Behind the Mike – Retro Radio Podcast

A top Impersonator of the day, Aurthur Buraham, begins the show. He impersonates anything from the moo of a cow, to any noise, to any person that he admires. How…

A radio personality from Africa is on hand, for some behind the scenesaction of radio. A dramatization of how radio impacted African superstition. A nervous singer ran out of the…

A 30 minutes salute to the reporters at the Associated Press. Beginning with the history of the AP we eavesdrop on a meeting of arguing reporters who have to share…

On an earlier episode we learned how a sponsor cells a show to a client. Today we’ll learn how a producer uses an advertising firm to sell a show to…

Featuring: Graham Macknamee, Gilbert Martin. Al Simons helps to bring a few amusing stories behind the scenes in radio. A frustrated telephone operator and a question about the time, sound…

The story of orchestra leader, Enoch lights and his disappearance from the airwaves leads off the show. The musician recounts his successful tour, and a car ride back to Boston.…

We learn of some of the things that made radio broadcasts difficult in the early days. Namely, the quality of how certain microphones sounded. Also that early studios weren’t always…

Karen Temple, a starlet, and ice skater, fell ill and after a lengthy hospital stay was told she may never be able to stand. She tells Graham Macnamee about her…

Milton Cross, and Philip Callas join Graham Macnamee to talk about what announcers had to deal with in the early days of radio networks. A large fish, stand by bands,…

How do those radio comedians do it? Learn how the writing starts 2 weeks before the program. Shows often have a staff of 2 writers or more. Join a fictional…

Allen Drake is a top character actor, and he shows off his versatility. How does he do it with just the change of his voice, accent, and inflection? Listen and…

Ida Bailey Allen was the Martha Stewart of her day, and is on hand to tell a story about a lady from Oklahoma. The desperate woman begged Ida to help…

Learn how a radio show is put together by using the example of how today’s show was put together. The writers discuss ideas at home. Topics include the order of…

Frank Luther, popular tenor, tells about a letter he received from a nursse. How did his voice and program work to help a patient in her care? Listen and learn…

With the inaugral speech in the fore front of the news, the show looks at the broadcast hook ups and how they’re tested. Announcers read their speeches, and mike checks…

Catherine Seymore may be young, but she’s a pioneer in script writing. She tells a little of how she got started. She and Graham swap stories of their early days…

Graham MacNamee is back. Behind the scenes at Behind the Mike shares an odd moment with one of their comedy writers, and an interviewew with Harry Morgan. The busy restaurant…

Audio has some wierd muffled spots that come and go. Ben Brauer continues as host, in the absence of Graham macNamee. Phil Cook, man of a thousand voices on radio,…

In his absence, carrying on for Graham MacNamee is Ben Brauer. A man with a dificult name shows off his skills at the zylophone Whether a newcomer, or a seasoned…

Graham MacNamee gives an outline of the shows features, then spotlights the tallent of Gertrude Warner, a famous radio actress of the time. What method does she use for getting…

Everybody likes bloopers, but first, Graham MacNamee is connected to a live connection to London. Learn a little bit about wartime censorship, and what it’s like to be a reporter…

Graham MacNamee welcomes Dinah Shore to tell about a truck driver who is a fan of hers. The overworked, and sleepy owner operator was revived after hearing Dinah sing a…

Milton Herman is a voice actor who is often called on to play the victim in those hard boiled detective stories. He tells about some of the ways he has…

Graham MacNamee has 2 radio sound effect experts on stage to show how he makes various sound effects as a short story is narrated. Trains, footsteps, doors, fights, horses and…

The world of stooges is explored, when Minirva Pious is onboard. She’s the sole female actor appearing on Fred Allen’s show other than his wife, Portland Hoffa. She demonstrates a…

Introduced by Graham MacNamee, Hildagarde Halliday has staked her claim to radio fame by sneezing on command for radio shows. Listen in for a sample of her demonstrations of head…

Graham MacNamee hosts to direct the action as we take a look behind the scenes of radio. A popular radio show was one called Sundown on the Veldt, and it’s…