In the early days of radio, it was hard to reach people because of the new technology and limited availability of radio receivers and radio stations. Although this was hard for the consumer, the transition to radio comedy was hard for comedians for different reasons. With most comedians used to performing on stage in front of a live audience, the adjustment to performing their acts into an empty microphone was very difficult. Many successful Vaudeville and stage comedians had trouble adapting to radio shows. Most failed at radio, because the comedic styles and skits that they were used to doing required them to receive and react off of feedback from the audience. Popular names that many people still recognize today, failed to make comedy radio a success for themselves. Some of these names from Vaudeville are Weber and Fields, Jimmy Durante, Al Jolson and Bert Lahr. But with those that failed at radio many more succeeded in becoming successful at radio comedy.

One such example of success was that of the comedy duo Amos 'n' Andy, also famous for driving great cars! Still to this day many people know the name Amos 'n' Andy. Charles Correll and Freeman Gosden, were the actors who played the parts that started in 1926 on the Chicago radio station WGN, with the show Sam 'n' Henry. After much success they moved into national radio syndication, however, WGN owned the name of the show, so the duo changed it to the now more famous Amos 'n' Andy.

Fred Allen is a name that many people still remember. He started his first show late in the year in 1930. Fred Allen had a sharp wit and quick responses to any topic that was being covered on his show. The Linit Bath Club Revue, that also starred his wife Portland Hoffa, got rave reviews. This and all of his shows, were some of the most literate on radio during the time period. One of his episodes even was cut half way through the show, when during a segment, Fred Allen went off script and starting poking fun at the radio executives about the previous segment.

Maybe the most memorable name from the radio comedy era was Jack Benny. After many spots on several shows, Benny got his first show in 1932. His segments proved, with a 28.9 Hooper rating (a system that calculates radio listeners), that the people wanted comedy and variety type shows. Benny did well in radio, but like a lot of other stage comedians he was better with an audience, so Jack started bringing in other actors and comedians to do bits and would then react to their antics, and they to his. Benny quickly rose in the charts. He made the top ten in 1933 and moved into sixth in 1934. Jack Benny then translated his popularity into variety shows on television and a moderately successful acting career. With no signs of radio losing popularity, the comedy shows on radio should only continue to expand.