Old Time Radio Scifi

The Green Hornet "Walk Out For Profit" (06-21-41)

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:26:34 -0800

On January 31, 1936, The Green Hornet radio program aired on WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. Al Hodge played the part of the Green Hornet from 1936 through January of 1943. The program was created by George W. Trendle, the same man associated with the creation of the Lone Ranger radio show. The premise of the Green Hornet was that of a modern day Lone Ranger. The main character was Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher of the Daily Sentinel by day and the Green Hornet by night. Britt Reid was the great-nephew of the Lone Ranger. Britt Reid's war against crime was an extension of his family history. The Green Hornet fought crime with his high-powered car, the Black Beauty. He also utilized a gun that fired knockout gas instead of bullets. His fists also came in handy on a regular basis. He was assisted by his Filipino valet, Kato. Kato would drive the Black Beauty, keep watch out for the police or the bad guys and sometimes lend a helping fist to the fighting. The Green Hornet pretended to be a villain while really battling the forces of crime in the big city. This would make for some interesting plot twists as the Green Hornet would be actively avoiding detection by the police while at the same time attempting to destroy criminal activity in the city. Many times the Green Hornet would lead the police to believe that the Green Hornet had been the mastermind of the case at hand. The police would receive an anonymous tip of where they could pick up the now subdued crooks with the Green Hornet just barely making his escape from the scene. The Green Hornet would be alerted to criminal activity through his job as editor of the Daily Sentinel. The crime stories would lead Britt Reid to transform into the Green Hornet to battle crime at night.

THIS EPISODE:

June 21, 1941. Mutual network. "Walkout For Profit". Commercials added locally. Kato is referred to as a Filipino (before Pearl Harbor)! Lowery is kidnapped while reporting about a crooked labor strike, being run by "Mr. X." This recording has abbreviated themes. Al Hodge, Fran Striker (writer), George W. Trendle (creator). 25:22.

Flash Gordon - "Ep2 (05-04-35) and Ep3 (05-11-35)"

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:35:15 -0800

Flash Gordon - FIRST BROADCAST: April 1935 LAST BROADCAST: February 1936 CAST: Gale Gordon, Maurice Franklin, Bruno Wick, James Meighan PRODUCER: Himan Brown This science-fiction adventure originally began as a comic strip. Starting April 22, 1935, the strip was adapted into The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, a 26 episode weekly radio serial. The series followed the strip very closely, amounting to a week-by-week adaptation of the Sunday strip for most of its run. Flash Gordon was played by Gale Gordon, later famous for his television roles in Our Miss Brooks, Dennis the Menace, The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy (the latter two with Lucille Ball). The cast also included Maurice Franklin as Dr. Zarkov and Bruno Wick as Ming the Merciless. The radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov return to Earth. They make a crash landing in Africa, where they meet Jungle Jim, the star of another of Alex Raymond's comic strips. The series ended on October 26, 1935 with Flash and Dale's marriage. The next week, The Adventures of Jungle Jim picked up in that Saturday timeslot. Two days later, on October 28th, The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon debuted as a daily show, running five days a week. This series strayed farther afield from Raymond's strip, involving Flash, Dale and Zarkov in an adventure in Atlantis. The series aired 74 episodes, ending on February 6, 1936.

TODAY'S SHOW:
Episode#2 "Battling A Plant And An Earthman" (05-04-35) and Episode#3 "The Prison Ship" (05-11-35)

Dimension X "The Potters Of Frisk" (07-28-50)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:17:22 -0800

Dimension X was first heard on NBC April 8, 1950, and ran until September 29, 1951. Strange that so little good science fiction came out of radio; they seem ideally compatible, both relying heavily on imagination. Some fine isolated science fiction stories were developed on the great anthology shows, Suspense and Escape. But until the premiere of Dimension X -- a full two decades after network radio was established -- there were no major science fiction series of broad appeal to adults. This show dramatized the work of such young writers as Ray Bradbury, Robert (Psycho) Bloch, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Kurt Vonnegut. In-house script writer was Ernest Kinoy, who adapted the master works and contributed occasional storied of his own. Dimension X was a very effective demonstration of what could be done with science fiction on the air. It came so late that nobody cared, but some of the stories stand as classics of the medium. Bradbury's "Mars Is Heaven" is as gripping today as when first heard. His "Martian Chronicles" was one of the series' most impressive offerings. Dimension X played heavily on an "adventures in time and space, told in future tense" theme. Actors who worked regularly on the show included Joe Di Santis, Wendell Holmes, Santos Ortega, Joseph Julian, Jan Miner, Roger De Koven, John Gibson, Ralph Bell, John Larkin, Les Damon, and Mason Adams. It was directed by Fred Weihe and Edward King. The deep-voiced narrator was Norman Rose. The series played heavily on the "X" factor in the title, as did X-Minus One a few years later. The signature was boomed out of and echo chamber as "DIMENSION X X X X X x x x x x . . . "

THIS EPISODE:

July 28, 1950. NBC network. "The Potters Of Firsk". Sponsored by: Wheaties. On a far distant planet, controlled by the planet Earth, the inhabitants of the remote village of Firsk make the most unusual pottery. The middle commercial features Ed Prentiss interviewing Luke Appling of The Chicago White Sox. Jack Vance (author), Ernest Kinoy (adaptor), Karl Weber, Wendell Holmes, Raymond Edward Johnson, Ed Prentiss, Luke Appling, Norman Rose (host), Van Woodward (producer), Edward King (director), Bob Warren (announcer). 27:49.

The CBS Radio Workshop-"The Legend Of Annie Christmas" (10-19-56)

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:03:05 -0800

The Columbia Workshop - Broadcast from 1936 through to 1947 with just an occasional break. Revived again from January 1956 to September 1957 as CBS Radio Workshop with pretty much the same format. Broadcast from 1936 through to 1947 with just an occasional break. Revived again from January 1956 to September 1957 as CBS Radio Workshop with pretty much the same format. This was drama with a difference. Columbia Workshop was not everybody’s cup of tea and in terms of audience popularity it was always noted that it was never a strong contender for the title “Radios Top Rated Drama Series” and yet it was always considered to be the drama program that led the way in radio standards. Columbia was the first to mexperiment with what radio drama was all about, introducing new techniques never before used in over the airwaves drama and because it received little encouragement from established writers, actors, etc., it was only by breaking new ground with new ideas and new techniques from writers who were not versed in the old ways that it was going to survive.

THIS EPISODE:

October 19, 1956. CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Legend Of Annie Christmas". A very well written story about a legendary giant Negress who started as a slave but who became a heroine to her people. William Conrad (narrator). 1/2 hour.

X Minus One "Double Dare" (12-19-57)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:39:14 -0800

X MINUS ONE was an NBC science fiction series that was an extension, or revival, of NBC's earlier science fiction series, DIMENSION X. which ran from Apr. 8, 1950 through Sept. 29, 1951. Both are remembered for bringing really first rate science fiction to the air. The first X MINUS ONE shows used scripts from DIMENSION X, but soon created new shows from storied from the pages of Galaxy Magazine. A total of 125 programs were broadcast, some repeats or remakes, until the last show of Jan. 9, 1958. There was a one-program revival attempt in 1973, shown at the end of the log.

THIS EPISODE:
December 19, 1957. Program #120. NBC net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Double Dare". Two scientists from the Earth defend the honor of their home planet. The script was used subsequently on "Future Tense" during July, 1976. Harvey Hayes, Ivor Francis, Michael Ingram, Ralph Camargo, Robert Silverberg (author), William Welch (adaptor, producer), George Voutsas (director), Fred Collins (announcer). 19:35.

The Adventures Of Superman "Emerald Of The Incas" (Show 2 of 2) 1940

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:34:15 -0800

The Adventures Of Superman - The scripts by B.P. Freeman and Jack Johnstone were directed by Robert and Jessica Maxwell, George Lowther, Allen Ducovny and Mitchell Grayson.Sound effects were created by Jack Keane, AlBinnie, Keene Crockett and John Glennon. Cast : Superman: Bud Collyer (1940-1950), Michael Fitzmaurice (1950-1951) Lois Lane: Joan Alexander, Rollie Bester, Helen Choate. Perry White: Julian Noa. Jimmy Olsen: Jack Grimes, Jackie Kelk. Jor-L: Ned Wever Lara: Agnes Moorehead. Narrator: George Lowther (1940-1942), Jackson Beck (1943-1951), Ross Martin(1951). Airing in the late afternoon (variously at 5:15pm, 5:30pm and 5:45pm), the radio serial engaged the young after school audiences. The series is alsocredited with dealing a powerful blow against the Ku Klux Klan's prospects in the northern USA. The human rights activist, Stetson Kennedy infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan and other racist/terrorist groups. Concerned that the organization had too strong connections to the government and police forces, Kennedy decided to use his findings to strike at the Klan in a different way. He contacted the producers of the Superman series and proposed a story where the superhero battles the Klan. The producers, looking for new villains, eagerly agreed to the idea. To that end, he provided information -- including secret codewords and details of Klan rituals -- to the writers. The result was a series of episodes, "Clan of The Fiery Cross," in which Superman took on the Klan. Kennedy intended to strip away the Klan's mystique, and the trivialization of the Klan's rituals and codewords likely had a negative impact on Klan recruiting and membership. Reportedly, Klan leaders denounced the show and called for a boycott of Kellogg's products. However, the story arc earned spectacular ratings which prompted the food company to stand by their support of the show.

TODAY'S SHOW:

The Emerald Of The Incas (Show 2 of 2)

April 19, 1940. Program #30. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. Lois Lane has been kidnapped by the Donelli gang, and taken to Little Falls, where fire threatens! Bud Collyer. 11:50.

April 22, 1940. Program #31. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. Where is Jimmy Olsen? He's vanished into the woods while the search for Lois continues. Bud Collyer, Julian Noa. 11:36

Superman - "Emerald Of The Incas" (Ep23 Ep24 Ep25) 1940

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:43:30 -0800

The Adventures Of Superman - This juvenile adventure series was first broadcast on Mutual in 1940 with Clayton (Bud) Collyer starring as Superman/Clark Kent. It first began as a fifteen-minute show but later, in 1949, it moved to ABC as a thirty-minute Saturday show with Michael Fitzmaurice as Superman. At the end of its thirteen-year run it had totalled over 1600 episodes. The opening for the show was one of radio’s best, setting the stage for those flights into fantasy with a cascade of voices, narration and sound effects. “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!” “Look! Up in the sky!” “It’s a bird!” “It’s a plane!” “It’s Superman!” The scripts by B.P. Freeman and Jack Johnstone were directed by Robert and Jessica Maxwell, George Lowther, Allen Ducovny and Mitchell Grayson.Sound effects were created by Jack Keane, AlBinnie, Keene Crockett and John Glennon. Cast : Superman: Bud Collyer (1940-1950), Michael Fitzmaurice (1950-1951) Lois Lane: Joan Alexander, Rollie Bester, Helen Choate. Perry White: Julian Noa. Jimmy Olsen: Jack Grimes, Jackie Kelk. Jor-L: Ned Wever Lara: Agnes Moorehead. Narrator: George Lowther (1940-1942), Jackson Beck (1943-1951), Ross Martin(1951). Airing in the late afternoon (variously at 5:15pm, 5:30pm and 5:45pm), the radio serial engaged the young after school audiences. The series is alsocredited with dealing a powerful blow against the Ku Klux Klan's prospects in the northern USA. The human rights activist, Stetson Kennedy infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan and other racist/terrorist groups. Concerned that the organization had too strong connections to the government and police forces, Kennedy decided to use his findings to strike at the Klan in a different way. He contacted the producers of the Superman series and proposed a story where the superhero battles the Klan. The producers, looking for new villains, eagerly agreed to the idea. To that end, he provided information -- including secret codewords and details of Klan rituals -- to the writers. The result was a series of episodes, "Clan of The Fiery Cross," in which Superman took on the Klan. Kennedy intended to strip away the Klan's mystique, and the trivialization of the Klan's rituals and codewords likely had a negative impact on Klan recruiting and membership. Reportedly, Klan leaders denounced the show and called for a boycott of Kellogg's products. However, the story arc earned spectacular ratings which prompted the food company to stand by their support of the show.

Dimension X - Child's Play (06-24-51)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:15:39 -0800

THIS EPISODE:

June 24, 1951. NBC network. "Child's Play". Sustaining. A man receives a "Build-A-Man" kit from the future. The script was used subsequently on "X Minus One" on October 20, 1955. Albert Buhrman (music), Fred Weihe (director, transcriber), George Lefferts (adaptor), Karl Weber, Leon Janney, Norman Rose (host), Patsy Campbell, William Tenn (author), William Welch (producer), Bob Warren (announcer), Ian Martin, Adelaide Klein. 24:28.

Planet_Man - 2 Episodes (ep28 and ep29) 1950

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:19:12 -0800

The Planet Man - During radio's Golden Age, science fiction was pretty much relegated to that of kiddie-oriented programming; radio serials like Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon -- both based on popular newspaper comic strips -- are examples of the programs that were produced to entertain a non-discerning juvenile audience. On occasion, there would be an experimental foray into programming for adults (The War of the Worlds, selected episodes of Lights Out) but for the most part, sci-fi remained the bailiwick of children. But the release of the feature film Destination Moon in 1950 changed all of this, ushering in a new era of serious, adult science-fiction drama - most notably NBC's Dimension X and the later X Minus One. Still, the “old ways” were not entirely abandoned -- and The Planet Man is one of these stories. Produced in about 1950 by Palladium Radio Productions, The Planet Man is the golly-gee-whillikers saga of Dantro, an intergalactic troubleshooter for an organization known as the League of Planets: "the law enforcement body for peace and justice in the celestial world". (Think of him as an outer-space version of Marshal Matt Dillon: "It's a chancy job, and it makes a [planet] man watchful...") With their center of operations situated on Planeria Rex, "the capital of the planets", the League sends their water-carrier Dantro out into the celestial world to maintain law and order "whenever danger threatens the universe". Dantro is assisted in his quest for law-and-order by the members of Earth's first rocket expedition: Dr. John Darrow, his daughter Pat, and engineer Slats, who are rescued by the Planet Man before their rocket comes perilously close to crashing into the moon. (The explanation for this is that Darrow and crew took on a pair of stowaways before blast-off, namely his nephew Billy and niece Jane -- which makes a listener wonder why the heck they weren't in school.) These five individuals join forces with the Planet Man to defeat evildoers like Marston, the ruler of Mars who possesses an insatiable appetite for interplanetary domination.

TODAY'S SHOW:

Episode 28 - "Trying To Find Dantro" and Episode 29 - "Searching For Planeteer"

Tom Corbett Space Cadet "Operation Hide & Seek" (01-29-52)

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:30:52 -0800

Tom Corbett is the main character in a series of Tom Corbett — Space Cadet stories that were depicted in television, radio, books, comic books, comic strips, coloring books, punch-out books and View-Master reels in the 1950s. The stories followed the adventures of Tom Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, cadets at the Space Academy as they train to become members of the elite Solar Guard. The action takes place at the Academy in classrooms and bunkroom, aboard their training ship the rocket cruiser Polaris, and on alien worlds, both within our solar system and in orbit around nearby stars. The Tom Corbett universe partook of pseudo-science, not equal to the standards of accuracy set by John W. Campbell in the pages of Astounding. And yet, by the standards of the day, it was much more accurate than most media science fiction. Mars was a desert, Venus a jungle, and the asteroids a haunt of space pirates, but at least planets circled suns and there was no air in space. Contrast this with Twilight Zone, years later, where people could live on asteroids wearing ordinary clothes, or Lost in Space, years after that, where a spaceship could be passing "Jupiter and Andromeda" at the same time. Before Star Trek, Tom Corbett — Space Cadet was the most scientifically accurate series on television, in part due to official science advisor Willy Ley, and later due to Frankie Thomas. Thomas read up on science and everyone on the set turned to him for advice on matters scientific.

THIS EPISODE:

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. January 29, 1952. ABC network, WJZ, New York aircheck. "Operation Hide and Seek". Sponsored by: Kellogg's Pep, Kellogg's Raisin Bran. The cadets track down a gang of vanadium hijackers to the dark side of Mercury. Edward Bryce, Frank Thomas Jr., Jackson Beck (announcer), Jan Merlin, James McCallion, Gilbert Braun (writer), Al Markim, Drex Hines (director), Jon Gart (organist). 24:18

The Green Hornet "Superhighway Robbery" (11-22-45)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:07:23 -0800

The Green Hornet - On January 31, 1936, the Green Hornet radio program aired on WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. Al Hodge played the part of the Green Hornet from 1936 through January of 1943. The program was created by George W. Trendle, the same man associated with the creation of the Lone Ranger radio show. The premise of the Green Hornet was that of a modern day Lone Ranger. The main character was Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher of the Daily Sentinel by day and the Green Hornet by night. Britt Reid was the great-nephew of the Lone Ranger. Britt Reid's war against crime was an extension of his family history. The Green Hornet fought crime with his high-powered car, the Black Beauty. He also utilized a gun that fired knockout gas instead of bullets. His fists also came in handy on a regular basis. He was assisted by his Filipino valet, Kato. Kato would drive the Black Beauty, keep watch out for the police or the bad guys and sometimes lend a helping fist to the fighting. The Green Hornet pretended to be a villain while really battling the forces of crime in the big city. This would make for some interesting plot twists as the Green Hornet would be actively avoiding detection by the police while at the same time attempting to destroy criminal activity in the city. Many times the Green Hornet would lead the police to believe that the Green Hornet had been the mastermind of the case at hand. The police would receive an anonymous tip of where they could pick up the now subdued crooks with the Green Hornet just barely making his escape from the scene. The Green Hornet would be alerted to criminal activity through his job as editor of the Daily Sentinel. The crime stories would lead Britt Reid to transform into the Green Hornet to battle crime at night.

THIS EPISODE:
November 22, 1945. ABC net origination,Michelson syndication, WRVR-FM, New York aircheck. "Superhighway Robbery". Sponsored by: American Motors. Syndicated re-issue date: February 14, 1973. Bob Hall. 1/2 hour.

X Minus One "The Seventh Victim" (03-06-57)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:28:55 -0800

X Minus One was a half-hour science fiction radio series broadcast from April 24, 1955 to January 9, 1958 in various timeslots on NBC. Initially a revival of NBC's Dimension X (1950-51), X Minus One is widely considered among the finest science fiction dramas ever produced for radio. The first 15 episodes were new versions of Dimension X episodes, but the remainder were adaptations of newly published science fiction stories by leading writers in the field, including Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Robert A. Heinlein, Frederik Pohl and Theodore Sturgeon, along with a few original scripts. Episodes of the show include adaptations of Robert Sheckley's "Skulking Permit," Bradbury's "Mars Is Heaven," Heinlein's "Universe" and "The Green Hills of Earth", " Pohl’s "The Tunnel under the World," J. T. McIntosh’s "Hallucination Orbit," Fritz Leiber’s "A Pail of Air" and George Lefferts' "The Parade". The program opened with announcer Fred Collins delivering the countdown, leading into this introduction (although later shows were partnered with Galaxy Science Fiction rather than Astounding Science Fiction): Countdown for blastoff... X minus five, four, three, two, X minus one... Fire!

THIS EPISODE:

The Seventh Victim - March 6, 1957 - This is the tale of the future when wars have been abolished and the violence is channeled into a murder game. The script is by Ernest Kinoy. The cast includes Lawson Zerbe, Terri Keane, Frank Maxwell. Ian Martin, and Arthur Hughes. Writer: Robert Sheckley

The Zero Hour "Scream Of The Hawk" (05-01-74)

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:34:50 -0800

Zero Hour - Rod Serling is known to most people as the TV host (and some times writer) for The Twilight Zone. A decade later, he returned to TV to host the spooky Night Gallery series. The series was sold to the networks on Serling's name and reputation, but in reality, he had signed away creative control. A few of his scripts were produced, but others were rejected for being "too thoughtful." (We can't have any of that on television, can we?) He was banned from the casting sessions and had no real say on the show. Despite the shabby treatment by hot shot execs, Serling grit his teeth and did his duty. He continued to lead TV viewers through a darkened museum every week, looking at paintings with even darker themes. (It was very similar to the role Orson Welles served two decades earlier as the host to The Black Museum.) When Night Gallery was canceled in 1972, Serling was probably happy to retire from TV and move to upstate New York. He taught at Ithaca College, not far from where he grew up. The 5-part series was syndicated by Mutual and the programs were allowed to be aired when convenient. Therefore, broadcast dates vary around the country. This section of the log is listed in Mutual's suggested ordering. Broadcast dates start on the premier date and continue until completion without break. The single-part show broadcast dates were more tightly defined by Mutual.

Space Patrol "Trouble Aboard The Super Nova" (08-08-53)

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:21:58 -0800

Space Patrol - The stories followed the 30th-century adventures of Commander Buzz Corry (Ed Kemmer) of the United Planets Space Patrol and his young sidekick Cadet Happy (Lyn Osborn) - yes, Cadet Happy - as they faced nefarious interplanetary villains with diabolical schemes. Not surprisingly for the time, some of these villains had Russian- or German-sounding accents. Cmdr. Corry and his allies were aided by such nifty gadgets as "miniature space-o-phones" and "atomolights." Episodes had such pulp-magazine titles as "Revolt of the Space Rats" and "The Menace of Planet X." The special effects used in the live half-hour TV episodes had to be performed in real time. For example, pistols that shot invisible rays necessitated pre-positioning a small explosive charge on the wall. An actor would point the prop at that spot, whereupon a special effects worker would throw a detonation switch. These effects could not have been superimposed on film for the series was done live. For distribution to distant stations, an image of a tiny, bright TV monitor was filmed to make kinescopes, and most of the Saturday half-hour TV broadcasts are available in this form today. The 15-minutes-every-weekday version of the program was at first seen mainly in the Los Angeles viewing area, but also was later distributed nationwide via kinescopes; it was not carried by ABC-TV but was presented in syndication. The show played directly to kids, and each episode shamelessly merchandised various toys and mail-order premiums tied into the series during their commercial breaks. Even the ads for corporate sponsor Chex Cereals used the show's space opera motif in their pitches. A unique feature of the TV and radio adventures was that the premium of the month was often worked intricately into the action of the live adventures. Many if not all of the 30-minute TV episodes are also currently available in various video formats.

THIS EPISODE:
August 8, 1953. ABC network. "Trouble Aboard The Super Nova". Sponsored by: Ralston cereals ("Space Patrol Microscope Kit" premium). Commander Corry and Cadet Happy board a luxury space liner in civilian clothes and nearly find themselves ejected into outer space! Bela Kovacs, Dick Tufeld (announcer), Ed Kemmer, Joe Cranston, Ken Mayer, Larry Robertson (producer, director), Lou Houston (writer), Lyn Osborn, Mike Devry (executive producer), Mike Mosser (creator). 29:32.

The Blue Beetle "Invisible Ghost" Pt.1 and 2 COMPLETE (5-29-40)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:12:33 -0800

The Blue Beetle had a relatively short career on the radio, between May and September of 1940. Motion picture and radio actor Frank Lovejoy was the Blue Beetle for the first 13 episodes, while for the rest of the shows, the voice was provided by a different, uncredited actor. The Blue Beetle was a young police officer who saw the need for extra-ordinary crime fighting. He took the task on himself by secretly donning a superhero costume to create fear in the criminals who were to learn to fear the Blue Beetle's wrath. The 13-minute segments were usually only two-parters, so the stories were often more simple than other popular programs, such as the many-parted Superman radio show.

This Episode:

May 29, 1940. Program #9. Fox Features syndication. "The Invisible Ghost" Part one and Part two COMPLETE. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle tackles a crooked slot machine gang. Dr. Franz is working on an invisibility fluid! Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford. 13:24. Audio condition: Very good. Complete as above.

General Mills Radio MysteryTheater "Journey To Center Of Earth" (04-24-77)

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:13:02 -0800

General Mills Radio MysteryTheater - The series had it origins in the meeting of two minds: the ad agency for General Mills at the time, Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample was looking for a different means to reach a child audience besides television, which was decreasing commercial minutes and increasing costs; and Himan Brown, producer-director of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, who wanted to introduce new audiences to the dramatic form on radio. Tom Bosley was chosen as the host because of his television recognition from a kid’s oriented series, Happy Days. CBS chose to produce 52 original broadcasts followed by 52 repeat broadcasts. I believe they had hoped to maintain General Mills sponsorship during the complete 104 episodes, but General Mills dropped their sponsorship after the original broadcasts. The series continued for the next 52 repeats as the CBS Radio Adventure Theater.

THIS EPISODE:

April 24, 1977 - A Journey to the Centre of the Earth (French: Voyage au centre de la Terre), also translated as A Journey to the Interior of the Earth, is a classic 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne. The story involves a professor who leads his nephew and hired guide down a volcano in Iceland to the "centre of the Earth". They encounter many adventures, including prehistoric animals and natural hazards, eventually coming to the surface again in southern Italy. The living organisms they meet reflects the geological time; just as the rock layers become older and older the deeper one gets, the animals get more and more ancient the closer the characters come to the center. From a scientific point of view, this story has not aged quite as well as other Verne stories, since most of his ideas about what the interior of the Earth contains have since been proven wrong. However, a redeeming point to the story is Verne's own belief, told within the novel from the viewpoint of a character, that the inside of the Earth does indeed differ from that which the characters encounter. One of Verne's main ideas with his stories was also to educate the readers, and by placing the different extinct creatures the characters meet in their correct geological era, he is able to show how the world looked like millions of years ago, stretching from the ice age to the dinosaurs.

Tom Corbett Space Cadet "Holiday Of Terror" (Show2 of 2) 04-17-52

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:37:01 -0800

THIS EPISODE:

April 17, 1952. ABC network, WJZ, New York aircheck. "Holiday Of Terror". Sponsored by: Kellogg's Pep, Kellogg's Raisin Bran. Gold thieves escape from Venus and shoot the cadets out of space. Al Markim, Drex Hines (director), Frank Thomas Jr., Jackson Beck (announcer), Jan Merlin, Don Hughes (writer), Jon Gart (organist). 24:02.

Flash Gordon "2 Episodes" (10-19-35) (10-26-35)

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:59:39 -0700

Flash Gordon - 1935-1936
FIRST BROADCAST: April 1935 LAST BROADCAST: February 1936 CAST: Gale Gordon, Maurice Franklin, Bruno Wick, James Meighan PRODUCER: Himan Brown This science-fiction adventure originally began as a comic strip. Starting April 22, 1935, the strip was adapted into The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, a 26 episode weekly radio serial. The series followed the strip very closely, amounting to a week-by-week adaptation of the Sunday strip for most of its run. Flash Gordon was played by Gale Gordon, later famous for his television roles in Our Miss Brooks, Dennis the Menace, The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy (the latter two with Lucille Ball). The cast also included Maurice Franklin as Dr. Zarkov and Bruno Wick as Ming the Merciless. The radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov return to Earth. They make a crash landing in Africa, where they meet Jungle Jim, the star of another of Alex Raymond's comic strips. The series ended on October 26, 1935 with Flash and Dale's marriage. The next week, The Adventures of Jungle Jim picked up in that Saturday timeslot. Two days later, on October 28th, The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon debuted as a daily show, running five days a week. This series strayed farther afield from Raymond's strip, involving Flash, Dale and Zarkov in an adventure in Atlantis. The series aired 74 episodes, ending on February 6, 1936.

TODAY'S SHOW:
Episode 25 "Landing In Malaysia" (10-19-35) and Episode 26 "Good-Bye Jungle Jim Hello USA" (10-26-35)

The Adventures Of Superman "2 Episodes" (03-08-40) (03-11-40)

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:16:50 -0700

TODAY'S SHOW: "North Star Mining Company" (03-08-40) and "Steamship Madison" (03-11-40)

March 8, 1940. Program #12. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. June Anderson has given proof of the North Star mine fraud to her brother on a freighter. Dr. Ambrose proves to be a fraud. Bud Collyer, Julian Noa. 12:47.

March 11, 1940. Program #13. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. There is a fire aboard the freighter "Madison." Frank Lovejoy, Bud Collyer. 12:45.

X Minus One "Lulu" (10-31-57)

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:00:07 -0700

X MINUS ONE was an NBC science fiction series that was an extension, or revival, of NBC's earlier science fiction series, DIMENSION X. which ran from Apr. 8, 1950 through Sept. 29, 1951. Both are remembered for bringing really first rate science fiction to the air. The first X MINUS ONE shows used scripts from DIMENSION X, but soon created new shows from storied from the pages of Galaxy Magazine. A total of 125 programs were broadcast, some repeats or remakes, until the last show of Jan. 9, 1958. There was a one-program revival attempt in 1973, shown at the end of the log.

THIS EPISODE:
October 31, 1957. NBC network. "Lulu". The story of a lovesick spaceship that digs poetry. The program closing has been deleted. Clifford Simak (author), Henry Norrell, Jan Miner, James Stevens, Nelson Olmsted, Walter Black, George Lefferts (adaptor), William Welch (producer), George Voutsas (director), Fred Collins (announcer). 17:02.

Inner Sanctum "The Skull That Walked" (1946)

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:55:52 -0700

Inner Sanctum Mysteries was a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941 to October 5, 1952. Created by Himan Brown, the anthology series featured stories of mystery, terror and suspense. The tongue-in-cheek introductions were in sharp contrast to shows like Suspense and The Whistler. A total of 526 episodes are known to have been produced. The early 1940s programs opened with Raymond Edward Johnson introducing himself as, "Your host, Raymond," in a mocking sardonic voice. A spooky melodramatic organ score punctuated Raymond's many morbid jokes and playful puns. Raymond's closing was an elongated "Pleasant dreaaaaammmmssss!" His tongue-in-cheek style and ghoulish relish of his own tales became the standard for many such horror narrators to follow, from fellow radio hosts like Ernest Chappell (on Cooper's later series, Quiet, Please) and Maurice Tarplin (on The Mysterious Traveler) to EC Comics' Crypt-Keeper in various incarnations of Tales from the Crypt. In interviews, EC publisher Bill Gaines stated that he based EC's three horror hosts not on Raymond but on Old Nancy, host of radio's earlier The Witch's Tale (1931-38). When Johnson left the series in 1945, he was replaced by Paul McGrath, who did not keep the "Raymond" name and was known only as "your host" or "Mr. Host." Beginning in 1945, Lipton Tea sponsored the series, pairing first Raymond and then McGrath with its cheery commercial spokeswoman, Mary Bennett, whose pitches for Lipton contrasted sharply with the subject matter of the stories, and who would primly chide the host for his dark humor and creepy manner.

CBS Radio Workshop "Nightmare" (05-05-57)

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:15:49 -0700

The CBS Radio Workshop aired from January 27, 1956 through September 22, 1957 and was a revival of the prestigious Columbia Workshop from the 1930s and 1940s. Creator William Froug launched the series with this powerhouse two-part adaptation of "Brave New World" and booked author Aldous Huxley to narrate his famous novel. "We’ll never get a sponsor anyway," CBS vice president Howard Barnes explained to Time, "so we might as well try anything." The CBS Workshop regularly featured the works of the world’s greatest writers. including Ray Bradbury, Archibald MacLeish, William Saroyan, Lord Dunsany and Ambrose Bierce.

THIS EPISODE:
May 5, 1957. CBS network. "Nightmare". Sustaining. An experimental drama vividly portraying the stuff of nightmares. Interesting listening. Barney Phillips, Edgar Barrier, Elliott Lewis, Frederick Steiner (composer, conductor), Herb Butterfield, Mary Jane Croft, Paula Winslowe, William N. Robson (director). 24:37.

Hall Of Fantasy "Black Figurine Of Death" (01-26-53)

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:20:30 -0700

The Hall Of Fantasy - This thirty-minute suspense series was written and produced by Richard Thorne who also played many of the roles. There were at least 35 episodes broadcast, telling tales of the supernatural and the dark forces of the unknown. There were often terrifying tales of vampires, killer fog, the walking dead and anything and everything that your imagination could stretch to.

THIS EPISOPE:
January 26, 1953. Mutual net, WGN, Chicago origination. "The Black Figurine Of Death". Sustaining. Uncle Amos and his little statuette have fun from beyond the grave. One of the announcements has possibly been deleted. . 25 minutes.

Space Patrol "Peril Over Jupiter" (08-15-53)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:17:56 -0700

Space Patrol - The stories followed the 30th-century adventures of Commander Buzz Corry (Ed Kemmer) of the United Planets Space Patrol and his young sidekick Cadet Happy (Lyn Osborn) —- yes, Cadet Happy —- as they faced nefarious interplanetary villains with diabolical schemes. Not surprisingly for the time, some of these villains had Russian- or German-sounding accents. Cmdr. Corry and his allies were aided by such nifty gadgets as "miniature space-o-phones" and "atomolights." Episodes had such pulp-magazine titles as "Revolt of the Space Rats" and "The Menace of Planet X." The special effects used in the live half-hour TV episodes had to be performed in real time. For example, pistols that shot invisible rays necessitated pre-positioning a small explosive charge on the wall. An actor would point the prop at that spot, whereupon a special effects worker would throw a detonation switch. These effects could not have been superimposed on film for the series was done live. For distribution to distant stations, an image of a tiny, bright TV monitor was filmed to make kinescopes, and most of the Saturday half-hour TV broadcasts are available in this form today. The 15-minutes-every-weekday version of the program was at first seen mainly in the Los Angeles viewing area, but also was later distributed nationwide via kinescopes; it was not carried by ABC-TV but was presented in syndication. The show played directly to kids, and each episode shamelessly merchandised various toys and mail-order premiums tied into the series during their commercial breaks. Even the ads for corporate sponsor Chex Cereals used the show's space opera motif in their pitches. A unique feature of the TV and radio adventures was that the premium of the month was often worked intricately into the action of the live adventures. Many if not all of the 30-minute TV episodes are also currently available in various video formats.

THIS EPISODE:
August 15, 1953. ABC network. "Peril Over Jupiter". Sponsored by: Ralston cereals ("Space Patrol Microscope Kit" premium). Two space criminals endanger a woman "space metals" executive and Commander Corry and Cadet Happy as well! Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn, Dick Tufeld (announcer), Larry Robertson (producer, director), Lou Houston (writer), Mike Mosser (creator), Mike Devry (executive producer). 29:34.

X Minus One "Shock Troop" (11-28-57)

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:47:49 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
November 28, 1957. Program #116. NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Shock Troop". The battle for control of an unusual creature...from within. Bernard Lenrow, Daniel Galouye (author), Edwin Cooper, John Thomas, Ralph Camargo, Roger De Koven (narrator), Fred Collins (announcer), George Lefferts (narrator), William Welch (producer), George Voutsas (director). 19:33.

Dimension X "Competition" (11-19-50)

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:36:05 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
November 19, 1950. NBC network. "Competition". Sustaining. A spaceship filled with women emigrating to the stars find themselves taken to a planet not of their choosing. Miss Travis finds herself an innocent pawn in a high stakes game of intrigue. The final public service announcement and system cue have been deleted. Albert Buhrman (music), Bill Chambers (engineer), E. M. Hull (author), Edward King (director), Elaine Rost, Ernest Kinoy (adaptor), Les Tremayne, Norman Rose (host), Van Woodward (producer), Bob Warren (announcer), Joseph Julian, Ed Latimer, Staats Cotsworth, John McGovern, Peter Capell. 27:47.

Flash Gordon - Ep23 "Jealousy" (10-05-35 Ep24 "Finally Over" (10-12-35)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:14:47 -0700

Flash Gordon - Starting April 22, 1935, the strip was adapted into The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, a 26 episode weekly radio serial. The series followed the strip very closely, amounting to a week-by-week adaptation of the Sunday strip for most of its run. Flash Gordon was played by Gale Gordon, later famous for his television roles in Our Miss Brooks, Dennis the Menace, The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy (the latter two with Lucille Ball). The cast also included Maurice Franklin as Dr. Zarkov and Bruno Wick as Ming the Merciless. The radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov return to Earth. They make a crash landing in Africa, where they meet Jungle Jim, the star of another of Alex Raymond's comic strips. The series ended on October 26, 1935 with Flash and Dale's marriage. The next week, The Adventures of Jungle Jim picked up in that Saturday timeslot. Two days later, on October 28th, The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon debuted as a daily show, running five days a week. This series strayed farther afield from Raymond's strip, involving Flash, Dale and Zarkov in an adventure in Atlantis. The series aired 74 episodes, ending on February 6, 1936.

TODAY'S SHOW:

Ep23 "Jealousy" (10-05-35) and Ep24 "Its Finally Over" (10-12-35)

Blue Beetle "Sabotage Incorporated" (Part 1 and 2) 07-24-40

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:07:32 -0700

The Blue Beetle had a relatively short career on the radio, between May and September of 1940. Motion picture and radio actor Frank Lovejoy was the Blue Beetle for the first 13 episodes, while for the rest of the shows, the voice was provided by a different, uncredited actor. The Blue Beetle was a young police officer who saw the need for extra-ordinary crime fighting. He took the task on himself by secretly donning a superhero costume to create fear in the criminals who were to learn to fear the Blue Beetle's wrath. The 13-minute segments were usually only two-parters, so the stories were often more simple than other popular programs, such as the many-parted Superman radio show.

This Episode:

July 24, 1940. Program #33. Fox Features syndication. "Sabotage Incorporated" Part one. Commercials added locally. The only suspect in a murder case is an anthropologist with an air pistol that fiendishly shoots a suffocating gas. . 12:30.

July 26, 1940. Program #34. Fox Features syndication. "Sabotage Incorporated" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle strikes another blow for law and order. . 12:35.

The Adventures Of Superman "Lighthouse Point Smugglers" Ep5 (07-31-40) Ep6 (08-02-40)

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:14:40 -0700

Today's Show: "Lighthouse Point Smugglers" (Show 5 and 6 of 6 total)

July 31, 1940. Program #74. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. Christopher Horn tells the story of the Chinese Jade. Bud Collyer. 12:09

August 2, 1940. Program #75. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. The secret chamber is revealed at last, with the help of Great Grandpa Horn's sea chest filled with the Chinese jade. The end of the adventure. Bud Collyer. 12:23.

The Adventures Of Superman "Lighthouse Point Smugglers" (Ep3 and Ep4) 1940

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:22:56 -0700

TODAY'S SHOW:

Program #72. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen investigate the strange old lighthouse and the strange sailor inside it! Bud Collyer. 12:13

July 29, 1940. Program #73. Mutual network. Commercials added locally. There are strange developments with the smugglers in the lighthouse. Aunt Lu confesses her secret. Bud Collyer. 12:23.

The Adventures Of Superman "Lighthouse Point Smuglers" (Ep1 07-22-40) (Ep2 07-24-40)

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:34:55 -0700

TODAY'S SHOW - "Lighthouse Point Smugglers" Show 1 and 2 of 6 (July 22, 1940 and July 24, 1940)

X Minus One "A Logic Named Joe" (12-28-55)

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:17:17 -0700

X MINUS ONE was an NBC science fiction series that was an extension, or revival, of NBC's earlier science fiction series, DIMENSION X. which ran from Apr. 8, 1950 through Sept. 29, 1951. Both are remembered for bringing really first rate science fiction to the air. The first X MINUS ONE shows used scripts from DIMENSION X, but soon created new shows from storied from the pages of Galaxy Magazine. A total of 125 programs were broadcast, some repeats or remakes, until the last show of Jan. 9, 1958. There was a one-program revival attempt in 1973, shown at the end of the log.

THIS EPISODE:
December 28, 1955. NBC network. "A Logic Named Joe". Sustaining. Do you want to know how to do anything? Just ask your Logic! The script was used previously on "Dimension X" on July 1, 1950. Murray Leinster (author), Wendell Holmes, Guy Repp, William Zuckert, Walter Kinsella, Bob Hastings, Joseph Julian, Joey Fallon, Marylou Forster, Pam Thomas, Mary Patton, Clarice A. Ross (adaptor), Mandel Kramer, William Welch (producer), Daniel Sutter (director), Fred Collins (announcer). 29:03.

The Zero Hour - Heir Hunters (Part 5 of 5) 10-19-73

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:04:02 -0700

The Zero Hour - Heir Hunters (Part 5 of 5- COMPLETED) The 5-part series was syndicated by Mutual and the programs were allowed to be aired when convenient. Therefore, broadcast dates vary around the country. This section of the log is listed in Mutual's suggested ordering. Broadcast dates start on the premier date and continue until completion without break. The single-part show broadcast dates were more tightly defined by Mutual. Rod Serling is known to most people as the TV host (and some times writer) for The Twilight Zone. A decade later, he returned to TV to host the spooky Night Gallery series. The series was sold to the networks on Serling's name and reputation, but in reality, he had signed away creative control. A few of his scripts were produced, but others were rejected for being "too thoughtful." (We can't have any of that on television, can we?) He was banned from the casting sessions and had no real say on the show. Despite the shabby treatment by hot shot execs, Serling grit his teeth and did his duty. He continued to lead TV viewers through a darkened museum every week, looking at paintings with even darker themes. (It was very similar to the role Orson Welles served two decades earlier as the host to The Black Museum.) When Night Gallery was canceled in 1972, Serling was probably happy to retire from TV and move to upstate New York. He taught at Ithaca College, not far from where he grew up.

Zero Hour - Heir Hunters ( 10-18-73) Show 4 of 5

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:27:48 -0700

The Zero Hour (Heir Hunters - Show 4 of 5) --The 5-part series was syndicated by Mutual and the programs were allowed to be aired when convenient. Therefore, broadcast dates vary around the country. This section of the log is listed in Mutual's suggested ordering. Broadcast dates start on the premier date and continue until completion without break. The single-part show broadcast dates were more tightly defined by Mutual. Rod Serling is known to most people as the TV host (and some times writer) for The Twilight Zone. A decade later, he returned to TV to host the spooky Night Gallery series. The series was sold to the networks on Serling's name and reputation, but in reality, he had signed away creative control. A few of his scripts were produced, but others were rejected for being "too thoughtful." (We can't have any of that on television, can we?) He was banned from the casting sessions and had no real say on the show. Despite the shabby treatment by hot shot execs, Serling grit his teeth and did his duty. He continued to lead TV viewers through a darkened museum every week, looking at paintings with even darker themes. (It was very similar to the role Orson Welles served two decades earlier as the host to The Black Museum.) When Night Gallery was canceled in 1972, Serling was probably happy to retire from TV and move to upstate New York. He taught at Ithaca College, not far from where he grew up.

The Zero Hour "Heir Hunters" (Show 3 of 5) 10-17-73

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:24:28 -0700

The Zero Hour - Heir Hunters (Show 3 of 5) - Rod Serling is known to most people as the TV host (and some times writer) for The Twilight Zone. A decade later, he returned to TV to host the spooky Night Gallery series. The series was sold to the networks on Serling's name and reputation, but in reality, he had signed away creative control. A few of his scripts were produced, but others were rejected for being "too thoughtful." (We can't have any of that on television, can we?) He was banned from the casting sessions and had no real say on the show. Despite the shabby treatment by hot shot execs, Serling grit his teeth and did his duty. He continued to lead TV viewers through a darkened museum every week, looking at paintings with even darker themes. (It was very similar to the role Orson Welles served two decades earlier as the host to The Black Museum.) When Night Gallery was canceled in 1972, Serling was probably happy to retire from TV and move to upstate New York. He taught at Ithaca College, not far from where he grew up.

The Zero Hour "Heir Hunters" (Show 2 of 5) 10-16-73

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:32:49 -0700

Rod Serling is known to most people as the TV host (and some times writer) for The Twilight Zone. A decade later, he returned to TV to host the spooky Night Gallery series. The series was sold to the networks on Serling's name and reputation, but in reality, he had signed away creative control. A few of his scripts were produced, but others were rejected for being "too thoughtful." (We can't have any of that on television, can we?) He was banned from the casting sessions and had no real say on the show. Despite the shabby treatment by hot shot execs, Serling grit his teeth and did his duty. He continued to lead TV viewers through a darkened museum every week, looking at paintings with even darker themes. (It was very similar to the role Orson Welles served two decades earlier as the host to The Black Museum.) When Night Gallery was canceled in 1972, Serling was probably happy to retire from TV and move to upstate New York. He taught at Ithaca College, not far from where he grew up.

The Zero Hour "Heir Hunters" Show 1 of 5 (10-15-73)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:52:55 -0700

The Zero Hour - The 5-part series was syndicated by Mutual and the programs were allowed to be aired when convenient. Therefore, broadcast dates vary around the country. This section of the log is listed in Mutual's suggested ordering. Broadcast dates start on the premier date and continue until completion without break. The single-part show broadcast dates were more tightly defined by Mutual. Rod Serling is known to most people as the TV host (and some times writer) for The Twilight Zone. A decade later, he returned to TV to host the spooky Night Gallery series. The series was sold to the networks on Serling's name and reputation, but in reality, he had signed away creative control. A few of his scripts were produced, but others were rejected for being "too thoughtful." (We can't have any of that on television, can we?) He was banned from the casting sessions and had no real say on the show. Despite the shabby treatment by hot shot execs, Serling grit his teeth and did his duty. He continued to lead TV viewers through a darkened museum every week, looking at paintings with even darker themes. (It was very similar to the role Orson Welles served two decades earlier as the host to The Black Museum.) When Night Gallery was canceled in 1972, Serling was probably happy to retire from TV and move to upstate New York. He taught at Ithaca College, not far from where he grew up.

Tom Corbett Space Cadet "Marooned With Death" (05-15-52) Pt.2 of 2

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:57:01 -0700

THIS EPISODE:

May 15, 1952. ABC network, WJZ, New York aircheck. Sponsored by: Kellogg's Pep, Kellogg's Raisin Bran. Captain Yates of the first expedition to Del Porte holds the cadets prisoner. Al Markim, Drex Hines (director), Edward Bryce, Frank Thomas Jr., Jackson Beck (announcer), Jan Merlin, Jon Gart (organist). 25 minutes.

*Show notes from Radio Gold Index

Tom Corbett Space Cadet "Marooned With Death" (Pt. 1 of 2) 5-13-52

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:08:01 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
May 13, 1952. ABC network, WJZ, New York aircheck. Sponsored by: Kellogg's Pep, Kellogg's Raisin Bran. The cadets start on a rescue mission to the planet Del Porte and are nearly drowned by a tidal wave. Al Markim, Drex Hines (director), Edward Bryce, Frank Thomas Jr., Jackson Beck (announcer), Jan Merlin, Jon Gart (organist). 25 minutes.

The Green Hornet "George Haven's Secret" (01-22-46)

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:35:17 -0700

The Green Hornet - On January 31, 1936, the Green Hornet radio program aired on WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan. Al Hodge played the part of the Green Hornet from 1936 through January of 1943. The program was created by George W. Trendle, the same man associated with the creation of the Lone Ranger radio show. The premise of the Green Hornet was that of a modern day Lone Ranger. The main character was Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher of the Daily Sentinel by day and the Green Hornet by night. Britt Reid was the great-nephew of the Lone Ranger. Britt Reid's war against crime was an extension of his family history. The Green Hornet fought crime with his high-powered car, the Black Beauty.
He also utilized a gun that fired knockout gas instead of bullets. His fists also came in handy on a regular basis. He was assisted by his Filipino valet, Kato. Kato would drive the Black Beauty, keep watch out for the police or the bad guys and sometimes lend a helping fist to the fighting. The Green Hornet pretended to be a villain while really battling the forces of crime in the big city. This would make for some interesting plot twists as the Green Hornet would be actively avoiding detection by the police while at the same time attempting to destroy criminal activity in the city. Many times the Green Hornet would lead the police to believe that the Green Hornet had been the mastermind of the case at hand. The police would receive an anonymous tip of where they could pick up the now subdued crooks with the Green Hornet just barely making his escape from the scene. The Green Hornet would be alerted to criminal activity through his job as editor of the Daily Sentinel. The crime stories would lead Britt Reid to transform into the Green Hornet to battle crime at night.

THIS EPISODE:
January 22, 1946. ABC network origination, Michelson syndication, WFAA, Dallas aircheck. "George Haven's Secret". Commercials deleted. Haven is a murderer who happens to know the Hornet's secret identity! . 1/2 hour.

Captain Midnite "The Perada Treasure" Ep.36 (12-05-39) Ep.37 (12-06-39)

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:38:24 -0700

Captain Midnight was a U.S. radio serial broadcast from 1938 to 1949. Created by radio scripters Wilfred G. Moore and Robert M. Burtt, the program was developed at WGN in Chicago. Sponsored by the Skelly Oil Company, it began as a syndicated show in the fall of 1938, airing on a few midwest stations through the spring of 1940. In the fall of 1940, Ovaltine took over sponsorship, and the series was then heard nationally on the Mutual Radio Network where it remained until December, 1949. The title character, Charles James Albright, was a World War I pilot. His Captain Midnight code name was given by a general who sent him on a high-risk mission. When the show began in 1938, Albright was a private aviator who helped people, but his situation changed in 1940. When the show was taken over by Ovaltine, the origin story explained how Albright was recruited to head the Secret Squadron, an aviation-oriented paramilitary organization fighting sabotage and espionage during the period prior to the United States' entry into World War II. The Secret Squadron acted both within and outside the United States.

TODAY'S SHOW:
December 5, 1939. Program #202. Syndicated. Sponsored by: Skelgas Natural Gas and Kitchen Ranges (Dinnerware premium). Captain Midnight and Senor Pareda land quietly and find out about Ivan Shark's planned cattle drive. Whose plane approaches? . 15 minutes.

December 6, 1939. Program #203. Syndicated. Sponsored by: Skelgas Natural Gas and Kitchen Ranges (Dinnerware premium). A confrontation with Von Grippe in the dark, and some missing friends. Where are Pinky and Slim? . 15 minutes.

The General Mills Radio Adventrue Theater "Journey To The Center Of Earth" (4-24-77)

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:03:31 -0700

The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater - The series had it origins in the meeting of two minds: the ad agency for General Mills at the time, Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample was looking for a different means to reach a child audience besides television, which was decreasing commercial minutes and increasing costs; and Himan Brown, producer-director of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, who wanted to introduce new audiences to the dramatic form on radio. Tom Bosley was chosen as the host because of his television recognition from a kid’s oriented series, Happy Days. CBS chose to produce 52 original broadcasts followed by 52 repeat broadcasts. I believe they had hoped to maintain General Mills sponsorship during the complete 104 episodes, but General Mills dropped their sponsorship after the original broadcasts. The series continued for the next 52 repeats as the CBS Radio Adventure Theater.

THIS EPISODE:
Journey To The Center Of The Earth
The story begins on Sunday 24 May 1863, in the Liedenbrock house in Hamburg, with Professor Liedenbrock rushing home to peruse his latest purchase, an original runic manuscript of an Icelandic saga written by Snorri Sturluson. While looking through the book, Liedenbrock and his nephew Axel find a coded note written in runic script. (This is a first indication of Verne's love for cryptology. Coded, cryptic or incomplete messages as a plot device will continue to appear in many of his works and in each case Verne goes a long way to explain not only the code used but also the mechanisms used to retrieve the original text.) Liedenbrock and Axel translate the runic characters into Latin letters, revealing a message written in a seemingly bizarre code. Liedenbrock attempts a decipherment, deducing the message to be a kind of transposition cipher; but his results are as meaningless as the original.

The Mutual (Sears) Radio Theater "Death Warmed Over" (09-24-80)

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:49:54 -0700

Sears Radio Theater (SRT) (Mutual Radio Theater) was an anthology series of radio drama which ran weeknightly on CBS Radio in 1979, sponsored by the department-store chain; in its second year, 1980, it moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System and became the Mutual Radio Theater; the MBS series was repeats from the CBS run, until September of 1980, when a short season of new dramas was presented. The Mutual run was still most often sponsored by Sears. Often paired with The CBS Radio Mystery Theater on those stations which cleared it in its first season, the SRT offered a different genre of drama for each day's broadcast.

Monday was "Western Night" and was hosted by Lorne Greene. Tuesday was "Comedy Night", hosted by Andy Griffith. Wednesday was "Mystery Night" with Vincent Price as host. Thursday was "Love And Hate Night" with Cicely Tyson doing honors as host. Finally, Friday brought "Adventure Night", first hosted by Richard Widmark and later by Howard Duff and then by Leonard Nimoy. Though less long-lived than NPR's Earplay or the Mystery Theater, it was an ambitious if not particularly critically-favored attempt to reinvigorate a neglected field.

X Minus One "Death Wish" (10-10-57)

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:29:55 -0700

X MINUS ONE was an NBC science fiction series that was an extension, or revival, of NBC's earlier science fiction series, DIMENSION X. which ran from Apr. 8, 1950 through Sept. 29, 1951. Both are remembered for bringing really first rate science fiction to the air. The first X MINUS ONE shows used scripts from DIMENSION X, but soon created new shows from storied from the pages of Galaxy Magazine. A total of 125 programs were broadcast, some repeats or remakes, until the last show of Jan. 9, 1958. There was a one-program revival attempt in 1973, shown at the end of the log.THIS EPISODE:October 10, 1957. Program #110. NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Death Wish". Three guys in a wrecked space ship are looking for the answer to a really tough question. Fred Collins (announcer), George Voutsas (director), Joseph Bell, Maurice Tarplin, Ned Lang (author), Ralph Camargo, Walter Black, William Welch (supervisor, adaptor, producer). 20 minutes.

Dark Fantasy "The Man Who Came Back" (11-14-41)

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:02:27 -0700

Dark Fantasy was an series dedicated to dealings with the unknown. Originating from radio station WKY, Oklahoma City, it was written by Scott Bishop (of Mysterious Traveler and The Sealed Book fame) and was heard Fridays over stations. Keith Paynton served as announcer. The shows covered horror, science fiction and murder mysteries. Although a short series, the shows are excellent with some stories way ahead of their time.

THIS EPISODE:
November 14, 1941. NBC network, WKY, Oklahoma City origination. "The Man Who Came Back". Sustaining. A killing after an argument about a man's wife leads to a promise to return from the grave for vengeance. Scott Bishop (writer), Muir Height, Eugene Frances, Ben Morris, Eleanor Naylor Corin , Fred Wayne, Murillo Scofield. 24:41.

X Minus One "To The Future" (12-14-55)

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:51:13 -0700

X MINUS ONE was an NBC science fiction series that was an extension, or revival, of NBC's earlier science fiction series, DIMENSION X. which ran from Apr. 8, 1950 through Sept. 29, 1951. Both are remembered for bringing really first rate science fiction to the air. The first X MINUS ONE shows used scripts from DIMENSION X, but soon created new shows from storied from the pages of Galaxy Magazine. A total of 125 programs were broadcast, some repeats or remakes, until the last show of Jan. 9, 1958. There was a one-program revival attempt in 1973, shown at the end of the log.

THIS EPISODE:
December 14, 1955. NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "To The Future". A trip two hundred years into the past...to 1955! The script was used previously on "Dimension X" on May 27, 1950 . William Welch (producer), Ernest Kinoy (adaptor), Daniel Sutter (director), Fred Collins (announcer), Alexander Scourby, Mercer McLeod, Joe DeSantis, Guy Sorel, Al Collins, Stan Early, Ray Bradbury (author), Teri Keane. 1/2 hour.

The General Mills Radio Adventure Theater "20000 Leagues Under The Sea" (1977)

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:59:01 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
20000 Leagues Under The Sea
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea(s) (French: Vingt mille lieues sous les mers) is a classic science fiction novel by French writer Jules Verne, published in 1870. It is about the fictional Captain Nemo and his submarine, Nautilus, as seen by one of his passengers, Professor Pierre Aronnax. As the story begins in 1866, a mysterious sea monster, theorized by some to be a giant narwhal, is sighted by ships of several nations; an ocean liner is also damaged by the creature. The United States government finally assembles an expedition in New York City to track down and destroy the menace. Professor Pierre Aronnax is a noted French marine biologist and narrator of the story; as he happens to be in New York at the time and is a recognized expert in his field, he is issued a last-minute invitation to join the expedition, and he accepts. Canadian master harpoonist Ned Land and Aronnax's faithful assistant Conseil are also brought on board. The expedition sets sail from Long Island aboard a naval ship, the Abraham Lincoln, which travels down around the tip of South America and into the Pacific Ocean. After much fruitless searching, the monster is found, and the ship charges into battle. During the fight, the ship's steering is damaged, and the three protagonists are thrown overboard. They find themselves stranded on the "hide" of the creature, only to discover to their surprise that it is a large metal construct. They are quickly captured and brought inside the vessel, where they meet its enigmatic creator and commander, Captain Nemo. ("Nemo" means "no man" or "no-body" in Latin)