The term 'OLD RADIO DUMMY' is composed of two crossword solutions, SNERD (5 letters) and OLD RADIO. SNERD is a term used to describe a person who is socially inept or awkward. It was popularized by the ventriloquist Edgar Bergen in the 1930s, when he created a dummy character named Charlie McCarthy. OLD RADIO refers to the technology of RADIO broadcasting, which was first developed in the early 20th century and has since become an integral part of modern life.