If you like black and white movies you'll love …

By Ned Norris

Do you love to curl-up in front of an old black and white movie?

Do you enjoy the innocence of those wonderful old films where the good-guy always comes out the victor in the end and usually ends up with the girl as an added bonus?

Do you enjoy a classic thriller that doesn't force you to endure countless violent deaths and enough blood to fulfill the needs of a major-city hospital for a year?

If the answer to all three is a resounding "Yes!" then have I got a treat in store for you.

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet the classic old-time radio shows of the 1930s, 40s and 50s are as alive and well as they were over half a century ago.

With a little Googling you can discover, or rediscover if you're old enough to remember them the first time round, a whole world of audio-only entertainment ready to have you falling out of your chair with laughter, gripped to your chair with fear, or transported off to exciting new lands.

A great place to begin is at RUSC.COM old-time-radio web site. This huge archive was set-up back in 1999 and provides fans of old time radio with everything from editorial, reviews, crosswords and thousands and thousands of shows to download and enjoy on your computer or take with you in the car or on your MP3 player.

Let me give you a few recommendations if you're new to old time radio.

If you're looking for a good thriller you can't go far wrong with Suspense, The Whistler or Inner Sanctum. Old time radio provides an abundance of thrillers and suspense shows, but these three provide an excellent starting point for your journey.

If you'd prefer something a little more lighthearted have a listen to Life of Riley, Fibber McGee and Molly, or Life with Luigi. These are timeless classics that are as funny now as they were in the Golden Days of old time radio.

For those who prefer something a little more dramatic try CBS Radio Workshop or Lux Radio Theater. These shows provide classic versions of many of the famous works of literature as well as audio-only versions of many of the famous Hollywood films of the time.

Finally, if science fiction is more up your street, then have a listen to X Minus 1 or Dimension X. These classic radio series feature stories from some of the best science fiction writers of all-time such as Ray Bradbury.

The great thing with old time radio is that there really is something for everyone, so you can't go far wrong if you just dive straight in and start to find your own favorites. Hopefully, my suggestions above will help you to start your journey of discovery, but from there on you are limited only by your own imagination.

Happy listening!