Edgar Bergen 1939 11 05 (131) Guest Cliff Nazarro, Jackie Cooper

# The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show - November 5, 1939

Settle into your favorite chair and prepare for an evening of hilarity as Edgar Bergen's wooden-headed dummy Charlie McCarthy returns with a full roster of entertainment that captures the very spirit of late 1930s radio magic. This particular broadcast welcomes the talents of impressionist extraordinaire Cliff Nazarro, whose uncanny ability to mimic Hollywood's biggest stars will have you roaring with laughter, while child actor Jackie Cooper—fresh from his own success in Hollywood—joins the festivities with charm and boyish wit. Bergen's velvet voice and impeccable timing provide the perfect foil for Charlie's insolent quips and trademark sassiness, while the live orchestra punctuates each joke with perfectly-timed musical stings. The chemistry between Bergen and his famous dummy remains as electric as ever, their rapid-fire banter seamlessly woven with musical numbers and comedy sketches that showcase the full variety show format audiences craved during these golden years of broadcasting.

By 1939, *The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show* had become an American institution, consistently ranking among the nation's most beloved programs. Bergen's pioneering ventriloquism—made audible rather than visible to radio audiences—proved that a wooden dummy with personality could rival any human performer in audience affection. The show's format of celebrity guests, comedy routines, and musical interludes set the template for variety entertainment on radio, while Charlie's character evolved into a national treasure, known for his sophistication, quick wit, and flirtatiousness with female guests.

Don't miss this remarkable snapshot of radio's golden age, when entertainment was live, unpredictable, and utterly captivating. Tune in and experience the wit and warmth that made millions tune in every Sunday night.