Turkey on the air: Old-time radio listening, Thanksgiving Day

What a revoltin' development William Bendix wasn't!

We have much for which to be thankful on any Thanksgiving. Including the miracle that is, indeed, the preservation of so much old-time radio that you can let your family philistines engage their mere football games and tacky films while you head for the computer room, cue up a Windows Media Player (or any MP3 player) playlist, and—once you’ve got the turkey in the oven—relax with a small truckload of Thanksgiving-tied radio.

Some of it is nonpareil. Some of it proves disposable enough. But you won’t be buffeted by the primal croaking to hit 'em again while you listen.

 THANKSGIVING CHANNEL SURFING: PRIME CUTS

Vic & Sade: A Miserable Object of Public Ridicule; or, Rush is Humiliated on Thanksgiving (NBC, 20 November 1941)—Vic (Art Van Harvey) and Sade (Bernadine Flynn), enjoying a quiet evening of dreamy gazing and reading, are alarmed when Rush (Bill Idelson) is ready to paste one on Blazer Scott's nose over revealing . . . the dinner utensils Sade leaves for him at each meal. Annoucer: Ed Herlihy. Writer/director: Paul Rhymer.

The Abbott & Costello Show: Formal Thanksgiving Dinner Party (NBC, 25 November 1943)—Lou (Costello) invites Bud (Abbott) for a Thanksgiving dinner---at Bud's place, but Bud already has plans to host a Thanksgiving bash for an exclusive club. Announcer: Ken Niles. Music: Freddie Rich and his Orchestra, Connie Haines. Writers: Parke Levy, Martin A. Ragaway, Pat Costello.

The Mel Blanc Show: The Thanksgiving Show (CBS, 26 November 1946)—Amidst  holiday spirit, other courageous suitors approach their prospective fathers-in-law confidently, but our hero (Mel Blanc) needs to throw a brilliant Thanksgiving party to get to within a thousand nautical miles of Mr. Colby's (Joseph Kearns) good side. Betty: Mary Jane Croft. Cushing: Hans Conreid. Additional cast: Jerry Hausner, Earle Ross. Music: Victor Miller Orchestra, the Sports Men. Writer: Mac Benoff.

The Life of Riley: Thanksgiving with the Gillises (NBC, 29 November 1947)—The  Rileys (William Bendix, Paula Winslowe) and the Gillises (John Brown, unknown) planned for their friendly-rivalry families to share Thanksgiving—until both husbands invite the boss to dinner, to butter him up over a newly-vacant plant foreman's job.Babs: Sharon Douglas. Junior: Scotty Beckett. Announcer: Ken Carpenter. Music: Lou Kosloff. Writers: Alan Lipscott, Ruben Ship, Ashmael Scott.

The Marriage: Fred Hertzell Visits from Kansas (NBC, 1943)—Never say "If you're ever in New York, look me up" casually, even from gratitude, as Ben (Hume Cronyn) is reminded the hard way, thanks to an old acquaintance (Wendell Hall) who once helped Ben and Liz (Jessica Tandy) out of a nasty jam, and who's just telegrammed that he's coming to town . . . on Thanksgiving. Pete: David Pfeffer. Emily: Denise Alexander. Announcer: Bob Denton. Writer: John McGifford.

Bob & Ray Present the CBS Radio Network: One Fella’s Family—Everyone’s Home for Thanksgiving (If you gotta ask, we’re not doing it right, 26 November 1959)—From Book Cee Em Vee El Eye, Chapter Eye Ex, Page One; writers/improvisors: Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding.

The Jell-O Program Starring Jack Benny: Jack Cooks the Turkey (NBC, 28 November 1937)—Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Kenny Baker, Don Wilson; music: Phil Harris Orchestra, Kenny Baker; writers: Ed Beloin, Bill Morrow.

The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: Thanksgiving Show; Or, Gracie’s the Turkey (NBC, 18 November 1940)—Additional cast: Senor Lee, Truman Bradley; music: Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra; writers: Paul Henning, Keith Fowler, George Burns.

The Great Gildersleeve: A Serviceman for Thanksgiving (NBC, 16 November 1941)—Harold Peary, Earle Ross, Lurene Tuttle, Walter Tetley, Lillian Randolph, Richard LeGrande; music: William Randolph; director: Cecil Underwood; writers: John Whedon, Sam Moore.

Lux Radio Theater: The Magnificent Obsession (CBS, 13 November 1944)—Don Ameche, Claudette Colbert; host: Cecil B. DeMille; adapted from the screenplay by Victor Heerman, Sarah Y. Mason, and George O’Neil, based on the novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. (Note: This is the second time Lux Radio Theater has adapted the film; the program also adapted for a 1937 broadcast that featured Irene Dunne and Robert Taylor reprising their 1935 film roles.)

The Pepsodent Show with Bob Hope: Lots of Guests (NBC, 18 November 1947)—A kind of NBC holiday all-star show: Bob Hope, Eddie Cantor, Jim & Marian Jordan (Fibber McGee & Molly), Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll (Amos 'n' Andy), Walter Winchell. Writers: Jack Douglas, Hal Bock, possibly Al Josefsberg, Larry Marks.

Fibber McGee & Molly: Doc’s Pheasants for Dinner (NBC, 23 November 1948)—Jim and Marian Jordan, Arthur Q. Bryan, Gale Gordon; announcer: Harlow Wilcox; music: Billy Mills Orchestra, the King’s Men; writers: Don Quinn, Phil Leslie

Our Miss Brooks: Thanksgiving Turkey (CBS, 19 November 1950)—Eve Arden, Jane Morgan, Gale Gordon, Jeff Chandler, Richard Crenna, Gloria McMillan, Leonard Smith; announcer: Bob LaMond; music: Wilbur Hatch; writer/director: Al Lewis.