Fibber McGee and Molly and My Parents

In my childhood, my parents would occasionally use some catch-phrase that became familiar yet I had no idea where it came from.

As just one example, I remember they laughed about Fibber McGee's closet. Went right over my young head. I was born in the age of television and old radio shows were not on my radar. When I tuned into the radio, I wanted rock 'n roll music, not corny comedy or melodrama.

Tune In Yesterday by John Dunning

A few years ago, I picked up this encyclopedic volume describing the commercial development of radio and the programs that aired. The book was priced at $4 in a used book sale and was it ever a bargain! 

From A (Abbott and Costello) to Z (The Zero Hour), author John Dunning traces the history of hundreds of radio shows. Reportedly he had to edit out some content to keep the book to just 700 pages. 

Fibber and Molly

Dunning explained the background and huge popularity of Fibber McGee and Molly, a radio program that aired nationally from the 1930s until the early 1950s. The McGee hall closet was a long-running gag, accompanied by humorous sound effects as Fibber opened the door and was buried in a noisy avalanche of miscellaneous items. 

Because my family's apartment had way too few closets, some were stuffed full enough to feel like the McGee closet. Mom and Dad knew the reference from listening to the radio in the 1930s and 1940s, and it didn't take too long before I got the gist. This radio catch-phrase echoed in my family history.

1930 US Census asked about radio

The US Census had a question about whether each household had a "radio set." About 40% of the population had a radio at that time. Ownership was higher in Northern states and in urban areas, as shown in the map above (probably due to more extensive electrification in those areas).

My immigrant ancestors all owned radios, according to their 1930 US Census enumerations, so my parents would have been exposed to lots of early radio programming. The Farkas Family Tree meeting minutes mention that some years, the family would gather at one person's home to listen to the election results on the radio. It was most definitely an integral part of their lives, both for news and for entertainment, during World War II.

By 1950, 96% of US households owned a radio, but only 12% owned a TV set, according to the US Census. And in fact, my family tree minutes say some relatives made a point of gathering around one couple's TV for election results in the early 1950s. Think how small that TV screen was! 

Browsing for Early TV Shows

Back to the old-time radio book: The author notes how many of the most popular radio programs tried to make the transition to television in the late 1940s/early 1950s. Those include soap operas and westerns. Some were successful, some lasted only a brief time on the screen. Either way, I enjoy browsing Dunning's book now and then in search of programs and actors I remember from my childhood. 

Maybe early radio references echoed in your family history too?