The world is fixated on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Youtube TV, Disney+, and many others. These companies offer vast catalogs of media for many to enjoy but their catalogs are not by any means complete collections of media produced to enjoy. Step back in time and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of old-time radio programs. Before the advent of television, families gathered around their radios, eagerly tuning in to captivating stories, thrilling adventures, and hilarious comedies. In this blog article, we’ll explore where to find these gems today and how you can enjoy them again for the first time.
A Time Before Television
Before television, the world was largely entertained by radio programs and films. Radio programs of all types were produced by local radio stations and enjoyed by the masses. Radio drama achieved widespread popularity within a decade of its initial development in the 1920s. By the 1940s, it was a leading international popular entertainment. With the advent of television in the 1950s radio drama began losing its audience. However, it remains popular in much of the world (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_drama). Films were also produced in the 1920s-1950s (and beyond) which were only shown in movie theaters, never to be seen on the small screen until decades later for some. These gems of the entertainment world are still available today for enjoyment but because they are not offered or advertised by the streaming services many have forgotten them.
The Technical Beauty of Audio
Television and modern films can be very entertaining but fundamentally they are forceful. Video images force the viewer to see what the producer or director wants to show. Video solidifies and imprints the vision of a person unto many other people. Radio programs and books allow the audience to construct their own version of what unfolds on the pages or in the airwaves. A family listening to the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet will hear the same program but "see" the characters and the environment described through sound in different variations. These internal images are of their own imagination and cannot be taken away.
From a technical perspective, audio files take up less space than video files. This episode of The Computer Chronicles) is 50MB as an MP4 video file and 14MB as an MP3 audio file. While the comparison in file size can vary based on the file formats and resolution, generally speaking, you can expect video files to be 2-3 times larger than audio files. Considering the vast amount of storage space we can purchase these days, there is a lot of audio entertainment that can be stored in place of video. In theory, a 1 terabyte hard drive could hold over 33 million audio files at 30 megabytes each.
As an art form radio programs require a different sense of imagination. Presenting a tense or suspenseful scene on film is perhaps easier than conveying the same intensity in audio alone. Consider the use of music, sound effects, and narration which are fundamental to audio programs.
Passive vs. Active Consumption
Watching television requires more of your attention. You must use your eyes and ears to process the video images. Audio on the other hand only requires your ears. People have listened to sports events for generations while doing other work around the house. Today with the use of smartphones and Bluetooth headphones and speakers we can listen to audio in more places than ever before. I personally enjoy listening to audio programs while I fold laundry. This is a time when I can be productive and keep my eyes on the laundry while I simultaneously listen and allow a story to unfold in my mind’s eye.
Listening to a radio show at night instead of watching TV or videos on your phone eliminates bluelight in your eyes which we know prevents melatonin production. Also before televisions families gathered around the radio in the living room to listen to shows together.
Where to Find Great Audio Programs
Old-time radio shows are really not much different than modern podcasts. We can download the files and listen anywhere. You may not find OTR shows listed on Spotify or Apple Music. Here are some places to find OTR programs:
-
Youtube: Believe it or not, the world largest video platform has a ton of Old Time Radio programs. Search for old-time radio shows or old-time radio shows [insert genre here] and be amazed at what is offered. You can create a playlist for yourself or listen to one created by others. However, to truly get the radio experience you will want to download the shows or plays lists with a program like yt-dlp or Newpipe.
-
OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHERS GROUP Home Page: Hosted on archive.org, this page has a whole lot of links to radio show collections (also hosted on Archive) which can entertain you for years.
-
The Old Time Radio Catalog: A very comprehensive collection of radio shows. While this site does allow for listening to radio shows online, it also sells CDs. At the very least this site lists probably every radio show ever produced and therefore is a place to at least discover shows that can later be searched for.
-
Societal Glitch Collection: Check out our own list of radio show repositories.
Get Ready to Enjoy
Radio shows like TV shows are not all created equal. You may find some that you enjoy while others fall flat. Whatever your preference you will likely find something which can enjoy. Listening to these programs together on a car ride can be a refreshing change for younger passengers who need a break from screens. Take your listening to a step further by creating a schedule for yourself or your family to listen to these soon-to-be favorite shows. This can give all something to look forward to.
Conclusion
Audio opens the imagination in a way video simply cannot. While the world is still paying monthly subscriptions for their entertainment you can have hundreds of hours of programming for free. A 1TB drive could hold millions of files while it could only hold thousands of videos. Audio can be listened to passively whereas video requires full attention. Consider the world of audio programs and be amazed at what most of the world has already forgotten.
