MeTV radio / Radio programs that ended up on TV - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

24/7 reruns · 12-28-2022, 10:17 AM

I wonder why MeTV hasn't set up a radio station based on old time radio programs. Understandably an internet or app format would work best. I can't see a terrestrial station would be worth it for them.

Sirius XM has a channel for these programs. I often listen to the old radio programs an do enjoy them. I discovered how some shows transitioned better to TV than others. Jack Benny and Burns & Allen did well I think. Our Miss Brooks, for me, didn't.

Interesting to see the early Burns and Allen tv shows using the radio format of having a music or dance guest to break up the sitcom part of the program. Jack Benny Program was very much the same throughout it's run. Each week you didn't know if it would be a stage show or sitcom or both. Our Miss Brooks I think thought that they were still on radio. Like Connie introducing Walter entering the house or Mr. Conklin's over reactions to things.

What's your favorite radio program? How did it do on TV assuming it ended up there?

Alan Brady's Hair · 12-28-2022, 11:01 AM

I'll guess MeTV doesn't do it because most of the material is public domain and they couldn't make much money off it. I think that Sirius gets some value by delivering it to cars efficiently.

Concur on all your choices there. What's interesting for me about the transition is that I think comedy actually took a little step backward for a few years. The first few episodes of I Love Lucy feel more primitive and self-conscious than the performances in Lucy's My Favorite Husband. I Love Lucy got up to speed very quickly.

Aside from the comedies, shows I like a lot include Dragnet and Gunsmoke. Dragnet I think did fine on TV. I guess Gunsmoke did, too, but Matt Dillon on radio was a genuinely rough guy, and William Conrad played the role perfectly.

24/7 reruns · 12-28-2022, 11:48 AM

Wow, I didn't know that about William Conrad. I knew of Cannon, Jake and the Fatman, and my favorite being him as the announcer for Rocky and Bullwinkle.

treky · 12-29-2022, 03:26 AM

I guess my fav. would also be GUNSMOKE and DRAGNET. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL was also a good radio show but it was a TV show first then became a radio show after the TV show was cancelled

Coffeecup · 01-01-2023, 04:18 PM

[QUOTE=Alan Brady's Hair;6118305]I'll guess MeTV doesn't do it because most of the material is public domain and they couldn't make much money off it. I think that Sirius gets some value by delivering it to cars efficiently.

I would like to listen to radio programs of years gone by, for it is nice on just to listen versus keeping your eye on the tv screen. My grandmother did much of housecleaning listening to soap operas of the 1940's. Where could I find programs to listen to??

DJM77 · 01-01-2023, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

I would like to listen to radio programs of years gone by, for it is nice on just to listen versus keeping your eye on the tv screen. My grandmother did much of housecleaning listening to soap operas of the 1940's. Where could I find programs to listen to??

If you get Sirius XM then you could try listening to channel 148.

cd637299 · 01-01-2023, 05:20 PM

I have a phone app, OTR Streamer. I have enjoyed it—but frankly, I start to fall asleep before any episode ends.

cd

24/7 reruns · 01-01-2023, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

to radio programs of years gone by, for it is nice on just to listen versus keeping your eye on the tv screen. My grandmother did much of housecleaning listening to soap operas of the 1940's. Where could I find programs to listen to??

I know that Internet Archives has a massive selection of old time radio programs.

Google Podcast also has a huge selection of programs. I'm guessing similar service would have old radio shows.

Amazon music has some as well.

There may still be the ability to buy CDs of old radio shows.

Lots of places to search.

Charles Knox · 01-01-2023, 09:51 PM

Youtube is also a good source for the old radio shows

cd637299 · 01-01-2023, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24/7 reruns

Wow, I didn't know that about William Conrad. I knew of Cannon, Jake and the Fatman, and my favorite being him as the announcer for Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Oh yes, a long time ago my brother and I were listening to an OTR Gunsmoke (I forget the source) with Conrad. One could tell that the horses’ gallops and whinnies were done by humans—the gallops by slapping thighs, I guess!

cd

Charles Knox · 01-01-2023, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24/7 reruns

Wow, I didn't know that about William Conrad. I knew of Cannon, Jake and the Fatman, and my favorite being him as the announcer for Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Conrad actually did a lot of television voice work for Quinn Martin productions.

24/7 reruns · 01-01-2023, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cd637299

Oh yes, a long time ago my brother and I were listening to an OTR Gunsmoke (I forget the source) with Conrad. One could tell that the horses’ gallops and whinnies were done by humans—the gallops by slapping thighs, I guess!

cd

Good thing it was radio. Imagine the poor horse having to carry Conrad if it were TV!

treky · 01-02-2023, 02:48 AM

you can also buy a lot of the old radio shows on CD

24/7 reruns · 01-02-2023, 10:10 PM

I was thinking of a new approach to the Yule Log. Here in NY we have Antenna TV, WPIX, and SNY running a Yule Log. Antenna TV and WPIX play holiday music. SNY places a TV on the mantle and show old baseball games.

What if Antenna TV play old radio show's holiday episodes instead of music. With them running the TV versions of Jack Benny plus Burns and Allen there should be enough to cover the 4 hours that the Yule Log is on. They can place an old radio on the mantle.

cd637299 · 01-02-2023, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24/7 reruns

I was thinking of a new approach to the Yule Log. Here in NY we have Antenna TV, WPIX, and SNY running a Yule Log. Antenna TV and WPIX play holiday music. SNY places a TV on the mantle and show old baseball games.

What if Antenna TV play old radio show's holiday episodes instead of music. With them running the TV versions of Jack Benny plus Burns and Allen there should be enough to cover the 4 hours that the Yule Log is on. They can place an old radio on the mantle.

Well, I thought that the purpose of the Log is to show a fireplace for homes not equipped with one. It gives each home a “down home Christmas” feel.

Showing an old radio won’t do the trick!

The Yule Log was sold at Dollar Tree and similar places, and likely contains music that fell into public domain (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong). Actually I watched a few minutes of it this year (temperatures were even in the 40s here in South FL, so it had its purpose!).

cd

12-28-2022, 10:17 AM	#1
24/7 reruns Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 10, 2022 Location: New York Posts: 1,468	MeTV radio / Radio programs that ended up on TV I wonder why MeTV hasn't set up a radio station based on old time radio programs. Understandably an internet or app format would work best. I can't see a terrestrial station would be worth it for them. Sirius XM has a channel for these programs. I often listen to the old radio programs an do enjoy them. I discovered how some shows transitioned better to TV than others. Jack Benny and Burns & Allen did well I think. Our Miss Brooks, for me, didn't. Interesting to see the early Burns and Allen tv shows using the radio format of having a music or dance guest to break up the sitcom part of the program. Jack Benny Program was very much the same throughout it's run. Each week you didn't know if it would be a stage show or sitcom or both. Our Miss Brooks I think thought that they were still on radio. Like Connie introducing Walter entering the house or Mr. Conklin's over reactions to things. What's your favorite radio program? How did it do on TV assuming it ended up there?

12-29-2022, 03:26 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I guess my fav. would also be GUNSMOKE and DRAGNET. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL was also a good radio show but it was a TV show first then became a radio show after the TV show was cancelled
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

12-28-2022, 11:01 AM	#2
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,825	I'll guess MeTV doesn't do it because most of the material is public domain and they couldn't make much money off it. I think that Sirius gets some value by delivering it to cars efficiently. Concur on all your choices there. What's interesting for me about the transition is that I think comedy actually took a little step backward for a few years. The first few episodes of I Love Lucy feel more primitive and self-conscious than the performances in Lucy's My Favorite Husband. I Love Lucy got up to speed very quickly. Aside from the comedies, shows I like a lot include Dragnet and Gunsmoke. Dragnet I think did fine on TV. I guess Gunsmoke did, too, but Matt Dillon on radio was a genuinely rough guy, and William Conrad played the role perfectly.

12-28-2022, 11:48 AM	#3
24/7 reruns Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 10, 2022 Location: New York Posts: 1,468	Wow, I didn't know that about William Conrad. I knew of Cannon, Jake and the Fatman, and my favorite being him as the announcer for Rocky and Bullwinkle.

01-01-2023, 04:18 PM	#5
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,181	[QUOTE=Alan Brady's Hair;6118305]I'll guess MeTV doesn't do it because most of the material is public domain and they couldn't make much money off it. I think that Sirius gets some value by delivering it to cars efficiently. I would like to listen to radio programs of years gone by, for it is nice on just to listen versus keeping your eye on the tv screen. My grandmother did much of housecleaning listening to soap operas of the 1940's. Where could I find programs to listen to??

01-01-2023, 05:20 PM	#7
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 848	I have a phone app, OTR Streamer. I have enjoyed it—but frankly, I start to fall asleep before any episode ends. cd

01-01-2023, 09:51 PM	#9
Charles Knox Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 1,225	Youtube is also a good source for the old radio shows

01-02-2023, 02:48 AM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	you can also buy a lot of the old radio shows on CD

01-02-2023, 10:10 PM	#14
24/7 reruns Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 10, 2022 Location: New York Posts: 1,468	I was thinking of a new approach to the Yule Log. Here in NY we have Antenna TV, WPIX, and SNY running a Yule Log. Antenna TV and WPIX play holiday music. SNY places a TV on the mantle and show old baseball games. What if Antenna TV play old radio show's holiday episodes instead of music. With them running the TV versions of Jack Benny plus Burns and Allen there should be enough to cover the 4 hours that the Yule Log is on. They can place an old radio on the mantle.