There are thousands of TV channels available and even more websites on the internet for video content, why would anyone listen to old time radio? Well, the answer is simple. Old time radio(OTR) is just better. You can’t match the story lines and amazing voice acting you find in those great old programs. Shows, such as the Suspense, Ellery Queen, The Whistler and Lux Radio Theater remind us just what they did to bring you in and make you part of the story.
I started following old time radio when I was about 18 years old. I listened to a program called CBS Radio Mystery Theater with E.G. Marshal. After only one episode, I was hooked. It may seem odd to some, but you can enjoy a story that is made up of only audio. Once the show begins and the announcer tells you about the program you realize that something special is going to happen. Your imagination kicks in a fills in all the missing pieces. I like to quote the tag for Sirius XM’s book channel, “Book Radio, where the books come to life and the pictures are in your head”.
OTR provides some of the best stories and greatest adventures known. Think about this, the biggest problem that TV and movies face is that they have to make you believe what you are seeing. Special effects and incredible CGI are required for this. On the other hand OTR only has to tell you and it is up to you and your imagination to make it happen. All of this has to be sold by radio actor and script writer. Make no mistake they were artists at telling you what you see. They knew how to give a great entertainment experience to their audience.
What sets OTR apart from other forms of entertainment is that the amount of material available. Do you like a great comedy? Then try Father Knows Best. Maybe you like a good western? Then listen to Gunsmoke or The Six Shooter. If you like a good mystery story, there are many shows to choose from. Some of my favorites are Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, Box 13 and Nick Carter, Master Detective. There are so many old time radio programs in so many genres that you will never run out of great stuff to listen to. Before television, radio was the way to be entertained. Whole families would sit around the radio, just like we do with TV today.
So why am I telling you this? I guess I just wanted to say something about the benefits to old time radio. You can take it with you anywhere and it makes you use your brain. What more can you ask from an entertainment source.
-Ron
Ron's Amazing Stories - The Blog 