The Man From Homicide

This was a radio show about a tough homicide cop, played by Charles McGraw and Dan Duryea.

Meditation

Do you ever just sit and think? Not randomly, but positively and profitably? Constructively? A lost art these days, I am afraid.

Espionage Agent (1939)

Starring Joel McCrea and Brenda Marshall. Not bad. Pretty good plot. The usual group of actors who played Nazi bad buys during that period. Worth watching. McCrea, of course, is one of our favorites from radio Tales of the Texas Rangers fame.

A rash of sabotage incidents occurs across the country. Then World War II breaks out overseas. McCrea is a diplomat in Morocco, trying to help a group of Americans to safety. Marshall has been used by the Germans under pressure, and they are making her get information for them again. She goes to the American consulate and passes out. They sail for America and fall in love - naturally. McCrea goes to diplomatic school and is assigned. Then he and Marshall marry suddenly. He resigns from the service, and they travel to Europe to try to unravel the problem by pretending that she is still on the market for information to the Germans. As you might expect, things come to a tense, last-second climax.

Hmm. Do you suppose?

"When a girl uses six derogatory adjectives in her attempt to pain the portrait of the loved one, it means something." - Bertie Wooster

Hmm. Do you think he might have something there?

Among the burdens of old age

is one about which young people never think, I suspect  - toenails.

"Loony to the eyebrows"

Bertie Wooster's opinion of his pal, Boko Fittleworth. (And not a bad description of a few people I know.)

How about this moniker?!

The Right Honorable, the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Peter Gadsden

Christian charity does not preclude caution.

Mark it down!

Information Please

This was an informative and humorous radio quiz show that ran for years. It had a four-person panel, and you could learn a lot just listening to it. You can find downloads of it, and they are well worth your while from several standpoints.

More HERE about Information Please

Rhythm on the River - and the incomparable Oscar Levant

If you want to see some good piano playing, watch Rhythm on the River. It stars Bing Crosby and Mary Martin, with Basil Rathbone in a prominent role, and has an enjoyable plot. However, the show is almost stolen by pianist and caustic wit Oscar Levant. They feature several spots of him playing live in the movie, and they are great.

Last of the Silver Screen Cowboys

If you want to have one of those "lump in the throat" experiences, find the recording of this song by Rex Allen. First off, it is just a beautiful piece of music, but also it captures the spirit of something that has left us forever, I fear, to our hurt.

LISTEN on Youtube

More HERE on cowboy songs.

Peer pressure

One of the most daunting tasks that parents face is equipping their children to deal with peer pressure. It has more effect upon some children than others, but upon some it can be devastating. They must learn to deal with it, but it has to be controlled. If they are "thrown to the lions" too soon and without enough protection and supervision, they might be permamently damaged by it. If they are too sheltered from it, they may not learn how to deal with it at all. Tough job.

Coffee in the morning

Have you ever wondered who it was who first discovered that hot coffee in the morning is a very satisfying drink? Particularly when you remember that they only had uncooked beans to start with?

Johnny Dollar and Perry Mason

In the episode of Johnny Dollar entitled "The Hartford Alliance Matter," the policeman was played by Raymond Burr, who was TV's Perry Mason.

An old joke

A: Hey, the garbage man is outside.

B: Tell him we don't want any!

Teaching about life during WWII

If you want to teach your children or students about life during World War II, there probably is no better way than through old radio shows and some of the movies from the period, although the radio shows probably gave a somewhat more realistic viewpoint.

Women with hair dyed to keep out the gray

look like women with hair dyed to keep out the gray.

Enthusiam adds zest

Maturity and responsibility insist that we do that which we ought to do, even if we have no particular enthusiasm for the task. However, life is much more enjoyable when we get to do things for which we do have enthusiasm. It adds that zest to life.

Speaking of William Boyd

He evidently was a good businesman, like his fellow-actor Gene Autry. He bought up the rights to Hopalong Cassidy in 1949, and became wealthy from them (or perhaps increased his wealth). "Thar's money in them thar movies."

Thurston Hall - one of my wife's favorite actors

He was in great demand in his heyday, portraying businessmen and politicians. A deep, distinguished voice.