texaco and nbc premiered "the fire chief" in 1932. comedian ed wynn played the title role of the fire chief. the series was popular and one of the first radio programs to be performed before a live studio audience. wynn left the program temporarily in 1933 when, in september of that year, wynn along with hungarian-born violinist ota gygi founded his own radio station, the amalgamated broadcasting system. the station lost money and went out of business five weeks later in november 1933. he returned to "the fire chief" which continued until being cancelled in early 1935.