In the 1930s, American radio programming was almost entirely under the control of a handful of advertising agencies.

Ads became more frequent and more strident, but people kept listening.

A number of vaudeville comedians migrated to radio, and stand-up comedy evolved into situation comedy.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music Episode 309, The Golden Age of Radio.

Comedy came into its own on radio in the 30s, and radio became full of comedians.

To tell this story, I want to focus on one of the best-known, most successful, and most influential among them,

and who also, totally by coincidence, happens to be my personal favorite.

Allow me to introduce him to you.

Benjamin Kubelski was born on February 14, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois, and he grew up in nearby

Waukegan. His parents were, say it along with me, Jewish immigrants from what was then the Russian

Empire. You know, two weeks ago in episode 307, I spoke at some length about the talented people

the Nazis ran out of Germany in the 1930s. Germany suffered from that loss for decades afterward.

Do modern Russians even consider how many talented people the Romanovs drove out of the old

empire, or ponder how the loss of all

these people affected Russia, and its neighboring countries. I wonder, but I digress. Young Ben

began playing the violin at the age of six, and he took to the instrument. His parents had dreams of him becoming a professional violinist,

but he was an indifferent student, eventually getting expelled from high school.

But he loved the violin.

He played in bands and orchestras, and by the age of 15, he was playing violin on the vaudeville stage.

There he met and became friendly with, the Marx brothers.

They wanted him to go on tour with them, but Ben's parents wouldn't allow it.

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