Time Warp

[Roman]

As a regular listener of the Jack Benny programs, I sometimes almost feel like it's all actually taking place today (or perhaps that I've been transported back then). I realize that I'm getting a much larger dose of Jack than the audiences of his day ever did because I usually listen to a program going to or coming home from work - I don't think they had syndicated reruns back then. But there is a bit of a time warp quality when the regular guests stars you hear and laugh with are long dead (and sometimes long forgotten) and when current references are made to entertainers like Al Jolson and Laurel and Hardy, and to political figures like Roosevelt and Churchill. The mere mention of Fred Allen will bring a smile to my face when, just a few months back, I had barely heard of Allen. In my progression through the Benny program, I'm up to mid-1943 and I find myself getting familiar with government food rationing, coupons, victory gardens, scrap metal collections, the progress of the war, and other aspects of WWII America in a way that I never quite had before. Much earlier, during Jack's Chevrolet days in the early 1930s, I found that I actually paid attention to the weekly car sales figures that the pre-Don announcer spoke of because he made you feel you were a part of Chevy's and America's recovery from the Depression.

I guess it's either the magic of radio or maybe I'm just listening a little too much to these old programs.

[LLeff]

I guess it's either the magic of radio or maybe I'm just listening a little too much to these old programs.

I've experienced much the same thing myself. There's a show where--I think Jack--says in early 1945 that (quote from memory) "the President says that the War will go on at least another two years". Listening to the shows in order, I almost felt like I was reliving part of the War in fast-forward. And hearing that the War would continue, even though I know it wouldn't in reality, hit me like a ton of bricks. Three plus years of fighting and dying, the war in Europe won, rationing and countless sacrifices made on the home front, but there was no end in sight for the Pacific war.

Not saying pro or con on this action, but at that moment I felt like I better understood the gut level of Truman's decision to drop the bomb.

Roman - You'll enjoy the post-war shows, not only because the shows really hit their best stride then, but because you'll experience the upswing in optimism, production, and looking to the future. In 1949, there's a PSA on one show for people to get more involved in their schools because of the massive upswing in enrollment. Welcome to the baby boom.

[Maxwell]

Listening to OTR is kind of like being in a time warp. A recent example of this has been something that Chuck Schaden did on his Chicago OTR show starting a few years ago. He began playing shows, news programs, etc. highlighting the major events leading up to and during World War II. It was very interesting listening to the entertainment shows from 1941 giving being interrupted by bulletins on the Japanese attacks, Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" speech, etc.

The series ended this past August and September with the rumors and finally the announcement of VJ Day and then the actual surrender ceremony. Fascinating hearing all of that as it was being reported.

That theme even continued on his New Year's Eve show with a couple of shows from around the celebration of 1946. (The show ended with a show on the AFRS featuring several big bands from around the United States.)

I didn't follow that period by very much, being born in 1950, but by the time of my earliest recollections, a few as early as when I was about 3-4 years old, our family's form of entertainment was television. I don't remember him on radio, but I remember him alternating weeks with Ann Sothern in "Private Secretary" and later with "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe. My only recollection of Amos and Andy was their "Music Hall" series in which they were essentially reduced to being disc jockeys.

I guess OTR increases my sense of connection with my parents. My dad passed away ten years ago, but occasionally I'll talk about this web site or some of the shows I hear with my mom and it brings back her memories. This gives me a better sense of the times they went through.

What actually triggered this was LL's mention of Jack talking about the war lasting another two years. The first atomic bomb really had a profound effect on my parents' lives...and I guess on mine. My dad didn't get into the service until 1944. He was married with a young kid and had a perforated ear drum. In addition he worked in a war plant. That kind of gives you and idea of who was being drafted then. The closest he got to a major battle was waiting to attack the Siegfried line, an attack that they never made because of the capture of the bridge at Remagen.

However, he was scheduled to be transferred to the Pacific. He would have been part of the invasion force attacking Japan itself. He was scheduled for three weeks leave before shipping out and was obviously anxious to return home. I remember him telling me not long before he died how upset he was when the bombs were dropped because he knew then he wouldn't be going home. Instead he ended up as part of the occupation forces in Germany. And maybe instead of the worst happening, I ended up being born.

[mrdj]

Several weeks ago, I purchased a group of WWII CDs on EBay. They were fantastic! Each one was full of mp3 files of history. They were broken down into informal groups. There were 2 complete broadcast days. One from October, 1939, originating out of a Washington, DC station. The bulk of the news of course dealt with the debate over the lend-lease act and supplying the allies with arms. The 15 minutes soaps were weird. They broadcast live a speech before Congress by President Roosevelt. A complete day including commercials. The other complete day was the CBSw June 6, D-Day(minus sponsors) It started with Bob Trout coming on the air at 01:15 Eastern War Time and going for the rest of the day with obviously most regularly scheduled shows preempted. They did have a few shows. I remember an 'Amos and Andy' and a 'Burns and Allen'. But to hear Edward R. Murrow from London and William L. Shirer from Berlin...wow.
Another great CD had hours of ''America First'' broadcasts. Charles Lindberg from Madison Square Garden, many of speeches by other Senators and others. A series of a Sunday shows by Father Charles Coughlin, at the time one of the most popular isolationist was worth the price alone. To hear him talk about the ' Hoouuuussee of Rrroothhhschillllld'(trying to get his exaggerated prounciation) is both funny and frightening.
Also is dozens of 15 minute daily CBS new broadcasts from consecutive days running for several months. History unfolds as you listen.

[mrdj]

continued from above: I don't know what happened to the rest of the post.
Also many 15 minute remotes from famous ballrooms featuring all the great Big Bands. Dorsey, Miller, even Fats Waller.
Jack was the special guest host on ''Mail Call'', a show created for the servicmen and women. Lots of these shows.
After listening to ''Breakfast in Hollywood'', I thought 'How corny'. Yet it grew on me. Tom Brenneman(sp?) was the host. The format was the same for every show. Ask the people having breakfast at his eatery where they were from. Select one lady to make a wish. Find out who was the oldest lady there and talk to her and give her an orchid. That was it but I liked it.
All in all there was hour upon hour of great(and some not so great) radio! The price was right and the overall quality good. I lost the name of the seller, but check out ebay and old time radio, I'm sure he is still there. It's worth it.