Radio Logs
It's hard to believe that it's time again to sit by the fire and tell a tall tale (or two). I've got my coffee cup ready, the dark bolivian brew is steamin' up my glasses, and my plate of calorie reduced chocolate chip cookies (broken), are half gone. So, let's sit a spell.
What?
Do I hear a radio warming up. It's been a while since that noise has been heard in this living room, not since I was a kid...
"From out of the past comes the thundering hoofbeats of the Lone Ranger and his great horse SILVER! "
And the familiar strains of the William Tell Overture ooze out of the RCA in the corner. And suddenly, I am young once more...
Radio was the staple entertainment for almost 2 decades of north american youth. Everyone had a favourite, some liked mystery, some liked space drama, some liked adventure, and some liked the romance/drama productions.
I did not grow up on radio. I have never heard an original broadcast, but I have enough copies from dealers and friends to appreciate the simple pleasure of the ambience, the story, the actors, the 'special' effects, and of course, the static. Lord knows, I would have been glued to the Victrola for hours, and probably not gotten my homework done for many years.
The programs broadcast during the 20+ years were many. There were classics, and there were duds. But we all remember something. For those of us not fortunate enough to live through the first broadcasts, we can relive the memories courtesy of some far looking individuals who saved the material. We can now get It on MP3, cassette, and compact disc.
Of particular note to this column are the western dramas.
Terry Salomonson has compiled an extensive list of the westerns in "The Western Logs" (copyright 1998). In this excellent coilbound book, we find a listing of westerns from Rin Tin Tin to Wild Bill Hickok. Each listing includes a short broadcast history, a cast list, audience ratings, and broadcast dates and titles where available. Some series were saved wholesale, while others are almost 'lost'.
One note of interest regards the American Broadcasting Company. In 1943, the FCC forced the Radio Corporation of America to split. Prior to this decision, there was the Red and Blue Network. The Red Network was kept, and the Blue Network was sold to Edward Noble. The Red Network was renamed ABC, and the Blue Network was renamed NBC! Shades of Microscoft Batman!
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