Luxembourg & Normandie Calling 1936-39

Commercial radio was hugely popular during the 1930's in Britain. The BBC had a monopoly on broadcasting in the UK and BBC Sundays were particularly dull affairs so the radio listening population often tuned into the continental commercial stations of Radio Luxembourg and Normandie for light entertainment.

Using rare surviving discs, I've tried to recreate a few minutes of those pre-war broadcasts for your enjoyment. As you will hear, there was a wide range of performers on the air (not just dance bands who were relatively expensive to hire). At the end I've included a couple of Christmas items including a wonderful commercial for Ovaltine that I am uploading exactly 73 years to the day since it was originally broadcast (18th December 1938). Ovaltine certainly made people talk very posh in those days!

Some of the discs are well worn and a few have deep scratches that I cannot entirely eliminate, sorry about that but they are quite rare and I hope you still enjoy them. Now turn the dial to Luxembourg or Normandie and wait for the valves to warm up...

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Stork Radio Parade (1937-38)
with Bobby Howell and his Band playing "Orient Express"

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The Cadbury's Programme with Charlie Kunz (1938)
featuring the Three Admirals and the Three in Harmony

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Spratts Dog Food with Fred Hartley & His Novelty Quintet
featuring Brian Lawrence "If You Were the Only Girl in the World"

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The Reckitts Programme (1936)
featuring Helen Clare and the Three Admirals " You Are My Lucky Star" & "I Got Rhythm"

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The Phillips Magnesia Programme Presents Hutch (1937)
Hutch sings "Time on my Hands" & the Orchestra play "Remember Me"

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The Persil Programme with Binnie Hale (1939)
featuring Peter Yorke and his Band " I Poured My Heart into a Song"

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Lushus Jelly with Big Bill Campbell and his Rocky Mountain Rhythm (1937)
"They're Tough, Mighty Tough in the West"

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The Cadbury's Programme with Reginald Dixon (1938)
tunes include "Liberty Bell" and "Jack Buchanan Selection"

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Commercial Break - Ovaltine (18th December 1938)

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Drene Shampoo Christmas Programme (1937)
featuring Jay Wilbur and his Band playing "The Toytown Band"

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Music

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