Old TIme Radio Suspense

Suspense "A Korean Christmas Carole" (12-20-59)

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:36:37 -0800

THIS EPISODE:

December 20, 1959. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Korean Christmas Carol". the story of a strange G. I., his A. W. O. L. bag, and an even stranger Christmas battle. Bill Lipton, Lyle Sudrow, Allen Manson, Phil Meader, Santos Ortega, Guy Repp, Larry Robinson, Lawson Zerbe, Stuart Metz (announcer), George Walsh (announcer), George Bamber (writer), Paul Roberts (producer, director), Ethel Huber (music supervisor). 24:54.

Big Town "Lost And Found" (12-07-48)

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:10:06 -0800

Big Town is a radio show that aired from 1937 to 1952. Edward G. Robinson had the lead role of Steve Wilson from 1937 to 1942. Claire Trevor was Wilson's society editor sidekick Lorelei Kilbourne, with Ona Munson taking over that role in 1940. Edward J. Pawley portrayed Wilson from 1942 until 1952 when Walter Greaza was heard as Wilson in the final episodes in the radio series. When Big Town moved to television, the program was telecast live, but in 1952 the production switched to film after the move from New York City to Hollywood. The television series ran on CBS from 1950 through 1954, continuing on NBC from 1955 through 1956. Repeat episodes aired on the DuMont Network (under the title City Assignment) while Big Town was still showing first-run episodes on CBS. Reruns were also shown under the titles Heart of the City, Headline and Byline Steve Wilson.

THIS EPISODE:

Big Town. December 7, 1948. NBC network. "The Case Of The Lost and Found". Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. Dick Rutter, the star reporter of a competing paper, disappears. Steve Wilson of the Illustrated Press suspects a connection to the "Lucky Louie" murder. The program has also been dated December 1, 1948. Edward Pawley, Fran Carlon, Jerry McGill (writer, producer), Hugh James (announcer). 29:37.

RKO Radio Picture Presents "Cornered" (02-27-46)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:25:23 -0800

Cornered - If "The Maltese Falcon" represents the birth of what came to be known as Film Noir, and the war years were its childhood, then certainly this is its first bittersweet kiss. The writer, John Paxton, and the director Edward Dmytryk, seem charged up, electrified by the aftershocks of the just ended war. Characters are sharply drawn and unusually articulate, possessing a clarity of thought and emotional precision that's rare. "I'd rather have it quick than carefully" Dick Powell's Canadian flyer turned vengeful sleuth says at one point. The Swiss watch plot is intricate and exhausting. When it's finally over you have the elated feeling that you've just completed a marathon and come in first. No one can be trusted. Everyone has a card up their sleeve and a gun in the top drawer. Just in case. Shadows, prying eyes, lonely dimly lit streets, whispered mistruths partially overheard but only half understood; that's what this film is about. Some have done it as well but none have done it better. The sense of claustrophobia, of walls closing in is overwhelming, particularly during one gripping scene set in an underground railway. Dmytryk whips you from one locale to the next, globe-hopping from London to Paris to Argentina, until you're dizzy. It's almost as if a world ravaged by war has become Powell's own personal trash heap, at the bottom of which may or may not be what he is looking for. Powell is terse, tight-lipped and intractable, a quintessential Noir "hero", as the man desperately searching for the enigmatic Nazi collaborator responsible for his French wife's death. He shrugs off an onslaught of manipulative rhetoric and deception, trusting no one, cold-blooded revenge his only goal. But the real acting honors have to go to Walter Slezak, who is every bit as venal, calculating and cosmopolitan (not to mention plump) as Sidney Greenstreet was in "Falcon". A terrific performance. I also liked the way Luther Adler, on screen for less than five minutes but in a pivotal role, gets so much mileage out of a single raised eyebrow.

Cornered from RKO Radio Pictures aired February 27, 1945 starring Dick Powell and Walter Slezak. A World War II veteran hunts down the Nazi collaborators who killed his wife. Canadian WW II pilot Gerard (Dick Powell) intends to track down and kill collaborationist Marcel Jarne, the man responsible for the wartime death of Gerard's French wife. The trouble is, Jarne has never been effectively identified by the authorities and in fact could be just about anyone whom Gerard meets. Weaselly Incza is played by (Walter Slezak).

Confession "The Doris Kane Case" (07-05-53)

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:10:33 -0800

Confession - NBC 30 minutes Sunday at 9:30PM.Cast Paul Frees, James Edwards, Jester Hairston, Jay Loughlin, Jonathan Hole, Mady Norman, Don Brinkley (writer), Michael Samoge (? music), Warren Lewis (script supervisor), Homer Canfield (director), John Wald (announcer). Had a texture and sound not unlike Dragnet, indeed the influence was realized throughout the show. These were true stories of Crime and Punishment, the obvious difference that Dragnet began with the crime while Confession unfolded in reverse order, from the end. Confession was less noisy, it's theme was played on a single piano, but there was still the deadpan dialogue, the thief or killer giving his confession with an air of resignation and defeat. The criminal thus became a stream-of-consciousness narrator, with the action frequently cutting away into drama. "Names were changed to protect the legal rights of the subject"

THIS EPISODE:
July 5, 1953. NBC net. "The Case Of Doris Kane". Sustaining. Not auditioned. I don't care what she confesses to, just shut up that damn beeper! The system cue has been deleted. Joyce McCluskey, Paul Frees, Virginia Gregg, Sam Edwards, Stacy Harris, Marvin Miller, Warren Lewis (script supervisor), Michael Samoge (? music), Homer Canfield (director), John Wald (announcer). 29:32.

The Amazing Mr. Malone "The Lucky Stiff" (1947)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:12:10 -0800

The Amazing Mr. Malone - Based on Craig Rice’s (a female crime novelist who rivaled Agatha Christie in book sales) novels of crime drama, Frank Lovejoy (and later Gene Raymond and George Petrie) plays “fiction’s most famous criminal lawyer,” John J. Malone. Mr. Malone is our amazing hero, a Chicago lawyer whose bar is more famous than Cheers. His hobby is collecting clichés, and each weeks show is based off of one: cleanliness is next to Godliness, a strong offense is the best defense, seek and ye shall find, and so on. Stories are gripping, from tales of Chicago’s biggest operator who runs a nightclub and his right hand man, to a man looking for trouble in a hotel and finds it in room 419, to a story of a man who owns the most luscious gambling joint this side of Vegas. So brush up on your one liners, and grab your gun, because you’ll want to tune in for this exciting half hour of mystery!

THIS EPISODE:

1947. NBC net. "The Lucky Stiff". Sustaining. Lucky at everything, or is he. George Petrie, Larry Haines, Craig Rice (creator), Eugene Wang (writer), Bernard L. Schubert (producer), Richard Lewis (director), Fred Collins (announcer). 29:38.

Danger Doctor Danfield "Nola Jerrolds Wants To Kill Her Husband" (09-15-46)

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:43:55 -0800

Danger, Dr Danfield was first broadcast on August 18, 1946 and consisted of 26 episodes with the last one being April 13, 1947. All episodes are available. It starred Michael Dunn as Dr. Danfield, with JoAnne Johnson as Rusty Fairfax, his secretary. The series was written by Ralph Wilkinson and produced by Wally Ramsey. This series consistently featured some of the worst acting and writing of any detective show to reach the airwaves. The show had a formula with the crime usually being committed in the first third of the program, the good doctor solving it in the second third, and then pedantically explaining the solution to someone (usually his "pretty, young" secretary, Rusty) in the conclusion. Dr. Daniel Danfield was an obnoxious unlicensed private investigator/criminal psychologist with an ego complex. Why Rusty would put up with this guy is beyond understanding. In this case, love is not only blind, but also deaf and dumb. But then, Rusty was no prize package either. In fact, the most complex person on the show is Dr. Dan Danfield's pretty young secretary, Miss Rusty Fairfax. Why does Dr. Dan always call her Miss Fairfax? Dr. Dan goes to extremes to keep her at arm's length, but it's obvious he's just taunting her. After all, he's a criminal psychologist, and the way he treats Rusty is criminal! She can flare up, but usually just slow simmers in her professionally feminine way. Too bad one of the bad guys wasn't able to rub both of them out but these crooks were incredibly inept. Unfortunately, the toughs, society-types in trouble and the necessary law enforcement officers in this series, are nearly as individual as furniture in a model home. Still, if mindless detective drama is what you're looking for and you've tried the rest, then let Dr. Dan Danfield give you a little of a criminal psychologist's caseload. The show makes good drive-time or casual listening, since it doesn't make great demands on the emotions or intellect.

TEXT FROM OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHER'S GROUP (http://otrr.org/)

THIS EPISODE:
Program #5 - Nola Jerrolds Wants To Kill Her Husband (09-15-46)Teleways Radio Productions syndication. Commercials added locally. A shooting in the summer house. Nola Jerrolds wanted to kill her husband, and she has amnesia too! Michael Dunn, Joanne Johnson. 25 1/2 minutes.

Arch Oboler's Plays "Him Or Me" (12-26-64)

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:51:10 -0800

Arch Oboler (December 7, 1909 - March 19, 1987) was a Chicago-born scriptwriter, novelist, producer and director who was active in films, radio and television. boler generated much attention for his radio scripts, and his work in radio remains the outstanding period of his career. Although some noted a tendency for gruesomeness, he received praise as one of broadcasting's top talents, and he is regarded today as one of the innovators of old time radio. Arch Oboler's Plays was a radio drama series written, produced and directed by Arch Oboler. Minus a sponsor, it ran for one year, airing Saturday evenings on NBC from March 25, 1939 to March 23, 1940 and revived five years later on Mutual for a sustaining summer run from April 5, 1945 to October 11, 1945. Leading film actors were heard on this series, including Ingrid Bergman, Gloria Blondell, Eddie Cantor, James Cagney, Ronald Colman, Joan Crawford, Greer Garson, Edmund Gwenn, Van Heflin, Katharine Hepburn, Elsa Lanchester, Peter Lorre, Frank Lovejoy, Raymond Massey, Burgess Meredith, Paul Muni, Alla Nazimova, Edmond O'Brien, Geraldine Page, Gale Sondergaard, Franchot Tone and George Zucco.

THIS EPISODE:

December 26, 1964. Syndicated, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Him Or Me". Commercials added locally. A battle to the death between a man and a rat. The program closing has been deleted, the story is complete. The last show of the series. Arch Oboler (writer, host). 20 minutes.

The Mysterious Traveler "They Struck It Rich" (03-16-48)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:25:34 -0800

The Mysterious Traveler - Written and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Kogan, the series began on the Mutual Broadcasting System, December 5, 1943, continuing in many different timeslots until September 16, 1952. Unlike many other shows of the era, The Mysterious Traveler was without a sponsor for its entire run. The lonely sound of a distant locomotive heralded the arrival of the malevolent narrator, portrayed by Maurice Tarplin, who introduced himself each week in the following manner. This is the Mysterious Traveler, inviting you to join me on another journey into the strange and terrifying. I hope you will enjoy the trip, that it will thrill you a little and chill you a little. So settle back, get a good grip on your nerves and be comfortable -- if you can! Cast members included Jackson Beck, Lon Clark, Roger DeKoven, Elspeth Eric, Wendell Holmes, Bill Johnstone, Joseph Julian, Jan Miner, Santos Ortega, Bryna Raeburn, Frank Readick, Ann Shepherd, Lawson Zerbe and Bill Zuckert. Sound effects were by Jack Amrhein, Jim Goode, Ron Harper, Walt McDonough and Al Schaffer. "Behind the Locked Door," a popular episode which took place in total darkness, was much requested and was repeated several times during the years. The story involves two archaeologists who discover an old wagon train abandoned over one hundred years ago in an old cave. After a landslide traps them in the darkness, they are attacked by apparently human assailants and conclude that the descendants of the wagon train are still living in the cave.

THIS EPISODE:

March 16, 1948. Mutual network. "They Struck It Rich". Sustaining. A fascinating story about two bank robbers who find themselves aboard a ship...filled with treasure! Robert A. Arthur (writer, producer, director), David Kogan (writer, producer, director), Joe DeSantis, Frank Thomas, Paul Taubman (music), Carl Caruso (announcer). 29:06.

Suspense "Well Dressed Corpse" (01-18-51)

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:28:50 -0800

Suspense was one of the premier programs of the Golden Age of Radio (aka old-time radio), and advertised itself as "radio's outstanding theater of thrills." It was heard in one form or another from 1942 through 1962. There were approximately 945 episodes broadcast during its long run, over 900 of which are extant in mostly high-quality recordings. Suspense went through several major phases, characterized by different hosts, sponsors and director/producers. There were a few rules which were followed for all but a handful of episodes: Protagonists were usually a normal person suddenly dropped into a threatening or bizarre situation. Evildoers must be punished in the end. The program made only occasional forays into science fiction and fantasy. Among its science fiction entries were "The Man who Went Back to Save Lincoln" (a time travel fantasy), and an adaptation of "Donovan's Brain".

THIS EPISODE:
January 18, 1951. CBS network. "The Well Dressed Corpse". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. One of the "ten best dressed women" is rejected by one of the "ten best dressed men"...and Hell hath no fury! The script was subsequently produced on "Suspense" on October 13, 1957. Eve Arden, E. Jack Neuman (writer), John Michael Hayes (writer), Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor), Hy Averback, Verna Felton, Cathy Lewis, Howard McNear, Larry Thor, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Harlow Wilcox (announcer). 29:40.

Gangbusters "Case Of The Alcatraz Prison Riot" (05-11-46)

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:39:29 -0800

Gangbusters was an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." It premiered as G-Men, sponsored by Chevrolet, on July 20, 1935. After the title was changed to Gang Busters January 15, 1936, the show had a 21-year run through November 20, 1957. Beginning with a barrage of loud sound effects — guns firing and tires squealing — this intrusive introduction led to the popular catch phrase "came on like Gang Busters."The series dramatized FBI cases, which producer-director Phillips H. Lord arranged in close association with Bureau director J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover insisted that only closed cases would be used. The initial series was on NBC Radio from July 20 - October 12, 1935. It then aired on CBS from January 15, 1936 to June 15, 1940, sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive and Cue magazine. From October 11, 1940 to December 25, 1948, it was heard on the Blue Network, with various sponsors that included Sloan's Liniment, Waterman pens and Tide. Returning to CBS on January 8, 1949, it ran until June 25, 1955, sponsored by Grape-Nuts and Wrigley's chewing gum. The final series was on the Mutual Broadcasting System from October 5, 1955 to November 27, 1957. It was once narrated by Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr., former head of the New Jersey State Police. The radio series was adapted for DC Comics, Big Little Books and a 1942 movie serial. The 1952 Gang Busters TV series was reedited into two feature films, Gang Busters (1954) and Guns Don't Argue (1957).

THIS EPISODE:

May 11, 1946. Program #433. ABC network origination, syndicated, WRVR-FM, New York aircheck. "The Battle Of Alcatraz"/"The Case Of The Alcatraz Prison Riot". Participating sponsors. A dramatization of the riot and inmate unrest on the prison island in San Francisco. The dramatized events occured only nine days previously! Syndicated rebroadcast date: February 19, 1973. Mercedes McCambridge, Phillips H. Lord (producer). 30:11.

Inner Sanctum "Lady Killer" (03-29-48)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:29:27 -0800

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.

THIS EPISODE:
March 29, 1948. CBS network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Lady Killer". A woman is terrorized by a killer. Is it her husband? Will she be next? The story is also known as "Homicidal Maniac." Everett Sloane, Paul McGrath (host). 25:03.

Night Beat "Doctor's Secret" (08-21-50)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:39:58 -0800

Nightbeat - Broadcast on NBC, Nightbeat ran from 1949 to 1952 and starred Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone, a tough and streetwise reporter who worked the nightbeat for the Chicago Star looking for human interest stories. He met an assortment of people, most of them with a problem, many of them scared, and sometimes he was able to help them, sometimes he wasn’t. It is generally regarded as a ‘quality’ show and it stands up extremely well. Frank Lovejoy (1914-1962) isn’t remembered today, but he was a powerful and believable actor with a strong delivery, and his portrayal of Randy Stone as tough guy with humanity was perfect. The scripts were excellent, given that they had to pack in a lot in a short time, and there was a good supporting cast, orchestra, and sound effects. ‘The Slasher’, broadcast on 10 November 1950, the last show of season one, has a very loosely Ripper-derived plot in which Stone searches for an artist. Supporting actors included Parley Baer, William Conrad, Jeff Corey, Lawrence Dobkin, Paul Frees, Jack Kruschen, Peter Leeds, Howard McNear, Lurene Tuttle and Martha Wentworth.

THIS EPISODE:

August 21, 1950. NBC network. Sustaining. Sent to Joliet to cover an execution, Randy Stone meets Dr. Graham, an alcoholic who's more guilty than the convict about to be executed. Frank Lovejoy, Frank Worth (composer, conductor), Inge Jollos, Irene Tedrow, Jay Novello, Larry Marcus (writer), Theodore Von Eltz, Warren Lewis (director), William Johnstone, Wilms Herbert. 29:12.

The Mutual Radio Theater "The Voyage Of No Return" (04-16-80)

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:40:52 -0800

Mutual Radio Theater - In December 1979 the Mutual Broadcasting System acquired the Sears Radio Theater renaming it, the MUTUAL Radio Theater. It retained the same format as before with the same theme for different nights of the week. Lorne Greene remained host for Monday's Western night, Andy Griffith handled Tuesday's Comedy, Vincent Price still was host for Mystery on Wednesdays, Cicely Tyson did Love on Thursday, while Leonard Nimoy was now the Friday night Adventure host. As before the series aired week nights, Monday through Friday. The Mutual Radio Theater debuted Mar 3, 1980 and was to run for 13 weeks on almost 300 stations. The shows were then to be repeated over the summer and fall. It proved to be fairly successful and another 8 weeks of original programs were added; this was followed by another 8 weeks of repeats. The series was broadcast in stereo, making it the only commercial radio network drama program in the nation to use this technology at the time. Great writers were employed for this series including Arch Oboler and Norman Corwin. Good choices were made when it came to cast members. Old familiar voices and names included Janet Waldo, John Dehner, Vic Perrin, Mary Jane Croft, Hans Conried, Marvin Miller, Parley Baer, Elliot Lewis, Jeff Corey, Virginia Gregg, Lesley Woods, Robert Rockwell and Lurene Tuttle. Then from movies and TV - Eve Arden, Keith Andes, Harriet Nelson, Aan Young, Tom Bosley and Marian Ross, Lloyd Bochner, Rick Jason, Frank Campanella, Toni Tennille, Arthur Hill, Dan O'Herlihy, Jesse White and Frank Nelson.

Theater Royal "The Judgement" (11-07-53)

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:26:40 -0800

Theater Royal - This fine British anthology series, features plays based on the best of literature, films and English theater. Produced in two series, Sir Lawrence Olivier and Sir Ralph Richardson serve as hosts, narrators and many times portray the leading roles. The program apparently was developed as a vehicle to capitalize on Olivier’s name and talent. His career spanned over 50 years and continues into the 21st century, as in 2004, 15 years after his death, he was starring as Dr. Totenkopf in a Hollywood fantasy film titled, Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow. This was accomplished by the producers who selected footage of Lord Olivier from various films and used to create a villainous leader of killer robots in the film. Jude Law, who stars in the film, said film-makers used Olivier because few other actors possessed his authority. Sir Ralph Richardson from 1954 – 1955 played the character of Dr. John Watson in another Harry Alan Towers radio series of Sherlock Holmes stories, which starred Sir John Gielgud as the famous consulting detective. Many fine actors of the British stage and screen were involved in individual episodes of the Theatre Royal series, such as Sir John Gielgud, Robert Morley, Harry Andrews, Muriel Forbes, Robert Donat, and Daphne Maddox. The music was credited to the renown British organist and arranger, Sidney Torch. However much of the same music was also used in other Harry Alan Towers productions on which Torch also worked, such as The Secrets of Scotland Yard, The Black Museum, and The Many Lives of Harry Lime. So how much of it was actually written for this series will probably never be known. Harry Alan Towers produced and directed the show for his Towers of London company for international syndication, at the time in Europe, South Africa and Australia. The episodes included in this distribution are from the initial US run on NBC. However selected episodes were repeated, with a different series opening and close on the ABC Mystery Time series during the late 1950s. The show Theatre Royal remained in active syndication in the United States well up into the 1970s. Many of the copies in circulation today, come from those 1970s repeats where the individual episodes were cut to about 20 minutes. Luckily these cuts were made by the production company and generally do not take away from the actual program enjoyment. This reduced length comes from a combination for factors including removing dated introductory material from the beginning of the early episodes, making time for local stations to include hourly 5 minute newscasts and to insert commercials locally.

The Mysterious Traveler "Death Is The Judge" (06-15-47)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:19:43 -0800

THIS EPISODE:

June 15, 1947. Mutual network. "Death Is The Judge". Sustaining. A brain surgeon and his wife buy a "bell of life" from Tibet. It can bring the dead back to life. However, when "Death" releases someone, he takes someone else! Charles Paul (music), Robert A. Arthur (writer, producer, director), David Kogan (writer, producer, director), Donald Buka, Ralph Paul (announcer), Eleanor Phelps, Juano Hernandez, Morton Lawrence, Maurice Tarplin, Cameron Prud'Homme. 29:54.

Suspense "On A Country Road" (11-16-50)

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:21:09 -0800

Suspense was one of the premier programs of the Golden Age of Radio (aka old-time radio), and advertised itself as "radio's outstanding theater of thrills." It was heard in one form or another from 1942 through 1962. There were approximately 945 episodes broadcast during its long run, over 900 of which are extant in mostly high-quality recordings. Suspense went through several major phases, characterized by different hosts, sponsors and director/producers. There were a few rules which were followed for all but a handful of episodes: Protagonists were usually a normal person suddenly dropped into a threatening or bizarre situation. Evildoers must be punished in the end. The program made only occasional forays into science fiction and fantasy. Among its science fiction entries were "The Man who Went Back to Save Lincoln" (a time travel fantasy), and an adaptation of "Donovan's Brain".

THIS EPISODE:
November 16, 1950. CBS network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "On A Country Road". A melodrama about an escaped madwoman and a couple out of gas in the dark. The story was subsequently produced on "Suspense" on January 4, 1954, December 4, 1954 and May 10, 1959. The script was also used on, "The Grip Of Terror" in 1977. Cary Grant, Cathy Lewis, Jeanette Nolan, Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Walter Bazarr (writer), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor), Larry Thor, Joseph Kearns (announcer). 25 minutes.

The Whistler "Two For The Money" (01-01-45)

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:51:45 -0800

The Whistler was one of radio's most popular mystery dramas, with a 13-year run from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955. If it now seems to have been influenced explicitly by The Shadow, The Whistler was no less popular or credible with its listeners, the writing was first class for its genre, and it added a slightly macabre element of humor that sometimes went missing in The Shadow's longer-lived crime stories. Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson established the tone of the show during its first two years, and he was followed in 1944 by producer-director George Allen. Other directors included Sterling Tracy and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. A total of 692 episodes were produced, yet despite the series' fame, over 200 episodes are lost today. In 1946, a local Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer.

THIS EPISODE:
January 1, 1945. CBS Pacific network. "Two For The Money". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. A man plans revenge on his brother by leaving $25,000 in cash in his brother's cab! Bob Anderson (announcer), George W. Allen (producer), Jack Anson Fink (writer), Louis Pelletier (writer), Wilbur Hatch (music). 29:39.

Suspense "The Giant Of Thermopylaer" (05-03-54)

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:08:46 -0700

Suspense was one of the premier programs of the Golden Age of Radio (aka old-time radio), and advertised itself as "radio's outstanding theater of thrills." It was heard in one form or another from 1942 through 1962. There were approximately 945 episodes broadcast during its long run, over 900 of which are extant in mostly high-quality recordings. Suspense went through several major phases, characterized by different hosts, sponsors and director/producers. There were a few rules which were followed for all but a handful of episodes: Protagonists were usually a normal person suddenly dropped into a threatening or bizarre situation. Evildoers must be punished in the end. The program made only occasional forays into science fiction and fantasy. Among its science fiction entries were "The Man who Went Back to Save Lincoln" (a time travel fantasy), and an adaptation of "Donovan's Brain".

THIS EPISODE:
May 3, 1954. CBS network. "The Giant Of Thermopylae". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A man framed for murder is trapped in an amusement park fun house with a strange mechanical creature blocking his escape. Frank Lovejoy, Joseph Kearns, Paul Frees, Herb Ellis, Jerry Hausner, Charlotte Lawrence, Larry Thor (announcer), E. Jack Neuman (writer), Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Harlow Wilcox (commercial spokesman), Bert Holland (commercial spokesman), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor). 1/2 hour.

The Line-Up "The Bomber" (01-11-51)

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:28:07 -0700

The Lineup is a realistic police drama that gives radio audiences a look behind the scenes at police headquarters. Bill Johnstone plays Lt. Ben Guthrie, a quiet, calm-as-a-cupcake cucumber. Joseph Kearns (and from 1951 to 1953, Matt Maher) plays Sgt. Matt Grebb, a hot-tempered hot plate who is easily bored. The director and script writer often rode with police on the job and sat in on the police lineups to get ideas for The Lineup. They also read dozens of newspapers daily and intermeshed real stories with those that they used in the show. With Dragnet a smash hit, realism in police dramas was popular at the time this show aired. Don’t be caught without this radio show in your collection!

THIS EPISODE:

January 11, 1951. CBS network. Sponsored by: Plymouth. George Hunter is almost killed when a time bomb goes off in his house. After another bomb goes off at the Adams house, suspicion falls on Louis Black, who calmly tells the cops that a bomb he's planted in the State Building will go off in about forty minutes. William Johnstone, Wally Maher, Raymond Burr, John McIntire, Howard McNear, Clayton Post, Ed Begley, Sidney Miller, Joseph Du Val, Eddie Dunstedter (organist), Dan Cubberly (announcer), Jaime del Valle (producer, director), Blake Edwards (writer). 29:15.

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater "The Deadliest Favor" (08-26-74)

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:07:06 -0700

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater (or CBSRMT) was an ambitious and sustained attempt to revive the great drama of old-time radio in the 1970s. Created by Himan Brown (who had by then become a radio legend due to his work on Inner Sanctum Mysteries and other shows dating back to the 1930s), and aired on affiliate stations across the CBS Radio network, the series began its long run on January 6, 1974. The final episode ran on December 31, 1982. The show was broadcast nightly and ran for one hour, including commercials. Typically, a week consisted of three to four new episodes, with the remainder of the week filled out with reruns. There were a total of 1399 original episodes broadcast. The total number of broadcasts, including reruns, was 2969. The late E.G. Marshall hosted the program every year but the final one, when actress Tammy Grimes took over. Each episode began with the ominous sound of a creaking door, slowly opening to invite listeners in for the evening's adventure. At the end of each show, the door would swing shut, with Marshall signing off, "Until next time, pleasant...dreams?"

THIS EPISODE:
August 26, 1974. Program #139. CBS network. "The Deadliest Favor". Sponsored by: Budweiser, Buick. E. G. Marshall (host), Sam Dann (writer), Norman Rose, Marian Seldes, Dan Ocko, Ralph Bell. 52 minutes.

Theater Royal "Queen Of Spades" (10-04-53)

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:02:09 -0700

Big Town "Nightmare House" (01-11-49)

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:48:13 -0700

January 11, 1949. NBC netwoerk. "Nightmare House". Sponsored by: Lifebuoy, Rinso. Bill and Helen Barton have a new house on "Honeymoon Hill." The crooked builder of these houses stops at nothing when the homeowners complain about the construction...including arson and murder! Steve Wilson and Lorelei decide to investigate. The title of the next week's show is, "A Date With Death." Edward Pawley, Fran Carlon, Hugh James (announcer), Jerry McGill (writer, producer), Mason Adams. 29:28.

Calling All Cars "Moving Picture Murder" (12-18-34)

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:26:03 -0700

In The Name Of The Law "Narcotics In The Trunk" (07-19-36)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:25:29 -0700

In the Name of the Law was a True Crime radio show from 1936. It says "In the name of the law, we bring you another of the thrilling stories in this exciting series, taken from actual police case files. "In the name of the Law, we bring you another of the thrilling stories in this exciting series, taken from actual police case files."Two home invaders pick the wrong house and force the home owner (John Snyder) to take them to the targeted neighbors, two elderly brothers who were rumored to have cash and bonds. During the hold up, one of the brothers was shot to death. An angry town insisted on immediate results. The State Police joined the local Sherif and the search was on.

THIS EPISODE:
1936. Syndicated. Commercials added locally. A woman is caught smuggling heroin into the country. She claims to know nothing about the drugs, then disappears from a locked hotel room. . 25:00.

The Lineup "Case Of Roxy Mob" (12-28-50)

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:55:31 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
Case Of The Roxy Mob - December 28, 1950. CBS network. Sustaining. William Johnstone, Wally Maher, Blake Edwards (writer), Raymond Burr, Ed Begley, Clayton Post, Robert Griffin, Earl Lee, Hy Averback. 29:27. Audio condition: Very good to excellent. Complete.

The Shadow "Island Of Ancient Death" (03-03-46)

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:24:55 -0700

The Shadow - One of the most popular radio shows in history debuted in August 1930 when "The Shadow" went on the air. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" The opening lines of the "Detective Story" program captivated listeners and are instantly recognizable even today. Originally the narrator of the series of macabre tales, the eerie voice known as The Shadow became so popular to listeners that "Detective Story" was soon renamed "The Shadow," and the narrator became the star of the old-time mystery radio series, which ran until 1954. A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many gifts which enabled him to overcome any enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he could defy gravity, speak any language, unravel any code, and become invisible with his famous ability to "cloud men's minds."

THIS EPISODE:
March 3, 1946. Mutual network. "The Island Of Ancient Death". Sponsored by: Grove Laboratories. Murder and mayhem on a Caribbean island terrorized by a wicked 3-bladed knife. Bret Morrison, Lesley Woods, Gibson Scott Fox (writer). 1/2 hour.

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater "The Hands Of Mrs Mallory" (08-19-74)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:22:15 -0700

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater (or CBSRMT) was an ambitious and sustained attempt to revive the great drama of old-time radio in the 1970s. Created by Himan Brown (who had by then become a radio legend due to his work on Inner Sanctum Mysteries and other shows dating back to the 1930s), and aired on affiliate stations across the CBS Radio network, the series began its long run on January 6, 1974. The final episode ran on December 31, 1982.
The show was broadcast nightly and ran for one hour, including commercials. Typically, a week consisted of three to four new episodes, with the remainder of the week filled out with reruns. There were a total of 1399 original episodes broadcast. The total number of broadcasts, including reruns, was 2969. The late E.G. Marshall hosted the program every year but the final one, when actress Tammy Grimes took over. Each episode began with the ominous sound of a creaking door, slowly opening to invite listeners in for the evening's adventure. At the end of each show, the door would swing shut, with Marshall signing off, "Until next time, pleasant...dreams?"

THIS EPISODE:
August 19, 1974. Program #135. CBS network. "The Hands Of Mrs. Mallory". Sponsored by: Budweiser, Buick. There is a brief loss of audio during two public service announcements. E. G. Marshall (host), Henry Slesar (writer), Celeste Holm, Patricia Elliot, Evie Juster, Arnold Moss, Leon Janney. 52 minutes.

Mr. District Attorney "The Bank Killer" (1957)

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:13:29 -0700

Mr District Attorney was for many years the nation’s best-liked crime show. The thirty-minute drama was inspired by the real-life exploits of Thomas E Dewey, a racket-busting district attorney of the late 30s in New York. The show was directed and often written by Ed Byron, a former law student who devoted all of his time researching crime, which was the reason that the show was so topical.

THIS EPISODE:
Program #16. ZIV Syndication. "The Case Of The Bank Killer". Commercials added locally. After two men rob a bank and kill a guard, a clerk in a hardware store is not very helpful in solving the case. Phillips H. Lord (creator), David Brian. 27:44.

You Can't Do Business With Hitler "Episode 3 and Episode 5" (1942)

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:27:11 -0700

You Can't Do Business with Hitler, based on the experiences of Douglas Miller, who was for 15 years commercial attaché to the American Embassy in Berlin. Douglas Miller reveals the NAZI technique of plundering and looting conquered lands. This transcribed program written by Elwood Hoffman and directed by Frank Telford was brought to you by the Radio Section of the Office for Emergency Management in Washington.

TODAY'S SHOW:
1942 Program #3. Office For Emergency Management, Division Of Information, syndication. "No American Goods Wanted". Sustaining. December 9, 1941 is the date that Germany declared war on the United States, but war was really declared in 1934, through international trade. A dramatization of the ccase of James Dennison, who was not allowed to sell tallow to Germany, despite his contract to do so. Frank Talbot (preparer, director). 14:48.

1942 Program #5. Office For Emergency Management, Division Of Information, syndication. "Mass Murder". Sustaining. "Mass murder" is Hitler's policy of exterminating racial groups. Poland is to be "de-populated," twelve thousand people have committed suicide! Elwood Hoffman (writer), Frank Telford (director). 14:53.

The Lux Radio Theater "Kiss Of Death" (01-12-48)

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:35:05 -0700

Lux Radio Theater strove to feature as many of the original stars of the original stage and film productions as possible, usually paying them $5,000 an appearance to do the show. It was when sponsor Lever Brothers (who made Lux soap and detergent) moved the show from New York to Hollywood in 1936 that it eased back from adapting stage shows and toward adaptations of films. The first Lux film adaptation was The Legionnaire and the Lady, with Marlene Dietrich and Clark Gable, based on the film Morocco. That was followed by a Lux adaptation of The Thin Man, featuring the movie's stars, Myrna Loy and William Powell.

THIS EPISODE:
January 12, 1948. CBS network. "Kiss Of Death". Sponsored by: Lux, Pepsodent. A good cops-and-robbers story about a gangster-gone-straight turning stoolie to protect his little girls. Coleen Gray, Richard Widmark, Victor Mature, William Keighley (host), John Milton Kennedy (announcer), Louis Silvers (music director), Alan Reed, William Johnstone, Robert Griffin, Carole Sue Leeds, Norma Jean Nilsson, Jeff Chandler (doubles: billed as "Ira Grossel"), Julian Petruzzi (doubles), Marie Windsor, Edwin Cooper (doubles), Gwen Delano, Edward Marr, Ed Emerson, , Tyler McVey (doubles), Joseph Bell (doubles), Dorothy Lovett (commercial spokesman: as "Libby"), Randy Stuart (intermission guest), Ben Hecht (screenwriter), Charles Lederer (screenwriter), Fred MacKaye (director), Sanford Barnett (adaptor), Charlie Forsyth (sound effects). 1 hour.

Calling All Cars "San Quentin Prison Break" (01-16-35)

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:47:07 -0700

Calling All Cars was one of radio’s earliest cop shows, dramatizing true crime stories and introduced by officers from the Los Angeles and other police departments. The narrator of the program was speech professor Charles Frederick Lindsley, and the only other regular voice heard on the program week after week belonged to that of Sergeant Jesse Rosenquist of the L.A.P.D., whose name and voice were so unusually distinctive that he was retained for the show’s entire run. None of the actors on the show ever received on-air credit, but among the talent OTR fans can hear the likes of Elvia Allman, Jackson Beck, Charles Bickford, John Gibson, Richard LeGrand and Hanley Stafford, just to name a few.

THIS EPISODE:
January 22, 1935. Program #61. CBS Pacific network (Don Lee network). "The San Quentin Prison Break". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil. Four convicts have just escaped from San Quentin prison, they are reported heading north with four members of the prison board as hostages. The actual prison break happened just "last Wednesday." The program has also been dated January 16, 1935. The initial dramatization of the event (also on the Don Lee net, which was used as the CBS Pacific net) took place just a half hour after the capture of the escaped convicts. William N. Robson dramatized how this story was produced on "The Columbia Workshop" on September 5, 1936. The system cue has been deleted. Not auditioned. District Attorney Albert Bagshaw speaks from KFRC, San Francisco. William N. Robson (writer, producer), Charles Frederick Lindsley (narrator), Albert Bagshaw (may be impersonated). 29:05.

Confession "Leo J Fowler Case" (08-30-53)

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:24:35 -0700

The Chase "Blackout" (11-23-52

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:10:30 -0700

The Chase is an exciting Old Time Radio series in which every episode contains, well, a chase. Tales, highly melodramatic and often improbable, of people on the run. The concept of "hunter and hunted" was built into the signatures. with the lone bugle of a fox hunt, the braying of dogs, the sounds of a man running, a gunshot, and the slowing footsteps and eventual fall of the victim. It may be an adventure story, a crime story, or even science fiction, but there will always be a suspense filled chase.

THIS EPISODE:
November 23, 1952. NBC network. "Blackout". Sustaining. The title may be incorrect. An amnesiac trying to discover his past life finds out he was some louse. Don MacLaughlin, Fred Collins (announcer), Fred Weihe (director, transcriber), Joan Tompkins, Lawrence Klee (creator, writer), Linda Watkins, Ned Wever, William Keene. 29:27.

The Falcon "The Case Of The Practical Joker" (02-25-51)

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:34:22 -0700

The Falcon - This hard boiled spy drama began as an RKO Radio Pictures theatrical serial in the 1940s, went on radio in 1945, and then came to TV ten years later in this Syndicated series produced for distribution by NBC Films; Charles McGraw had been in many motion pictures before and after including "The Killers", "Spartacus" and "Cimarron"; in this series he played the title role of a man whose real name was supposedly Mike Waring, an American agent whose code name was "Falcon"; Later Charles McGraw starred in a short lived TV version of "Casablanca" (1955 - 1956) in the character of Rick; He also had a role on the detective drama "Staccato" (1959) Actor McGraw (whose birth name was Charles Butters) met an unfortunate death in real life when he fell through a shower glass door in 1980 at his home in Studio City, CA.]

THIS EPISODE:
February 25, 1951. NBC network. "The Case Of The Practical Choker". Sponsored by: Kraft Cheese Spreads. Red Davis has been murdered. Chuck Morgan had been bragging that he's going to kill Morgan. Mrs. Davis remarries only twelve hours after Red's deat! This is a case for Mike Waring...The Falcon! Les Damon, Ed Herlihy (announcer), Eugene Wang (writer), Ann Williams (a drama student at Sarah Lawrence College), Drexel Drake (creator), Arlo (music), Bernard L. Schubert (producer), Richard Lewis (director), Ken Lynch. 29:30.

Line-Up "The Deadly Frame" (07-20-50)

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:29:47 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
December 20, 1951. CBS network. Sustaining. The town's first bank hold-up in six years has netted the gang $100,000 and has resulted in two dead men. William Johnstone, Wally Maher, Blake Edwards (writer), Raymond Burr, Ed Begley, Clayton Post, Robert Griffin, Earl Lee, Hy Averback. 29:27

The Whisperer "Taken For A Ride" (08-26-51)

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:38:00 -0700

The Whisperer was an American old-time radio show broadcast from July 8 to September 30, 1951 on NBC. It ran for only 13 episodes. The premise of the series was as improbable as its storylines. The protagonist was Philip Gault (Carleton G. Young), a lawyer who, due to some unexplained accident, lost his voice and could only speak in an eerie whisper. Gault infiltrates "the syndicate" in his native Central City to bring down organized crime from within; to the underworld, he becomes known as the Whisperer. Later, his voice is restored through surgery, but he continues to lead a double life as the Whisperer, relaying instructions from the syndicate bosses in New York (who don't know he's a mole) to their lackeys in Central City, whom Gault is actually setting up. By today's standards, the stories are dated and their message-mongering usually criticized as ham-fisted, the product of what might be considered the unenlightened attitudes of the time. The first episode ("Tea Time for Teenagers") is typical, an overwrought "it can happen here" melodrama about a syndicate plot to create "200 regular marijuana addicts" among high school students. The episode makes a blatant appeal to the moral indignation of its audience, ending with Gault advising PTA's to "show some of the fine educational films available on marijuana and how it leads to a worse addiction." Carleton G. Young, who played Gault, is sometimes confused with the actor Carleton Young. Betty Moran portrayed his girlfriend Ellen, the only other person who knew Gault's double identity. Moran had to deliver lines like, "But marijuana means broken lives, heartbreak for parents!"

THIS EPISODE:
August 26, 1951. NBC network. Sustaining. Not auditioned. The Ace Trucking Company refuses to buy insurance from, "The Syndicate." One of their trucks is ordered wrecked, the driver is ordered killed. The system cue has been deleted. Carleton Young, Betty Moran, Stetson Humphrey (creator), John Duffy (original music), Bill Cairn (producer, director), Don Rickles (announcer), Julius Crowlbein, Herb Ellis, James Nusser, James Bush, Jonathan Twice (writer). 29:37.

CBS Radio Mystery Theater "The Island On Silver Tree Lake" (10-19-77)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:58:50 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
October 19, 1977. Program #725. CBS network. "The Island On Silver Tree Lake". Commercials deleted. E. G. Marshall (host), Victoria Dann (writer), Patricia Elliot, Lloyd Batista, Teri Keane, Earl Hammond. 46 minutes.

The NBC University Theater "Nineteen Eighty Four" (08-27-49)

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:04:30 -0700

The NBC University Theater - dramatic anthology Offered novels, with programs for college credit. Broadcast History : July 30th, 1948 - February 14th, 1951 NBC. Mostly 60 minutes. Mostly aired on Sundays, with occasional weeknight airings. Announcer : Don Stanley Music : Albert Harris, Henry Russell Director : Andrew C. Love Writers : Claris A. Ross, Ernest Kinoy, George Lefferts, Jack C. Wilson Sound Effects : Bob Holmes, Rod Sutton

THIS EPISODE:

August 27, 1949. NBC network. "Nineteen-Eighty-Four". Sustaining. Announced as the first radio production of the story. A romance in the age of "double think." Big Brother is watching us all! The system cue has been deleted. George Orwell (author), Milton Wayne (adaptor), David Niven, James Hilton (intermission commentator), Donald Morrison, Ben Wright, John Ramsay Hill, Don Stanley (announcer), Albert Harris (composer, conductor), Andrew C. Love (director), Ramsay Hill (narrator), Raymond Lawrence, George Pembroke, Tom Dillon, Queenie Leonard, Dan O'Herlihy, Alec Harford, Constance Cavendish, Eric Snowden. 59:19.

*Show notes from Radio Gold Index

Cloak & Dagger "Over Ground Railroad" (09-08-50)

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:15:20 -0700

Cloak and Dagger - "Are you willing to undertake a dangerous mission for the United States, knowing in advance you may never return alive?" Cloak and Dagger first aired over the NBC network on May 7, 1950. It had a short run through the Summer on Sundays, changing to Fridays after its Summer run. The last show aired Oct. 22, 1950. This is the story of the WWII special governmental agency, the OSS, or Office of Strategic Services. Its mission was to develop and maintain spy networks throughout Europe and into Asia, while giving aid to underground partisan groups and developing espionage activities for Allied forces overseas.The show is based on the book of the same name by Lt. Col. Corey Ford and Major Alastair MacBain (who were associated with the OSS from its early days.) The dramas are not Hollywood-style, in that they sometimes end with plans foiled or leading characters dead.

THIS EPISODE:
September 8, 1950. NBC network. "Overground Railroad". Sustaining. An O.S.S. agent is sent to occupied Paris to establish a network to help American flyers who have been shot down over France. The system cue has been deleted. Les Tremayne, Bryna Raeburn, John Powers (sound effects), Louis G. Cowan (producer), Alistair MacBain (creator), Corey Ford (creator), Lily Valenti, Winifred Wolfe (writer), Jack Gordon, Jon Gart (music director), Manny Segal (sound effects). 29:08.

The Shadow "The Plot Murder" (02-27-38)

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:42:18 -0700

The Shadow - One of the most popular radio shows in history debuted in August 1930 when "The Shadow" went on the air. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" The opening lines of the "Detective Story" program captivated listeners and are instantly recognizable even today. Originally the narrator of the series of macabre tales, the eerie voice known as The Shadow became so popular to listeners that "Detective Story" was soon renamed "The Shadow," and the narrator became the star of the old-time mystery radio series, which ran until 1954. A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many gifts which enabled him to overcome any enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he could defy gravity, speak any language, unravel any code, and become invisible with his famous ability to "cloud men's minds."

THIS EPISODE:
February 27, 1938. Mutual network. "The Plot Murder". Sponsored by: Blue Coal. A hypnotist has sabotaged an aerial torpedo to destroy America's military experts. An early guided missile! The award given to the show by, "The American Police Review" is read on the air. Orson Welles, Agnes Moorehead, Ken Roberts (announcer). 30:06.

The Mysterious Traveler "The Accusing Corpse" (04-16-44)

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:44:23 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
April 16, 1944. Mutual net. "The Accusing Corpse". Sustaining. A journey to the grave to learn the secrets of the dead. An old scam leads to an accusation by a dead body. The show will switch to Sunday at 3:30 P. M. (EST) next week. The script was also used on "The Sealed Book" on April 29, 1945. Don Randolph, Phillip Clark, Maurice Tarplin, Doc Whipple (music), Jock MacGregor (director), Robert A. Arthur (writer), David Kogan (writer). 29:45.

MGM Theater Of The Air "Public Hero Number One" (07-28-50)

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:12:35 -0700

The MGM Theater of The Air was an excellent series that casted Hollywood greats such as Mickey Rooney (Stablemates) and Marlene Dietrich (Anna Karenina) in radio adaptations of award winning movies. The program was hosted by Howard Dietz, the Vice-President of Metro Goldwyn Mayer who presented a variety of entertainment in various genres.

THIS EPISODE:
Public Hero Number One aired July 28, 1950. The story of two gangsters in prison and their plans for escape. MGM, New York, MGM syndication. Angela Lansbury, Ken Lynch, Anne Seymour, Kermit Murdock, Raymond Edward Johnson, Ed Stokes (announcer). 56 1/2 minutes.

The Mutual (Sears) Radio Theater "Double Exposure" (03-12-80)

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:58:28 -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.

The Falcon "The Case Of The Double Exposure" (10-29-50)

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:35:51 -0700

The Falcon was a hard boiled spy drama which began as an RKO Radio Pictures theatrical serial in the 1940s, went on radio in 1945, and then came to TV ten years later in this Syndicated series produced for distribution by NBC Films; Charles McGraw had been in many motion pictures before and after including "The Killers", "Spartacus" and "Cimarron"; in this series he played the title role of a man whose real name was supposedly Mike Waring, an American agent whose code name was "Falcon"; Later Charles McGraw starred in a short lived TV version of "Casablanca" (1955 - 1956) in the character of Rick; He also had a role on the detective drama "Staccato" (1959) Actor McGraw (whose birth name was Charles Butters) met an unfortunate death in real life when he fell through a shower glass door in 1980 at his home in Studio City, CA.]

THIS EPISODE:

October 29, 1950. NBC network. "The Case Of The Double Exposure". Sponsored by: Kraft. A hit man is paid $500 to rub out Jimmy Arcaro. A beautiful dame benefits, but loses $2 million when a dead man comes to life and promptly dies again. Les Damon, Ed Herlihy (announcer), Drexel Drake (creator). 29:23.

Danger Doctor Danfield "Mental Hospital" (01-19-47)

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:10:21 -0700

Notes From The OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHER'S GROUP

THIS EPISODE:
January 19, 1947 - "Mental Hospital"- Danger, Doctor Danfield. Program #23. Teleways Radio Productions syndication. Commercials added locally. The program is listed as #23 on the label, #15 on the transcription matrix. Dr. Danfield has himself committed to an asylum to foil the plans of an evil doctor. Michael Dunn, Joanne Johnson. 24:49.

The Lineup "Candy Store Killing" (11-16-50)

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:59:04 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
November 16, 1950. CBS network. Sustaining. Lieutenant Guthrie solves a robbery and murder case in a candy store, with a station wagon as a clue. Two brothers are the main suspects, but an eye-witness fails to identify either one of them William Johnstone, Wally Maher, Howard McNear, Raymond Burr, Jeanette Nolan, Sam Edwards, Jean Tatum, Clayton Post, Eddie Dunstedter (organist). 1/2 hour.

Cloak & Dagger "Operation Sellout" (09-22-50)

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:06:51 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
September 22, 1950. NBC network. "Operation Sell-Out". Sustaining. 8:00 P. M. A two-man mission into occupied France to locate a German submarine base is turned into a three-man mission. The final promotional announcement and system cue have been deleted. Karl Weber, Ken Field (writer), Carl Eastman, Louise Erickson, Ian Martin, Luis Van Rooten, Arnold Moss, Jon Gart (music director), Alistair MacBain (creator), Raymond Edward Johnson, Manny Segal (sound effects), John Powers (sound effects), Don Abbott (engineer), Louis G. Cowan (producer), Alfred Hollander (producer), Sherman Marks (director, supervisor), Corey Ford (creator). 29:12.

Murder By Experts "Threes A Crowd" (05-22-50)

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:26:09 -0700

MURDER BY EXPERTS - (1949-51, Mutual) 130 30-minute episodes. Created by David Kogan. Writers: David Kogan Directors/Producers: David Kogan And Robert A. Arthur. Hosts: John Dickson Carr (June 13, 1949-March 13, 1950) and Brett Halliday (March 20, 1950-December 17, 1951). Sound Effects: Mario Siletti. Guest experts: Alfred Hitchcock, Craig Rice. Guest stars: Ann Shepard, Larry Haines, Carl Eastman, Ann Sheperd, Bill Zuckert, Ralph Camargo, Burt Cullen, Lawson Zerbe, Marilyn Erskin.

THIS EPISODE:
May 25, 1950. Mutual network. "Three's A Crowd". Sustaining. A young piano player becomes involved with a beautiful but evil woman. The system cue has been deleted. Brett Halliday (host, narrator), George Fass (writer), Gertrude Fass (writer), John Sylvester, Joyce Gordon. 29:31.

The Devil & Mr. O "Three Thousand Dollars" (01-21-72)

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:16:51 -0700

The Devil and Mr. O - A transcribed syndication of original broadcasts from Lights Out. With its premiere on the nationwide NBC hookup in 1935, Lights Out was billed "the ultimate in horror." Never had such sounds been heard on the air. Heads rolled, bones were crushed, people fell from great heights and splattered wetly on pavement. There were garrotings, choking, heads split by cleavers, and, to a critic at Radio Guide, "the most monstrous of all sounds, human flesh being eaten." Few shows had ever combined the talents of actors and imaginative writers so well with the graphic art of the sound technician. Wyllis Cooper, who created, wrote, and produced it, was then a 36-year-old staffer in Chicago's NBC Studios. Cooper created his horror "by raiding the larder." For the purposed of Lights Out sound effects, people were what they ate. The sound of a butcher knife rending a piece of uncooked pork was, when accompanied by shrieks and screams, the essence of murder to a listener alone at midnight. Real bones were broken - spareribs snapped with a pipe wrench. Bacon in a frypan gave a vivid impression of a body just electrocuted. And the cannibalism effect was actually a zealous actor. Gurgling and smacking his lips as he slurped up a bowl of spaghetti. Cabbages sounded like human heads when chopped open with a cleaver, and carrots had the pleasant resonance of fingers being lopped off. Arch Oboler's celebrated tale of a man turned inside-out by a demonic fog was accomplished by soaking a rubber glove in water and stripping it off at the microphone while a berry basket was curshed at the same instant. The listener saw none of this. The listener saw carnage and death. Cooper left the show in 1936 and Oboler was given the job. Oboler lost no time establishing himself as the new master of the macabre. Between May 1936 and July 1938, he wrote and directed more than 100 Lights Out plays. To follow Cooper was a challenge: he was "the unsung pioneer of radio dramatic techniques," but Oboler had passed the test with his first play. His own name soon became synonymous with murder and gore, though horror as a genre had always left him cold. Oboler aspired to more serious writing.

Show Notes From: Old Time Radio Researcher's Group

THIS EPISODE:
March 30, 1943. Program #19. CBS network origination, syndicated rebroadcast. "Money, Money, Money". Commercials added locally. Tony the diver stops not at murder nor anything else for money. His last dive is most successful. Syndicated program name: "Lights Out" The story is also known as "Three Thousand Dollars."Arch Oboler (writer, host). 25 minutes.

The Shadow "House Of Fun" (10-22-39)

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:54:43 -0700

The Shadow - One of the most popular radio shows in history debuted in August 1930 when "The Shadow" went on the air. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" The opening lines of the "Detective Story" program captivated listeners and are instantly recognizable even today. Originally the narrator of the series of macabre tales, the eerie voice known as The Shadow became so popular to listeners that "Detective Story" was soon renamed "The Shadow," and the narrator became the star of the old-time mystery radio series, which ran until 1954. A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many gifts which enabled him to overcome any enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he could defy gravity, speak any language, unravel any code, and become invisible with his famous ability to "cloud men's minds."

THIS EPISODE:
October 22, 1939. Mutual network. "House Of Fun". Commercials added locally. A carnival concession is a front for a kidnap ring and stock manipulation gang. William Johnstone, Ken Roberts (announcer), Jerry Devine (writer). 24:15.

The Lineup "Eddie Gaynor Framed For Murder" (07-20-50)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:17:08 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
July 20, 1950. CBS network. Sustaining. Eddie Gaynor has been framed for the murder of Johnny Taranto, and Eddie's no choir boy either! After Eddie is sprung on a writ, his body is found the next morning. Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), William Johnstone, Wally Maher, Eddie Dunstedter (composer, conductor), Virginia Gregg, Howard McNear, Junius Matthews, Edgar Barrier, Tony Barrett, Paul Frees, Clayton Post. 29:39.

The Whistler "The Alibi" (10-25-42)

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:34:12 -0700

The Whistler was one of radio's most popular mystery dramas, with a 13-year run from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955. If it now seems to have been influenced explicitly by The Shadow, The Whistler was no less popular or credible with its listeners, the writing was first class for its genre, and it added a slightly macabre element of humor that sometimes went missing in The Shadow's longer-lived crime stories. Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson established the tone of the show during its first two years, and he was followed in 1944 by producer-director George Allen. Other directors included Sterling Tracy and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. A total of 692 episodes were produced, yet despite the series' fame, over 200 episodes are lost today. In 1946, a local Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer.

THIS EPISODE:
October 25, 1942. CBS network. "The Alibi". Sustaining. A domineering old lady controls all those around her...several of whom have a good reason for doing her in. J. Donald Wilson (writer, director), Wilbur Hatch (composer, conductor), Herbert Connor (writer). 29:31