Radio memories from the 30s and 40s

Gracie Fields

http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Tips/FieldsGSing.htm

When a wireless appeared at our home I was overjoyed. Before this happened, when the man who lived downstairs went out my mother used to allow me to go and listen to his wireless. We only had a wind up gramophone which sounded dreadfully noisy, unless you put a sock down the horn. You knew when the needle required replacing as the sound became scratchy on the record.

My mother loved listening to Gracie Fields, Richard Tauber and the musical 'Maid of the Mountains', with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, singing "Indian Love Call". I had nursery rhyme records. One particular record, which I can still remember was called, 'Ain't it Grand to be Blooming Well Dead'. I found this record very amusing.

On our wireless I heard the announcement on 21st January 1936 , of the death of King George V and the Abdication speech of King Edward VIII on December 12th that same year. I remember my mother being very upset, as she adored Teddy which is what she always called him. We used to listen to a programme called 'In Town Tonight'. The opening music of this programme was the Knightsbridge March. My interpre­tation of this piece of music, gave me a visual picture of what I thought London would look like.
Barbara Chapman - Boxing Day Baby