The infamous poaching of radio stars from NBC—known to old-time radio fans as the “talent raids”—was perpetrated by rival CBS. They seduced big names like Jack Benny, Red Skelton, and Amos & An ...
Happy Birthday, Gloria Blondell!(Post)If Gloria Blondell—born in Manhattan, NY on this date in 1910—ever resented living in the shadow of older sister Joan, she rarely displayed any outside bitterness. This is not to say that occasion ...
Happy Birthday, Portland Hoffa!(Post)It pains me to have to say this…but I have heard from many an old-time radio devotee that Portland Hoffa—born on this date in 1905—is an acquired taste. Her trademark high-pitched voice as husban ...
Happy Birthday, Minerva Pious!(Post)The legendary Fred Allen had words of high praise in his book Treadmill to Oblivion for long-time Fred Allen Show regular Minerva Pious, who was born on this date in either 1903 (according to most ...
Happy Birthday, Basil Rathbone!(Post)Basil Rathbone was born on this date in 1892—and I’ll come clean right from the get-go: I am a tremendous fan of the actor’s work. Basil possessed a suavity and menace that made him one of the ci ...
Happy Birthday, Artie Auerbach!(Post)It was a cold January day in 1946 when Jack Benny, attending the Rose Bowl game, made the acquaintance of a hot dog salesman who enthusiastically peddled his wares with a cry of “Pickle in the mid ...
Happy Birthday, Barry Sullivan!(Post)When actor Barry Sullivan—born Patrick Barry Sullivan in 1912 on this date in New York City—was approached to star in Harbourmaster, a television series from the prolific Ziv studios, he had one q ...
Happy Birthday, Edward Arnold!(Post)Here’s a tidbit of interesting trivia for classic movie fans: you know character great Edward Arnold as the personification of fat cat businessmen in many a vintage film, notably the Frank Capra-d ...
Happy Birthday, Hanley Stafford!(Post)The actor who achieved his greatest fame on radio as the best foil Fanny Brice’s Baby Snooks could ever wish for was born on this date in 1899 as Alfred John Austin. His birthplace of Hanley in St ...
Happy Birthday, Lamont Johnson!(Post)I’m certainly not the first person to observe that the best directors—whether they work in film, television, theater, or elsewhere—are often those with an extensive background in acting…and today’ ...
Happy Birthday, Burgess Meredith!(Post)Two iconic roles immediately come to mind when discussing the career of the actor born Oliver Burgess Meredith on this date in 1907. One is his deliciously over-the-top portrayal of The Penguin on ...
The Fabulous Frank Morgan(Post)On this date in 1890, actor-comedian Frank Morgan came into this world…born Frances Phillip Wupperman in New York City. The youngest of eleven children (six girls, five boys), the Wupperman family w ...