Series List

RUSC is divided up into twelve categories. From time to time a new category is added, but for the past couple of years they've been as follows:

Comedy

From the early 1930s onwards comedy was arguably the most popular category of radio programming on the air. Classics of this category include Fibber, Jack Benny, Amos and Andy, The Aldrich Family and Our Miss Brooks.

Detective

This is a catch-all category for anything to do with crime or detection. You´ll find everything from investigative journalists (did they call them that back then) such as Randy Stone in Nightbeat through to police procedurals like Dragnet.

Drama

At first broadcasters didn´t think serious drama would appeal to radio listeners, but when they realized there was demand for such content they excelled and put out a wide range of content, some of which was quite tremendous.

Historical

Whilst many OTR shows are historical by their nature, the shows that within this category will have content of historical educational importance.

Juvenile

It's hard to imagine that there was a time when children would rush home from school to hear the latest episode of their favourite serial, but in the mid 40s there were at least thirty such programs broadcast regularly each week.

Miscellaneous

This is where you'll find everything that doesn't fit neatly into one of the other categories.

Quiz Show

Quiz shows became a popular format on radio during the 1930s. The amount of prize money offered varied hugely from the 68 cents per correct answer given to contestants on Don´t Forget through to $30,000 for the winner on Hollywood Calling.

Sci-Fi

Although often low budget many science-fiction shows were superbly written and produced. Famous writers include Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Robert Bloch, Robert A. Heinlein, Poul Anderson and Theodore Sturgeon.

Soap Operas

Often a 15-minute serialized drama, which was aired daily and derives its category listing from the fact that a soap manufacturer would sponsor it.

Thriller

Radio between 1930 and 1960 was teeming with programs that were rich in drama, rich in adventure and rich in thrills. It was the ideal format for edge-of-the-seat entertainment.

Variety & Music

Music and variety played a pivotal role in radio. It could be a show in its own right with a leading star such as Bing Crosby, or it could be an inexpensive filler using an unknown orchestras in a studio or via a remote from a local night spot.

Westerns

Cowboy shows for kids came as early as the 1930s, but westerns aimed at adults didn´t take off until the early 1950s. Big hits of the genre include Gunsmoke and Have Gun Will Travel, but I'm a huge Six Shooter fan just for James Stewarts wonderful voice.