Freeman Gosden (‘Amos’) and Charles Correll (‘Andy’)

On January 12, 1926, the two-man comedy series “Sam ‘n’ Henry”
debuts on Chicago’s WGN radio station. Two years later, after
changing its name to “Amos ‘n’ Andy,” the show becomes one
of the most popular radio programs in American history.

Gosden and Carrell, both vaudeville performers, were doing a
Chicago comedy act in blackface when an employee at the
Chicago Tribune suggested they create a radio show.

“White Christmas,” written by the formidable composer and
lyricist Irving Berlin, receives its world premiere on December
25, 1941 on Bing Crosby’s weekly NBC radio program, The
Kraft Music Hall. It went on to become one of the most
commercially successful singles of all time.

Donald T. McNeill (December 23, 1907 – May 7, 1996)

Don McNeill was born in Galena, Illinois. He graduated from
Milwaukee’s Marquette University in 1928 and joined local
station WISN. In 1933, he drove to Chicago to audition for
a struggling morning program called The Pepper Pot. Don
re-organized the hour show as The Breakfast Club and
Within a decade, The Breakfast Club had become radio’s
first, and most successful morning program. By 1941,
McNeill and his cast were were receiving over 100,000
letters a year.

For 15 years, the show was broadcast live from Chicago’s
Merchandise Mart over WLS/Chicago and the Blue Network
(later ABC). For its last 20 years, the show was broadcast
on ABC from various Chicago hotels, including the Allerton.

The Breakfast Club ended its remarkable 35-year network
run on December 27, 1968. It was inducted into the Radio
Hall of Fame in 1989.

Cast members from left: Howard McNear (Dr. Charles
Adams) Parley Baer as Chester, William Conrad
(U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon) and Georgia Ellis as Kitty
Russell.

Gunsmoke is a western radio series, which was developed for radio
by John Meston and Norman Macdonnell. The series ran for nine seasons and was broadcast by CBS. The first episode of the series originally aired on April 26, 1952, and the final first-run episode aired
on June 11, 1961..During the series, a total of 480 original episodes
were broadcast, including shows with re-used or adapted scripts. A television version of the series debuted in 1955.

"Gunsmoke" sound effect artists Ray Kemper &Tom Hanley 
with Director Norm McDonnel.       

  William Conrad
(September 27, 1920 – February 11, 1994)
     
    
   

Conrad continued as Dillon after the TV show had
already started, and played the role until 1961. He
was considered for the role of Dillon on the TV show,
but the creators and producers decided, in the end,
to go for Arness in his place. It’s rumored that his 
weight was a factor behind his not being cast. 
         

Don McNeill’s Breakfast Club was a long-run morning variety show
on NBC Blue Network/ABC radio (and briefly on television) originating
in Chicago, Illinois. Hosted by Don McNeill, the radio program ran
from June 23, 1933, through December 27, 1968. McNeill’s 351/2
year run as host remains the longest tenure for an emcee a
network entertainment program, surpassing Johnny
Carson (29½ years) on The Tonight Show.

Don McNeill’s Breakfast Club with guest Art Linkletter.