"Abroad with the Lockharts" is a 13-episode syndicated romantic comedy radio series that first aired in 1930. It follows the adventures of a fictional American couple, Will and Mrs. Lockhart, portrayed by real-life husband and wife Gene and Kathleen Lockhart. The series begins with Mrs. Lockhart convincing her reluctant businessman husband to forgo his usual fishing trip and instead take her on a European vacation to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. Over the course of the show, they travel by ship from New York to Europe, visiting places like London, Paris, and Rome, before returning home.
The charm of the series lies in the dynamic between the two characters: Will is a blunt, practical man who’d rather be fishing, while Mrs. Lockhart is an enthusiastic, romantic housewife eager to explore the world. Their journey offers a mix of humor and lighthearted travelogue, reflecting an American perspective on Europe during the early 1930s, a time when such trips were a rare luxury for most, especially amidst the Great Depression. The show aired on various stations across the U.S. and even overseas into the mid-1930s, with the earliest known broadcast on August 17, 1930, on WCAO in Baltimore.
Only nine episodes are known to survive today, including the first seven and the final two, providing a glimpse into this early radio gem. It’s a fun, escapist look at travel and marriage, with Gene Lockhart—who also wrote much of the series—bringing a touch of his creative flair to the scripts. Would you like more details about the show or its historical context?
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