{"title":"Radio","description":"\u003cp\u003eBrowse our Radio collection. New Arrival.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"gildys-scrapbook-letters-photos-and-other-novelties-on-the-great-gildersleeve-paperback","title":"GILDY'S SCRAPBOOK: LETTERS, PHOTOS AND OTHER NOVELTIES ON \"THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE\" (paperback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\" style=\"color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"\u003eThanks to material collected from Gildy collectors, this is a assemblage of letters, articles and photos on the radio series, The Great Gildesleeve. What makes this scrapbook special is:\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e * Letters from both Hal Peary and Willard Waterman, discussing the Gildy series and the Fibber McGee series\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e * Photos and articles not used in \u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003eThe Great Gildersleeve\u003c\/span\u003e by Charles Stumpf and Ben Ohmart\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e * Written interview with Willard Waterman\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e * Introduction by Page Peary, Hal's son\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e * And more!\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This is a wonderful amount of material, with a beautiful, original color cover. This scrapbook will not be sold in stores - it was created as a companion piece to the official biography. Enjoy! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44182473998423,"sku":"wgd1787291512846","price":14.82,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/1706\/6327\/files\/gildys-scrapbook-letters-photos-and-other-novelties-on-the-great-gildersleeve-pa_1.jpg?v=1787291518"},{"product_id":"the-eternal-light-the-unauthorized-guide-to-the-superb-nbc-broadcast-series-by-eli-segal","title":"THE ETERNAL LIGHT: THE UNAUTHORIZED GUIDE TO THE SUPERB NBC BROADCAST SERIES by Eli Segal","description":"\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont color=\"black\" face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\"\u003eThe unauthorized, long-suppressed guide to the superb NBC broadcast series. Starting in October 1944, for the next 40+ years, on both radio and television, this program was considered the finest dramatic show on Sunday network radio. The scripts compare favorably with those of Norman Corwin. The original music, composed each week, was superb; the acting was performed by the finest radio and film voices available. All programs known are listed and described, and cast members are listed. It's the most complete log available. Eli Segal, a Peabody-Award winning radio producer and Professor of Media Arts, presents an historical perspective of the series. He also happens to be the son of the cantor that began half of the shows, and a witness to many of the programs as they were being broadcast. Many photographs and diagrams of the program are included. It's a fun read and a valuable piece of broadcast history. 144 pages, paper, illustrated. \u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44182474031191,"sku":"mxm1787291517616","price":11.21,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/1706\/6327\/files\/the-eternal-light-the-unauthorized-guide-to-the-superb-nbc-broadcast-series-by-e_1.jpg?v=1787291522"},{"product_id":"the-hopalong-cassidy-radio-program-1950-52-by-bernard-a-drew-paperback","title":"THE HOPALONG CASSIDY RADIO PROGRAM, 1950-52 by Bernard A. Drew (paperback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN  9781629331362\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\u003c!--\n\/* Font Definitions *\/\n@font-face\n\t{font-family:Arial;\n\tpanose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;\n\tmso-font-charset:0;\n\tmso-generic-font-family:auto;\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\n\tmso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;}\n@font-face\n\t{font-family:\"Cambria Math\";\n\tpanose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;\n\tmso-font-charset:0;\n\tmso-generic-font-family:auto;\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\n\tmso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}\n@font-face\n\t{font-family:Calibri;\n\tpanose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;\n\tmso-font-charset:0;\n\tmso-generic-font-family:auto;\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\n\tmso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}\n \/* Style Definitions *\/\np.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal\n\t{mso-style-unhide:no;\n\tmso-style-qformat:yes;\n\tmso-style-parent:\"\";\n\tmargin:0in;\n\tmargin-bottom:.0001pt;\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n\tfont-size:12.0pt;\n\tfont-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n\tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}\n.MsoChpDefault\n\t{mso-style-type:export-only;\n\tmso-default-props:yes;\n\tfont-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n\tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}\n@page WordSection1\n\t{size:8.5in 11.0in;\n\tmargin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;\n\tmso-header-margin:.5in;\n\tmso-footer-margin:.5in;\n\tmso-paper-source:0;}\ndiv.WordSection1\n\t{page:WordSection1;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eHopalong Cassidy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e starred legendary actor William Boyd and Andy Clyde as his sidekick. Rediscover the Old Time Radio series with all the \u003ci\u003eHopalong Cassidy\u003c\/i\u003e prose, motion pictures, comic books, and newspaper comic strip stories, as well as full details of the 104 half-hour radio adventures that hold up as well today as when they were first broadcast in 1950-1952. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eFeatures include the Mutual, and later CBS, networks series, its background, producers, performers, writers, sponsors, story lines, and merchandising in detail seldom seen.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eIllustrations include rare advertisements, photographs, and press kits. Foreword by Western author, Loren D. Estleman. 148 pages.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRadiogram\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eHopalong Cassidy of the Airwaves Rides Again in New Book\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eThose prolific editors at BearManor Media in Albany, GA continue to dazzle OTR fans with books on such diverse and unusual subjects as comic strips on radio, the story of the series \u003cem\u003eStraight Arrow\u003c\/em\u003e, and biographies of Walter Tetley, Agnes Moorehead and Jerry Colonna, seemingly leaving no stone unturned with regard to golden age of radio.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eBearManor Media’s latest excursion into old-time radio involves a look at one of radio’s most beloved cowboys, Hopalong Cassidy. \u003cem\u003eIn Jingle of the Silver Spurs\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003cem\u003eThe Hopalong Cassidy Radio Program\u003c\/em\u003e, 1950-1952, author Bernard A. Drew examines, in depth,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003ethe genesis and recording of the radio drama series, which began broadcasting in 1948 and ended in 1950 after which the series went into television. The half-hour western was syndicated through Commodore Productions, and heard mostly on Mutual stations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eWilliam Boyd, who had played the silver-haired good guy who dressed in black in a series of films beginning in 1935 with \u003cem\u003eHop-A-Long Cassidy—\u003c\/em\u003ereissued later and better known today as \u003cem\u003eHopalong Cassidy Enters\u003c\/em\u003e—and ending in 1948 with \u003cem\u003eStrange Gamble\u003c\/em\u003e, starred in the series with Andy Clyde offered an ideal blend of rangeland crime puzzles and good humor, with Boyd’s belly laugh and Clyde’s braying wheeze delighting family members young and old.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eDrew notes that, “Hopalong Cassidy was an iconic character, particularly when Bill Boyd brought him to television in the early 1950s.” He also writes that, “The radio show was a small piece of an enormous merchandising effort which included not only films and television shows but new hardcover fiction books, comic books, and every conceivable piece of merchandise a youngster could want – from trading cards to lamps to bed sheets to toy six-guns. There is still a huge Hoppy fan audience who should be curious about another aspect of their hero’s career.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eDrew’s book follows screen actor William Boyd’s negotiations with Cassidy creator Clarence E. Mulford as well as Boyd’s agreement with Commodore Productions. The book also includes a complete Mutual Broad-casting System press kit for the radio show, and provides a complete list of all 104 programs complete with plot description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eThe material in the 144-page book will be of interest not only to Hoppy fans but to anyone curious about the heyday of radio comedy\/drama programs as well.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eBernard A. Drew currently resides in Great Barrington, MA. He holds a B.A. in English from Northeastern University and has authored more than 30 books, including \u003cem\u003eThe\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003e100 Most Popular Genre Fiction Writers\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eIf They Close the Door on You\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eGo in the\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eWindow\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003cem\u003eOrigins of the African American Community in Sheffield\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eGreat Barrington \u0026amp;\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eStockbridge\u003c\/em\u003e. He is also the author of \u003cem\u003eHopalong Cassidy\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003cem\u003eThe Clarence E. Mulford Story\u003c\/em\u003e (1991) for The Scarecrow Press. He currently works as a freelance editor and writer, as well as a part-time newspaper copy editor and page designer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!--\"''\"--\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44182474063959,"sku":"bcu1787291517737","price":14.64,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/1706\/6327\/files\/the-hopalong-cassidy-radio-program-1950-52-by-bernard-a-drew-paperback_1.jpg?v=1787291522"},{"product_id":"well-reflections-on-the-life-and-career-of-jack-benny-softcover-edition-edited-by-michael-leannah","title":"WELL! REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JACK BENNY (SOFTCOVER EDITION) edited by Michael Leannah","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003eWell! Reflections on the Life and Career of Jack Benny is a collection of rare and delightful essays and personal reminiscences on perhaps the greatest comedian who has ever lived. Jack Benny's impact on the world of entertainment was profound, and the ripples of his influence are still expanding today.\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\t\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\tJack gave the world a tremendous amount of laughter and pleasure. His work demands--and deserves--continued scrutiny and analysis, which the writers of this volume are honored to provide.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003e\"Jack Benny had style...He stood straight and walked kind of sideways as if he were being gently shoved by a touch of genius.\"\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\t-- William Saroyan\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\t \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003eMichael Leannah is a teacher and a writer. One of his special interests is Old-Time Radio. His radio scripts have won national awards and have been used in performances across the country. \u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003eOr buy from Amazon:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px; display: none !important;\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822\u0026amp;OneJS=1\u0026amp;Operation=GetAdHtml\u0026amp;MarketPlace=US\u0026amp;source=ac\u0026amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til\u0026amp;ad_type=product_link\u0026amp;tracking_id=bmmedia0b-20\u0026amp;marketplace=amazon\u0026amp;region=US\u0026amp;placement=1593931018\u0026amp;asins=1593931018\u0026amp;linkId=765890d37cbf7ee48f5b15b0511c5a91\u0026amp;show_border=true\u0026amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\u0026amp;price_color=333333\u0026amp;title_color=0066c0\u0026amp;bg_color=ffffff\" hidden=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\r\n    \u003c\/iframe\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cimg ismap src=\"http:\/\/www.radiospirits.com\/affil\/vwhite.gif?width=700\" border=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ciframe src=\"http:\/\/podtrac.com\/player\/NDQyODY1\/Nw2\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"700\" height=\"100\" frameborder=\"no\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44182474129495,"sku":"mzs1787291521513","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/1706\/6327\/files\/well-reflections-on-the-life-and-career-of-jack-benny-softcover-edition-edited-b_1.jpg?v=1787291526"},{"product_id":"information-please-by-martin-grams-jr","title":"Information Please by Martin Grams, Jr.","description":"\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\" style=\"color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWake up, America! The biography is here!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eInformation Please, the popular radio quiz program that played experts for fall guys, was capital, dependable, adult radio fun for more than a decade (1938 – 1952). The fast-cracking experts – John Kieran, omniscient sports columnist for the New York Times; Franklin Pierce Adams, New York Post columnist; Oscar Levant, composer, pianist, gag-stacked Broadwayfarer – were acknowledged by listeners as the most knowing of know-it-alls. Master of Ceremonies Clifton Fadiman was famous for beating the experts to the pun while he picked the questions submitted each week by listeners. Information Please spawned a short-lived series of film shorts (1940-1943), a summer-run television program (1952), at least two card games, and the long-running Information Please Almanac.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003e--Documentary on the making of the broadcasts, and background production.\u003cbr\u003e --Sponsor and Cast contracts are reprinted.\u003cbr\u003e --Day-by-day information about the 1945 Information Please European Tour.\u003cbr\u003e --Chapter documenting the history of the 18 RKO Information Please Shorts (1939-1942).\u003cbr\u003e --Chapter documenting the short-lived 1952 television series.\u003cbr\u003e --Chapter documenting the radio program's involvement with the Information Please Almanac.\u003cbr\u003e --A complete episode guide listing each and every radio broadcast, television broadcast and movie short.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eDID YOU KNOW...?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eThe Hepburn-Tracy movie \"Woman of the Year\" featured a scene in which Information Please was being broadcast over a radio in a bar?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eOne of the eighteen Information Please shorts had to be thrown away and never released because the guest expert on that film referred to Clifton Fadiman in another name!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eMartin Grams, Jr. is the author and co-author of numerous books about Old-Time Radio and Old-Time Television, including The Have Gun – Will Travel Companion (2000), The History of the Cavalcade of America (1999), The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion (2001), Radio Drama: American Programs (2000), Invitation to Learning (2002), Suspense: Twenty Years of Thrills and Chills (1998), The Sound of Detection: Ellery Queen’s Adventures in Radio (2002), Inner Sanctum Mysteries: Behind the Creaking Door (2003), The CBS Radio Mystery Theater: An Episode Guide and Handbook (1999), and more magazine articles than could possibly be counted.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"Arial\" style=\"font-family: Arial;\"\u003eTo the average fan of Old-Time Radio, Mr. Grams is no stranger and his many of his books come to mind at the sound of his name. His publications have even been acknowledged by Leonard Maltin (Entertainment Tonight) and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth (by letter via Royal Mail). Mr. Grams has already gained access to the private collections of Dan Golenpaul, the creator of the Information Please series, including other definitive sources that will provide superb historical documentation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRadio historian Martin Grams, Jr. really scores heavily with his history of Information, Please!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eThe book details, in a lively, chatty way, the history of the show, incorporating mishaps, memorable moments, and quotes from the witty participants. Oscar Levant, for me, gives this book its comic edge, with his always unforgettable humor (\"Now that Marilyn Monroe is kosher, Arthur Miller can eat her.\").\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eConsidering all the great information that Grams has compiled, it's surprising that this is the first book on the show. His work is so complete, however, there need not be another. In addition to the great anecdotes, insider history and biographical data, this volume reprints letters sent to the show, many from celebrities trying to stump the experts, and a complete radio log for the program. RKO did a series of eighteen shorts based on Information, Please!, and the author covers that, as well as the short-lived television version.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eThis book is very entertaining. I was largely unfamiliar with the program, but this gave me everything I need to know. It's done with style, wit and enthusiasm, just like the show.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e- Laura Wagner, Classic Images\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\"I didn't forget, strangely enough, to take along my new copy of Martin Grams, Jr.'s latest book, INFORMATION PLEASE, which I received in the mail yesterday.  A nice, quick and easy read, and it measures up to the usual Grams standards, of course.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e- Ivan G. Shreve, Jr., THRILLING DAYS OF YESTERYEAR\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\"This time around, Martin Grams, Jr., lets us in on the creation and structure of one of radio's most popular and satisfying quiz programs, but one in which the listener was the quizmaster rather than the other way around.  INFORMATION PLEASE is another in the seemingly endless forays into the details of OTR programming for which Grams has become justifiably famous.  Here we learn why the program was even considered for airing in the first place.  After all, who wants to listen to a bunch of egoists blow off about how smart they are, especially to we, the listeners, who might get irritated just listening to them.  But the producer of INFORMATION PLEASE, Dan Golenpaul, had an idea that the listener could get his kicks, and maybe a dollar or two besides, by knocking the big guys down a peg or two.  Thus was born the idea of questions sent in by the listeners and for any question that stumped the experts, the successful submitter might profit by $5.00 or more, plus receive a sample of the sponsor's product.  Remember that this was during the depressing years and no sum of money could be considered too small not to claim.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\"This book provides the details we expect from a Grams' offering and he doesn't let us down.  Not only do we learn about the sponsors, who took a chance with the program, but we also find out about the aborted television production of INFORMATION PLEASE in the early 1950s, the INFORMATION PLEASE game, and a mini-biography on each of the major panelists that made the program so much fun.  Grams makes it clear that the chemistry between the program's moderator, Clifton Fadiman, and the usual panelists: John Kieran, Franklin P. Adams and Oscar Levant, was what made the show a success.  Learned, yet funny and very quick with a quip, these four made an unrehearsed show sound like it had been written by a gaggle of comedy writers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\"Of course, a Grams' book would not be complete without a detailed and complete broadcast log and we are not disappointed with this offering.  The log includes the date of airing of each broadcast, the regular panelists foreach show and the guest panelist for the evening.  We get a peek into who was considered a bust as a panelist, who really didn't want to go head-to-head with the brain trust and who wanted to return on a more-or-less regular basis.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e-  Charles R. Sexton, RRL ON THE AIR\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eVideo from the author's Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003eFun Ideas Productions #14 Podcast with Martin Grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--\"''\"--\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44182474162263,"sku":"myp1787291521547","price":20.07,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44182474195031,"sku":"ilc1787291521548","price":30.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/1706\/6327\/files\/information-please-by-martin-grams-jr_1.jpg?v=1787291526"},{"product_id":"the-bickersons-love-letters-by-john-blanche-bickerson-edited-by-ben-ohmart","title":"THE BICKERSONS' LOVE LETTERS by John \u0026 Blanche Bickerson, Edited by Ben Ohmart","description":"\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/bearmanormedia.com\/documents\/button-clickdownload10pages.png?width=700\" width=\"200\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAward-Winning Finalist in the Humor category of the \"Best Books 2010\" Awards, sponsored by USA Book News \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLove is where you find it...\" John Bickerson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003eFor the first time in print - finally!! - The Bickersons' Love Letters!\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003eNever before have the infamous love letters between John and Blanche Bickerson seen the light of day. This amazing testament to the \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003estrength \u003c\/span\u003eof marriage at last shows the true depth of feeling the squabbling couple felt for one another. And no. It wasn't always bickering!\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\" color=\"black\"\u003eNow you can find out how they met. Who they are. What are their backgrounds. And experience, for a change, the love shared between a couple that was \u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003eobviously \u003c\/span\u003emade for one another.  \u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003chr\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003eClassic Images\/Laura Wagner\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            Ben Ohmart is also the author of the history of one of Philip Rapp’s most enduring creations, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Bickersons: A Biography of Radio’s Wittiest Program\u003c\/strong\u003e, with a foreword by Blanche herself, the late Frances Langford ($19.95, BearManor Media softcover). Debuting on radio’s \u003cem\u003eDrene Time\u003c\/em\u003e in 1946, the original skits of the squabbling married couple starred Don Ameche as John Bickerson and Frances Langford as Blanche. The skits were described by one critic as “character comedy with teeth in it,” as the two sparred as John tried in vain to get some sleep in between snores. The set-up was usually the Bickersons’ bedroom. John, tired from his long day at work, just wanted to get some sleep, but Blanche, feeling neglected, just wanted to talk—and fight. As played by Langford, known primarily as a singer, but surprising everyone with her great comic flair, the shrewish wife not only built “sheer terror” in her husband, but elicited a strange sort of desperate sympathy:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            JOHN: I’m not funny, Blanche—I’m just sleepy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            BLANCHE: What about me? I haven’t slept for so long I’m a nervous wreck. My face is full of lines—I’m losing my youth. You’ll be sorry. When I’ve changed into a withered old crone, you won’t like it so well.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            JOHN: Oh, I do too.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            BLANCHE: What?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            JOHN: I mean you’ll never look like a withered old crone. You haven’t changed since the day I married you. You look great.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            BLANCHE: That’s not true. You’re just trying to make me feel good.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            JOHN: I am not!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            BLANCHE: You are too!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            JOHN: I am not! I wouldn’t make you feel good if it was the last thing I ever did!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            The show was simply unique for the 1940s and ‘50s. John Crosby, in his May 25, 1948 column, \u003cem\u003eRadio in Review\u003c\/em\u003e, was aware just how The Bickersons changed radio and comedy in general: “In a medium which strives so desperately to spread sweetness and light, in which every wife is an angel of tolerant understanding and every husband dumb but lovable, the bickering Bickersons are a very refreshing venture in the opposite direction.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            It was definitely comedy with an edge:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “Are you satisfied with our married life?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “Satisfied? I’ve had more than enough.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “Would you miss me if I ran away?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “Sure.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “How much would you miss me?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “How far you running?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “It wouldn’t hurt you to kiss me good night, you know.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “It hurts.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “Well, if the house ever caught fire which would you save first? The cat, the canary, or me?”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            “Me.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            Like the show, the author sets a breezy, light, often funny, tone as he reports on the characters and the main plot (or argument) points of the show. He utilizes his interviews, among them Phil Rapp’s sons Paul and Joel, Frances Langford, Martha Stewart (no, not that one), etc., very well. The many different incarnations of the Bickersons, starring at times Ameche, Langford, Lew Parker, Stewart, Betty Kean, Marsha Hunt, Virginia Grey, etc., are all comprehensively discussed. The most notable actors get small profile write-ups, which was most welcome in the case of the neglected Parker.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            The most interesting chapter, however, was the one dealing with Rapp’s lawsuit against Jackie Gleason and his creation of the \u003cem\u003eBickersons\u003c\/em\u003e-like \u003cem\u003eHoneymooners\u003c\/em\u003e. Ohmart’s clear understanding of this case, supplemented by court records, is outstanding writing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003e            Ohmart effortlessly brings it all together in an entertaining insider’s look at one of radio’s funniest shows. The truth is, most people can identify with John and Blanche as they bicker their nights away. “Still,” writes Ohmart, “somehow, the Bickersons kept together for at least 8 years, and probably a lot longer. It was a real love-hate relationship that, in moments of extreme hardship, showed that John and Blanche really loved one another, despite the snoring, the lack of money and the craziness of all those grasping friends and relatives around them.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dm2Y80jSHi0\" width=\"425\" height=\"349\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;\"\u003eClick here to download sample pages from this book\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\r\n\t\u003c!--\"''\"--\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44182474227799,"sku":"fwz1787291521695","price":14.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0631\/1706\/6327\/files\/the-bickersons-love-letters-by-john-blanche-bickerson-edited-by-ben-ohmart_1.gif?v=1787291526"}],"url":"https:\/\/chicedgestore.shop\/collections\/radio.oembed","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}