On Air

Ah, the days of radio.

Al Jolson being Al Jolson on a CBS radio broadcast, 1943. Source

Comedian Jack Benny plays his violin into the microphone on his radio show, 1944. Source

Bing Crosby does his radio show, avec pipe. Source

President Roosevelt talks about neutrality in a radio broadcast, 1939. Source

Dinah Shore and her dog take part in a radio show, 1942. Source

This one comes just with the caption "Radio". Helpful, eh? Source

Jack Benny and Jascha Heiftetz play in a broadcast for overseas troops, 1942. Source

The first, illegal broadcast of Radio Wales by Plaid Cymru, North Wales, 1959. Source

Mary Maguire being interviewed on the radio in Brisbane, Australia, 1936. Source

Recording a radio play in the Netherlands, 1949. Source

A horse in a Houston radio station, undated. Source

Flo Thompson reads fairy tales to children in a radio station studio, 1942. Source

Roving radio interviews, undated. Source

A radio play recording in Detroit, 1937. Source

Three teenage girls sing into a radio microphone, Augusta, Georgia, 1942. Source

Actress Gertrude Lawrence and her sound effects guy on stage at her radio show, 1943. Source

Larry Raine, a radio singer, undated (40s/50s). Source

Actress and singer Ethel Walters in a broadcast for men overseas, 1942. Source

Harvey Hudson (I don't know which one he is, though!) and another man, Richmond, Virginia, 1949. Source

A conductor leads his orchestra during a Sunday evening radio program, Detriot, 1945. Source

General Douglas MacArthur gives a speech after arriving back in the US, San Francisco, 1951.  Source

Comedian Jack Benny and his wife Mary Livingston perform on his radio show, 1947. Source

A local radio station broadcasts Reverend Hamilton West's sermon on a Sunday in Augusta, Georgia, 1942. Source

Radio comedian Fred Allen parodies some television acts (somehow), 1949. Source

Teenagers at the radio station listening to a show, Boston, 1955. Source

Bull bellowing into the microphone during an interview with a local farmer near Augusta, Georgia,  1942. Source

Three brothers play music for a radio station in Augusta, Georgia, 1942. Source

A fantastic shot of a radio transmitting tower, 1935, by Margaret Bourke-White. Source

Swingtime!

A swinging party in New York city, with Benny Goodman and his orchestra! 1937.

Music: 

DRUMS! [drummer Gene Krupka] Source

VIBRAPHONE! Source

BENNY GOODMAN! Source

Dance! Source

Source

Source

DANCE! Source

JAZZ! YEAH! [drummer --- getting into it] Source

Teenage Girls of the 1940s

We had a glimpse of teenage boys in the 1940s; don't worry, there were girls too!

St. Louis, Missouri, 1944. By Nina Leen.

Teenage girls in blue jeans drink Coke and hang out. Source

Homework while listening to the radio. Source

The standard outfit for school, a skirt and sweater. Source

The usual after-school outfit, men's jeans and shirt (and cigarette!). Source

A girl getting these clothes from her brother. Source

Man's pajamas and hair rags. Source

Two girls have a sleepover. Source

Teenagers listen to records at the record store. Source

Socializing. Source

Homework on the bed to a stuffed animal audience. Source

A girl reading to the boys she's babysitting. Source

Bed-making. Source

Source

A girl showing off a sweater that is far too tight for polite company. Source

Using nail polish to hold up socks, apparently. Source

Talking on the phone. Source

Still talking. Source

Are you still talking?? Source

Give me the phone! Source

Aghghhh! Phone wars! Source

Cruising with the boys. Source

Of course, even back then teens had to get old, crappy cars. Source

At the movie with a boy. Source