Episode 453 - Stars of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

About this episode

This episode explores the film 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' and features radio thrillers starring its cast.

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is the rare epic-length comedy - over three hours long with a cast that includes Spencer Tracy, the Three Stooges, and nearly everyone in between. The movie follows a crazy cast on the hunt for hidden loot, and we'll hear six of the film's stars in radio thrillers: Phil Silvers in "The Swift Rise of Eddie Albright" (originally aired on CBS on April 3, 1947); Mickey Rooney in "The Lie" (originally aired on CBS on April 28, 1949); Milton Berle in "Rave Notice" (originally aired on CBS on October 12, 1950); Jack Benny in "Plan X" (originally aired on CBS on February 2, 1953); Ethel Merman in "Never Follow a Banjo Act" (originally aired on CBS on February 1, 1954); and Jim Backus in "See How He Runs" (AFRS rebroadcast from April 19, 1959).

Topics covered

• classic comedy
• old time radio
• film history
• radio thrillers
• Hollywood stars
• comedy films

Keywords

• It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
• Phil Silvers
• Mickey Rooney
• radio thrillers
• classic comedy
• old time radio

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Swift Rise of Eddie Albright, The Lie, Rave Notice, Plan X, Never Follow a Banjo Act, See How He Runs

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