Legendary radio collector John Tefteller presents the best of mystery, comedy, horror, and adventure stories, produced by the greatest writers, directors, composers, and stars.
Episodes
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
This week we are beginning a new series featuring great monsters on radio. We’re kicking off with a 1947 CBS "Escape" episode titled "Taboo," a terrific werewolf story featuring voice actor Paul Frees. The story focuses on a man investigating mysterious disappearances in Eastern Europe, where locals suspect a werewolf. In addition, we have a unique challenge for you in this episode.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Here’s something rare I bet you didn’t know existed. A 1954 radio pilot of The Honeymooners. Starring the original cast (Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney) this audition recording, never aired on CBS, was created for a potential radio series to run concurrently with the television show, which debuted in 1955. The episode itself showcases the familiar comedic dynamic between Ralph, Alice, and Norton, centering on Ralph's hilarious and prideful reactions to believing he's been fired, only to discover he's been promoted. Sourced directly from original transcription discs, this episode offers a glimpse into a radio show that almost was.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Today we are presenting a rare, previously unbroadcast recording of a Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters (PPB) luncheon from November 15, 1974, honoring renowned radio writer and director Norman Corwin. This two-hour recording features speeches and anecdotes from numerous prominent figures in radio, television, and film, such as Hans Conried, Lynn Murray, Perry Lafferty, Elliot Lewis, Ray Bradbury, Stan Freberg, and William Shatner, all celebrating Corwin's influence and the "golden age of radio." The episode concludes with Corwin's acceptance speech and his plea for a revival of live radio drama.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
This is the final week in our mini-tribute to writer/director/producer Norman Corwin. Today we are bringing you a special broadcast, "God and Uranium," originally aired on August 19, 1945. This historical recording showcases the commemorative writings of Norman Corwin, presented by Orson Welles and Olivia de Havilland, reflecting on VE and VJ Days and the implications of the atomic bomb. The broadcast emphasizes the end of World War II, the sacrifices made, and the need for continued vigilance and effort to secure a lasting peace, contrasting the rapid declaration of war with the slower, more complex pursuit of peace.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Today on our shorter-than-usual episode we have a rare rehearsal recording of "The Pursuit of Happiness," a radio program written by Norman Corwin and starring Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester from December 8, 1939, showcasing Laughton's performance and even capturing a moment where he realizes he is missing script pages, providing a unique glimpse into the unscripted reality of radio rehearsal. And John tells a story about the loss of countless 1930s radio transcriptions from the CBS network.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Continuing our short tribute to radio writer/director/producer Norman, we present an episode of "Columbia Presents Corwin," features Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester in a Corwin comedy about Charles E. Gumpert, a seemingly ordinary man who experiences sudden, dramatic personality shifts, believing himself to be various historical figures like Niccolo Paganini, Julius Caesar, Sigmund Freud, and even Samson. These transformations lead to bizarre and humorous situations, causing chaos for his wife, Elsa, who struggles to cope with his constantly changing identities.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Today it’s our annual Independence Day episode. This year, we are bringing you a rare chance to hear a rehearsal recording of Norman Corwin's famous "We Hold These Truths" program, originally aired on December 15, 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This newly discovered audio was recorded two days prior to the live broadcast and features different actors in key roles, along with the notable absence of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's intended closing remarks. The program itself is a dramatic exploration of the Bill of Rights, tracing its creation and its enduring significance through historical reenactments, debates, and reflections on its continued relevance in 1941, emphasizing its role in safeguarding American liberties during a time of national crisis.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Today in our tribute to Norman Corwin, we’re bringing you his 1939 Columbia Workshop production, "Seems Radio is Here to Stay." The broadcast is a poetic exploration of the nature and reach of radio, celebrating its ability to connect people across vast distances and its multifaceted role in society, including news, entertainment, and the work of countless individuals behind the scenes. The program features narration and excerpts of a performance, including a scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet, and emphasizes radio's capacity to bring diverse voices and content to a wide audience.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Today we bring you a lovely radio show from the series "Columbia Presents Corwin," in Norman Corwin's work titled "Daybreak," which stars actor Ronald Coleman. This is the second performance from July 10, 1945, repeat of a highly regarded radio play written in the early 1940s, known for its poetic style. The central segment of the broadcast is the radio drama "Daybreak" itself, which chronicles the journey of dawn as it circles the globe, depicting various scenes and locations as daylight arrives.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
We continue to feature programs written, directed, and produced by Norman Corwin. Today’s episode shows not only the strong poetic touch of Corwin, but integrates it with music, as sung by folk great Burl Ives. It is the historical drama and folk cantata, "The Lonesome Train," which recounts the journey of Abraham Lincoln's funeral train after his assassination. Film buffs will recognize Raymond Massey (Abe Lincoln in Illinois) reprising his iconic role of Abraham Lincoln.
Visit our website: https://goodolddaysofradio.com/
Subscribe to our Facebook Group for news, discussions, and the latest podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/881779245938297
Our theme music is "Why Am I So Romantic?" from Animal Crackers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHJKAKS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_MK8MVCY4DVBAM8ZK39WD