Posted 11/2/2010 

Last year I found a great radio program called “NBC's First Fabulous Fifty”.  This series of shows is an overview of Radio History that NBC first Broadcast in October and November of 1976 celebrating their first 50 years on the air. 

 

NBC started in November of 1926 with their Red and Blue networks.  In January 1927 the CBS Network went on the air.  In time, the government felt the NBC had a monopoly and so it forced NBC to sell off their Blue Network to create the ABC Network in June of 1945.

 

This Radio Show covers NBC’s programming history. 

Shows #1b with host Ben Grauer, and #2 with host Bob Hope are most applicable to the Hearst Castle’s time period, “the Golden Age of Radio”.  Go to the web address below and download the MP3 files to listen.

 Audio: “NBC's First Fabulous Fifty”

Part 1a: Host Doug Hopkinson from the Old Time Radio Researchers Group gives a brief Intro and History of NBC. This not part of the Original NBC Broadcast (2:29 min)

Part 1b: From 10/10/1976 Host Ben Grauer - NBC Radio History from 1926 to 1936   (40:54 min)

Part 2:  From 10/17/1976  Host Bob Hope - NBC Radio History from 1936 to 1945   (40:48 min)

Part 3:  From 10/24/1976  Host Bing Crosby - NBC Radio History from 1946 to 1956   (40:43 min)

Part 4:  From 10/31/1976  Host Arlene Francis - NBC Radio History from 1956 to 1966   (40:51 min)

Part 5:  From 11/07/1976  Host John Chancellor - NBC Radio History from 1966 to 1976   (40:41 min)

Part 6: This not part of the Original NBC Broadcast series above.  Host George Jessel gives a history of Showbiz from Vaudeville to Radio to T.V.   (55:14 min)

 

Web Address: http://www.archive.org/details/OTRR_NBC_50_Years_Of_Radio_Singles

Alternate Address: http://otrarchive.blogspot.com/2009/04/nbcs-first-fabulous-fifty-otrr.html

  

Happy November Everyone!

 Brent Kennemann