We obtained data on lecture practices from 100 of the 110 university-affiliated anesthesiology residency programs certified in the United States in 1988. Of these residency programs, 36% had a majority of their lectures before the operating room schedule began, 57% had no lectures at all in this early time slot, and 78% had morning lectures at least once a week in conjunction with a delayed operating room start. Seventy-one percent of programs had one or more afternoon lectures each week. An attendance of more than 80% was reported in 66% of the programs for morning lectures and in 50% of the programs for afternoon lectures, which is a significant difference. Aggregate pass rates on the American Board of Anesthesiology written examinations in 1987 and 1988 correlated significantly with morning-lecture attendance, but not with afternoon-lecture attendance, number of lecture days per week, or mandatory lecture attendance. These findings suggest the need for further study and definition of the role of lectures in resident education in anesthesiology.