Information Please

In this September 11, 1944, season premiere of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes poet and Mrs. Miniver creator Jan Struther and actor Alexander Knox—acclaimed for his role as Woodrow Wilson—alongside beloved regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. Originally slated to appear, Wendell Willkie sends his regrets due to illness, offering a touching note that opens the episode.
Highlights include matching musical pieces to aristocratic titles like “Prince,” “Count,” and “King,” revealing the literary and historical depths of terms like “miniver,” and exploring everything from philosophical conflicts and naval history to political trivia. Knox impresses with keen historical knowledge, while Struther charms with literary wit and cross-Atlantic perspective.
This episode blends a warm welcome back with cultural insights and humor, kicking off a new season of Information Please with signature flair. Tune in for music, monarchy, and meaningful conversation!

In this October 23, 1944, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes a uniquely cultured panel featuring virtuoso pianist Artur Rubinstein and celebrated author and lecturer Lewis Browne, alongside series regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. Together, they dive into a rich mix of history, music, and literature, wrapped in the show’s trademark humor and intellectual charm.
Highlights include Rubinstein’s musical insights on European royal houses, Browne’s knowledge of philosophers like Spinoza and European monarchies, and a spirited discussion of famous paintings of nudes. The panel also tackles questions on linguistic etymologies, operatic influences, legendary conquerors from Genghis Khan to Napoleon, and literary characters in unlikely judicial roles.
Whether parsing poetry about glory or recalling fictional foods with heavenly praise, this episode offers a delightful blend of highbrow wit and cultural curiosity. Don’t miss this wide-ranging and engaging hour of Information Please!

In this March 20, 1944, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman brings a unique political twist to the panel, welcoming Senate Majority Leader Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky and Senator Theodore Green of Rhode Island, alongside regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran. The blend of legislative insight and literary wit makes for an unusually rich and lively episode.
The panel tackles a diverse range of questions—from tie votes in government branches and the literary uses of generals' names, to Buddhist immortals and poetic forms like heroic and free verse. Senator Barkley impresses with his deep knowledge of political history and campaign trivia, while Senator Green brings surprising expertise on Buddhist theology and Roman history. Musical moments include identifying presidential campaigns based on themed songs, and the group also delves into colorful phrases like “coffin corner” and “flying coffin.”
With a blend of humor, erudition, and political flair, this episode offers a memorable foray into trivia, governance, and culture. Tune in for a statesmanlike spin on intellectual amusement on Information Please!

In this February 28, 1944, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman moderates a witty and illuminating panel featuring Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Oscar Levant, and special guest Franchot Tone, the accomplished screen actor known for his recent role in Phantom Lady. Together, they explore a lively assortment of cultural and historical trivia with spirited exchanges and laughs.
Highlights of the episode include identifying beauty treatments suggested by classic songs, decoding literary proposals in honor of Leap Year, and translating fancy French dishes into their literal meanings—resulting in a menu that features everything from a "pot on the fire" to a "song crown." Tone impresses with his knowledge of American Revolutionary figures and quotes Henley from a past film role. The group also dissects opera serenades, newspaper-named poetry, and unique marital customs from classic literature.
Blending charm, intellect, and humor, this episode showcases the panel's chemistry and Franchot Tone’s quick wit. Tune in for a delightful hour of education and entertainment on Information Please!

In this January 24, 1944, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman welcomes novelist Elizabeth Janeway and composer and music critic Deems Taylor to join regulars John Kieran and Franklin P. Adams. The panel dives into a rich mix of literature, music, history, and natural science, delivering sharp insights and plenty of laughter.
Highlights include literary love triangles featuring Heathcliff, Aeneas, and H. M. Pulham, a musical analysis of how Germany might collapse—by Allied invasion, Russian advance, and revolution—using Beethoven, Lvoff, and Chopin. The experts also identify poets and criminals, from Cellini to Ezra Pound, and explore whimsical poetry lines referencing distance, color, and even baby cereal. Deems Taylor’s musical expertise shines, while Janeway offers literary sharpness and dry wit.
With clever banter, historical tidbits, and unexpected knowledge (like kinkajous in bars and butterfly mimicry), this episode offers another brilliant installment of intellectual entertainment on Information Please.

In this June 21, 1943, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts a spirited panel including Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, Oscar Levant, and special guest Hilary St. George Saunders, the British author and co-writer of Combined Operations. The panel engages in a lively transatlantic exchange covering war operations, British customs, literary figures, and musical trivia.
Highlights include detailed discussions of WWII military campaigns such as the Battle of Britain and the Tunisian Campaign, reflections on British parliamentary traditions, and comic interludes about literary drunkards and dairy foods in poetry. Saunders adds a rich historical and cultural perspective, sharing stories from the Allied war effort and offering witty repartee on both British and American quirks.
A blend of war-time insight, literary charm, and humor, this episode captures the unique energy of the program during a pivotal time in history. Tune in for a sharp and entertaining half-hour on Information Please!

In this February 12, 1945, episode of Information Please, Clifton Fadiman hosts regulars John Kieran and Franklin P. Adams, alongside two notable guests: best-selling novelist Faith Baldwin and beloved radio humorist Fred Allen. With Allen temporarily taking over as emcee mid-show, the episode blends highbrow wit with comic flair.
The panel tackles a curious mix of questions—from ghostly cameos in stories like The Canterville Ghost and Topper, to the peculiar deaths of philosophers (Empedocles into a volcano, Bacon with a chicken). Baldwin and Allen add warmth and sharpness as they explore everything from birds that mimic helicopters to nonsense poetry, war conference cities, and literary pseudonyms.
Allen's sharp timing and Baldwin’s literary poise add fresh energy to a game that dances effortlessly between fact and folly. Whether it’s Frank Merriwell’s mythical pitches, the song behind “Pop Goes the Weasel,” or philosophical exits at weddings, this episode offers a rich mix of cleverness and comedy.
Tune in for a delightful hour of intellect, absurdity, and vintage radio charm on Information Please!

In this February 19, 1945, episode of Information Please, quizmaster Clifton Fadiman leads the panel with regulars Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran, joined by two fascinating guests: foreign correspondent and author John Gunther, and Hollywood director-actor Gregory Ratoff.
The conversation takes a cosmopolitan turn as Ratoff offers spirited insight into Russian drinks like kvass and kumis, while the panel navigates masquerading literary figures, wartime capitals, and famous ballet romances—from dancing dolls to lovestruck swans. Ratoff’s rich storytelling and theatrical past provide charming flair, including anecdotes about playing roles from Chekhov to Andreev.
Topics include wartime history, Shakespearean characters, literary false accusations, and the significance of Moscow, San Francisco, and Yalta in postwar planning. Whether it’s naming “old men” in poetry, recalling legendary heroines, or identifying the original name of Chicago, this episode blends culture, comedy, and international flavor in one brisk, witty hour.
Tune in for a globe-trotting blend of intellect and entertainment on Information Please!

In this December 24, 1945, episode of Information Please, quizmaster Clifton Fadiman leads a spirited panel featuring regulars John Kieran and Franklin P. Adams, joined by distinguished editor and critic John Mason Brown and special guest Boris Karloff, the legendary actor known for his horror roles.
The episode flows with wit and curiosity through a variety of challenging topics—from the scientific explanation of spring and neap tides to a literary count of corpses in Shakespearean tragedies. Karloff's macabre charm is on full display as he dives into questions about fictional murders, skulls in literature, and poetic executions. The panel also navigates through history, exploring Channel crossings by Julius Caesar, William the Conqueror, and the D-Day landings, and delves into psychiatry in literature, works of Gilbert and Sullivan, and mythological love stories.
With humor, intellect, and just the right touch of the morbid, this holiday broadcast is a delightful blend of education and entertainment. Tune in for skulls, Shakespeare, and the sly commentary of Boris Karloff on Information Please!

In this March 27, 1942, episode of Information Please, host Clifton Fadiman leads a dynamic panel including regulars Franklin P. Adams, John Kieran, and Oscar Levant, joined by special guest Wallace R. Deuel, the esteemed journalist and foreign correspondent. The evening features spirited exchanges across history, music, literature, and global affairs.
Topics range from the mythic origins of Pandora’s box and the winds of Aeolus to the first presidents of nations such as Turkey, Colombia, and the Philippines. The panel dissects the musical tributes behind Beethoven’s Eroica and Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, and recalls Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms and World War II communication lines. There's also a lively debate on wines for each course, romantic entanglements of Goethe and Mary Queen of Scots, and instrument-playing conductors like Toscanini.
With sharp humor, quick recall, and lively disagreements, this wartime episode blends deep knowledge with entertainment, offering a fascinating glimpse into mid-century intellectual camaraderie on Information Please.