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RADIO BY THE BOOK: ADAPTATIONS OF LITERATURE AND FICTION ON THE AIRWAYS:


During the first half of the 20th century, radio’s hunger for captivating characters and stories could not be sated. Three national networks and dozens of independent stations had to fill a vast expanse of air time with comedy, adventure, mystery, drama and music, night after night. It’s no surprise that producers and writers looked to outside sources, drawing some of old-time radio’s most beloved characters (Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, Hopalong Cassidy, Buck Rogers) directly from books.


This work examines individual characters that jumped from prose to radio and a number of programs that specialized in dramatizing literature. It covers mystery and detective shows, adventure stories, westerns, and science fiction, and anthology shows that adapted novels by such greats as Twain, Steinbeck and Dickens. The text explores how the writers and producers approached the source material--what they changed, what they kept and what they left out.


"a new and most welcome contribution to the literature of the genre...a lively and entertaining read.... Fans of old time radio will savor DrForest’s attention to detail, accuracy and impressive research"--Scarlet; "ought to be on every vintage radio collector’s bookshelf"--The Old Radio Times; "a delightful read"--SPERDVAC Radiogram.