5 Forgotten 1940s Radio Shows That Deserve a Revival

Vintage radio microphone Tip: Click the show titles below to hear these vintage gems on Archive.org!

1. "The Cinnamon Bear" (1937)

A whimsical Christmas adventure with a dancing bear—think Wizard of Oz meets Rudolph.

📜 Iconic Moment:

ANNOUNCER: "Presenting The Cinnamon Bear, the thrilling adventures of Judy and Jimmy Barton..."

CINNAMON BEAR: (chuckling) "Oh my stars and garters! That Crazy-Quilt Dragon is up to no good!"

🎧 Listen to the complete series

2. "Dark Venture" (1944)

A noir-ish thriller about a war correspondent, lost years before Nightfall.

📜 Iconic Moment:

REPORTER: "The ruby was gone... and so was she. Just a note: 'Meet me where the trains don't stop.'"

🎧 Listen to surviving episodes

3. "Quiet, Please" (1947-1949)

A twilight-zone-esque horror-fantasy series by Wyllis Cooper (Lights Out creator).

📜 Iconic Moment:

NARRATOR: "It was just a whisper at first... then the sound of something alive inside the oil derrick."

🎧 Listen to the complete series

4. "The Hall of Fantasy" (1947-1953)

A Midwestern ghost-story anthology with cursed objects and haunted trains.

📜 Iconic Moment:

GAMBLER: "I'll see your soul... and raise you eternity."

🎧 Listen to available episodes

5. "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator" (1951-1955)

A hardboiled detective who solved cases with wit instead of violence.

📜 Iconic Moment:

CRAIG: "The typewriter told me everything. The 'E' key stuck—just like the killer's alibi."

🎧 Listen to episodes

Which forgotten show deserves a comeback?

Comment below or email us!

Fibber McGee & Molly: Radio's First Power Couple

Trivia: Each closet crash required 29 seconds of precisely timed sound effects!

Jim and Marion Jordan at NBC microphone in 1941, smiling while performing

From Vaudeville to Radio Royalty

Peoria natives Jim and Marion Jordan spent 15 years in vaudeville before their natural chemistry found its perfect medium on radio. Their 1935-1959 series Fibber McGee & Molly became NBC's longest-running comedy by blending:

  • Fibber's outrageous tall tales
  • Molly's patient but pointed comebacks
  • The legendary overstuffed closet (with its 18-object crash)
  • Wistful Vista's eccentric neighbors

Exclusive Audio Collection

📻 Original Episodes

🎧 Archive.org Collection

Classic 1940s broadcasts

🎤 Rare Interview

🎧 Jim Jordan Remembers

WTIC Golden Age Series

🎙️ Behind the Scenes:

"The closet gag was Marion's idea - she got tired of Jim actually leaving our attic door open!"
- Don Quinn interview, 1952

Why It Still Resonates

The show's magic came from authentic married life:

1

Real Arguments

Their on-air spats mirrored actual marital disagreements

2

Improvisation

Marion frequently ad-libbed Molly's best lines

3

Running Gags

Audiences loved anticipating the closet crash

Which classic radio couple should we profile next?

George Burns & Gracie Allen? Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz? Email your request!