What is Old Time Radio?

Old time radio ("OTR") refers to radio shows from the golden age of radio broadcasting (from the 1920's - ~1962) when radio was the main form of entertainment. During the golden age of radio, family and friends their radio listening similarly to the way television is consumed today.

This includes dramas, comedies, mysteries, westerns and variety shows that performed by top name radio and movie talent.

Programs, much like what is on television now, were acted out over the airwaves from suspenseful thriller's, detective, comedy, variety and even children's programs. Although these programs were generally broadcast live, many of them were "transcribed" (recorded) onto 16" discs, which are similar to records but they were not made of vinyl, rather these transcriptions, or ET's (Electrical Transcriptions) were composed of a wide variety of materials.

The programs were recorded so that affiliate networks could broadcast that particular program as well. The ability to relay broadcast, etc. is more of a modern day achievement, and was not available at that time.

Over the years, these old recordings were transferred onto a wide array of formats, from open reel tapes, vinyl records, VCR tapes, cassettes, DAT Tape, Compact Disc's, and now MP3s. It seemed that with every new technological advancement, old radio changed right along with it.