Radios Seen on TV and in Movies!

* * * * *

One of the most famous radios is this transistor radio seen on the popular 60s Gilligan's Island series.

 

This radio from the prop department at Warner Bros Studios actually started off as a Packard Bell AR85. A drawer handle and antenna was added for the series.

 

But, the big question, not the Ginger or Mary Ann question, is why didn't the batteries ever run out?

 

 

Here's a scene where Mary Ann is wondering why the batteries never need to be changed in the radio.

And here's Skipper and Gilligan demonstrating their recharging system.

 

 

The debate between Gilligan and Skipper is whether pedal power or manual hydroelectric method is preferable.

* * * * *

Another very famous radio is seen on the popular 70s series The Waltons.

 

Here John Walton Sr, played by Ralph Waite, is sure the radio he’s brought home is a portable, while his family looks on smilingly in agreement.

The Waltons radio is a 1939 Zenith 12S232.

 

This radio is seen throughout the series in many episodes when the family gathers around to hear the news of the day. Grandpa can be seen banging on the radio when the reception is poor. Not an advised troubleshooting method.

 * * * * *

Here's an atomic age style radio in an 50s atomic age TV series, "Leave It To Beaver."

 

This radio is actually a 1957/58 General Electric 861. It was available in turquoise, red, and brown and cream color front. This image is black and white only because this series was aired in the days before color TV! Whoa.

 

This exact model series in red and cream appears in The Professional starring Jean Reno and Natalie Portman, her debut movie.

 

 

This is the scene in which Matilda, Portman's character, opens the radio to get the money stashed, before the bad guys played by Gary Oldman break into the apartment.

 

* * * * *

The big Luftansa heist is heard through this sweet Marilyn Pink 1957 Motorola 56CD while Henry, played by Ray Liotta, is in the shower in this scene of Goodfellas.

 

 

 

Henry reacting to the news that this was the biggest heist yet.

 

 

 

But, a months later, as the movie goes, they were finding bodies everywhere; Morris, Stacks, Carbone, Buddha, and Frenchy.

 

* * * * *

 

Here's a mid sixties mystery radio glimpsed in one scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) starring Audrey Hepburn.

 

Looks like could be a Westinghouse.

 

* * * * *

 

Here's a scene from what looks like Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954)

 

 

Looks like a 1952 Zenith R733.

 

* * * * *

Here's a recent movie but with an old radio, 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) starring Steven Carrell, Seth Rogen, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks.

 

 

Now what does an old console radio have to do with a man who cannot find a date? I'm sure I don't know.

What kind of radio is it. I don't know.

 

* * * * *

Here's a scene in one of the Harry Potter movies, not sure which one. Shows a collection in a shop during a scene

 

 

Looks like British portable models.

 

* * * * *

Here's a 1951 Zenith H725 in a recent vampire movie called Stakeland (2010)

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

Here's a mid-seventies GE in Sunshine Cleaning (2008) starring Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, and Amy Adams.

 

* * * * *

 

 

Here's a late fifties GE T-141a in a scene in The Help (2011) starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Jessica Chastain.

 

 

As Minny Jackson, Octavia Spencer's character says, "Y'all two brought me into this, but I'm gonna finish it."

 

 

* * * * *

 

More screenshots of radios to come as we continue our evening research in front of the TV!