There were serialized dramatic stories, news broadcasts, music, comedy, talk shows, celebrity hosts (and gossip about the stars), together with hours and hours of opinions and advice.
Look below for a sample of old-time radio programming. You may notice how a lot of today’s podcast types really aren’t anything new.
The Perry Como show on old CBS radio (1955)
“Well, Mr Smart Lawyer… let’s see you get out of this!” (1958)
There’s no trouble like other people’s troubles. Nothing like getting all wrapped up… and lost in someone else’s problems.
Specially when they’re old friends who have been coming by the house for years, keeping a person company while she does the chores. A flick of the radio switch… and they’re in the kitchen visiting with you.
Warm, wise, exciting… real people like Ma Perkins… Wendy Warren… Nora Drake… sharing their trials and triumphs… filling those quiet moments of the day when you’re alone… with the fascinating stories of their very real lives. Won’t you invite them into your house soon?
Two golden hours a day… wonderful people share their lives with you on the CBS Radio Network.
Monday through Friday. See your local paper for station and time.
One immediate reason to turn to your CBS Radio Station and stay there: News! (1965)
You don’t need much of a radio station to give you a quick sketch of the news. Which is exactly why there’s nothing sketchy about the news on a CBS Radio Network station.
It’s the one that really fills you in. Complete news on the hour. At least 10 minutes of hourly news weekdays. Outstanding news features like “World News Roundup” and “The World Tonight.” And top reporters all the time.
The men who deliver our news have the depth and experience and insight you want. The eight correspondents in this ad, for example, are voices you recognize. And they are only eight of a famous worldwide staff.
But don’t take our word for it. Tune in on your CBS Radio station for one whole day. You’ll know what’s happening in the world. And around the corner, too.
Some pretty funny reasons to turn to your CBS Radio Station. And stay there. (1965)
Really funny people don’t need tricks or gimmicks. All they have to do is be themselves. On CBS Radio every weekday.
Arthur Godfrey keeps the hilarity spinning with guests like Carol Channing, Danny Kaye, Orson Bean, Dean Martin. Lucille Ball means more star sparkle, entertaining visitors like Red Skelton, Mary Tyler Moore and many others. And Art Linkletter’s show is full of unpredictable delight. He talks to children.
That’s weekdays on CBS Radio. And there’s lots more. Newsmen such as Douglas Edwards, Walter Cronkite, Lowell Thomas and correspondents around the world keep you up-to-the-minute.
Frank Gifford, Jack Drees, Phil Rizzuto cover sports with inside dope, scores and donnybrooks. And dozens of Dimension features brighten your week with sidelights on everything.
Turn to your CBS Radio Station listed opposite for one pretty serious reason: great listening. All week long.
Old CBS Radio shows with the latest news (1965)
1/2 dozen choice reasons to turn to your CBS Radio Station. And stay there.
No place but no place in radio can you find stars like these stars. Not just once a week but every weekday. Not just the ones shown here, but lots more.
News by Douglas Edwards, Richard C Hottelet and other crack CBS Newsmen. Comedy and laughter with Arthur Godfrey, Art Linkletter, guest celebrities. Latest sports from men who know the score — like Frank Gifford and Phil Rizzuto.
The fact is, there’s just too much here to miss. So turn to your CBS Radio station listed opposite. And stay there. Because the listening is choice. Every weekday. At home… in your car… wherever you are.
A FORMER RADIO STAR: Betty White had this advice for choosing the best dog to be your pet (1958)
Dear Abby on the CBS Radio Network (1966)
If you’ve got personal problems, listen to Dear Abby on the CBS Radio Network. Maybe you’ll feel a little better.
What’s your problem? Your in-laws are acting like out-laws? Your husband gave you a steam iron for your anniversary? Your kids won’t lend you the family car?
Whatever it is, you’ll feel better about it when you listen to Dear Abby on CBS Radio every weekday. Because Abby makes you realize the neighbors have it tough, too. And because her style of advice is in a class by itself.
ALSO SEE: Burns & Allen: The story of world-famous comedy duo George Burns & Gracie Allen
Besides Abby, we’ve other people to brighten and enlighten your day: Arthur Godfrey, Art Linkletter, and Durward Kirby with laughs. Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, and Douglas Edwards with news.
And plenty more — every weekday. So turn to your local CBS Radio Station. You’ll feel a little better. And so will we.
Walter Cronkite: If the world situation has you emotionally mixed up, listen to our analyst. (1966)
Walter Cronkite is the kind of newsman other newsmen listen to on their day off. And with good reason. Walter’s knowledge and sense of history bring order and understanding to world events. Order and understanding we all can use.
But Walter isn’t the only good news on the CBS Radio Network.
There’s Allan Jackson, Douglas Edwards, Harry Reasoner, Mike Wallace, Richard C Hottelet, Reid Collins, Eric Sevareid, Lowell Thomas, Dallas Townsend and a lot more. Virtually a who’s who of award-winning CBS News correspondents.
Tune to your local CBS Radio station today. You’ll find there’s no news like our news.
MORE: See the old-fashioned clock radios that used to be super popular
Football: Frank Gifford learned to be a CBS Radio sportscaster from the ground up. (1966)
Number 16 made great personal contacts in his 11 years with the N. Y. Giants. (On and off the field.) Now he tells you what he knows every weekday evening on “Worldwide Sports” — at 7:15 PM on most CBS Radio stations.
It’s a unique program. It covers sports events all over the country and world. You get the story straight from the scene, and the last word on scores, headlines (and rhubarbs) from Gifford.
We also bring you other men who know the game from the ground up: baseball great Phil Rizzuto six days a week, and ex-basketball star Jack Drees ten times each weekend. Insiders like these bring something extra to sportscasting. Catch them on your local CBS Radio station. It’s all-pro listening.
First Line Report: The news you won’t hear on newscasts. (1968)
Inside stuff. From Washington. First thing in the morning. Reported by Marvin Kalb and Dan Rather. CBS News correspondents who don’t pull punches.
Letting you in on the Who and Why behind the news. Revealing private opinions of public people. Analyzing the ripples of influence spread out from the capital. Setting the pace for later reports by Walter Cronkite, Allan Jackson, Douglas Edwards, Harry Reasoner.
First Line Report. Monday-Saturday on your CBS Radio station.
One Response
We tend to think of radio shows featuring drama and comedy as a phenomenon of the 1930s and ’40s. But it’s surprising to realize that they lasted well into the 1960s and the TV era. As recently as the early 1980s, radio programing (at least on AM) was far more eclectic and varied than it is today; a typical hour might feature a few songs of different genres, a bit of news, a short comedy or drama bit, and a brief commentary or editorial from the likes of Paul Harvey.