Old Time Radio Christmas Shows | Old Time Radio

The Whistler presents “Christmas Bonus,” originally broadcast December 25, 1944. Episode 135, produced by George W. Allen for the CBS Pacific Network and sponsored by Signal Oil, features Bill Forman as the Whistler, with Cathy Lewis, Jack Moyles, Ken Christy, and Hal Gerard.

On Christmas Eve, former prisoner Mike Cobb is trying to build an honest life while working at a busy department store and shopping for a gift for his wife, Elaine. But a string of cash thefts makes his past impossible to escape, and a modest Christmas music box takes on special importance in this suspenseful holiday drama.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned and mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:49 Original Broadcast
31:13 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

The Shadow, “The Stockings Were Hung,” originally broadcast December 24, 1939, is episode 179 of the Mutual Broadcasting System series. Bill Johnstone stars as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow, with Marjorie Anderson as Margot Lane; the script was written by Peter Wright.

On Christmas Eve, Lamont and Margot set out to bring a gift to a young newsboy, only to find his family facing a troubled holiday and a missing father. The resulting mystery gives The Shadow a warm, Dickens-like seasonal setting without losing its suspense.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:44 Original Broadcast
26:41 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Suspense presents “Christmas for Carole,” originally broadcast on CBS on December 21, 1950. In this episode, Dennis Day takes a rare straight dramatic role as Paul, a struggling bank teller facing an unbearable financial crisis as Christmas Eve approaches. Elliott Lewis directed and produced this holiday installment.

With his wife Carole requiring costly nursing care, Paul finds himself pulled between desperation, temptation, and conscience. Set amid a Christmas Eve bank and the home of an elderly couple, this unusually warm Suspense story turns holiday pressure into a tense moral crossroads.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:42 Original Broadcast
30:17 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Railroad Hour presents “The Happy Prince,” originally broadcast on December 24, 1951. This Christmas Eve NBC presentation is episode 169 of the series.

Adapted from Oscar Wilde’s fairy tale by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, the story follows a wayward Swallow who finds refuge beside a beautiful statue overlooking a wintry city. Gordon MacRae stars as the Happy Prince, with Lucille Norman as the Little Swallow and John McIntire as narrator; Carmen Dragon conducts music featuring Norman Luboff and his choir.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:43 Original Broadcast
28:25 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Family Theater presents “The Littlest Angel,” originally broadcast December 21, 1949. Episode 149 of the Mutual Broadcasting System series is narrated by Loretta Young and adapts Charles Tazewell’s beloved Christmas story.

A very young, homesick cherub struggles to find his place in Paradise with help from the kindly Understanding Angel. As Heaven prepares for the approaching Nativity in Bethlehem, the Littlest Angel considers what he can offer. The production features Jeffrey Silver as the Littlest Angel, with music and choral compositions conducted by Harry Zimmerman.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:46 Original Broadcast
29:29 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

The Shadow’s “Joey’s Christmas Story” originally aired on December 22, 1940. In this Mutual Broadcasting System holiday broadcast, Bill Johnstone stars as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow, with Marjorie Anderson as Margo Lane.

At Christmastime, Lamont and Margo pay their annual visit to Joey McNulty, a young newsboy with a lively imagination and a passion for detective stories. Joey’s make-believe mystery soon points toward the real worries facing his family, giving the Shadow a chance to bring compassion and moral clarity to a Christmas-season city neighborhood. The drama was sponsored by Blue Coal and adapted from a story copyrighted by The Shadow Magazine.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:48 Original Broadcast
29:48 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Columbia Workshop, episode 59, presents “The Plot to Overthrow Christmas,” originally broadcast on CBS on December 22, 1940. Written, produced, and directed by Norman Corwin, this sustaining-program holiday fantasy features performers including Eric Burroughs, Martin Gabel, and Ray Collins.

In Corwin’s richly rhymed comic fantasy, Mephistopheles assembles an infernal council of history and literature’s most notorious villains to mount an attack on the spirit of Christmas—with Santa Claus at the center of their scheme. A distinctive half-hour holiday play, it revisits Corwin’s first original CBS drama.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:42 Original Broadcast
31:41 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

My Friend Irma presents “Double Surprise,” originally broadcast on CBS on December 22, 1947. This holiday episode is commonly listed as episode 37 and stars Marie Wilson as Irma Peterson and Cathy Lewis as Jane Stacy.

On Christmas Eve in Apartment 3B, Irma prepares a surprise Christmas party for her friends. But as the evening draws near, unexpected complications threaten to change her holiday plans. Written, produced, and directed by Cy Howard, the episode captures the warm comic spirit of the series’ early Christmas broadcasts.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:47 Original Broadcast
30:25 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Christmas Sing With Bing: “Holiday Broadcast” originally aired on CBS Radio on December 24, 1955. This archival Christmas Eve special is the inaugural A Christmas Sing with Bing broadcast.

Bing Crosby hosts an hour of traditional carols in an around-the-world musical format, joined by Paul Weston and His Orchestra, the Norman Luboff Choir, and choral performances associated with the United States, Canada, France, Italy, and England. The program also includes a reading by young contest winner Delores Short, with Ken Carpenter announcing.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:51 Original Broadcast
46:02 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Suspense presents “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” originally broadcast on CBS on December 21, 1953. Episode 531 stars Greer Garson as Miss Buff, a devoted governess, in a holiday drama written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and directed by Elliott Lewis.

On Christmas Eve, Miss Buff cares for young Kathy Harper as the child’s parents are expected home from Paris. With troubling reports surrounding their transatlantic flight and the press pressing for news, she tries to preserve a sense of comfort and hope. This gentle, family-centered Suspense story uses the familiar Christmas poem as its emotional frame.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned and mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:53 Original Broadcast
30:18 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Lux Radio Theatre presents It’s a Wonderful Life, originally broadcast on March 10, 1947. The episode is commonly listed as number 563, though some secondary sources list it as 562.

Adapted from Frank Capra’s 1946 film, this Christmas Eve drama follows Bedford Falls’ George Bailey as family obligations, the local Building and Loan, and a crisis involving financier Henry F. Potter leave him at a desperate crossroads. James Stewart and Donna Reed reprise their film roles as George and Mary Bailey, with Victor Moore as Clarence. Produced and hosted by William Keighley for CBS, the broadcast was sponsored by Lux Toilet Soap.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:45 Original Broadcast
01:00:21 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

The Shadow, “Cold Death,” originally broadcast December 19, 1937. In this Christmas-season episode, Orson Welles stars as Lamont Cranston, with Agnes Moorehead as Margo Lane, on the Mutual Broadcasting System’s Blue Coal program.

Just before Christmas, Cranston investigates the bleak mill village of Carverville, where owner Daniel Carver’s workers face bitter winter hardship in unsafe, unheated homes. With reporters kept out and the town suffering, The Shadow confronts a story with echoes of A Christmas Carol.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:39 Original Broadcast
29:45 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Escape presents “The Cave,” originally broadcast on CBS on December 24, 1950. Commonly listed as episode 138, this sustaining-program Christmas fantasy was written by Antony Ellis and features John Dehner, Georgia Ellis, and Peggy Webber.

In this gentle holiday adventure, a man recalls a Christmas-time childhood excursion: two ten-year-old boys explore a cave and find themselves drawn into an imaginative and perilous encounter with pirates. The spirit of the season plays an important part in this unusual Escape tale.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:37 Original Broadcast
30:27 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

The Six Shooter presents “Britt Ponset’s Christmas Carol,” originally broadcast on December 20, 1953. Episode 14 of the NBC Radio Network series stars James Stewart as drifting cowboy Britt Ponset.

On a wintry trail near Thompson’s Corners, Britt encounters Johnny, a boy traveling away from home just before Christmas. To help the youngster see the season differently, Britt tells a frontier-flavored retelling of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, centered on a hardhearted rancher named Eban. Written by Frank Burt and directed by Jack Johnstone, this sustaining broadcast blends Western atmosphere with a classic holiday tale.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:47 Original Broadcast
27:54 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Lux Radio Theatre presents “Miracle on 34th Street,” originally broadcast December 22, 1947 (episode 595). This CBS holiday adaptation of the 1947 20th Century-Fox film reunites its principal stars, including Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, and Natalie Wood.

As the Christmas season begins in New York City, a Macy’s executive hires a kindly elderly man to fill in as parade Santa. His remarkable way with children soon makes him a department-store favorite, while his claims of being the real Kris Kringle draw Doris Walker, her daughter Susan, and attorney Fred Gailey into a warmhearted question of faith, goodwill, and the meaning of Christmas.

Old Time Radio Christmas Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience.

Chapters:
00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction
00:52 Original Broadcast
01:00:24 Closing

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com This episode features Old Time Radio Christmas Shows - Lone Ranger Christmas Comes To Sandy [episode 2486] Broadcast 12/24/1948, a restored classic from the golden age of radio. A classic old time radio broadcast from the golden age of radio, featuring original radio drama, authentic performances, and timeless storytelling. These historic programs reflect an era when radio was the heart of home entertainment, delivering mystery, suspense, westerns, comedy, and unforgettable performances through sound alone. Source: OTRR dot org – Certified Public Domain Collection. Curated by Old Time Retro Radio. 🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7a2cDFJtTxH5LeoyGOYzn4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-time-radio-christmas-shows-old-time-radio/id1863581001 📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection. #OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #ClassicRadio #VintageAudio #RadioTheater

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com This episode features Old Time Radio Christmas Shows - Garry Moore Thanksgiving Pilgrim Opera [episode 11] Broadcast 11/22/1946, a restored classic from the golden age of radio. A classic old time radio broadcast from the golden age of radio, featuring original radio drama, authentic performances, and timeless storytelling. These historic programs reflect an era when radio was the heart of home entertainment, delivering mystery, suspense, westerns, comedy, and unforgettable performances through sound alone. Source: OTRR dot org – Certified Public Domain Collection. Curated by Old Time Retro Radio. 🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7a2cDFJtTxH5LeoyGOYzn4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-time-radio-christmas-shows-old-time-radio/id1863581001 📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection. #OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #ClassicRadio #VintageAudio #RadioTheater

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com This episode features Old Time Radio Christmas Shows - Jack Benny Thanksgiving At Mary'S House [episode 0] Broadcast 11/26/1944, a restored classic from the golden age of radio. A classic old time radio broadcast from the golden age of radio, featuring original radio drama, authentic performances, and timeless storytelling. These historic programs reflect an era when radio was the heart of home entertainment, delivering mystery, suspense, westerns, comedy, and unforgettable performances through sound alone. Source: OTRR dot org – Certified Public Domain Collection. Curated by Old Time Retro Radio. 🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7a2cDFJtTxH5LeoyGOYzn4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-time-radio-christmas-shows-old-time-radio/id1863581001 📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection. #OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #ClassicRadio #VintageAudio #RadioTheater

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com This episode features Old Time Radio Christmas Shows - Columbia Workshop The Plot To Overthrow Christmas [episode 59] Broadcast 12/22/1940, a restored classic from the golden age of radio. A classic old time radio broadcast from the golden age of radio, featuring original radio drama, authentic performances, and timeless storytelling. These historic programs reflect an era when radio was the heart of home entertainment, delivering mystery, suspense, westerns, comedy, and unforgettable performances through sound alone. Source: OTRR dot org – Certified Public Domain Collection. Curated by Old Time Retro Radio. 🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7a2cDFJtTxH5LeoyGOYzn4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-time-radio-christmas-shows-old-time-radio/id1863581001 📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection. #OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #ClassicRadio #VintageAudio #RadioTheater

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

https://www.oldtimeretroradio.com This episode features Old Time Radio Christmas Shows - Lux Radio Theatre It'S A Wonderful Life [episode 562] Broadcast 3/10/1947, a restored classic from the golden age of radio. A classic old time radio broadcast from the golden age of radio, featuring original radio drama, authentic performances, and timeless storytelling. These historic programs reflect an era when radio was the heart of home entertainment, delivering mystery, suspense, westerns, comedy, and unforgettable performances through sound alone. Source: OTRR dot org – Certified Public Domain Collection. Curated by Old Time Retro Radio. 🎧 Listen to Old Time Retro Radio on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7a2cDFJtTxH5LeoyGOYzn4 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-time-radio-christmas-shows-old-time-radio/id1863581001 📻 Search Old Time Retro Radio on your favorite podcast app to explore the complete collection. #OldTimeRadio #GoldenAgeBroadcast #ClassicRadio #VintageAudio #RadioTheater

Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio