Comedy from the Golden Age of Radio
This exclusive collection from a producer of thousands of transcriptions of old-time radio features Amos and Andy, Abbott and Costello, Benny and Livingston, Burns and Allen, Harris and Fay, and many more. Also included are droll family shows spiked with witty repartee: The Aldrich Family, Ozzie and Harriet, The Life of Riley, and My Favorite Husband, where Lucille Ball first performed the character who went on to form the basis for I Love Lucy. Situation comedies are fewer here than variety shows with their medley of skits, songs, and chats with film stars such as Doris Day, Al Jolson, and Shelley Winters, among others. Sixty 30-minute episodes, three for each show, comprise this program. The recording samples the humor that millions in the United States and Canada loved from 1944 to 1945. Back then, audiences expected good acting but tolerated noisy men like Lou Costello and certain females who piped in little-girl voices. These performances still received applause, as did the smattering of bad puns and sexist gags. Aside from a few cheap shots, most of the material was good, crafted by talented writers and directors. Unfortunately in this collection, comprehensiveness dictates keeping in every advertisement (e.g., a cigarette "proven scientifically to cause less nose and throat irritation"). The sound is narrow in range but acceptable for speech. A fine accompanying booklet includes photographs and annotations of the shows. This collection, packaged in a sturdy vinyl case, will interest nostalgia fans. Recommended for entertainment or large collections.?Gordon Blackwell, Eastchester, N.Y.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.