Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy

Ray Noble Gets the Praise

English · Radio

Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy bring ventriloquism to radio through the comic partnership of Bergen and his sharp-tongued wooden dummy. Charlie’s irreverence and quick retorts play against Bergen’s patient, often exasperated straight-man persona, creating a lively exchange that makes the illusion of a stage act work through sound alone.

The program blends their dialogue with comedy sketches, musical performances, and guest appearances. Bergen’s other puppet characters, including the mischievous Mortimer Snerd, add further voices and comic contrasts, while singers and musicians broaden the show beyond the central banter. This episode’s title names Ray Noble, a bandleader and composer associated with the program’s musical world.

The result is polished variety entertainment built around character comedy: playful teasing, verbal misunderstandings, and the distinctive pleasure of hearing a ventriloquist make a puppet seem to have a personality all his own.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.