A lost Hodge-podge about XM Radio

A few years ago, I had XM Radio.  I also had Sirus radio (this was long before they merged.)  I was listening to a lot of sports and lot of old-time radio.

This is where I became aware of a lot of shows that I had never heard before: The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, for one.  I just never knew it existed.  The same goes for The Six Shooter, Baby Snooks and a few others.

I don't remember who was the host on Sirius but I remember Greg Bell from XM very well.  With his schedule, I was able to listen to every program available and I did this for weeks.  Bell's anecdotes before and after most every show got me interested in learning more about OTR.

I contacted Bell a few months ago and I arranged an interview which was to be run on this blog - but he begged off at the last minute.  

I was never crazy about either radio service when it came to OTR.  Although I understand the policies that XM Radio/Sirius has against running some OTR shows, I don't think it's right.  You cannot deny that Amos 'n' Andy existed and were a huge part of OTR anymore than you can dismiss something like George Washington owned hundreds of slaves.  Can you dismiss the first full-length talkie film simply because there is blackface in it?

Some episodes referring to 'Krauts' or 'Japs' are also never heard on XM.   After all, you don't want to offend anyone. All the Japanese and Germans did in World War II (and before) was kill millions of innocent civilians in China, Poland and abroad, right?


©Jimbo 2010/2011