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 May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Today comedian Red Skelton is the unlikely star on the thriller series, Suspense, with an episode called "The Search for Isabel." It’s the unusual story of a lonely man who becomes obsessed with a woman he's never met through wrong number phone calls, culminating in a surprising crime revelation. Dr. Joe Webb is here again bringing his vast research on Suspense to introduce the episode, and we explore the behind-the-scenes context of the production, including network philosophies and publicity tactics.
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 May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
This week we are featuring comedian Red Skelton. Yes, Red Skelton was a guest star on the thriller series, Suspense. And it’s a great episode! You can hear that on our Thursday episode, but today we are leading the way with the "Raleigh Cigarette Program" from March 19, 1946, featuring comedian Red Skelton. This one is all about cars: Willie Lump Lump obtains a driver's license, and Junior (“The Mean Widdle Mean Kid”) joins the "junior police."
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 May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
It’s Fibber McGee and Molly week on the show. But this time rather than their well-known cozy comedy format, the beloved radio couple appears here in a dramatic episode of Suspense titled "Backseat Driver." Suspense had become known for recruiting comedians, and popular radio comedians in particular, offering them a chance to step out of their rigid stereotypes and do something different. Joining us once again for this series is Dr. Joe Webb, who provides background on the episode involving an average small-town couple facing an armed killer.
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 May 06, 2025
Tuesday May 06, 2025
Jim and Marian Jordan, better known as "Fibber McGee and Molly," are our featured comedy duo this week on the podcast. On Thursday they will appear in an episode from the thriller series, “Suspense.” Today, however, we’re going back a couple of days before that broadcast to hear them on their popular radio series. This episode is centered around Fibber McGee's excessive talking and habit of interrupting others. The program includes comedic interactions between the characters, such as McGee's misunderstanding of the term "aqueduct" and a bet made regarding his ability to remain silent.
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 May 01, 2025
Thursday May 01, 2025
Today we present Lucille Ball as you may have never heard her before. Lucille Ball had quite a career play various femme fatales in the movies before becoming the legendary star of the television show “I Love Lucy.” However, here she plays a dark role as a con artist who targets men, and learns that one of her victims may have been a notorious serial killer, setting off a deadly game of cat and mouse. We’re welcoming back "Suspense" expert, Dr. Joe Webb, who provides historical context about the episode's production and the writer, Virginia Cross.
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 Apr 29, 2025
Tuesday Apr 29, 2025
Today we are bringing you Lucille Ball in the pilot series, if you will, to one of TV history’s most blockbuster series, I Love Lucy. My Favorite Husband starred Lucille Ball and her husband who was then played by actor Richard Denning. Denning was slated to make the transition to the I Love Lucy TV series, but Lucille pushed for her real-life husband Desi Arnaz to assume the role. The episode centers on Lucy’s frantic attempts to cash a $500 check she won on a radio game show called "Everybody Wins" within a tight 25-minute window. This comedy episode will lead into Lucille Ball’s appearance on “Suspense,” with our special guest Dr. Joe Webb, on Thursday.
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 Apr 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
We continue our series listening to comedians in serious roles. Specifically, this episode focuses on the obscure comedian Henry Morgan and his appearance in a 1947 "Suspense" radio drama called "Dream Song." Guest Dr. Joe Webb again joins us as we discuss Morgan's comedic background, his reputation as a subversive radio personality, and today’s story about a writer seemingly haunted by a neighbor. The conversation also touches upon the writers of the "Suspense" episode, and the recognition the show and Morgan received.
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 Apr 22, 2025
Tuesday Apr 22, 2025
This week we are going to be featuring the obscure radio comedians Henry Morgan in an episode of “Suspense” on Thursday. Today we have another episode of "The Henry Morgan Show" from June 11th, 1947, a comedy program showcasing Henry Morgan's satirical humor, sponsored by Eversharp razors. The episode includes Morgan's observations on New Yorkers' accents, moviegoing experiences, and absurd used car dealerships, alongside a parody of a quiz show sponsored by an acidic fruit company.
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 Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Today John Tefteller and our guest, Researcher Dr. Joe Webb, listen to a 1947 episode of Suspense featuring the comedian Eddie Bracken. Suspense often purposely put actors in roles that were in direct contrast with their type. This is a dramatic departure from Bracken’s comedic role that we presented on Tuesday. In this story he portrays Elwood, a serial killer, seemingly driven by a distorted perception of love and represented by the objects he steals from his victims.
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 Apr 15, 2025
Tuesday Apr 15, 2025
This week we’re paring two shows that feature the largely forgotten comedian Eddie Bracken. We’re starting here with the extremely obscure The Eddie Bracken Show. Bracken was much more successful as a support comedian, on shows like the Sealtest Variety Theater. This is a sitcom that is reminiscent of The Mel Blanc Show, centering on Eddie Bracken's character attempting to assist Connie to enter her picture in a beauty contest and helping her father's company against a lawsuit involving a claim of illness from contaminated candy. The show also starred the movie character actor William Demarest.
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