Search - Frank Sinatra :: Frank Sinatra and Friends : 60 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows with Book

Matthew H. (Johnnybee) from BRISTOL, TN
Reviewed on 11/28/2014...

Radio Show Listing

Show#. CD-Track [Length] Broadcast Program: "Story" (Recorded)

01. 01-1 [28:48] 01/08/50 The Jack Benny Program
02. 01-2 [28:16] 03/01/45 The Abbott and Costello Show
03. 02-1 [24:38] 01/18/45 Suspense: "To Find Help"
04. 02-2 [08:01] 09/19/45 Songs by Sinatra: "The House I Live In"
05. 02-3 [28:28] 01/29/46 The Bob Hope Show
06. 03-1 [59:21] 12/29/47 The Lux Radio Theatre: "Anchors Aweigh"
07. 04-1 [54:55] 01/29/44 America Salutes the President’s Birthday
08. 05-1 [28:45] 04/21/47 The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players: "Too Many Husbands"
09. 05-2 [29:04] 03/21/54 The Bing Crosby Show
10. 06-1 [59:19] 05/16/49 The Savings Bond Show
11. 07-1 [29:23] 12/02/48 Spotlight Revue starring Spike Jones
12. 07-2 [24:59] 10/06/53 Rocky Fortune: "Oyster Shucker"
13. 08-1 [14:49] 07/09/47 The Bill Stern Sports Newsreel
14. 08-2 [14:40] 12/28/47 Guest Star (10/27/47)
15. 08-3 [29:40] 10/08/44 The Jack Benny Program
16. 09-1 [29:24] 02/20/45 A Date with Judy
17. 09-2 [29:31] 05/10/45 The Dinah Shore Show
18. 10-1 [29:33] 11/07/46 The Burns and Allen Show
19. 10-2 [29:40] 12/19/46 Radio Reader’s Digest: "Room for a Stranger"
20. 11-1 [29:35] 02/18/45 G.I. Journal (10/20/44)
21. 11-2 [29:37] 08/30/45 Command Performance
22. 12-1 [28:08] 11/16/44 The Kraft Music Hall starring Bing Crosby
23. 12-2 [29:56] 08/24/45 The Ray Bolger Show
24. 13-1 [28:09] 10/21/45 The Fred Allen Show
25. 13-2 [28:45] 12/28/45 The Ginny Simms Show
26. 14-1 [30:29] 03/11/45 Command Performance (12/17/44)
27. 14-2 [24:41] 03/30/54 Rocky Fortune: "Boarding House Double-Cross"
28. 14-3 [14:35] 05/03/53 Guest Star
29. 15-1 [58:35] 05/31/48 The Lux Radio Theatre: "Miracle of the Bells"
30. 16-1 [29:45] 10/10/50 Life with Luigi
31. 16-2 [30:06] 03/05/45 The Danny Kaye Show (song 04/04/44)
32. 17-1 [29:07] 08/15/54 The Gary Crosby Summer Show
33. 17-2 [29:37] 10/30/49 The Jack Benny Program
34. 18-1 [14:19] 11/23/45 The Bill Stern Sports Newsreel
35. 18-2 [14:39] 12/19/48 Guest Star
36. 18-3 [23:33] 09/15/54 The Amos ’n’ Andy Music Hall
37. 19-1 [28:54] 05/16/43 The Fred Allen Show
38. 19-2 [43:53] 01/18/52 The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Show
39. 20-1 [24:22] 10/13/53 Rocky Fortune: "Steven in a Rest Home"
40. 20-2 [29:46] 09/27/45 The Rudy Vallee Show
41. 21-1 [29:47] 06/03/44 Command Performance
42. 21-2 [29:30] 12/12/44 The Burns and Allen Show
43. 22-1 [59:44] 02/21/44 The Lux Radio Theatre: "Wake Up and Live"
44. 23-1 [29:41] 04/18/48 The Jack Benny Program
45. 23-2 [29:42] 03/28/54 The Bing Crosby Show
46. 24-1 [29:53] 09/09/43 The Sealtest Village Store
47. 24-2 [14:16] 12/25/49 Guest Star
48. 24-3 [14:27] 07/09/48 The Bill Stern Sports Newsreel
49. 25-1 [29:31] 08/31/43 The Burns and Allen Show
50. 25-2 [28:30] 01/28/45 The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show
51. 26-1 [28:46] 10/01/48 Spotlight Revue starring Spike Jones
52. 26-2 [29:50] 02/23/46 The Jack Carson Show
53. 27-1 [30:02] 04/22/45 Command Performance (03/08/45)
54. 27-2 [28:21] 05/25/44 The Lifebuoy Show
55. 28-1 [29:41] 03/06/44 The Lady Esther Screen Guild Theatre: "The Gay Divorcee"
56. 28-2 [29:52] 04/25/45 Mail Call
57. 29-1 [24:21] 02/16/54 Rocky Fortune: "Too Many Husbands"
58. 29-2 [25:09] 03/02/52 The Jack Benny Program
59. 30-1 [30:29] 08/09/44 Mail Call
60. 30-2 [28:57] 02/01/44 Command Performance

A lot more varied than you might guess

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 08/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

" is a monumental memorial to a showbiz phenomenon. Radio Spirits has issued this collection in two formats: 20 audio cassettes each holding 90 minutes of material (usually 3 half-hour shows) and 30 CDs each holding 60 minutes. This last is an improvement over other tape/CD issues in which the latter had to be abridged to fit in the shows what the corresponding tape could easily hold without cuts. Some of the shows here have only a fleeting visit by Sinatra, others have him in short sketches, still others as co-star, and a few as the star himself. For example, he plays a major role when guesting on a Burns &Allen Show but is the star of his own series, "Rocky Fortune," of which this collection offers four episodes. These episodes, by the way, are a good example of Sinatra in his bad years after MGM fired him because of an unfortunate remark he made about the studio head's mistress. They work very well as light comedy mysteries but certainly do not call for any great acting skills. At his nadir, he substituted for Bill Stern in the Sports Newsreel series and did a very good job as narrator. He is heard in several dramatic roles in "Suspense" and "Lux Radio Theater," and a good deal of jokes are made about his possibly receiving and later his actually receiving an Academy Award for his role in "From Here to Eternity." Included in his many comic guest spots with Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Joan Davis, and Martin & Lewis are endless "skinny" jokes, none of which seem to be repeated except possibly the one about being buried in the back yard by the family dog. Naturally, you will hear a good deal of his vocalizing, once even with Lou Costello, and that is pretty much the raison d'etre of this collection. And if you have to listen to "Nancy With the Laughing Face" three times, well that is what fathers are for. The question is whether to purchase the tapes or CDs. I have both. I heard all the tapes in my car and will use the CDs for my classes because of the direct access feature. However the CDs are packaged in such a way that you must touch the surfaces in removing them from their plastic envelopes--and drivers should take note that you need two hands to do so. As a postscript, I should add that you don't have to be a particular fan of Sinatra to enjoy this collection. You get "A Date With Judy," "Command Performance," "Life With Luigi," a "Savings Bond Show," and so many other radio gems that still linger in the memories of us older crowd--and some that would be totally forgotten were it not for such Radio Spirit compilations as this one."

SERIOUS SINATRA FANS MUST HAVE!!

John G. Paradise | Guilford, Connecticut | 09/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frank Sinatra and Friends Is like a perfect sampler of old time radio shows all of which happen to have Frank Sinatra as the guest star. Each show is presented in it's entirety (30 min). We get plenty of Sinatra singing of course, but also acting in comedies and dramas alongside the Big stars of the 40's and early 50's. WE also get the joy of experiending the old radio shows like the Jack Benny Program, Burns and Allen, the Bob Hope show and many others. So this is not just for Sinatra fans. Anyone interesed in Radio will love and treasure this collection. This is not just a bunch of predigested moments with Sinatra. This is the complete show. Each one is charming and intimate. The commercials are wonderful too. Listening to these shows is like traveling through time. These recordings show us a Sinatra that his recording do not. It is almost like meeting him in person. Everyone Involved in these shows seems like they are having a wonderful time! And it is full of surprises. I recommend it without reservation!!"