Spent many happy hours in front of the old Philco radio at 319 South Brown Street, in Dayton, Ohio, back in the 30's and 40's.
Listened to Peter Grant do the news from WLW, Cincinnati, listened to Winchell, Kaltenborne and Heater do the news, the old Barn Dance from Cincinnati, and E. Howard Cadle, from the Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana. The old Saturday Night Barn Dance, Lulabelle and Scotty, the Grand old Opry, lots of good stuff way back then.
The old Philco kept us abreast of the war during the 40's. I remember Edward R. Murrow broadcasting from London and other spots, hearing bombs dropping in the background. At night we listened to Bob Hope and Jack Benny, Red Skelton, and a bunch of other shows. After school, I listened to Jack Armstong and Captain Midnight, Terry and the Pirates.
I still think you get a better view of a basegall game listening to it over the old Philco. Waite Hoyt and others painted a more graphic image than ever came over a television set. I can still see Bobby Thompson hitting that home run in 1950, and I listened to that game on the radio.
Bill stern and his melodious tones could paint a vivid picture of what he was talking about on his sports shows. Football was great to listen to, vivid images. I think the mind did a better job than the eyes, on occasions.
The family gathered around the old Philco on Christmas Eve, listening to those special Christmas shows they did, some, the same show each year, but they were a part of the season.
I still remember the show, Grand Central Station, the whistle, the train pulling in to the station, and their special Christmas show. Benny and Hope and other, with the season shows, made the seasons more special.
I can still reflect and remember who, was in our living room, listening to shows at special times.
We had our home and office together, Dads medical office, in the same house, but next door. There was one door connecting the two. Many a night I remember him coming through that connecting door, tired after a long day, plopping down in his chair, and turning on the old Philco, catching up on the latest news, before climbing those long steps to their bedroom.
That old Philco holds a lot of good memories.
