Screen Guild programs were conceived, produced and broadcast for the express purpose of raising money for the Motion Picture Relief Fund. Over the years, the Motion Picture Relief Fund appeal extended to raising funds for a Country Home and Hospital for retired, ill, indigent, or destitute Motion Picture Industry artists."

Here are some links to programs relating to Christmas in Connecticut:

• Christmas in Connecticut (from August 5, 1946)
• Screen Guild Theater episodes via the Internet Archive
• IMDB entry for Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
• Also visit 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Dragnet's Big Little Jesus & Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas (old time radio)

An old radio on display at John Wayne Airport (Orange County, California) in 2012.

As we move closer to Christmas, I am going to start wrapping up some of my favorite Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!

I have not been a huge fan of Dragnet, maybe one of the most famous radio and early television programs out there. I recently showcased the sad Dragnet episode Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas from 1949. Now I would like to showcase a much nicer episode. This story, called Big Little Jesus, shows how a much nicer side of Christmas. Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith receive a called about a missing religious statue of the baby Jesus from the Mission church in Los Angeles. While it is not a huge crime, they move forward looking at every lead and pawn shop to find this item before Christmas. Eventually, it turns up in the sweetest way possible.

It can be kinda corny, but is one of those radio episodes that really hits home with the true meaning of Christmas. I invite everyone to take 30 minutes, go back in time, and recapture the meaning of the holidays.


Here is a link to two versions of Big Little Jesus:

• Dragnet's Big Little Jesus (Deccember 22, 1953)
• Dragnet's Big Little Jesus (Deccember 21, 1954)

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is this one, also from Dragnet. I have listened to a large number of Christmas radio shows with very happy and cherry endings. It is the holidays after all. But this story does not have a happy ending. Maybe that is one of the reasons why Dragnet was one of the most popular series on both radio and television. From its start in the summer of 1949, it was the brainchild of its star Jack Webb (who played in a large number of radio programs including Pat Novack for Hire and Jeff Regan among others). Dragnet was known for its realism and attention to detail. In the show they broadcast for their first Christmas, Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas, they tell the story of a child who could not wait until the 25th for his present, and the horrible consequences of that action. In the light of the horrible events at Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday December 14, 2012, it is clear that guns are not a new problem. This episode is one of the most chilling that I can recall, where a child not only was the victim, but also the perpetrator. Here is a link right to Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas:

• Dragnet's Twenty-Two Rifle for Christmas (December 22, 1949)

Here are some links to programs relating to Dragnet:

• Dragnet Radio program episodes via the Internet Archive
• Dragnet, “The Christmas Story” (a.k.a. “The Big Little Jesus”)
• Big Little Jesus Script (December 22, 1953) from the Generic Radio Workshop Script Library
• Old Time Dragnet Show with Adam Graham (fan blog with links to radio and television episodes)
• Dragnet scripts from the Generic Radio Workshop
• Badge 714 - the Dragnet Webb site
• See also 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Corey's Favorite Christmas Movies

I came out with this list a few years ago - now I am moving everything over to the new blog - so here it is again.  I do not think I have any others to add here.  Corey's Favorite Christmas Movies - in no particular order...

• Scrooged (1988) - Despite its comic theme - I think this is one of the best adaptations of a Christmas Carol. I saw it just recently and forgot how much I enjoyed it!
  
• It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - One of the greatest movies of all time - a truly inspirational film. Truth be told - I never saw it until college. If you do not cry at the end, you, my friend, are already dead...
  
• Love Actually (2003) - Along with Elf, this is a movie that you can watch any time of the year and enjoy it. I think this has a tremendous cast and holds together very well...an excellent movie indeed. Christmas is all around us...OK, you won't be singing it, but it is perfect!
  
• Elf (2003) - So many Will Ferrell movies work better in coming attractions than they do in reality. This is definitely not one of them. This movie is simply fantastic and funny for all ages. Oh the best coffee in the world! Sometimes you need the enthusiasm of Buddy the Elf.
  
• Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - A classic that deserves a spot here...having worked retail at Christmas - I have a soft spot for films that take place in department stores - like Elf.
  
• MST 3K's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1991) - Maybe this does not fit - but MST3K is brilliant and this episode is hilarious...lentils...you will get it once you see it!
  

Honorable Mentions:

• The Santa Clause (1994) - At first, I wanted NOTHING to do with this movie - but seeing it a year or two later, I found real charm in the movie. Bernard the Elf is my favorite.... Some Disney touches are over the top - but the movies succeed more than it fails.
  
• White Christmas (1954) - Another classic - and who does not love Danny Kaye?

What I missed...I really do not like A Christmas Story, sue me!

Mosaic Feline Refuge Holiday Adoption Event (Saturday December 21st)

Mosaic Feline Refuge Holiday Adoption Event (Saturday December 21st)


Come on - You KNOW you want a cat!

Here are all the pictures from this week at Mosaic.

I am very fortunate to volunteer at Mosaic Feline Refuge in Ann Arbor.  It is a great no-kill cat shelter and our two cats (Cosmo and Wanda) came from there.  This Saturday, they are hosting a Holiday Adoption Event - and open house from noon to 5pm.  It is a great time to meet the cats and find that perfect addition to your family.

Here is the information on the event:

Mosaic Feline Refuge Holiday Adoption Event (Saturday December 21)
Cats and Kittens of all ages - Loving homes needed in time for the holidays
Saturday December 14th from 12pm to 5pm

2394 Winewood Avenue (at the corner of Winewood and Maple) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.


View Larger Map

Parking Lot location on Maple Road (Kitty Corner from Kroger - no pun intended)

For more information - call 734-332-1621

Adoption Costs (includes and covers Spay/Neuter; FIV Test; Shots & Micro-chipping):
Kittens $50
Juvenile Cats (6-12 months) $30
Adults $20

Adoptions on site with application and interview

Any other day - please call 734-332-1621 to make an appointment

Here are some links for more information:

• Mosaic Cats on Petfinder
• All my pictures from Mosaic from the last few years.

Bring a cat into your home and have a great holiday!

Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure (old time radio program)

As we are getting close to Christmas, I am going to try to showcase some of the Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this week. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web. One place to find these shows is the 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive. This is a great resources for many of these wonderful radio shows!


Here is a old Westinghouse Radio that I saw on display at the John Wayne Airport (Orange County, California) in 2012. Thought it was appropriate.

I cannot remember when it was, but I heard recently a commercial in a show talking about how a radio would be a perfect gift for anyone this Christmas who spends so much time in the kitchen. Ironically, I listen to a lot of old time radio when I am baking in the kitchen - but with a bit more high-tech MP3s through my clock radio. So not quite like the housewives of old - but I guess the best I can do these days! So I will be listening to many of these programs while I am baking and preparing holiday meals. (More about this ad later this season)

One of the shows I really like is Nick Carter, Master Detective. He is...well, a master detective (bet you did not see that coming). On Christmas Day, 1943, Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure was broadcast. There are so many different programs that borrow from Dicken's A Christmas Carol, and this sorta does one better. Nick Carter starts out collecting money for his Settlement House Christmas Party and runs into a gentleman named Ben Rasper, who had many of the characteristics of Ebeneezer Scrooge. After turning down the opportunity to contribute to the party. Nick went out and figured out why we was so bitter this time of year. In the end, it is not ghosts from his past who change his views of Christmas, but some good detective work to find people from Ben Rasper's past to show him the true meaning of the holidays. So while it is not really at all like A Christmas Carol, it has so many of the elements without any of the spirits of Christmas present, past or yet to come!

Here is a link right to the Nick Carter Christmas show: Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure (December 25, 1943)

Here are some links to programs relating to Nick Carter:

• Nick Carter episodes via the Internet Archive
• Nick Carter on Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs
• Nick Carter on the Thrilling Detective Web Site
• Also visit 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.

Christmas on Old Time Radio - The Elgin Watch Specials

Columbia Square - home of CBS Radio Operations in Hollywood during the golden years (1940s & 1950s). Picture taken this year.

On this first day of December, I am going to try to showcase some of the Christmas and Holiday themed shows that are available via old time radio. If you have Sirius/XM, you can listen to Greg Bell's Old time radio channel (#82). He has a number of great programs available this month. You can also get a large number of these programs at a variety or resources on the web.

One of the really cool shows I recently discovered were the Elgin Seasonal Specials for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the 1940s. The shows were sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company of Elgin, Illinois. Starting in 1942 for the soldiers overseas, the Elgin Holiday Specials were two hour programs that featured the brightest stars in radio and the movies. Heard on these programs is Bing Crosby, Mario Landa, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope and were all hosted by Don Ameche. The Internet Archives has five total shows (see the link below). One of the real treats takes place one hour into the show from 1945. Jack Benny gave a twisted performance of Sorry Wrong Number, one of the most iconic episodes of Suspense. Also, given that the program runs 2 hours, these are not commonly played on current radio programs like XM 82.

Here are links right to the Elgin's Christmas Shows (or use the links that should be on top of the screen):

• Elgin's 3rd Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1944)
• Elgin's 4th Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1945)
• Elgin's 7th Annual Christmas Show (December 25, 1948)

Here are all the episodes that are on the Internet Archive: Thanksgiving and Christmas specials sponsored by the Elgin Watch Company via the Internet Archive. See also 500 OTR Christmas Shows from the Internet Archive.