Decades ago, WRVO Public Media began broadcasting old-time radio with a small collection comprising 20 reel-to-reel tapes. Today the collection includes nearly 7,000 reels and over 20,000 broadcasts.
"Tuned to Yesterday" is public radio's premier old-time radio show, hosted by Mark Lavonier. The highest quality broadcasts are restored and played as they were heard years and years ago. You'll hear programs like "The Whistler," "The Jack Benny Show," "Fibber McGee and Molly," "Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy," and "Gunsmoke" – spanning all genres. Check out our monthly schedule to see when your favorite classic programs are airing.
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Drama: Damon Runyon Theater “Broadway Complex” 3/13/49 Syndicated, Mayor of the Town “Amy Lou Goes to War” 9/20/42 NBC. -
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Horror: Once Upon a Midnight “Malice Aforethought” 5/11/45 ABC, Haunting Hour “A Corpse There Was” 1945 Syndicated. -
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True History: You Are There “Fort Sumter” 5/22/49 CBS, Hallmark Playhouse “Lincoln and the Baltimore Plot” 2/9/50 CBS. -
Adventure: Dangerous Assignment “Road to Mandalay” 5/24/50 NBC, Voyage of the Scarlet Queen “Winchester Rifle and the Ambitious Groom” 2/25/48 CBS / AFRS. -
Crime: Nick Harris, Detective “The Young Shoplifter” Part 1 7/1/38 Syndicated, Nick Harris, Detective “The Young Shoplifter” Part 2 7/8/38 Syndicated, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar “The Fiddle Faddle Matter” 7/9/61 CBS. -
Mystery: Weird Circle “The Murders in Rue Morgue” 1943 Syndicated, Screen Directors' Playhouse “The Spiral Staircase” 11/25/49 NBC. -
Western: Hopalong Cassidy “Hoppy and the School Marm” 2/1/49 Syndicated, Have Gun, Will Travel “Sam Crow” 10/9/60 CBS. -
Comedy: Martin and Lewis Show “Guest: Dorothy Kirsten” 10/14/49 NBC, Eddie Cantor Show “Guest: Alan Young” 6/13/45 NBC.
About Tuned to Yesterday
Decades ago, WRVO began broadcasting old-time radio from a small collection of 20 reel-to-reel tapes. Today, "Tuned to Yesterday" is public radio's premier old-time radio show, featuring a collection of over 20,000 broadcasts. Listeners can enjoy classics from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, including "The Jack Benny Show," "The Whistler," "Gunsmoke," and more, spanning all genres from drama to comedy.
Meet the Host: Mark Lavonier
"Tuned to Yesterday" is hosted and produced by WRVO's Mark Lavonier. Mark is also the local host of "All Things Considered."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is "Tuned to Yesterday" on the air? A: "Tuned to Yesterday" airs nightly in two places:
- WRVO-1 Stream (10 p.m. - Midnight): This is the main nightly broadcast. You can hear it on your radio (main FM signal), on our website, or on our mobile app.
- WRVO-2 Stream (8 p.m. - 10 p.m.): This broadcast features a different episode from our archives. You can hear it on our website or mobile app.
Q: Who hosts "Tuned to Yesterday"? A: The show is hosted and produced by Mark Lavonier.
- Q: Where can I find the "Tuned to Yesterday" schedule? A: We post the complete monthly program schedule on our TTY Schedules page. You can find the full schedule here.