Tired Of Trashy Tv? Try An Old-time Treat!
By Ned Norris, Sat Dec 10th
Americans love to be entertained, though most of what passes forentertainment these days isn’t that good. As almost every viewer and listener can attest, consumersseeking objectionable material need not look too far, says NedNorris, president of RUSC (RU Sitting Comfortably?). "Too muchof today’s television and radio is simply trashy. People gettired of that." Almost every channel features a reality show that does notresemble the reality of most Americans. Daytime soaps and talkshows glorify lives and relationships built around sex anddeceit, and prime-time shows offer prime examples of societalills. Radio can be just as bad, with profanity in rock-’n-rolland rap lyrics, and talk shows that lean heavily on hatred andsexual innuendo to appeal to an increasingly cynical audience.
"This country has an insatiable demand for entertainment media,"Norris says. "But adults who want to listen with their kids, orjust to enjoy programming that’s well-written and creative, havefewer choices today than they once did. "Fortunately, old-time radio has it all: Comedy that’s honestlyfunny without exceeding the bounds of good taste. Drama andsuspense from an era when writers had to depend on their skillwith words, rather than flashy special effects. Variety shows,quiz shows, westerns, and stories for kids." RUSC has a library of more than 5,000 episodes of old-time radioshows
for every taste. The company adds another 20 to 40 everyweek. People tired of comedies dependent on shock humor or sillinesswill appreciate the timelessness of old-time radio. The titlecharacters of Fibber McGee and Molly, a show that aired from1935 through 1956, argue about who’s spending the money, who’sdoing the chores, and why the hall closet is packed with so muchjunk. Listeners will realize that some facets of American lifehaven’t changed that much. Jokes about war bonds aside, theMcGees and other comic families of yesteryear aren’t toodifferent from modern families – and they manage to be funnywithout gross-out gags. Listeners interested in drama and intrigue can enjoy a wideselection of titles. Long before they hit the small screen,lawyer Perry Mason, the Lone Ranger, U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon,and Detective Sgt. Joe Friday of Dragnet solved crimes on theradio. RUSC’s library includes episodes of more than 40detective series and nearly 60 dramas and thrillers. In the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, millions of families gatheredaround the radio in the evenings to catch their favorite shows.Life was simpler back then, but shows that appealed to thenuclear family of 1950 can still capture the imagination of21st-century listeners of all ages. For more information andaccess to thousands of downloads, check out rusc.com. About the author:RUSC.COM is a site dedicated to the wonderful world of old timeradio. It makes available thousands of hours of shows fordownloading and streaming. http://www.rusc.com |
