Brett’s Old Time Radio Show

By: Brett Orchard
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  • Summary

  • Let’s sit back, dim the lights and journey to the amazing old time radio shows of yesterday. Join me whilst we listen to some of the great shows from our radio archives right here on the South Coast of the UK. Outside it’s cold and dark, the waves are crashing on the rocks below but we’re sitting in front of a roaring fire with a hot drink, and I have some fantastic stories to share.
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Episodes
  • Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 748, Dad's Army, The Big Parade

    Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 748, Dad's Army, The Big Parade
    Nov 22 2024
    Good evening and a huge welcome back to the show, I hope you’ve had a great day and you’re ready to kick back and relax with another episode of Brett’s old time radio show. Hello, I’m Brett your host for this evening and welcome to my home in beautiful Lyme Bay where it’s lovely December night. I hope it’s just as nice where you are. You'll find all of my links at www.linktr.ee/brettsoldtimeradioshow A huge thankyou for joining me once again for our regular late night visit to those dusty studio archives of Old Time radio shows right here at my home in the united kingdom. Don’t forget I have an instagram page and youtube channel both called brett’s old time radio show and I’d love it if you could follow me. Feel free to send me some feedback on this and the other shows if you get a moment, brett@tourdate.co.uk #sleep #insomnia #relax #chill #night #nighttime #bed #bedtime #oldtimeradio #drama #comedy #radio #talkradio #hancock #tonyhancock #hancockshalfhour #sherlock #sherlockholmes #radiodrama #popular #viral #viralpodcast #podcast #podcasting #podcasts #podtok #podcastclip #podcastclips #podcasttrailer #podcastteaser #newpodcastepisode #newpodcast #videopodcast #upcomingpodcast #audiogram #audiograms #truecrimepodcast #historypodcast #truecrime #podcaster #viral #popular #viralpodcast #number1 #instagram #youtube #facebook #johnnydollar #crime #fiction #unwind #devon #texas #texasranger #beer #seaton #seaside #smuggler #colyton #devon #seaton #beer #branscombe #lymebay #lymeregis #brett #brettorchard #orchard #greatdetectives #greatdetectivesofoldtimeradio #detectives #johnnydollar #thesaint #steptoe #texasrangers Dad's Army Dad's Army is a British television sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and originally broadcast on BBC1 from 31 July 1968 to 13 November 1977. It ran for nine series and 80 episodes in total; a feature film released in 1971, a stage show and a radio version based on the television scripts were also produced. The series regularly gained audiences of 18 million viewers and is still shown internationally. The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, either because of age (hence the title Dad's Army), medical reasons or by being in professions exempt from conscription. Most of the platoon members in Dad's Army are over military age and the series stars several older British actors, including Arnold Ridley, John Laurie, Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier. Younger members of the cast included Ian Lavender, Clive Dunn (who, despite being one of the younger cast members, played the oldest guardsman, Lance Corporal Jones) and James Beck (who died suddenly during production of the sixth series in 1973). Other regular cast members included Frank Williams as the vicar, Edward Sinclair as the verger, and Bill Pertwee as the chief ARP warden. The series has influenced British popular culture, with its catchphrases and characters being widely known. The Radio Times magazine listed Captain Mainwaring's "You stupid boy!" among the 25 greatest put-downs on TV. A 2001 Channel 4 poll ranked Captain Mainwaring 21st on its list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters. In 2004, Dad's Army came fourth in a BBC poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom. It was placed 13th in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, and voted for by industry professionals. A second feature film of Dad's Army with a different cast was released in 2016. In 2019, UKTV recreated three missing episodes for broadcast in August that year on its Gold channel under the title Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes. It starred Kevin McNally and Robert Bathurst as Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson. Origins Co-writers David Croft and Jimmy Perry during a Dad's Army event at Bressingham Steam Museum, May 2011 Originally intended to be called The Fighting Tigers, Dad's Army was based partly on co-writer and creator Jimmy Perry's experiences in the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV, later known as the Home Guard) and highlighted a somewhat forgotten aspect of defence during the Second World War. Perry was only 16 when he joined the 10th Hertfordshire Battalion. His mother did not like him being out at night, and feared he might catch a cold; he partly resembled the character of Private Pike. An elderly lance corporal in the 10th Hertfordshire often referred to fighting under Kitchener against the "Fuzzy Wuzzies" (Hadendoa), and was the model for Lance Corporal Jones. Other influences included the work of comedians such as Will Hay, whose film Oh, Mr Porter! featured a pompous ass, an old man and a young man; together, this gave Perry the ideas for Mainwaring, Godfrey and Pike. Film historian Jeffrey Richards has cited Lancastrian comedian Robb Wilton as a key influence; Wilton portrayed a work-shy husband who joined the Home Guard in numerous...
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    31 mins
  • Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 747, Secrets of Scotland Yard, Burke and Hare

    Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 747, Secrets of Scotland Yard, Burke and Hare
    Nov 21 2024

    Good evening, dear listeners, and welcome back to another thrilling episode of Brett’s Old Time Radio Show. I hope you've had a wonderful day and you're ready to unwind, relax, and join me for a captivating journey back in time. Here at my home in beautiful Lyme Bay, it’s a lovely December evening, and I can only hope it’s just as cozy and peaceful where you are.

    If you’re new here, I’m Brett, your host for this evening, guiding you through the dusty archives of old-time radio. For those of you who have joined me before, welcome back – your presence truly makes the night special. Don’t forget, you can find all of my links, including Instagram and YouTube, at www.linktr.ee/brettsoldtimeradioshow. I’d love to have you follow along on those platforms as well.

    Your feedback means the world to me, so feel free to send me any thoughts, comments, or suggestions at brett@tourdate.co.uk. Now, sit back, relax, and prepare for another unforgettable radio experience.

    Tonight, we have a classic in store for you: Secrets of Scotland Yard, a gripping radio program that transported listeners to the heart of London’s legendary Metropolitan Police Headquarters. Broadcasting from the 1940s to the 1950s, this show became a hallmark of the golden age of radio, blending real-life criminal cases with thrilling dramatizations and offering a rare glimpse into the world of Scotland Yard’s finest detectives.

    Secrets of Scotland Yard was not just a radio show – it was an invitation into the world of crime-solving that captivated audiences with its compelling, often chilling true crime stories. Each episode unfolded like a documentary, narrated by the authoritative voices of seasoned hosts like Clive Brook. His calm yet deliberate tone added gravitas to the intricate tales of murder, robbery, and espionage that the Yard had faced. With each case, the show peeled back the layers of detective work, from police interrogations to the pursuit of suspects, giving listeners an almost cinematic feel for how these crimes were solved.

    The show’s format was as straightforward as it was captivating: a real crime, a methodical investigation, and a resolution that often felt as satisfying as it was suspenseful. Whether it was a high-profile murder or a daring heist, Secrets of Scotland Yard delivered not just the facts but also the sense of intrigue and danger that surrounded each case. The narratives were punctuated by dramatized re-enactments that highlighted Scotland Yard’s ingenious methods, from careful deduction to early uses of forensic technology. These episodes left you on the edge of your seat, eager to learn how the detectives would crack each case wide open.

    But what truly made Secrets of Scotland Yard resonate with listeners was the mystique surrounding the Metropolitan Police. As the symbol of elite law enforcement, Scotland Yard had long been a subject of fascination, and the radio program played into this fascination by offering a rare peek into the methods and procedures of this storied institution. With every case, listeners found themselves transported to the cobblestone streets of London, following detectives as they pieced together clues, pursued criminals across the city, and brought them to justice.

    In a time when the true crime genre was still in its infancy, Secrets of Scotland Yard helped shape the future of crime storytelling. It wasn't just entertainment; it was a blend of education and suspense, a forerunner to today’s true crime podcasts and documentaries. The show’s legacy lives on, influencing everything from police procedurals to the current true crime boom. It’s a show that laid the groundwork for the genre, blending historical interest with the drama of real-life crime.

    Though the program eventually faded from the airwaves with the rise of television, its impact has been enduring. Today, Secrets of Scotland Yard remains a cornerstone of old-time radio, a testament to the enduring appeal of detective work and the intrigue surrounding one of the world’s most famous police forces.

    And with that, I invite you to sit back and enjoy this evening’s episode. Let yourself be transported into the heart of a real Scotland Yard investigation, as we dive deep into the cases that defined an era of crime-solving brilliance.

    Thank you once again for joining me on this journey through time. If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and YouTube, and send me your thoughts – I love hearing from you.

    Now, let’s dim the lights, relax, and let the mystery unfold.
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    18 mins
  • Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 746, Dangerous Assignment, Thropp Foundation Relief Supplies

    Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 746, Dangerous Assignment, Thropp Foundation Relief Supplies
    Nov 20 2024
    Hello, I'm Brett and I'll be your host for these amazing Old Time Radio Shows :) Dangerous Assignment was a thrilling NBC radio drama that captivated audiences from 1949 to 1953, starring the dynamic Brian Donlevy as the fearless U.S. special agent Steve Mitchell. It was broadcast across a range of media, including a syndicated TV series in 1951–52, and even inspired a reimagined Australian radio version from 1954 to 1956. Both the radio and TV series kept viewers on the edge of their seats with fast-paced plots filled with espionage, deception, and international intrigue. Series Premise: Each episode followed Steve Mitchell, an American agent dispatched by "The Commissioner," the enigmatic head of an unnamed U.S. State Department division. Steve’s mission: to travel to exotic locations around the world to foil nefarious plots and uncover dangerous secrets. The show was designed to keep listeners in suspense, opening with a tantalizing scene before the action unfolded. Mitchell, posing as a suave foreign correspondent for an unspecified publication, navigated a maze of lies, betrayal, and violence—always emerging victorious by the end of the episode. Origins and Evolution: Dangerous Assignment was originally conceived as a summer replacement series for NBC in 1949. It quickly gained popularity, and its success led to a full radio series running until 1953. Brian Donlevy, who also narrated the show, brought an intense realism to his portrayal of Steve Mitchell, which contributed to the show’s gripping atmosphere. The only other consistent voice on the radio version was Herb Butterfield, who played "The Commissioner." Guest stars included famous actors like Raymond Burr, William Conrad, and Richard Boone, each lending their talents to create a unique cast of characters across the episodes. After the American radio series concluded, Dangerous Assignment continued its journey abroad with a 1954 Australian radio adaptation. This version used remade American scripts and introduced Lloyd Burrell as Steve Mitchell, broadcasting a total of 39 episodes. The 1949 Summer Series: Dangerous Assignment first aired as a seven-week summer series in the summer of 1949, running on Saturdays from 8:30 to 9:00 PM EST. The character of Ruthie, the Commissioner's secretary, was played by Betty Moran, hinting at a possible romantic backstory with Steve Mitchell. The show's first episodes took listeners on adventures to locations like Messina, Sicily, Saigon, and Paris, where Steve investigated everything from stolen relief supplies to millionaire murder conspiracies. The 1950–1953 Radio Run: The show’s popularity ensured its return to the airwaves in February 1950, although it faced some scheduling challenges. Over the next few years, Dangerous Assignment moved through various time slots, ultimately running for over 160 episodes. The radio series also attracted major sponsors, including Ford Motor Company, Wheaties, and Anacin, though it was largely supported by NBC itself. The episodes became more formulaic, often starting with Steve Mitchell being assigned a mission—usually involving espionage, sabotage, or international political conflict—followed by thrilling encounters with dangerous enemies. Syndicated Television Version (1951–1952): In 1951, Donlevy adapted the series into a syndicated television show. Rather than relying on a traditional TV network, Donlevy self-financed the production of 39 episodes, selling them individually to local stations across the country. This approach, aided by NBC’s distribution assistance, allowed the show to reach a wide audience despite limited network support. Each episode remained faithful to the original radio scripts, with Donlevy reprising his role as Steve Mitchell and Herb Butterfield again playing "The Commissioner." Production Team and Legacy: The television version of Dangerous Assignment employed a talented team behind the scenes, including assistant director William McGarry, production designer George Van Marter, and film editor Edward Schroeder, A.C.E. The show's episodes were often fast-paced, with each story revolving around Mitchell’s covert operations in places as diverse as Paris, Berlin, and the African jungle. Among the famous guest stars featured in the TV series were Hugh Beaumont, Paul Frees, and Michael Ansara, who appeared as a variety of different characters throughout the series. Notable episodes included titles like "The Alien Smuggler Story" and "The Atomic Mine Story," where Steve Mitchell faced off against spies, criminals, and saboteurs in a constant battle to protect U.S. interests overseas. The Man Behind the Character: Brian Donlevy: Brian Donlevy, born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 9, 1901, was known for his tough, no-nonsense persona, both on screen and on the airwaves. With a career that spanned film, radio, and television, Donlevy brought a unique depth to his portrayal of Steve Mitchell. He was a familiar face in 1940s ...
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    32 mins

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