Air Castle: A Fun Children's Old Time Radio Program
Step into a world of pure imagination with Air Castle, a delightful children's old time radio program that first enchanted young listeners on February 13, 1928, over Los Angeles station KHJ. Created by Baron Keyes—a popular staff announcer who wrote the dialogue, composed and performed the songs, and voiced every character—this charming series invited preschoolers and older children alike to visit a whimsical realm filled with unforgettable friends. With over 52 recordings spanning more than 11 hours of playtime, this digital collection preserves the warmth and creativity of a West Coast regional treasure that later charmed audiences in San Francisco and nine NBC-syndicated western stations.
Collection Highlights
- Meet the Story Man's delightful companions: Listeners will adore the show's unique cast, including Clickety-Clack the wooden man (who communicated with tapping sounds), Happy Duck, Yip the wooden dog, Wooly the puppy, Bugler Murphy (whose voice sounded like a tooting horn), and President Pip. Many characters didn't speak words but made playful noises that the Story Man interpreted—sparking endless imagination.
- From radio to the stage: The show's popularity soared so high that fans begged to see the characters, leading Keyes to transform the most beloved figures into marionettes. Soon, he and his puppet cast were performing three shows every Saturday at the Beaux Arts Theater in Los Angeles, bringing the radio magic to life.
- A beloved broadcast journey: Originally airing from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. for pre-schoolers, the show moved to 5:00 p.m. in May to reach a wider audience of children. Over time, it shifted formats—from 30 minutes to a full hour, then back to 30 and eventually 15 minutes—and bounced between the Don Lee network and the early ABC network before returning to Don Lee.
- A rare Halloween treat: This collection includes a special "Air Castle Castle Halloween Special," adding seasonal fun to the whimsical adventures of the Story Man and his imaginative friends.
Track Listing
Show all 104 tracks (11 hours, 27 min)
- Air Castle 131
- Air Castle 132
- Air Castle 133
- Air Castle 134
- Air Castle 135
- Air Castle 136
- Air Castle 137
- Air Castle 138
- Air Castle 139
- Air Castle 140
- Air Castle 141
- Air Castle 142
- Air Castle 143
- Air Castle 144
- Air Castle 145A
- Air Castle 145B
- Air Castle 146
- Air Castle 147
- Air Castle 148
- Air Castle 149A
- Air Castle 149B
- Air Castle 150
- Air Castle 151
- Air Castle 152
- Air Castle 153
- Air Castle 154
- Air Castle 155
- Air Castle 156
- Air Castle 157
- Air Castle 158
- Air Castle 159
- Air Castle 163
- Air Castle 164
- Air Castle 167A
- Air Castle 169
- Air Castle 172
- Air Castle 173
- Air Castle 174
- Air Castle 175
- Air Castle 176
- Air Castle 177
- Air Castle 180
- Air Castle 181
- Air Castle 182
- Air Castle 183
- Air Castle 184
- Air Castle 185
- Air Castle 186
- Air Castle 187
- Air Castle 188
- Air Castle 189
- Air Castle Castle Halloween Special
- Air Castle 131
- Air Castle 132
- Air Castle 133
- Air Castle 134
- Air Castle 135
- Air Castle 136
- Air Castle 137
- Air Castle 138
- Air Castle 139
- Air Castle 140
- Air Castle 141
- Air Castle 142
- Air Castle 143
- Air Castle 144
- Air Castle 145A
- Air Castle 145B
- Air Castle 146
- Air Castle 147
- Air Castle 148
- Air Castle 149A
- Air Castle 149B
- Air Castle 150
- Air Castle 151
- Air Castle 152
- Air Castle 153
- Air Castle 154
- Air Castle 155
- Air Castle 156
- Air Castle 157
- Air Castle 158
- Air Castle 159
- Air Castle 163
- Air Castle 164
- Air Castle 167A
- Air Castle 169
- Air Castle 172
- Air Castle 173
- Air Castle 174
- Air Castle 175
- Air Castle 176
- Air Castle 177
- Air Castle 180
- Air Castle 181
- Air Castle 182
- Air Castle 183
- Air Castle 184
- Air Castle 185
- Air Castle 186
- Air Castle 187
- Air Castle 188
- Air Castle 189
- Air Castle Castle Halloween Special
