Lot 32
Early Radio Comic Discs
Approximately 260 rare recordings of radio comedy shows from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s . Disc sizes are 10, 8, and 6 1/2 inches, with the majority being 10 inches. They play at 33 1/3 rpm. All are in the original brown paper sleeves, with varied color labels bearing handwritten notations. Some of the discs are in near-unused condition. Shown above are the following: Milton Berle, Dan Martin, Jerry Lewis, Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, Morey Amsterdam, Bing Crosby and Al Jolson.
From the consignor:
Rare Early Radio Comedy Discs Discovered
A rare find of radio show segments featuring many of the great comedians of the 20th century has been discovered. They had been hidden-away for more than 60 years!
Dozens of legendary comedians and lesser-known comedians are represented on these plastic, homemade discs with handwritten labels. There is Milton Berle, Bob Hope, Martin-Lewis, Arthur Godfrey, Groucho Marx, Fred Allen, Jimmy Durante, Jack Paar, Eddie Cantor, Danny Thomas, Danny Kaye, Edgar Bergen, Myron Cohen, The Three Stooges, Victor Borge, Morey Amsterdam, Henry Morgan, Mel Blanc and so many more. Also on disc - Sinatra, Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Bea Lillie, Sophie Tucker, Bette Davis, Gus Van, Hildegarde, Ethel Merman, and others. Some of them act as "straight-men or women."
There is even a speech given by Winston Churchill (not in good condition) that may not have been recorded elsewhere. Bing Crosby and Al Jolson do a Rip Van Winkle skit; Danny Kaye performs “Begin the Beguine” (label notes "off-key"); Morey Amsterdam performs a Monkey Poem; one of Milton Berle’s contributions is "Gas Station"; Jack Carter does his “Piccadilly Song”. Other comedians include Phil Foster, Henny Youngman, Al Bernie, Lenny Kent, Peter Donald, Irwin Corey, Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healey, Garry Moore, Billy DeWolfe, Joe Besser, Abe Burrows, and Doodles Weaver. Some discs contain a few women comedians or comedy actresses. There is much more. These recordings probably have never been issued commercially. Many of these skits and interaction among comedians probably have never been heard since they were presented on radio. Some discs indicate a date of 1946 on the label and others may be from an earlier vintage.
Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000