From the late 1920s to the early 1950s, millions of households across America would tune in to listen to popular comedies, dramas, variety, game and music shows.

“It was considered the ‘Golden Age of Radio,'” said Howard Oller, during a recent presentation at Evergreen Senior Living in Kingsford. “Radio provided a great source of entertainment for the entire family.”

During his visit, the old-time radio program collector played two popular series from that time, taking residents back to that era.

The first was a 15-minute episode of “Vic and Sade,” a light comedy that ran from 1932 to 1944.

HOWARD OLLER SAYS he got hooked on old-time radio after he received a Bozo the Clown radio, which he still has, for his ninth birthday in 1975.

“It was set in a small town in central Illinois, where I grew up,” he said.

During its 14-year run, “Vic and Sade” aired daily without a continuing storyline.

Oller pointed out although more than 3,500 episodes were broadcasted, only 10% survived to today. “Many of the early live productions weren’t recorded, and over the years others disappeared,” he said.

The audience then listened to a 1951 episode of “Night Beat.”

The mystery drama featured newspaper reporter Randy Stone, played by Frank Lovejoy, who covered the night beat for the Chicago Star newspaper.

In Stone’s travels around the city, he would encounter criminals that led him to his next story, said Oller.

“It was a superior series during its brief run from 1950 to 1952,” he said, adding William Conrad — later star of the popular TV detective series “Cannon” — was one of the program’s supporting actors.

With the introduction of television in the ’50s, the popularity of radio programs faded, he explained.

Oller got hooked on OTR after he received a Bozo the Clown radio for his ninth birthday in 1975.

“One night while tuning my cool new radio, I found the CBS ‘Radio Mystery Theater,'” he said, noting RMT aired from 1974 to 1982. He was immediately intrigued by the “scary stories.”

Each evening, the young fan would listen to the program underneath his bed covers. “My parents thought I was sleeping,” Oller said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is cool.'”

He still has his Bozo radio, Oller added.

He recalls also enjoying different radio shows with his parents. “My dad would talk about growing up on a farm with no electricity; this was their outlet,” Oller said.

There was a gap of time after RMT ended that he got away from radio until 1989.

“I had a college friend whose dad owned a radio station, and he was also interested in old-time radio programs,” he said. “That was it, I was hooked again.”

He made special mention that he and his late wife, Roseanne, spent many hours listening to their favorite programs. “She was also passionate; we would have them on during long drives or even doing chores around the house — it was all the time,” he said.

He has since collected hundreds of old-time shows in four mediums, including vinyl, cassette, CD as well as several on MP3.

He believes his first cassette was of the classic OTR program “The Shadow,” that was famous for the line “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.”

Some of his favorite listens are “Dragnet,” “Gunsmoke,” “Night Beat” and “The Jack Benny Program.”

Oller acquired a majority of his collection from thrift stores such as Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul.

“I also got them as gifts, many from my mom. She knew how much I like them,” he said.

Oller has had the opportunity to meet several radio hosts or actors over the years, including Chuck Schaden, a longtime host of the old-time radio program “Those Were The Days” and a member of the Radio Hall of Fame.

In addition, Oller collects vintage radios, several from 1920s through the 1950s.

He recently introduced old radio programs to his children, Mary, 11, and David, 9.

“They are listening to ‘The Cinnamon Bear’ from the 1930s,” Oller said. “This was a series specifically designed to be listened between Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Programming still can be found on the internet and AM stations, Oller noted.

Before moving to Niagara in 2017, Oller was a sergeant and investigator for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County in Wheaton, Ill., for about 14 years; a special agent with the FBI about five years; and an environmental scientist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for about six years.

He is currently the chief deputy coroner for Florence County Coroner’s Office in Florence, Wis.

Oller mentioned the idea to present the program at Evergreen during a visit with his children’s great-grandmother, Dorothy Alberti, who is a resident.

“I saw the radio in the activities room and thought it would be great to bring these shows, as many were growing up during the time of the ‘Golden Age of Radio,'” he said. “If you wanted entertainment, you turned the radio on.”

If any other area facility is interested in having Oller host old-time radio programs as part of their activities, they can contact him at 815-405-3812.

Request are welcome, as he has a large variety of programs.

“I just love old radio,” he said. “I would be happy to share.”