Testimonials

Each and every day, the Archives receives a great many letters and e-mails concerning our work to "Preserve Radio's Past for the Future." Here are a few recent samples - with thanks and gratitude to the nice folks who wrote them.

Liesel Kloetzli writes:
I just wanted to let you know how excited I am by my new First Generation Radio Archives membership. I just got my Lum & Abner collection today, and the sound quality is superb! As a college student with limited resources but a huge interest in OTR, I'm amazed to find such wonderful quality (and quantity) programs at such great prices. I'm used to taping shows off the air or buying average-quality shows from overpriced venders, but no more. You are doing great work, and I'm glad that I can support your efforts.

Alan Johns writes:
I was sure surprised to find the Jolson set in my box Saturday. Man, that was quick! A couple years or so ago I discovered Al Jolson through the web and lamented the fact that I couldn't find whole programs in quality that did the productions justice. So when this Premier Collection was announced in the newsletter, I wasted no time. There are some very subtle things going on in the background at times which are well-defined and stand out very clear on your restorations. Anyone who doesn't want Jolson, bigger than life and more, better pass on this collection. If Al had eaten onions before the broadcasts, I'd swear you'd be able to tell it. Great job! I'm already looking forward to see what comes next.

Martin Kornblatt writes:
I am thrilled by the quality of the CD's. You are performing a wonderful service with your enterprise. Thank you.

Dan Riedstra writes:
I had to write to say how much I enjoy the newsletter. It has as much information, if not more, than I ever want to know about the Archives. I look forward to reading it each month...and am constantly amazed at the shows being unearthed by your fine group. Thanks!

Joseph Wrzos writes:
Just as advertised, the sound quality of the sample disc I received upon joining Radio Archives, as well as that of CHRISTMAS - ON THE AIR, is just marvelous. I'm enjoying every minute of each show. I am now easily picking up on formerly muffled, muted, lost "words" and "notes" that I usually can't make out when listening to non Radio Archives CDs of similar OTR shows that I've listened to. For that, please accept my heartfelt thanks for all this loving effort to preserve OTR at its best. As a result, I now consider Radio Archives the indispensable source for my future OTR listening.

Marcus Antonsson writes:
I've listened to plenty of your cd's during the holidays and I'm getting more and more impressed all the time. I think that joining the archives was one of the best things I did last year. Excellent shows in excellent sound, for excellent prices.

Olin Evans writes:
I have really enjoyed the Lum and Abner set that I purchased. I have liked the idea that I could follow the episodes as they developed. The quality was better than I expected and was probably as good or better than the day they were originally broadcast. Please keep up the good work and I will be watching my newsletter for new collections that become available. 

Robert A. Brown writes:
Oh and the Little Orphan Annie shows are the greatest things I've gotten in years! SUPER SUPER!!! I am listening to one every other day in an effort to stretch the experience. You guy are wonderful, this makes all my Annie stuff, the premiums, even more significant and fun. Thank everyone for me.

Woody Schultz writes:
Great CDs, Great CDs! First Generation is the best for 20th century radio. Love you guys!

Charles Hutchinson writes:
I'm very excited about the CD library and, for that matter, the tremendous growth at the Archives generally. Allow me to commend you for your brilliant stewardship.

John Payne writes:
I have really enjoyed my first year. You folks do a great job! I listen to your CD's on my long drives to and from work. They make the experience more enjoyable. Time goes by more rapidly.

Walt Staves writes:
My order arrived on Friday & Saturday...thanks very much for the prompt shipment. Incidentally, my support is painless, as it's reward is the quality of the shows and the friendly prompt service which you provide.

Terri Lucas writes:
Thank you for your work to preserve the rich history of radio.

Bryan Wright writes:
I'm so happy to see the way the Archives is coming along. Every time I clean and dub a disc, it thrills me to think that this is one more program going into the Archives. Thank you for offering me the opportunity to feel like I'm doing something to contribute to the preservation of OTR. It really makes me feel special to be able to get in on the "ground floor" of a real nifty organization!

Richard Sens-Castet writes:
I first learned of you from Max Schmid of WBAI, New York. Your organization is fantastic. I especially enjoy the detective/mysteries, news and rare network shows you offer.

Bob Fells writes:
I wanted to commend you for your heroic work in restoring the "Shadow of Fu Manchu" broadcasts, recently offered by the Archives. I have a set of the "unrestored" CDs so I can personally attest to the Day-and-Night differences between listening to the "raw" material and the beautiful restoration work performed on the ETs. Congratulations!

Dominick Cancilla writes:
I ordered your recent Al Jolson set more out of curiosity than anything and ended up adoring them. I listened to the whole set twice (and a couple of shows three times). If you could do another collection of these some time, I'd love it! I can't tell you how many wonderful new shows you folks have opened my eyes to! Thanks again for helping to keep old radio alive.

Don Urbancic writes:
You've received my order for the CD sets for sale this month -- what a wonderful lineup. Thanks so much for all you do. My auto commute is much happier due to your efforts.

Ray Markham writes:
Found you through the OTR Digest site -- my first bit of luck. I read nothing but good things about your work. It's time for me to be a member! 

Paul Ghilarducci writes:
You do not realize the problem Radio Archives has caused. Barbara expects all OTR programs that I put on CD's to sound as good as the programs from Radio Archives. I get complaints if the sound is not as good as the programs from Radio Archives. She expects me to make all the programs [in my collection] sound as good as yours!

Gary Yoggy writes:
Many thanks...I value the work you are doing very much.

Larry Groebe writes:
You finally got me! Don't know what pushed me over the edge. But I just signed up. All 14 or so CDs arrived today (prompt!) and they do indeed sound terrific. I can see why the "Orphan Annie" shows are a best seller. I've gone through the first several -- the Ovaltine commercials are better than most other kid-show pitches; the story is interesting, and on top of that - whew, it's a whole 'nuther world back then, with the first-generation immigrant stereotypes and all. One could write a nice paper on the topic! Thanks!

Richard Rebbert writes:
I've started listening to the WJSV set. I really appreciate the great and devoted work you do. As always I look forward to receiving and hearing these shows. Keep up the fantastic work!

Richard Scheckman writes:
As you obviously know, I order everything that you put out and could not be happier with the quality of sound and selection of shows.

Chuck Sivertsen writes:
You folks are great----You do important work for goals of education, history, culture and fun!

Ivan Shreve writes:
Just making sure my membership is good for one more year--there aren't enough superlatives to describe the GREAT work you folks do!

Bill Jaker writes:
I've been a member for a year and even though I haven't taken advantage of any of your golden offers, I want to support the great work you're doing. Be assured that I drool over every fortnightly bulletin. (Isn't it good that we're an invisible audience?)

Al Gil writes:
Thank you so much for the shipment. I am really enjoying the programs. Again, I want to thank you for the wonderful job you do in restoring those old radio shows. I know that a lot of people, including myself, really appreciate the hard work and good job you do.

Howard Bonner writes:
Truly amazing!! The order was placed on Friday and shipped east immediately arriving Tuesday afternoon. Have listened to half of the package already. With much thanks for your product and service.

Jim Gaudet writes:
I absolutely loved these shows! That the episodes are almost defect-free is truly astounding to me, even after a whole year of listening to your fine collections. All my thanks for the great rescue of these wonderful shows and the great entertainment they are bringing to me and to so many others!

David Wilson writes:
The collections have been terrific and the sound is fantastic. Keep up the great work.

Alan Salisbury writes:
...let me offer my kudos for all you are doing both for your members and for the preservation of old time radio in general. Keep up the good work!

Lawrence Connell writes:
Thank you very much for the great work!

Stephen Jansen writes:
I REALLY enjoy being a part of this - I have a profound love of OTR (and audio, in general), and believe that what you are doing is terribly important. MP3's are nice, but this type of audio preservation is a completely different kind of nice.

Richard Moore writes:
I look forward to the collection of Christmas stories (and wasn't radio the media made for Christmas?) and to being a member of an organization doing great work in an area I consider important.

Charlie St. George writes:
I received "The Best of the Big Bands" today and have been playing the CDs all day long. They are so...so perfect...I'm sure there wasn't a radio reception in the 1940's/50's that could receive this quality of sound. You have restored a memory to the very time in space when people on the dance floor recalled it...it is so wonderful!!

Richard Simonton writes:
I hope you will be satisfied with the things I sent and will relieve me of the responsibility for delivering them to posterity. I have always feared that they might not survive me. The day might come when someone would have to dispose of my things and not realize the importance of my possessions. These radio shows represent immortality to the people who performed in them. It's an obligation to preserve them.

Michael Parks writes:
I finished the Box Thirteen shows a couple days ago. The sound quality on those episodes is stunning -- an astronomical improvement over the crackle filled copies found elsewhere.

Art Kester writes:
You certainly run a good ship and I appreciate it. I'm looking forward to hearing the boys from Boston [Bob and Ray]. Please keep the newsletters coming. You always have something that appeals to me.

John Olsen writes:
Your work is greatly treasured by many folks who are often times silent. But just because you don't hear directly from them, doesn't mean all your efforts go unappreciated. They most certainly are! There is basically no end to the tunnel you are traveling, as there will always be more radio shows to preserve and restore. The task boggles my mind. You're real heroes for tackling it! What a feeling of accomplishment - knowing you are preserving history.

Larry Thomas writes:
I've enjoyed all of the shows I've purchased. The sound is fantastic. Thanks again!

David Lennick writes:
The quality of First Generation is a zillion times better than most other OTR organizations. The stuff really does sound great!

Donnie Pitchford writes:
I'm checking the WJSV CDs right now, and I've always wanted to hear those recordings. I'm SO GLAD I waited and got these and didn't pick up the older cassette versions, since your descriptions say those were usually off-speed, incomplete, etc. Interesting - I can hear the grooves on the recordings being played on the "Sundial" show at 6:00 a.m. in contrast to the clarity of the announcer's voice! Excellent quality!

James Pearson writes:
Comments? You guys are great! Although I've bought several sets, there are many others I'm lusting after. Keep up the good work.

James Haney writes:
I enjoy your CDs of OTR. They're the best!

Mike Jacques writes:
Thank you for the work that you do.

Scott Rogers writes:
You have spoiled me, the quality of your recordings are so good that I am not happy listening to any other OTR recordings. Thank you for providing this service.

Larry Hultgren writes:
THANKS for such great listening and such great service! Keep up your excellent work - and fine deals!

Richard Sergeant writes:
I was delighted this morning when my postman delivered a package containing both the Bing Crosby Collection & The Shadow Of Fu Manchu, only 6 days from ordering to arrival here in "Jolly Old England." I tested some of the CD's and was truly amazed at the quality, I shall never be satisfied with low bit rate OTR downloads again. What I have to do now is plan my time so that I can listen to everything. Be assured, I shall be ordering more collections that interest me in the future.

Steve Kostelecky writes:
The CDs came today. What exceptional service! They sound great! I think you are doing something worthwhile that will really contribute something lasting to the hobby and to future research.

Tom Greenli writes:
I have been an OTR enthusiast for about 27 years. As you know there are a lot of bad recordings and poorly encoded MP3 shows out there. It's refreshing to see that someone is interested in high quality recordings. I think your efforts at Radio Archives is a great endeavor that will preserve OTR for many years to come.

Al Girard writes:
I've purchased five collections from the Archives and to say I'm delighted would be an understatement. The quality of the shows on these discs are truly exceptional. I have a huge collection of mp3 CDs plus about 800 reel to reel tapes, but the CDs that I've received from the First Generation Radio Archives are among the most prized shows in my collection.

John N. Evans writes:
I just wanted to thank you for your superior service, product, and the integrity with which you seem to conduct your business. I also really appreciate your push for quality. Stay after that! I'm not sure how you do what you do, at the price you do it, but my entire family was impressed with the Lum & Abner CD's to no end. Such attention to detail and quality is so rare in this day that I just wanted to encourage you to keep it up. We look forward to supporting your efforts.

Todd Wallace writes:
Thank you for your wonderful products!

Kathy and Larry Edmiston write:
We've already received the order -- my you're fast!! Your programs are wonderful and we're quite pleased to be able to enjoy them. Thank you so much.

Dave Erwin writes:
I'm writing you this note to thank you for the speed in which I received my order. I think I sent the e-mail late Friday requesting the Bing Crosby Chesterfield set and, to my surprise, I received it this morning. Not only do you supply great quality and care in the production of the CD's, but you also provide a rapid turnaround on the orders. I bought the Al Jolson Kraft Music Hall set. The quality was excellent, and so was your service in shipping. Looking forward to buying some more CD's. I can't thank you enough and I'm VERY GLAD TO BE A MEMBER.

Garth Miller writes:
I am enjoying the Big Band and Jolson collections, and hope there are more sets to come devoted to musical shows. 

Jim Trunde writes:
I'm retired and really looking forward to my membership with this group! Over the years I've been a member of various clubs and have purchased from commercial sources....with "mixed" results. I'm not interested in all OTR series, but the ones that I am interested in, I would like the best possible quality of shows...After 20 years of collecting OTR...I think I've found home!

Frederick J. Fett writes:
I initially heard about First Generation Radio Archives at a local meeting of the Metropolitan Washington, DC Old-Time Radio Club. I have enjoyed very much my past year's membership in FGRA. The newsletters are outstanding and the available radio recordings are the best! (I have significantly enlarged my personal audio library of superb radio recordings at a very nominal cost.) Response time in shipping my orders is also the best I have ever seen in any organization.

Herb Cramer writes:
You really do a great job, will continue my support as time and funds permit. The Big Band Premier set was my favorite -- hope to see another one. This will be my second year and look forward to many more.

Richard Frankel writes:
I really love the work you do at Radio Archives and look forward to receiving the newsletter. I congratulate you and express my gratitude for the great work you are doing.

Archie Hunter writes:
It is great to be aboard for another year. Thanks for everything that the Archives does to maintain our radio heritage.

Wayne Bulthuis writes:
Thanks again for the great work you are doing.

Lee Withers writes:
FGRA does a great job in preserving radio's history. Keep it up!

Richard Stone writes:
I am delighted with the work the Archives does and I always look forward with great anticipation to the newsletters. The newsletters and the liner notes particularly combine research and enthusiasm -- a rare and delightful mix! Scholarship is usually deadly, dry-as-dust stuff. Not so in the work you do.

Anthony F. Smith writes:
I am listening to the disc you sent, Dr Kildare, even as I keyboard this response. Incredible sound, better than I had hoped even after reading your self-rave! At 52, I have about 50% hearing loss in one ear, about 25% in the other, and it's a struggle to hear much of what I own on tape. Forget about MP3. This is crystal clear and other than having it beamed directly into my brain I can't imagine a better listening experience.

From Scotland, Graeme Stevenson writes:
The CDs arrived safely yesterday. Many thanks - those Ray Anthony remotes are superb quality!!!

Bob Rutishauser writes:
I received Premier Collections, "The Bing Crosby Show." The sound on these is fabulous! The show of Wednesday, January 25, 1950 with Louis Armstrong sounds especially good with all of the jazz and Bing singing. Thanks for all you do to restore old radio.

From Australia, Keith Scott writes:
Excellent service, great programming, and fantastic sound.

Camille Lavey writes:
I work for the Newseum, founded and funded by the Freedom Forum. The Freedom Forum is a non-profit foundation that supports programs and activities about the First Amendment. I am in charge of radio content for the new Newseum which will open in Washington DC in 2007. I have found your website to be an outstanding resource for old radio new broadcasts and experts who continue to teach me so much about old time radio. The generosity of your time and expertise has helped me enormously.

Bob Kayer writes:
I continue to be both impressed and appreciative of the work you folks are doing.

From Spain, Gustavo Luis comments on the Archives website:
Es un sitio espectacular para los fanaticos de la radio antigua como yo. (Translation: It is a spectacular site for old radio fanatics like me.)

Keith Hiatt writes:
I'm very pleased with the fine work you are doing. It's great to hear these shows in such wonderful quality.

Charles Huck writes:
Today I received the 10 CD set of "Crime Classics". Thanks, and keep up the fine work on restoring this stuff.

Craig Miller writes:
Keep up the great work - all fans of OTR need you.

From Tokyo, Japan, Michael J. Emry writes:
I wanted to let you know that I received the Great Gildersleeve discs. They arrived on the 22nd of March so only took 3 days to get here. Thank you for your quick response and great service.

Tom Kraines writes:
I think it's great what you guys are doing. Long drives are infinitely more agreeable with Lum & Abner in the car!

Larry and Nancy Hall write:
Thanks for getting me hooked on Frank Race.

Randy Collins writes:
It's my pleasure to sign up for another year as a member of Radio Archives. Thank you for your great service and selection this past year, and I look forward to another year of high quality old time radio listening pleasure.

Rod Gowen writes:
I want to thank you for the GREAT entertainment I have been getting from the 10 CD set of the Bing Crosby Show that I recently received. It's really like being right there in the studio as the shows were first being broadcast!!!! I love them! Keep up the great work!

Lorraine Combs writes:
I love being a member! I really enjoy popping a CD into the car player when I have to go places.

Thomas L. van der Voort writes:
You guys are doing a great job. I first heard about your group in its formative stages through the OTR Digest. Keep up the great work!

Jon Robertson writes:
Your service is EXCELLENT! I received my CD's in just a few days! Thanks for your good work!

Creig Slayton writes:
Received the CDs on Saturday, which were ordered on Wednesday. I continue to be astounded at your responsiveness and the quality of the discs.

From South Africa, Neil Scott writes:
The first Global Package arrived. The content is excellent - I really am thrilled with the discs. You will hear from me again shortly.

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