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1932–1933 · NBC

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

Vaudeville's Perfect Fool in a fire helmet, playing to a live house

Texaco put Ed Wynn on NBC in 1932 and insisted he perform in costume before a studio audience — an argument he won against a network that thought laughter on the air sounded like noise. The Fire Chief settled the question: audiences at home wanted to hear a room responding. Almost every comedy variety hour of the next twenty years followed from that decision.

9 recordings · New York

Ed Wynn insisted on playing to a studio audience in costume, which changed how network comedy was staged. Transferred from the Internet Archive items 'Ed_Wynn_Show' and 'TheFireChieftheEdWynnShow'.

19327

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

The Prince Goes To School

26 Jul 1932 · 28 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

Trial By Jury

9 Aug 1932 · 26 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

When You Were 8 And I Was 9

30 Aug 1932 · 25 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

Tolstoys Redemption 32 22 7103

18 Oct 1932 · 30 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

Dorothy Burnhan Of Haddon Hall

25 Oct 1932 · 29 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

Poor House Behind The Hill

1 Nov 1932 · 29 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

When Hicking Ignorance Is Blisters

15 Nov 1932 · 24 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

19331

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

As You Sow So Shall Ye Reap

12 Dec 1933 · 29 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.

Undated recordings1

The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933) cover art
The Fire Chief — Ed Wynn (1932–1933)

Home Sweet Home

Date unknown · 30 min

Texaco's Tuesday night variety hour, and the first big vaudeville comedian to work radio in full costume before a live audience.