# Free Radio Show downloads? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152 "2004-11-16T23:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152/1 "2004-11-16T23:56:53Z")
I recall taking an intro level communications class in college and the instructor gave a list of dozens of sites that had free downloads of oldtime radio shows (everything from Fibber McGee to War of the Worlds and the Shadow). Now when I look, there are nothing but really crappy pay sites (I assume that these are the sorts of guys who take free books from Gutenberg, format them in the loosest sense of the word and sell a CD of 10000 books for $5.00). I’m going to be undertaking nearly 20 hours of driving soon and would like somethign to while away the hours. Here are two questions I have: 1. Does anyone know of any sites that one can download these radio shows from (preferably .mp3s)? 2. Are they fair use/public domain? I.e. legal downloads? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152/2 "2004-11-17T02:34:55Z")
[Here’s a page of links to start you off](http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jaweb/page8.html). ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152/3 "2004-11-17T04:16:47Z")
Do you have access to Usenet binary groups? You will find every possible thing that was ever captured from an old radio broadcast posted there in mp3 with alarming frequency (pun intended). ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152/4 "2004-11-19T02:19:32Z")
Ebay has CDs of mp3s of Old Time Radio shows. Your local library may carry cds which could be ripped into mp3s and burned to a disc. [www.rusc.com](http://www.rusc.com) has downloadable mp3s. They offer a $3 for 3 days trial membership, which switches to a $7.50 monthly membership unless you cancel. I’ve used it for several months without any problems. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152/5 "2004-11-19T02:26:39Z")
Email me. My address is in my profile. I may be able to help you. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152/6 "2004-11-19T02:55:48Z")
Feel free to email me as well. I have hundreds and hundreds of CDs .mp3s of radio shows, and I’d be happy to burn some discs and send them out to you. Lots of old time mystery/sci-fi/horror/comedy/drama stuff, archived news, BBC dramas/mysteries etc. (Heh, I have enough _Suspense_ episodes alone that I could play them 24/7 for something like two weeks without a repeat.) What are you interested in? ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-radio-show-downloads/275152/7 "2004-11-19T03:30:59Z")
Hm. I may take you guys up on the offer!