From Radio to the Big Screen

<p> There was a time when American popular entertainment referred only to radio and motion pictures. With the coming of talking pictures Hollywood cashed in on the success of big-time network radio by bringing several of the public's favorite broadcast personalities and programs to the screen. The results though occasionally successful often proved conclusively that some things are better heard than seen. Concentrating primarily on radio's Golden Age (1926-1962) this lively history discusses the cinematic efforts of airwave stars Rudy Vallee Amos 'n' Andy Fred Allen Joe Penner Fibber McGee & Molly Edgar Bergen Lum & Abner and many more. Also analyzed are the movie versions of such radio series as <I>The Shadow Dr. Christian</I> and <I>The Life of Riley</I>. In addition two recent films starring contemporary radio headliners Howard Stern and Garrison Keillor are given their due.</p>