Classic Radio Shows

About Classic Radio Shows

Give your memory a workout with Classic Radio Shows: 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions, free to play right in your browser. How well do you remember the golden age of radio? Expect to spend about 7 minutes; every question comes with an explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.

A few sample questions

1. 1. Which famous radio drama caused mass panic on October 30, 1938, when listeners believed Martians were actually invading Earth?

   Answer: The War of the Worlds

   Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre broadcast of H.G. Wells' 'The War of the Worlds' was performed as a series of simulated news bulletins. Some listeners who tuned in late believed the alien invasion was real.

2. 2. What was the opening line of the radio show 'The Shadow'?

   Answer: 'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?'

   'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!' This iconic opening, followed by an eerie laugh, made The Shadow one of the most memorable radio programs of the 1930s and 1940s.

3. 3. Which comedy duo starred in one of radio's most popular shows from 1950 to 1965, later transitioning to television?

   Answer: Burns and Allen

   George Burns and Gracie Allen were one of radio's most beloved comedy teams. Their show ran on radio from 1932 to 1950 before successfully transitioning to television, where it ran until 1958.

4. 4. What long-running radio soap opera, which began in 1937, followed the lives of the Hughes family in the fictional town of Oakdale?

   Answer: The Guiding Light

   The Guiding Light began on radio in 1937 and transitioned to television in 1952. It became the longest-running drama in broadcast history before ending in 2009 after 72 years.

5. 5. Which radio comedian was famous for his long pauses, penny-pinching persona, and claiming to be perpetually 39 years old?

   Answer: Jack Benny

   Jack Benny's radio show ran from 1932 to 1955 and was one of the most popular programs in radio history. His comedic persona as a vain, stingy man who was always 39 became legendary.

Things you'll learn along the way

• ✓The Lone Ranger debuted on radio in 1933 on WXYZ in Detroit. The show's use of the William Tell Overture as its theme music and the cry of 'Hi-Yo, Silver!' became iconic in American pop culture.
• ✓Edgar Bergen's ventriloquist act with Charlie McCarthy was enormously popular on radio from 1937 to 1956. Ironically, ventriloquism on radio meant listeners couldn't see if his lips moved!
• ✓Amos 'n' Andy was one of the most popular radio shows in American history, running from 1928 to 1960. At its peak, it drew an audience of 40 million listeners, and some businesses adjusted schedules around it.