The Aldrich Family was a popular radio teenage situation comedy from 1939 through 1953. In 1941, the program carried a 33.4 Crossley rating which placed it solidly in the top ten alongside Jack Benny and Bob Hope. First heard as a summer replacement for Jack Benny, it began on Sunday, July 2, 1939 on NBC, where it ran until October 1, 1939.

The program was then given its own time slot, Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m., where it was sponsored by Jell-O. The series ran in that slot from October 10, 1939 until May 28, 1940; it then aired on Thursdays, from July 4, 1940 until July 20, 1944.

In 1944, after a brief hiatus, it moved to CBS, where it ran on Fridays from September 1, 1944 until August 30, 1946 with sponsors Grape Nuts and Jell-O. The final move was back to NBC for two runs: from September 05, 1946 to June 28, 1951 on Thursdays and then its final run of September 21, 1952 to April 19, 1953 on Sundays.

Ezra Stone was the first actor to portray Henry Aldrich, the inept teenager around whom the show was built (and who influenced later creations such as Archie Andrews). The character originated in a Broadway play, What a Life by Clifford Goldsmith, and Stone played the role on stage and in skits on both Rudy Vallee and Kate Smith's programs, beginning in 1938, before the full half-hour series began. Stone portrayed the character on radio until he left for service in the Army in 1942. The role then fell to Norman Tokar (1942-1943), Dickie Jones (1943-1944) and Raymond Ives (from mid-1945 until November 1945).

Ezra Stone then resumed his roles until 1952 when Bobby Ellis took over the role as the final Henry. Supporting players and characters included Henry's best friend Homer Brown (Jackie Kelk for most of the run, and Jack Grimes, Michael O'Day, and John Fiedler in the final season); parents Sam Aldrich (House Jameson) and Alice Aldrich (Katharine Raht); girlfriend Kathleen Anderson (Mary Shipp, amongst others); and Homer's parents Mr. Will Brown (Ed Begley and Arthur Vinton) and Mrs. Brown (Agnes Moorehead), amongst many others. Early in the run, Eddie Bracken was heard occasionally as Henry's friend Dizzy Stevens. Among the announcers heard were Harry Von Zell, Dan Seymour, and Dwight Weist.

Volume 1 Episode List

38-07-28 Crowded Bathroom (10min Audition) 39-10-10 Henry's Engagement 39-10-17 Girl Trouble 39-10-24 Date Mix-up 40-02-20 Pigeon Coops 40-02-27 Carrier Pigeons 40-04-23 Coupon Craze 40-04-30 Model Airplane 40-05-07 Mothers Day 40-05-21 School Picnic 40-05-28 Cross Country Race 40-09-05 The Generous Gentleman Movie 40-09-12 Henry Loses Gift Watch From Aunt Harriet 40-10-31 Halloween Prank Backfires 41-01-23 Pen Pal 41-10-23 Henry Forgets To Mail A Letter 42-01-22 Girlfriend 42-01-29 Henry's Secret Admirer 42-06-18 Selling Christmas Cards 43-02-11 Valentine's Day Party 43-02-25 Homer's Love Note Goes to Henry's Teacher 43-03-11 Legal Trouble 43-04-01 War Bonds 43-04-15 Props for School Play 43-10-07 Everyone Sleeps Over aka Moving Day 44-01-27 Family Moviestar 44-03-02 Homer's Piano Recital 44-03-09 Warmest Day in March 44-04-13 Close That Door 44-04-20 Sam and Henry Both Await Calls 44-04-27 Henry Trades A Baseball 44-05-11 Baby Sitting Or Movies 44-06-29 Bracelet For Kathleen 44-11-24 Mrs Aldrich Returns A Bicycle 44-12-22 Christmas Present Mix-up 45-01-12 Henry Sends Candy To Two Girls 45-01-26 Church and Chocolate 45-11-16 Costume Party 46-03-08 Dinner Jacket Mix Up 46-09-26 Mary Has Joe Graham Over 47-03-13 Birthday Pipe 47-12-11 School Ring 47-Xx-Xx Cancer Special 48-04-01 April Fool's Day Jokes 48-05-13 Date With Helen Forbes 48-06-24 Painting The Garage 48-09-30 Rotating Parties 48-10-07 Henry Rents Out Mary's Room 48-10-14 The Great Weiner Roast 48-10-21 Baby Sitting or Movies 48-10-28 Detention Or Basketball Game 48-11-04 Henry Buys A Hat (1) 48-11-11 Broken Toy 48-11-18 Hardware Store Grabbag 48-11-25 Thanksgiving Dance and Turkey Run 48-12-02 Remodeling Homer 48-12-09 Grouse For Dinner (1) 48-12-16 Homer's Party 48-12-23 Christmas Program 48-12-30 New Years Eve Party 49-01-13 French Notes 49-01-20 Dinner Date With Kathleen 49-02-03 Shoveling Snow 49-02-10 Henry The Procrastinator 49-02-17 Mrs Aldrich's Antique Chairs 49-03-03 Planning A Trip To DC 49-04-07 Blind Date 49-04-14 Henry The Shortstop 49-04-21 Henry Takes Gladys To School Play 49-04-28 Date With A Tall Girl 49-05-05 Homer Engaged To Agnes 49-12-15 Homers Party 49-xx-xx Homer Expects A Horse From Agnes 50-09-14 Contest To Win Money For Motor Scooter 51-04-19 Henry Alters The School Paper 51-06-28 Everyone Expects a Surprise Party 52-09-21 The Bartar System 52-09-28 He-man Or Mouse

Volume 2 Episode List

52-10-05 Class Debt Chairman 52-10-12 Big Deal 52-10-19 The Camping Trip 52-10-26 Parent's Day 52-11-02 Overdue Library Book 52-11-09 New Suit 52-11-16 Debating Team 52-11-23 The Thanksgiving Turkey 52-11-30 Henry's Father Is Sick 52-12-07 The Lost Watch 52-12-14 Roadside Stand 52-12-21 Christmas Eve With The Family 53-03-15 Latin Homework 53-04-26 The Delivery Bicycle xx-xx-xx Bringing Home Cheese xx-xx-xx Homer Is Popular xx-xx-xx Mary's First Job xx-xx-xx School Pranks xx-xx-xx Anniversary of First Date xx-xx-xx Henry Gets a Letter From a Strange Girl xx-xx-xx Henry Goes Ice Skating xx-xx-xx Henry Is Not Wanted On A Sleigh Ride xx-xx-xx Henry Spills Glue At School xx-xx-xx Henry likes Nancy Adams xx-xx-xx Homer Expects A Surprise Party xx-xx-xx Ice Fishing In January xx-xx-xx Is Henry's Date With Gladys For Dinner xx-xx-xx Letter From a Loan Company xx-xx-xx Looking For Tuxedos For School Formal Dance xx-xx-xx Lost in the Snow xx-xx-xx Sidewalk Graffiti Causes Trouble xx-xx-xx The Boys Throw A Farewell Party xx-xx-xx Trouble With Kathleens Father xx-xx-xx-ily (xxx)-Cleaning the Furnace xx-xx-xx-ily (xxx)-Waste Paper Drive