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Title: On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio by John Dunning ISBN: 0-19-507678-8 Publisher: Oxford Press Pub. Date: May, 1998 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $60.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.79 (14 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The Definitive Book on Old-Time Radio
Comment: John's 1976 "Tune In Yesterday" is a classic. "On The Air" is more than just a revision of his earlier book. Some 1,500 radio shows presented in alphabetical order. There is extensive information on each show's length of run, cast, writers, and directors. A comprehensive bibliography of Old-Time Radio (OTR) literature is included.
What really sets this book apart from other OTR books is John's insightful writing about the shows; he writes from the heart and with passion. John is an acknowledged expert on OTR; he had OTR shows on various stations in Denver, CO for over 20 years. John is also a best-selling author - his two novels on, cop-turned rare book seller/detective, Cliff Janeway are very readable.
If I could only buy one OTR book, this one is it!
Rating: 5
Summary: An essential old time radio book
Comment: If you only want to purchase a single book on the subject of old time radio then this has to be it. The alternative is probably Swartz & Reinehr's Handbook of Old-Time Radio. The latter covers a lot more different series than the Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, but there is only a brief amount of information on each one. In this John Dunning masterpiece there are comprehensive details on ALL of the major shows, hundreds of them. The reviews range from a few lines up to full-blown essays that detail everything from the history of the show through to the leading stars, directors and even sound effects personnel. Dunning manages to do this in a style that is anything but dull. He manages to make even the most mundane of shows seem worth listening to and his passion for this medium is evident on every one of it's 800+ pages. It isn't a cheap book, but to the old radio show fan it really is worth it's weight in gold (maybe that's a slight exaggeration as this is a BIG heavy book that could double-up as a door-stop). Happy listening! Ned Norris, Webmaster of RUSC Old Time Radio Shows...
Rating: 5
Summary: an excellant title
Comment: John Dunning's book is NOT for the casual fan or a college student who might want to know a thing or two about a legendary comedian or actor. i wouldn't want a person who really didn't like OTR to buy this book because you'll find a TON of information in here that'll blow you mind. however, for OTR fans, there is nothing that comes close to this. To the general public, OTR might be a series of letters. It means Old Time Radio, for those in the know. What i find great is the in-depth nature of the "classics" of OTR: Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Burns and Allen, The Great Gildersleeve, "Fibber McGee and Molly" with Jim and Marian Jordan, Red Skelton, Amos 'n' Andy, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Eddie Cantor, and several dramatic programs like "Gunsmoke", "Suspense", "Dragnet", and "The Shadow", among many many others. This book is the radio equivalent to the Alex McNeil book "Total Television". Both books offer information on just about everything the mediums have to offer. Dunning also does a break down on the major news organizations and highlights many famed and not so famous news reporters. This section on the news is a sad glimpse into a by-gone era where journalism was a profession and NOT simply a means to harrass and embarrass political or entertainment figures which is so common now. the way Dunning describes it, there was a certain bit of good taste that followed the news reporters and they weren't motivated by tabloid and sleaze. MY HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!! Dunning also provides a wealth of information on sports broadcasters of the era, highlighted by the quips and opinions from Red Barber, a legendary sportscaster who had respected opinions of his peers and his profession. Dunning is a bit harsh on the soap opera genre, which is stereotypically synonymous with ANY mention of old-time radio. Well, i should say Dunning doesn't come across as kind and gentle on some soap operas...primarily the LONG-RUNNING soaps from Frank and Anne Hummert. To me, those are the soap operas that define the genre despite others that were on the air {such as "Guiding Light", which hit in 1937 and is STILL airing some 67 years later by way of TV}. Despite Dunning's contemporary approach to the now hilariously campy Hummert soap operas, the look backs are STILL informative even behind his critques of the Hummert's writing style, a mark of professionalism. In one section, Dunning's review of why George Jessel and Milton Berle NEVER had such success on radio is accurate. Jessel's thick accent and style were suited for "live" programs that required little rehearsal and mostly ad-libs. Jessel is much more funny as a guest on other people's shows...Berle, of course, was a visual comedian and he too found radio as a limited format. All in all, the book is fabulous. With regards to "Amos 'n' Andy" and being a fan of old-time radio like i am, i find nothing wrong with this show. i've heard it countless times and i can't think of anything racial about it....UNLESS a person is hung-up on the fact that two white guys played the roles...but even then, a normal student of OTR will shrug that off as simply "that's the way it was" and move on. They won't crucify and protest the show, which, honestly had no intentional malice to begin with. The show was a victim of it's times in television and those same thin-skinnned pious protesters who practice reverse racism destroyed the show for the TV generation. For that, those responsible that couldn't laugh along with stereotypical humor should be ashamed. However, get this book...it'll teach everyone how to look at OTR even in these ridiculously politically-correct times.
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Title: Great American Broadcast: A Celebration of Radio's Golden Age by Leonard Maltin ISBN: 0451200780 Publisher: New American Library Pub. Date: 07 November, 2000 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: The Encyclopedia of American Radio: An A-Z Guide to Radio from Jack Benny to Howard Stern by Ron Lackmann, Ronald W. Lackmann, Norman Corwin ISBN: 081604077X Publisher: Checkmark Books Pub. Date: May, 2000 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Raised on Radio: In Quest of the Lone Ranger, Jack Benny, Amos "N" Andy, the Shadow, Mary Noble, the Great Gildersleeve, Fibber McGee and Molly, Bill Stern, Our Miss b by Gerald Nachman ISBN: 0520223039 Publisher: University of California Press Pub. Date: 23 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Great Radio Heroes by Jim Harmon, Frank Bresee, Richard A. Lupoff ISBN: 0786408502 Publisher: McFarland & Company Pub. Date: February, 2001 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: The Big Broadcast 1920-1950 by Frank Buxton, Bill Owen, Henry Morgan, William Hugh Owen ISBN: 0810829576 Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield (Non NBN) Pub. Date: 27 November, 1996 List Price(USD): $75.00 |
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