How to Collect Old Time Radio Shows
Like most baby boomers, I grew up enthralled by television. Yet I vividly remember the night my mother took me home in a cab one night and the driver was playing a radio drama on the air. It was one of the first I heard, and one of the last of its kind. Today, thanks to the Internet, there is a revival in Old Time Radio. Few things pass the time while traveling more sweetly than listening to a tale from the thrilling days of yesteryear. Here's how to get started.
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Instructions
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Learn what you like. Try www.OTRNowcom which provides two feeds. The first OTR Now live, provides a mix of programming similar to what existed on NBC, CBS, ABC or Mutual, from comedy to drama, featuring programs like the "Jack Benny Show," "Our Miss Brooks" and "Lux Radio Theater." The second, Crime Time is audio film noir, a trek through mystery, murder, and mayhem with "Sam Spade," "Dragnet," "A Man Called X" and more. In both cases the shows can be played back on either the supplied Live 365 Player, Windows Media or iTunes, which will keep a record of your listening.
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Look for downloads. Just ten years ago, the bulk of old time radio collecting and preservation was done by people with reel to reel tape recorders. Today, the most common format is MP3 while as a digital file can be readily downloaded and shared. ORTNow is a live feed, but you can find scores of sites with dozens of shows posted in MP3 like http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com http://www.oldradioworld.com/. When you reach a show you like, in Windows, simply right click and download the file to your preferred location. Make sure that the extension is an MP3, not an HTM file, or you'll have to drill a little deeper into the site.
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Keep your downloads organized. Right from the start, develop a file system for your downloads. Don't just dump them into the Windows "My Music" file. Organize them by show in separate folders and number them. Dating the shows is useful. It's a great way to burn seasonal compilations on CD to offer as gifts.
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Look for a share and trade site. Here is one of the most active http://porter.appstate.edu/~krb/stream/listdl.php If your episodes are numbered and dated it will be easy to learn about holes in your collection and fill them.
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Consider joining a group of fellow enthusiasts like SPERDVAC, The Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy. The group meets monthly and has an annual convention. More details are at http://www.sperdvac.org
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Start to load your favorite selections on your I-Pod or other MP-3 player. In the midst of the holiday rush while waiting at an airport, all I have to do is close my eyes and focus on my headsets to be transported with Steve Mitchell to the exotic corners of the earth as he handles his "Dangerous Assignment."
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Tips & Warnings
Some OTR download sites like http://www.rusc.com/ charge a membership fee. In RUSC's case it's a modest $60 a year. If you search carefully, you can find many websites that don't charge for downloads. Most of these sites are a labor of love, so if you have the capability, consider sending a payment now and then to the operators as a token of thanks. Streaming Otrnow.com accepts PayPal donations in $5 increments.
