Old-time radio

Old-time radio (OTR) is a phrase frequently used by scholars, fans, and companies to refer to a period in American broadcasting history, from roughly 1926 to 1962, when radio was a dominant entertainment medium. In contrast to current radio, highlighted primarily by music stations, newscasts, and assorted call-in shows, "Old-time radio" featured a wide range of programming, including situation comedies, variety shows, game shows, anthology series, dramas, serials, and live band performances. Soap opera as a form originated in radio, and such programs as The Guiding Light went on to equally long runs on television. Other radio series successfully transferred to visual media include Gunsmoke and Dragnet. Mellifluous announcers, live sound effects (often created through household implements), and dramatic tag openings characterized the programming of this period.

The phrase "old-time radio" is occasionally applied to programs of like vintage from England, Australia, or Canada, but with less frequency, insomuch as radio has largely retained the same basic scope and significance in these countries, with the BBC still producing regular dramatic series, adaptations, and sitcoms. Within the United States, with the exceptions of occasional revivals, mostly as syndicated series, and sporadic dramas on NPR, radio programming of this stripe is relegated to the past, but made available through tape and CD collections, online archives, regional re-broadcasts, live recreations, and satellite radio channels.

The last network radio comedy was The Stan Freberg Show on CBS in 1957. Most soap operas ended in 1960, and the mystery series Suspense and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar both ceased in the fall of 1962. Thus, Jim Henson grew up during the tail-end of the radio era, and was exposed to such serials as The Shadow and The Green Hornet. The announcing style used on these programs was largely adopted by Jerry Nelson, as the announcer on The Muppet Show and in other broadcasts.

In addition, such radio staples as Bob Hope and Edgar Bergen were guest stars on The Muppet Show, and subsequent Muppet/Creature Shop productions would occasionally reference or pay homage to old-time radio, either individual programs, or as a collective entity.