There's Laughter in the Air! Radio's Top Comedians and Their Best Shows

Jack Gaver and Dave Stanley

There's Laughter in the Air takes readers on a sidesplitting romp through the world of old-time radio comedy. It gives a brief history of the medium and brief but intimate accounts of some of the biggest acts from the 1930s and 1940s. Gaver and Stanley give insight on several luminaries from the days of vintage radio: Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Fibber McGee and Molly, Burns and Allen, Amos 'n Andy, and more! (Summary by ChuckW)

Genre(s): Performing Arts

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 00 - Then and Now Maria Kasper
00:31:53
Play 01 01 - Fred Allen (Juggler's Progress) Bellona Times
00:16:39
Play 02 02 - Bob Hope (While There's Life!) Maria Kasper
00:19:42
Play 03 03 - Jack Benny (The Fiddler from Waukegan!) Maria Kasper
00:19:36
Play 04 04 - Bergen and McCarthy (Alter Ego!) Phil Chenevert
00:24:05
Play 05 05 - Fibber McGee and Molly (The Folks from Peoria!) Larry Wilson
00:13:44
Play 06 06 - Ed Gardner (Absentee Ownership!) Kristin G.
00:10:21
Play 07 07 - Eddie Cantor (Girls, Girls, Girls!) Kristin G.
00:13:20
Play 08 08 - Abbott and Costello (Laborers in the Cornfield!) Little Tee
00:13:03
Play 09 09 - Amos 'N' Andy (Blackface!) Phil Chenevert
00:12:59
Play 10 10 - Ed Wyn (The Fire Chief!) Maria Kasper
00:12:54
Play 11 11 - Fanny Brice (The Brat!) ElleyKat
00:08:36
Play 12 12 - Milton Berle (Peck's Bad Berle!) Jennifer Dorr
00:11:04
Play 13 13 - Colonel Stoopnagle (The Colonel!) Jennifer Dorr
00:11:30
Play 14 14 - Easy Aces (Aces!) Jennifer Dorr
00:10:43
Play 15 15 - Burns and Allen (Be Dumb, Sweet Maid!) Maria Kasper
00:17:33
Play 16 16 - Phil Baker (Squeeze Play!) Jennifer Dorr
00:13:57
Play 17 17 - The Great Gildersleeve Phil Chenevert
00:08:14
Play 18 18 - Durante and Moore (The Sweetest Guy in the World!) Little Tee
00:18:52
Play 19 19 - Joan Davis (I'ze a Muggin'!) Jennifer Dorr
00:07:28
Play 20 20 - Jack Kirkwood (The Early Bird!) SteveToner
00:08:44
Play 21 21 - Raymond Knight (Cuckoo!) Arianne Stein
00:08:08