Audiobooks by CBS Radio

Nostalgia Radio’s Detective Favorites, Vol. 1

"Enjoy sixteen of the greatest detective programs from radio’s golden age and the Hollywood celebrities that starred in them. Nostalgia radio had incredible comedy, mystery, western, sci-fi, drama, and detective shows that kept Americans glued to their radio sets. Families gathered around their living room radios to hear their favorite Hollywood stars in fully-dramatized broadcasts that entertained millions. In this collection of sixteen detective episodes, you’ll hear Frank Sinatra as amateur detective Rocky Fortune, Dick Powell as Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Alan Ladd on Box Thirteen, Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday on Dragnet, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson on The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, William Gargan as Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator, Vincent Price as Simon Templar aka “The Saint” and many more! The Adv. of The Falcon 10/22/50 “The Case of the Double Nephew”The Adv. of Philip Marlowe 10/3/48 “The Persian Slippers”The Adv. of the Saint 12/3/50 “Martin Hickerson, Private Eye”The Adv. of Sam Spade, Detective 12/15/50 “The 25-12345679 Caper”The Adv. of Sherlock Holmes 11/6/39 “The Bruce Partington Plans”Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator 10/17/51Boston Blackie 6/18/48 “The Hooded Gang Protection Racket”Box Thirteen 1948 “Delinquent’s Dilemma”Broadway is My Beat 8/25/49 “Val Dane”Candy Matson 9/21/52 “The Fortune Teller” (audition show)Casey, Crime Photographer 11/2/50 “The Deadly Wolf”Dragnet 8/7/52 “The Big Impression”The New Adv. of Nero Wolfe 12/8/50 “The Impolite Corpse”Philo Vance, Detective 2/13/47 “The Blackjack Murder Case”Richard Diamond, Private Detective 1/4/52 “The Merry-Go-Round Case”Rocky Fortune 11/17/53 “Rocky is a Bass Player”"

CBS Radio (Author), Alan Ladd, Basil Rathbone, Dick Powell, Frank Sinatra, Jack Webb, Vincent Price, William Gargan, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nostalgia Radio’s All-Time Favorites, Vol. 2

"Enjoy sixteen of the greatest programs from radio’s golden age and the Hollywood celebrities that starred in them. Nostalgia radio had incredible comedy, mystery, detective, western, sci-fi, musical, and drama shows that kept Americans glued to their radio sets. Families gathered around their living room radios to hear their favorite Hollywood stars in fully-dramatized broadcasts that entertained millions. In this collection of sixteen episodes, you’ll hear “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” with Dick Powell, “Suspense,” starring Gregory Peck, “The Charlie McCarthy Show” with Edgar Bergan and Robert Cummings, “You Bet Your Life” with Groucho Marx, “The Bickersons” with Lew Parker and Frances Langford, “The Great Gildersleeve” with Hal Peary, and many more! The Adv. of Ellery Queen 11/7/45 The Message in Red w/ Sydney SmithThe Bickersons 6/12/51 The Mink Coat w/ Lew Parker and Frances LangfordThe Charlie McCarthy Show 1953 w/ guest, Robert CummingsDavid Harding, Counterspy 6/22/50 The Case of the Frozen FortuneDuffy’s Tavern 11/2/45 w/ guest Dame Mae WittyThe Fred Allen Show 1/13/46 w/ guest, Maurice EvansThe Great Gildersleeve 11/22/42 Thanksgiving Show – “B” Ration BookLife With Luigi 1/29/52 High Standard of Living w/ J. Carrol NaishThe Line-Up 5/29/51 The Hiccupping Hamster Homeostatic Case w/ Bill JohnstoneMolle’ Mystery Theater 3/8/46 Red Wine w/ Ken Lynch and Richard WidmarkMr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons 11/7/52 Murder and the Prize-winning Bull w/ Phillip ClarkeThe Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show 12/25/51 Phil’s Golf GameRichard Diamond, Private Detective 1/11/52 The White Cow Case w/ Dick PowellSuspense 3/21/46 The Lonely Road w/ Gregory PeckTwo Thousand Plus 11/15/50 Alone You Bet Your Life 2/3/58 Secret Word: Chair w/ Groucho Marx"

CBS Radio (Author), Alice Faye, Dick Powell, Edgar Bergen, Fred Allen, Gregory Peck, Harold Peary, J. Caroll Naish, Richard Widmark, Robert Cummings, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nostalgia Radio’s All-Time Favorites, Vol. 3

"Enjoy sixteen of the greatest programs from radio’s golden age and the Hollywood celebrities that starred in them. Nostalgia radio had incredible comedy, mystery, detective, western, sci-fi, and musical and drama shows that kept Americans glued to their radio sets. Families gathered around their living room radios to hear their favorite Hollywood stars in fully-dramatized broadcasts that entertained millions. In this collection of sixteen episodes, you’ll hear The Jack Benny Program with Jack and all his gang, Suspense with Margaret O’Brien, The Charlie McCarthy Show with Edgar Bergan and Orson Welles, The Bickersons with Lew Parker and Frances Langford, The Great Gildersleeve with Willard Waterman, Dragnet with Jack Webb, and many more! Dark Fantasy 2/6/42 “The Sea Phantom” w/ Ben MorrisThe Charlie McCarthy Show 11/5/44 w/ guests Orson Welles and John Roberts PowersThe Judy Canova Show 9/22/45 “Horseback Riding and Picnic Supper Party” w/ Judy CanovaThe Molle’ Mystery Theater 3/29/46 “The Creeper” w/ Bernard LenrowThe Philco Radio Time 1/29/47 w/ Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy LamourYou Are There 8/25/47 “The Last Day of Pompeii” w/ John DaleyThe Adv. of Sam Spade, Detective 9/26/48 “The Dick Foley Caper” w/ Howard DuffSuspense 11/25/48 “The Screaming Woman” w/ Margaret O’BrienScreen Director’s Playhouse 6/5/49 “The Killers” w/ Burt LancasterThe Jack Benny Program 2/26/50 “Sketch: The Fiddler” w/ Jack BennyLife With Luigi 5/2/50 “Sootho’s Cough Syrup Guarantee” w/ J. Carrol NaishThe Line-Up 7/27/50 “The Paradise Murder Case”The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show 11/12/50 “Phil Has a Nightmare” w/ Phil Harris & Alice FayeThe Bickersons 5/10/51 “The Gooseby Vacation” w/ Lew Parker and Frances LangfordThe Great Gildersleeve 11/7/51 “Building a House” w/ Willard WatermanDragnet 9/1/53 “The Big Bop” w/ Jack Webb"

CBS Radio (Author), Alice Faye, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Bruce Lancaster, Edgar Bergen, Howard Duff, J. Caroll Naish, Jack Webb, Judy Canova, Orson Welles, Phil Harris, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

My Favorite Husband, Vol. 2

"Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman auditioned for the roles of a married couple in a radio pilot for a new comedy, My Favorite Husband, based on the novel Mr. and Mrs. Cugat by Isabel Scott Rorick. The concept was very well received and within a few weeks the weekly sitcom was established. Bowman was replaced by Richard Denning and during the first season, the Cugats were renamed the Coopers, who lived “in a little white two-story house” in the bustling, small suburb of Sheridan Falls. Sometimes forgetful, always loveable, Liz Cooper was constantly embroiled in situations that took an unexpected turn and showcased Lucille Ball’s flair for comedy and her wonderful sense of timing. Liz was the wacky wife; George Cooper was her ultra-conventional banker-husband. Character actor Gale Gordon, who would work with Ball numerous times over the decades, appeared on a regular basis as Rudolph Atterbury, George’s boss. The program’s sponsor was General Foods, makers of Jell-O. The dessert was heavily promoted during the commercial spots and, predictably, the Coopers’ maid Katy (played by actress Ruth Perrott) always enjoying making Jell-O. Jess Oppenheimer produced and directed the series and wrote most of the radio scripts. When CBS asked Lucille Ball to come up with an idea for a television show, she and Oppenheimer reworked the concept into I Love Lucy, replacing Richard Denning with the comedienne’s real-life husband, Desi Arnaz. Episodes included are: “The Portrait Artist,” “Over Budget—Beans,” “Marriage License Error,” “The Absolute Truth,” “Speech For Civic Organization,” “Valentine’s Day,” “Gum Machine—Demand Your Rights,” “Horseback Riding,” “Time Budgeting,” “Overweight,” “Liz Changes Her Mind,” “The Elves,” “Superstition,” “Is There Another Woman?,” “Liz Teaches Iris to Drive,” and “Liz and the Green Wig.”"

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), Lucille Ball, Richard Denning (Narrator)

Audiobook

Nostalgia Radio’s All-Time Favorites, Vol. 1

"Nostalgia radio had incredible comedy, mystery, detective, western, sci-fi, musical, and drama shows that kept Americans glued to their radio sets. Families gathered around their living room radios to hear their favorite Hollywood stars in fully-dramatized broadcasts that entertained millions. In this collection of sixteen episodes, you’ll hear “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” with Dick Powell, “Suspense,” starring Herbert Marshall, “The Charlie McCarthy Show” with Edgar Bergan and Don Ameche, “Duffy’s Tavern” with Ed Gardner, “Your Hit Parade” with Frank Sinatra, “The Jack Benny Program” with Jack Benny and all his gang, “Information Please” with Boris Karloff, “The Philco Radio Time” with Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante, “You Bet Your Life” with Groucho Marx, and many more! Fibber McGee & Molly 6/9/42 Fibber and the Pot Roast w/ Jim and Marian Jordan Duffy’s Tavern 1/18/44 Archie’s Song w/ guest Lauritz Melchoir Your Hit Parade 9/2/44 w/ Top Songs Frank Sinatra The Sealed Book 4/15/45 Escape By Death w/ Phillip Clarke The Silver Theater 7/29/45 Gilded Pheasant w/ Marguerite Chapman The Charlie McCarthy Show 1/14/45 Tribute to Benjamin Franklin w/ guest, Louis Bromfield Information Please 12/24/45 w/ guest, Boris Karloff The Philco Radio Time 12/4/46 w/ Bing Crosby and guest, Jimmy Durante The Jack Benny Program 10/3/48 Jack Hears an Echo w/ Jack Benny and all his gang Famous Jury Trials 1950s #13 The State Vs. Vernon Craig Counterspy 6/20/50 The Case of the Psychic’s Secrets w/ Don MacLaughlin Inner Sanctum Mystery 5/28/51 The Unforgiving Corpse w/ Luis van Rooten Richard Diamond, Private Detective 7/26/53 The Mona Lisa Murder w/ Dick Powell Suspense 2/9/58 The Longshot w/ Herbert Marshall You Bet Your Life 1959 #384 Secret word: Smile w/ Groucho Marx Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar 9/25/60 The Five Down Matter w/ Bob Bailey"

CBS Radio (Author), Bing Crosby, Boris Karloff, Charlie McCarthy, Dick Powell, Edgar Bergen, Frank Sinatra, Groucho Marx, Herbert Marshall, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, John Dehner, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

You Are There! US History: Dramatizations of US History

"Bring history back to life through Jim Hodges’ historically accurate, exciting, and edifying audio recordings. “You Are There” radio dramatization begins with “live” background coverage of the historical event, and then the “on the scene reporters” take over. Everybody knows there were no radio announcers onboard the Niña, Pinta, or Santa Maria, (or from Ancient Greece, Medieval France, or the Battle of Gettysburg either!) but you will be transported back in time anyway as the show “broadcasts” from the ships, the shore, and from Spain. The dialogue is very believable, historically accurate, and very much in character. It is apparent that the producers of this show did their homework! Let’s listen to the announcer now … “CBS take you back to 1492. All things are as they were then, except for one thing: when CBS is there, You Are There! You Are There is based on authentic historical fact and quotations, and now, on to our story.” Look for the Old Time Radio Show Collection from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s! These classic stories will capture your attention as they reenact history in short programs."

CBS Radio (Author), John Daly (Narrator)

Audiobook

You Are There! World History: Dramatizations of World History

"Bring history back to life through Jim Hodges’ historically accurate, exciting and edifying audio recordings. “You Are There” radio dramatization begins with “live” background coverage of the historical event, and then the “on the scene reporters” take over. Everybody knows there were no radio announcers onboard the Niña, Pinta, or Santa Maria, (or from Ancient Greece, Medieval France, or the Battle of Gettysburg either!) but you will be transported back in time anyway as the show “broadcasts” from the ships, the shore, and from Spain. The dialogue is very believable, historically accurate, and very much in character. It is apparent that the producers of this show did their homework! Let’s listen to the announcer now … “CBS takes you back to 1492. All things are as they were then, except for one thing: when CBS is there, You Are There! You Are There is based on authentic historical fact and quotations, and now, on to our story.” Look for the Old Time Radio Show Collection from the 30s, 40s, and 50s! These classic stories will capture your attention as they reenact history in short programs."

CBS Radio (Author), John Daly, John Hollenback (Narrator)

Audiobook

Inner Sanctum Mysteries, Vol. 3

"Every week, Inner Sanctum Mysteries told a story of ghosts, murderers, and lunatics. Taking its name from a popular series of mystery novels, Inner Sanctum Mysteries debuted over NBC radio’s Blue Network in January 1941 and featured one of the most memorable and atmospheric openings in radio history as an organist hit a dissonant chord, a doorknob turned, and a creaking door slowly began to open. Inner Sanctum Mysteries was produced in New York, the cast usually consisting of veteran radio actors, with occasional guest appearances by such Hollywood stars as Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and Claude Rains. What made Inner Sanctum Mysteries unique among radio horror shows was its host, a slightly sinister sounding fellow originally known as “Raymond.” The host had a droll sense of humor and an appetite for ghoulish puns, and his influence can be seen among horror hosts everywhere, from the Crypt Keeper to Elvira. Raymond Edward Johnson was the show’s host until 1945; Paul McGrath took over as host until the show left the air in 1952. Producer Himan Brown would utilize the creaking door again in the 1970s, when he produced and directed The CBS Radio Mystery Theater. In this collection are the following episodes and the date they aired on radio: “Corridor of Doom” (23 Oct 45) “The Wailing Wall” (6 Nov 45) “Boomerang” (20 Nov 45) “The Dark Chamber” (11 Dec 45) “The Confession” (22 Jan 46) “Death of a Doll” (18 Oct 48) “The Devil’s Fortune” (31 Jan 49) “The Unburied Dead” (16 May 49) “The Corpse without a Conscience” (20 Jun 49) “Beneficiary: Death” (17 Apr 50) “No Rest for the Dead” (13 Jul 50) “Twice Dead” (6 Nov 50)"

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), Boris Karloff, Paul McGrath, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Suspense, Vol. 3

"Conceived as a potential radio vehicle for Alfred Hitchcock to direct, Suspense was a radio series of epic proportion. It aired on CBS from 1942 to 1962, and is considered by many to be the best mystery/drama series of the golden age. Often referred to as “Radio’s Outstanding Theater of Thrills” it focused on suspenseful thrillers starring the biggest names in Hollywood. Early in the run, the episodes were hosted by the “Man in Black” who, from an omniscient perch, narrated stories of people thrown into dangerous or bizarre situations with plots that, at the very end, usually had an unseen twist or two. Hollywood’s finest actors jumped at the chance to appear on Suspense, including Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Alan Ladd, Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, and Orson Welles. Scripts were by John Dickson Carr, Lucille Fletcher, James Poe, Ray Bradbury, and many others. Running more than twenty years, Suspense aired nearly one thousand radio broadcasts. It made the transition to television in 1949, but it was on radio that Suspense enjoyed its glory days."

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), Cary Grant, Robert Young, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Classic Radio Spotlights: Jack Webb

"Jack Webb (1920–1982) was a popular American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter. He started out in the entertainment industry in comedy but achieved his first success playing the title character in the radio show Pat Novak, for Hire. His greater success came from his role as Los Angeles Police Department sergeant Joe Friday in the show Dragnet, which he created based on actual LAPD criminal case files and which ran for many years on both radio and television. This classic radio collection spotlights Jack Webb in episodes from a variety of series from the golden age of radio. The Jack Webb Show: “Slim Slade, Western Bandleader” (17 Apr 46) Suspense: “Murder by an Expert” (24 Jul 47) Escape: “Ring of Thoth” (11 Aug 47) The Whistler: “Meeting on Tenth Street” ( 25 Feb 48) Jeff Regan, Investigator: “The Guy from Gower Gulch” (13 Nov 48) Pat Novak, for Hire: “Watch Wendy Morris” (8 May 49) The Whistler: “The Eager Pigeon” (28 Aug 49) Escape: “Border Town” (13 Dec 49) Escape: “Poison” (28 Jul 50) Pete Kelly’s Blues: “Shy Woman” (29 Aug 51) Dragnet: “Big Jolt” (5 Oct 52) Dragnet: “Big Pill” (19 Oct 52)"

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), Jack Webb, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Fort Laramie, Vol. 1

"Fort Laramie was an adult-oriented Western radio series that aired Sunday afternoons on the CBS radio network in 1956. Produced and directed by Gunsmoke’s Norman Macdonnell, this realistic Western drama depicted life at Fort Laramie, an important stop on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails, as well as a staging point for various military excursions during the nineteenth century. In 1849 the fort was taken over by the United States Army to protect the many wagon trains of migrant travelers on the trail. The fort was located across the North Platte River from the town of Laramie, at the mouth of the Laramie River, in Wyoming Territory. The radio series starred Raymond Burr as Lee Quince, captain of the cavalry. Regulars included Vic Perrin, Harry Bartell, Jack Moyles, Howard McNear, Sam Edwards, John Dehner, John McIntire, Virginia Gregg, James Nusser, Parley Baer, and Barney Phillips. Most of the scripts were written by John Meston, Kathleen Hite, Les Crutchfield, and John Dunkel. Amerigo Marino supplied the music. These twelve exciting episodes aired in February and April 1956 and include: “Squaw Man”“The Woman at Horse Creek”“Boredom”“The Captain’s Widow”“The Shavetail”“Hattie Pelfrey”“The Beasley Girls”“The Coward”“The Lost Child”“Stage Coach Stop”“The New Recruit”“Capture”"

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), Raymond Burr, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Our Miss Brooks, Vol. 2

"Our Miss Brooks was a situation comedy show heard on radio and seen on television and films starring Oscar winner Eve Arden. Her skill with the wicked one-liner and acid aside had begun to lead to typecasting so, to find a new image, Arden signed on for the lead in radio’s Our Miss Brooks. The series centered on Connie Brooks, a smart, sharp-witted, lovable English teacher at fictional Madison High School. Between gentle wisecracks, Miss Brooks doted on nerdish student Walter Denton and frequently locked horns with crusty, cranky Principal Osgood Conklin. Many plot lines revolved around Miss Brooks’ longing for Philip Boynton, the school’s bashful biology teacher. Our Miss Brooks made a successful jump to TV in 1952 while the radio series lasted until 1957. Episodes included are: “Old Clothing,” “Poor Heat,” “Student Government Day,” “Head of the English Department,” “The Frog,” “Stretch Has a Crush,” “Faculty Dance, New Hairdo,” “Cafeteria Boycott,” “Clay City High Wants Brooks,” “April Fool’s Party,” “Wake Up Plan,” and “Working for Easter Outfit.”"

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, a full cast (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks by CBS Radio

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