Sears Radio Theater - Single Episodes


(4.5 stars; 6 reviews)

SEARS RADIO THEATER Sears Radio Theater was a radio drama anthology series which ran weeknightly on CBS Radio in 1979, sponsored by the Sears chain. Often paired with The CBS Radio Mystery Theater during its first season, the program offered a different genre of drama for each day's broadcast. In 1980, the program moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System and became the Mutual Radio Theater. The Mutual series broadcast repeats from the CBS run until September 1980, when a short season of new dramas was presented. Sears continued as a sponsor during the Mutual run. Monday was "Western Night" and was hosted by Lorne Greene. Tuesday was "Comedy Night", hosted by Andy Griffith. Wednesday was "Mystery Night" with Vincent Price as host. Thursday was "Love And Hate Night" with Cicely Tyson doing honors as host. Finally, Friday brought "Adventure Night", first hosted by Richard Widmark and later by Howard Duff and then by Leonard Nimoy. Actors heard on the series included Parley Baer, Mary Jane Croft, Howard Culver, John Dehner, Virginia Gregg, Janet Waldo, Vic Perrin, Hans Conried, Marvin Miller, Elliot Lewis, Jeff Corey, Lesley Woods, Robert Rockwell, Lurene Tuttle, Eve Arden, Keith Andes, Harriet Nelson, Alan Young, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Lloyd Bochner, Rick Jason, Frank Campanella, Toni Tennille, Arthur Hill, Dan O'Herlihy, Jesse White and Frank Nelson. It was produced and directed by Fletcher Markle and Elliott Lewis. The theme was composed and conducted by Nelson Riddle. Though less long-lived than NPR's Earplay or the Mystery Theater , it was an ambitious attempt to reinvigorate a neglected field. Like Earplay , it was broadcast in stereo. This information was taken from the wikipedia, located at www.wikipedia.com. NOTE: Updated with Version 2 files (07-Jan-2020). From the Old Time Radio Researchers Group. See "Notes" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

Chapters

Retribution 42:25
And Baby Makes Four 43:07
Hostages 35:52
Hildy 36:38
The Choosing 51:10
Leavin' Cheyenne 47:37
Should Old Acquantance Be Forgot 48:00
The Thirteenth Governess 58:21
This Home Is Dissolved 51:15
Climb 47:29
The Final Fall 50:08
The Troublemaker 47:02
The Ouija Spells Murder 44:38
I Want Him Dead 51:05
Then There Were None 41:29
The Afro Westerner 49:53
The Care and Feeding of a Sex Symbol 23:49
Wanda 47:21
The Long Night 51:18
The McGuffey Connection 36:01
The Lady and the Outlaw 51:09
Oh, Brothers 51:11
Carmilla 46:51
No Greater Dream 51:39
The Tough Guy 50:32
Powder River Policy 56:25
Where Guardian Angels Fear To Tread 48:45
Going Home 54:24
Sometime Every Summertime 49:54
The Wrath of ZEUS 50:25
The Female of the Species 50:28
Getting Drafted 50:00
Mushrooms, Darling 48:18
An Honest Man 59:27
The Mercenaries 49:48
Ace in the Hole 53:14
The Terrible Dream of Mr Glitch 47:39
Cajun Death 38:55
First Star Tonight 51:03
Flight of the Starbird 51:31
Conspiracy at the Golden Gate 39:44
As You Wish 39:40
Improvisation 38:52
A Matter of Priorities 39:07
A Short History of Bac Ha 49:56
Out in Colorado 50:11
Fontaine Harris, Le Baron de Paree 38:29
The Ham That Cried Wolf 51:18
My Hero 39:34
The Curse of Princess Chiestry 50:09
The Duke of Nevers 50:32
Hizzoner Hamlet 51:05
The Old Boy 48:31
The Season of Glad Songs 50:21
Bruja 56:19
Abilene 39:22
Here's Morgan 38:20
The Sabbatical 38:16
The Season of Glad Songs 47:22
The Odyssey of the Vigilant 47:26
Henry Box Brown 50:16
Guess Who's Coming to California 38:30
Miniatures 46:52
The Other Grandmother 48:23
Anne Bonny's Gold 48:50
The Lovers 48:55
Here's Morgan Again 39:55
The Assassin 51:27
Over Night Guest 48:41
Milwaukee Deep 50:38
Bull Story 49:20
A Very Nice Couple 39:46
The Nightmare 50:45
Mister Chan 39:39
Country of Fear 54:09
The Legend 50:28
Here's Morgan Once Again 48:49
A Test of Love 48:57
Muncy's Mob 49:10
The Lone Voyager 50:32
Neither Snow nor Rain 50:26
The Strange Affliction 51:09
A Leading Case 48:57
The Great March 39:43
McGuffy's Hong Kong Connection 48:11
A Poor Orphan Girl 48:00
Quartet in Nothing 48:46
A Whisper In My Ear 39:49
A Sense of Pride 39:19
White Out 50:35
Cottonwood 49:18
Last Resort 51:32
The Perfect Hostess 39:19
A Piece of Flesh 49:16
The American Family Robinson 42:32
Incident at Red Butte 49:03
Advancement of Vern Berwick 40:57
Anniversary 40:16
Who's Who 48:48
A Brief Case of Trouble 50:40
Old Bones 50:58
A Weekend Pass 54:39
A Game of Cat and Mouse 39:57
The Hamster Caper of Curtis Cleever 50:43
Shah Namah 40:30
Panther 51:21
Here Comes the Bride -- Again! 51:19
Melissa 52:18
Billy D Burton 50:37
Vienna Three and Four 40:19
Katie MacBeth 42:38
Jack and the Energy Crunch 40:52
Girl on the Billboard 38:32
Spring Cleaning 35:43
Two Faces of Evil 40:27
Punishment and Crime 37:05
The Crown Jewels of Grandomir 40:50
The Joke Is on Guess Who 40:58
Survival 40:49
The Visit 40:35
Uncle Zora Comes to the Pig Festival 1:21:00
Fontaine Harris in Hollywood 40:19
The Ransom 40:14
Reunion 40:21
The Value of a Hunch 41:06
Trooper Lopez 40:41
Baldie 40:12
Voodoo Lady 40:41
Writer's Block 40:21

Reviews

Final host passes


The fine actress Cicely Tyson, who hosted the Thursday night shows, and was the last living host of the series, has passed away. Sadly, she didn't act in any of them. According to RadioGoldIndex, these are those titles: Sears Radio Theatre. February 08, 1979. Program #4. CBS net. "Hildy". Sears Radio Theatre. February 16, 1979. Program #9. CBS net. "This Home Is Dissolved". Sears Radio Theatre. February 22, 1979. Program #14. CBS net. "I Want Him Dead". Sears Radio Theatre. March 01, 1979. Program #19. CBS net. "The Long Night". Sears Radio Theatre. March 08, 1979. Program #24. CBS net. "No Greater Dream". Sears Radio Theatre. March 22, 1979. Program #34. CBS net. "An Honest Man". Sears Radio Theatre. March 29, 1979. Program #39. CBS net. "First Star Tonight". Sears Radio Theatre. April 05, 1979. Program #44. CBS net. "A Matter Of Priorities". Sears Radio Theatre. April 12, 1979. Program #49. CBS net. "My Hero". Sears Radio Theatre. April 19, 1979. Program #54. CBS net. "The Season Of Glad Songs". Sears Radio Theatre. April 26, 1979. Program #59. CBS net. "Baby, Baby". Sears Radio Theatre. May 03, 1979. Program #64. CBS net. "The Other Grandmother". Sears Radio Theatre. May 10, 1979. Program #69. CBS net. "Overnight Guest". Sears Radio Theatre. May 17, 1979. Program #74. CBS net. "Mr. Chan". Sears Radio Theatre. May 24, 1979. Program #79. CBS net. "Munsey's Mob". Sears Radio Theatre. May 31, 1979. Program #84. CBS net. "The Great March". Sears Radio Theatre. June 07, 1979. Program #89. CBS net. "A Sense Of Pride". Sears Radio Theatre. June 14, 1979. Program #94. CBS net. "A Piece Of Flesh". Sears Radio Theatre. June 21, 1979. Program #99. CBS net. "Who's Who". Sears Radio Theatre. June 28, 1979. Program #104. CBS net. "The Hamster Caper Of Curtis Cleaver". Sears Radio Theatre. July 05, 1979. Program #109. CBS net. "Billie Dee Burton". Sears Radio Theatre. July 12, 1979. Program #114. CBS net. "Spring Cleaning". Sears Radio Theatre. July 19, 1979. Program #119. CBS net. "Survival". Sears Radio Theatre. July 26, 1979. Program #124. CBS net. "Reunion". Sears Radio Theatre. August 02, 1979. Program #129. CBS net. "Writer's Block".

Please leave the original sound intact


(4 stars)

This is a very good series! But marred by someone that attempted to "sweeten" the sound by adding the ridiculous SFX. I have returned it as best I can to the original sound. I will attempt to reintroduce it back when I get time. But please give it a listen! The commercials are interesting and not too annoying. Rather, a mini time capsule of the day's events. Just a friendly request to not monkey with the presentation's sound and to let us enjoy it as intended. Thanks.

The other listing for SRT = maybe the rest of them?


(4 stars)

The other listing, as gotten by going to the Home Page, selecting Audio, and typing in SRT... https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Sears_Radio_Theater - has essentially the same show list, so the missing might be still "missing". CD1 of this one above, does have... gives Pics, Etc 00 Introduction to the OTRR.mp3 01 Elliott Lewis biography.mp3 Alternate versions Sears Radio Theater 79-03-02 (020) The McGuffey Connection (with news).mp3 Sears Radio Theater 79-06-05 (087) Quartette in Nothing Flat (with news).mp3 CD Labels CD#1.CRC Certified Materials Logs, Etc

Great Variety


(4 stars)

My favorite kind of OTR is mystery, suspense, and horror such as Inner Sanctum Mysteries. But I like the fact CBS created a radio program that appealed to all tastes, a wise move. The audio quality on some episodes is very poor, but most appear to be clear. I plan to check out every episode.

Great variety!


(5 stars)

Thank you so much for uploading this series - wonderful stories, and something for everyone. Usually I just like to listen to mystery/suspense radio shows, but I'm enjoying the comedies, westerns, and dramas in this series just as much.

Does anyone know where I can find the rest??


(5 stars)

I enjoy the radio theater as well as Sears Radio Theater!! But this is not the full list for Sears radio theater! Where can I find the rest?? fritz51962@hotmail.com. Thank You!!

The ads - ugh!


While impressed by the scripts and acting of the five or six episodes I've listened to so far, I am disappointed - and annoyed - by the excessive number of ads. Too bad.

Files Updated!


FYI: Replaced files on this page from the Version 2 Release. For the full OTRR Release, see the OTRR Certified page: <a href="https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Certified_Sears_Radio_Theater" rel="ugc nofollow">OTRR Sears Radio Theater</a> - Old Time Radio Researchers Group