Old Gold Comedy Theater

Program Format: Comedy Anthology

Broadcast Years: 1944-1945 (NBC)

The Old Gold Comedy Theater was an NBC anthology series that aired for the single 1944-1945 season. It was hosted by comedy star Harold Lloyd, of silent film fame, and featuring some of the biggest names from film and radio. The series was intended as a lighter version of The Lux Radio Theater, featuring half hour shows that were cut-down versions of successful comedy films from the time period. Despite Mr. Lloyd's best efforts, the presence of big-name movie and radio stars and the selection of successful films for scripting, the series did not last, perhaps due to the too-truncated, half-hour format.
Of the 32 shows that were produced, 29 have been found, restored and brought into circulation through the efforts of First Generation Radio Archives (see References). Prior to this, only AFRS re-broadcasts as The Comedy Theater, with the original commercials removed.

References:
1. First Generation Radio Archives web site (http://www.radioarchives.org)
Compiled by Frank Passage, Sept. 2004