The great depression was one of the lowest points in American history. Unemployment rates and poverty were at all-time highs, and people needed something to keep their spirits up. The radio came along and help produce entertainment the likes that may not be seen or mean more to a country than during the depression era. There were no cell phones, no digital cable TV’s or Facebook. All Americans had to hold on to each day was the entertinament they would hear nightly on the radio. Families would gather around the radio in the living room and be entertained by shows such as Chase and Sanborn and Eddie Cantor.
"But the ultimate Depression-era zany was Joe Penner.
A forgotten performer today to most, and little more than a footnote to the average OTR fan, Penner was a national craze in 1933-34. There is no deep social meaning in his comedy, no shades of subtlety -- just utter slapstick foolishness, delivered in an endearingly simpering style that's the closest thing the 30s had to Pee Wee Herman. An added attraction was Penner's in-character singing each week of a whimsical novelty song, especially written to suit his style. Like Pearl, however, Penner was doomed to early decline by the sheer repetitiveness of his format, even though he remained very popular with children right up to the end of his radio career" (http://www.midcoast.com/~lizmcl/rfy.html)
