Old Time Radio Shows

Basil Rathbone  (1892-1967) was a British actor who had a distinguished career on stage and in film.  Basil Rathbone's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in a series of films during the 1930s and 1940s is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and enduring interpretations of the character.  Physical resemblance: Rathbone had a lean, angular face and piercing eyes, which closely matched the physical description of Sherlock Holmes in the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. This made it easier for audiences to accept Rathbone as the iconic detective. Intellectual gravitas: Rathbone brought a seriousness and intellectual intensity to the character of Holmes, which elevated the films above typical genre fare. He was able to convey Holmes' genius and analytical mind in a way that was believable and compelling. Chemistry with Nigel Bruce: Rathbone's on-screen partnership with Nigel Bruce, who played Holmes' sidekick Dr. Watson, was a key factor in the success of the films....

Sherlock Holmes is, without a doubt, one of the world's most famous people who never lived. He is listed in The Guinness Book of World Records as "the most portrayed movie character", having been played by at least 70 actors in more than 200 films. The character was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a Victorian-era physician who studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh under Dr. Joseph Bell. One of the most influential lessons Bell passed on to his students was the importance of closely observing a patient before rendering a diagnosis. To demonstrate the utility of this practice, Bell would call a stranger into the lecture hall and by observing his manners, clothing, and other factors, deduce the person's occupation. Demonstrating these skills led to Bell being credited as "the Father of Forensic Science". After graduating, Conan Doyle started a practice with a classmate in Plymouth but chaffed at working with a partner. Although he didn'...

When radio's Sherlock Holmes dug into the case at hand, he was as obsessed as a hound-dog on the trail of the scent and as determined as a shark heading towards its quarry. Holmes stuck to it until all possible avenues had been traced. He was a detective’s detective. So what...or rather who created this paragon of detail and pursuit? As a doctor and writer, Sir Doyle prescribed (like that?) his character of  Sherlock Holmes  to stay committed to the task at hand...and find the answer. The unique aspect of England’s leading private detective was he found answers where no one even noticed...or dained to perceive a clue. Holmes was a complex mind that harbored cliches for clues and eloquence for action. The radio audience became entranced by Holmes ability to locate the thread in the bizarre location and the drop of wine that “should not have been there”. America developed a following for the non-Tarzan who was as quick with the wit as he was the reveal of the potential cold...

It is quite difficult to say these days of wireless internet and cable TV what we have and did before technological advancements came over. What we did after preparing, eating, and putting away dinner; what we did after all house chores were finished... Well, at present, we rarely see family that eat dinner together, more so sit down and do stuff together. That wasn’t always the case, though. Because once, there was radio! Golden Age of Radio The so-called Golden Age of Radio had its beginnings way back during the First World War, when United States President Woodrow Wilson utilized radio to send message to the people of America. Then, the period is said to have come to its end on September 20, 1962, when radio programs Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and Suspense went on-air for the last time on CBS. There may be resurgence of interest in radio when the CBS Radio Mystery Theater aired in the 1970s, but this was not, in any way, comparable to the six decades of suspense, laughter, and d...