Inner Sanctum Mysteries - The Vengeful Corpse (10-12-49) - HALLOWEEN

The Vengeful Corpse - (Aired February 20, 1945)

What made Inner Sanctum Mysteries unique among radio horror shows was its host, a slightly-sinister sounding man originally known as “Raymond.” The host had a droll sense of humor and an appetite for ghoulish puns, and his influence can be seen among horror hosts everywhere, from the Crypt-Keeper to Elvira. Raymond Edward Johnson was the show’s host until 1945; Paul McGrath took over the role until the show left the air in 1952. Producer Hiram Brown would utilize the creaking door again in the 1970s, when he produced and directed The CBS Radio Mystery Theater. Inner Sanctum Mysteries was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.

THIS EPISODE:
 
October 12, 1949. CBS network. "The Vengeful Corpse". Bromo Seltzer. A woman burned as a witch returns to enact revenge. Edward Adamson (writer), Robert Sloane (writer), Himan Brown (director), Paul McGrath (announcer), Barbara Weeks, Karl Swenson, Alan Devitt, Everett Sloane, Paul McGrath (host). 29:35. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Father Knows Best - "Halloween Blues" (10-29-53)

Father Knows Best - "Halloween Blues" (10-29-53)

 Father Knows Best, a family comedy of the 1950s, is perhaps more important for what it has come to represent than for what it actually was. In essence, the series was one of a slew of middle-class family sitcoms in which moms were moms, kids were kids, and fathers knew best. Today, many critics view it, at best, as high camp fun, and, at worst, as part of what critic David Marc once labeled the "Aryan melodramas" of the 1950s and 1960s. The brainchild of series star Robert Young, who played insurance salesman Jim Anderson, and producer Eugene B. Rodney, Father Knows Best first debuted as a radio sitcom in 1949.The series began August 25, 1949, on NBC Radio. Set in the Midwest, it starred Robert Young as General Insurance agent Jim Anderson. His wife Margaret was first portrayed by June Whitley and later by Jean Vander Pyl. The Anderson children were Betty (Rhoda Williams), Bud (Ted Donaldson) and Kathy (Norma Jean Nillson). Others in the cast were Eleanor Audley, Herb Vigran and Sam Edwards. Sponsored through most of its run by General Foods, the series was heard Thursday evenings on NBC until March 25, 1954.

 

Dimension X - Almost Human (05-13-50)

Almost Human (Aired May 13, 1950)

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. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

THIS EPISODE:

May 13, 1950. NBC network. "Almost Human". Sustaining. A large, powerful robot trained for killing, develops a sense of good and evil. The script was subsequently used on "X Minus One" on August 11, 1955. The program was rebroadcast on "Monitor" during August, 1974. Santos Ortega, Rita Lynn, Jack Grimes, Robert Block (author), George Lefferts (adaptor), Van Woodward (producer), Norman Rose (host), Edward King (director), Bob Warren (announcer). 28:30. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Diary Of Fate - John Haynes (07-13-48)

John Haynes (Aired July 13, 1948)

Produced from Hollywood, the entire production was voiced by primarily west coast actors. Famous Radio and Television promoter Larry Finley produced and syndicated the program to at least some 94 affiliate stations throughout the U.S., Canada and Jamaica. Most local or regional broadcasts were either sustained offerings by an independent affiliate, or were sponsored by spot advertisers ranging over a wide variety of offerings or services. The production didn't stint on talent, as hinted above. No less than Ivan Ditmars provided the music direction and in addition to Herb Lytton as 'Fate', the varying casts included Lurene Tuttle, Larry Dobkin, Hal Sawyer, Gloria Blondell, Frank Albertson, Jerry Hausner, Howard McNear, Peter Leeds, Ken Peters, Daws Butler and William Johnstone. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

July 13, 1948. Program #31. Finley syndication. "John Haines". Commercials added locally. Book 82, page 509. Not auditioned. A man shoots his brother-in-law to get $50,000. Beware the stray cat. The date is subject to correction. Herb Lytton, Lurene Tuttle, Benny Rubin, Tyler McVey, Michael Stewart, Lou Lane, Ray Ehrlenborn, Hal Sawyer, Larry Finley (producer). 27:08. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of Archie Andrews - "A Halloween Party" (10-30-48)

The Adventures Of Archie Andrews - "A Halloween Party" (10-30-48)

 
Archibald "Archie" Andrews debuted in Pep Comics 22 (December, 1941), where he was nicknamed Chick; Reggie often describes Archie as carrot-head. Decades later, Archie is still a redheaded 17-year-old. He lives in Riverdale, attends Riverdale High and is the only son of Mary Andrews and mid-level business executive Fred Andrews. His earlier life is revealed in the "Little Archie" stories when he had a dog named Spotty. Archie is a typical small-town teenager. Generous, well-mannered, but clumsy, he is genuinely liked by many of his friends. Archie goes crazy when he sees an attractive girl, but mainly dates Veronica Lodge and Betty Cooper. He has taken various employment, but despite the best intentions, often clumsily breaks things, coming in conflict with Veronica's father Hiram Lodge and Riverdale High's principal, Waldo Weatherbee. 

 

THIS EPISODE:

The Adventures Of Archie Andrews. October 30, 1948. NBC network. Sponsored by: Swift's Premium Meats. Archie throws "A Halloween Party" and finds it's not as much fun to be the host as it is to be the guest. Alice Yourman, Arthur Kohl, Bob Hastings, Bob Sherry (announcer), Carl Jampel (writer), Gloria Mann, Harlan Stone, James Dobson, Kenneth MacGregor (producer), Pat Hosley, Rosemary Rice. 29:37. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Suspense - "On A Country Road" (Starring Carey Grant) 10-31-54 - HALLOWEEN SHOW

On A Country Road (Aired October 31, 1954) HALLOWEEN SHOW

Suspense was actually spawned from another series called Forecast. The 1940 horror show was entitled Suspense and it was based on the Marie Belloc Lowndes' short Jack-the-Ripper novella, The Lodger. It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, who had made a 1926 silent film based on the same story (Grams, 1997, 3). Its subtle ending generated a large volume of mail which convinced CBS executives that they had a strong market. Two years later, Suspense was aired. It became one of radio's longest lasting shows, surviving twenty years of consistent success. It had numerous announcers during those two decades, ranging from the early Berry Kroeger to the veteran announcers, Paul Frees and George Walsh. But it was Joseph Kearns who evolved into "The Man in Black" host in 1943. This mysterious all-knowing narrator was similar to The Whistler.. The character lasted for over 100 episodes until March of 1945. Kerns continued as host through 1947, and returned again in 1950, but "The Man in Black" role devolved back into a nameless announcer (Grams, 1997, 17).
 
THIS EPISODE:

October 31, 1954. CBS network. "On A Country Road". Sustaining. A couple runs out of gas during a storm while "The crazy woman" is chopping off people's heads, somewhere out in the darkness. The script was used also on "Suspense" on November 16, 1960 and on May 10, 1959 and on "The Grip Of Terror" in 1977 and on the "Suspense" program on television on March 13, 1951. Carey Grant (1954 show,) Helen Kleeb, Tom McKee, Norman Macdonnell (producer, director), Larry Thor (announcer), Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor), Harry Bartell, Virginia Gregg, Walter Bazarr (writer), John Carroll. 32:28.

The Jack Carson Show - "Meat Shortage" - Special Guest Frank Sinatra (11-13-46)

The Jack Carson Show - "Special Guest Frank Sinatra" (Aired November 13, 1946)

Jack Carson, because of his size — 6 ft 2 in (1.9 m) and 220 lb (100 kg), had his first stage appearance as Hercules in a college production. During a performance, he tripped and took half the set with him. A college friend, Dave Willock, thought it was so funny he persuaded Carson to team with him in a vaudeville act—Willock and Carson—and a new career began. This piece of unplanned business would be typical of the sorts of things that tended to happen to Carson during some of his film roles.

THIS EPISODE:

November 13, 1946. CBS network.  "Meat Shortage"  Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup. There's a meat shortage, with only spaghetti for lunch. Five dollars a week for food just isn't enough. "Managua, Nicaragua" is heard for the first time on the air. Jack Carson, Arthur Treacher, Freddy Martin and His Orchestra, Dave Willock, Del Sharbutt (announcer), Norma Jean Nilsson, Irene Ryan, The Martin Men. 29:36.  Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Jeff Regan Investigator (Starring Jack Webb) - The Man Who Liked The Mountains (08-07-48)

The Man Who Liked The Mountains (Aired August 7, 1948)

Jeff Regan, Investigator was one of the three detective shows Jack Webb did before Dragnet (see also Pat Novak For Hire and Johnny Modero: Pier 23). It debuted on CBS in July 1948. Webb played JEFF REGAN, a tough private eye working in a Los Angeles investigation firm run by Anthony J. Lyon. Regan introduced himself on each show "I get ten a day and expenses...they call me the Lyon's Eye." The show was fairly well-plotted, Webb's voice was great, and the supporting cast were skillful. Regan handled rough assignments from Lion, with whom he was not always on good terms. He was tough, tenacious, and had a dry sense of humor. The voice of his boss, Anthony Lion, was Wilms Herbert. The show ended in December 1948 but was resurrected in October 1949 with a new cast; Frank Graham played Regan (later Paul Dubrov was the lead) and Frank Nelson portrayed Lion.

THIS EPISODE:

August 7, 1948. CBS network. "The Man Who Liked Mountains". Sustaining. "Big Ed" Kittredge has disappeared...a most unsavory character Betty Lou Gerson, E. Jack Neuman (writer), Edgar Barrier, Eve McVeagh, Gordon T. Hughes (producer), Jack Webb, Jeff Chandler, Laurette Fillbrandt, Richard Aurandt (music), Sidney Miller, William Conrad, Wilms Herbert. 29:49. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Green Hornet - The Stuffed Panda (10-04-45)

The Stuffed Panda (Aired October 4, 1945)

The character debuted in The Green Hornet, an American radio program that premiered on January 31, 1936, on WXYZ, the same local Detroit station that originated its companion shows The Lone Ranger and Challenge of the Yukon. Beginning on April 12, 1938, the station supplied the series to the Mutual Broadcasting System radio network, and then to NBC Blue and its successors, the Blue Network and ABC, from November 16, 1939, through September 8, 1950. It returned from September 10 to December 5, 1952. It was sponsored by General Mills from January to August 1948, and by Orange Crush in its brief 1952 run.

THIS EPISODE:
 
October 4, 1945. Michigan Radio network, WXYZ, Detroit origination, Michelson syndication. "The Stuffed Panda". Participating sponsors. What is the secret of the panda? Two Sentinel reporters put the squeeze on a tax evader. WRVR-FM, New York City aircheck. Syndicated rebroadcast date: June 27, 1973. Robert Hall, George W. Trendle (creator, producer), Charles D. Livingstone (director), Lee Allman, Gilbert Shea, Rollon Parker, Dan Beattie (writer), Bill Morgan (announcer). 25:52. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Man Called X - Radio Freedom (01-15-52)

Radio Freedom (Aired January 15, 1952)

Starring Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston, a private operative, with Han Conried as Egon Zellschmidt in this first incarnation of Ken Thurston's nemesis, and Mary Jane Croft appearing in the role of Ken's love interest, Nancy Bessington, a reporter and Thurston's erstwhile fiance. We can only interpolate from what we've already turned up for this shortest run of The Man Called X, but it would appear that Hans Conried and Mary Jane Croft may have been regulars co-stars throughout that first season. One of Radio's most successful directors, William N. Robson, directed the first season of The Man Called X and though Gordon Jenkins appears to be credited with the music for the first season, Felix Mills is also personally cited by Herbert Marshall with at least one Music Direction credit--the season finale.

THIS EPISODE:

January 15, 1952. "Radio Freedom" - NBC network origination, Nostalgia Broadcasting Corporation syndication. Commercials deleted. Ken Thurston travels to Luxembourg to investigate problems with "Radio Freedom" broadcasting "the truth" behind the Iron Curtain. Herbert Marshall, Leon Belasco. 28:13. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Murder At Midnight - Murder Is A Lonely Business (09-21-46)

Murder Is A Lonely Business (Aired September 21, 1946)

According to Billboard magazine, talent and production costs for Murder At Midnight averaged about $5000 per program, one of the higher costs of canned, syndicated programming of the era. But the investment shows. And indeed, well into its almost six years of syndication, the series continued to pull respectable audience shares. The talent included well known names such as Lawson Zerbe, Karl Swenson, Berry Kroeger, Lon Clark, Frank Readick, Elspeth Eric, Mandel Kramer, Michael Fitzmaurice, Alfred Shirley, and Raymond Edward Johnson--and his wife, among many other well-respected east coast actors of the era. Anton Leader, later famous for his Television work, directed the series.

THIS EPISODE:
 
September 21, 1946. Program #14. KFI, Los Angeles origination, Cowan syndication, World transcription. "Murder Is A Lonely Business". Commercials added locally. Uncle Edward plans to change his will, leaving Grace and Fred Tilson without a penny. Grace and Fred kill the old man, but Uncle Edward gets the last laugh! Helen Shields, Carl Emory, Anton M. Leader (director), Charles Paul (organist), Wendell Holmes, Louis G. Cowan (producer), Raymond Morgan (host), William Morwood (writer). 26:27. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

This Is Your FBI - The Diamond-Studded Double Cross (09-20-46)

"The Diamond-Studded Double Cross" (Aired September 20, 1946)

This Is Your FBI was a radio crime drama which aired in the United States on ABC from April 6, 1945 to January 30, 1953. FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover gave it his endorsement, calling it "the finest dramatic program on the air." Producer-director Jerry Devine was given access to FBI files by Hoover, and the resulting dramatizations of FBI cases were narrated by Frank Lovejoy (1945), Dean Carleton (1946-47) and William Woodson (1948-53). Stacy Harris had the lead role of Special Agent Jim Taylor. Others in the cast were William Conrad, Bea Benaderet and Jay C. Flippen. This Is Your FBI was sponsored during its entire run by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (now AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company).

THIS EPISODE:

September 20, 1946. ABC network. "The Diamond-Studded Double Cross". Sponsored by: The Equitable Life Assurance Society. John Gibson, Frederick Steiner (composer, conductor), Dean Carlton (narrator), Carl Frank (announcer), Frank Faries (writer). 34:47. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Let George Do It - The Penthouse Roof Murder (04-19-48)

The Penthouse Roof Murder (Aired April 19, 1948)

Let George Do It is about a detective with one foot firmly planted in the tough-guy detective genre, and the other in the romance-denied working relationship romantic field. For George Valentine, detective work was job #1. To his secretary, Virginia Brooks, it was a developing relationship. Radio's competing Adventures of Sam Spade featured banters between Spade and his stenographer Effie in similar manner. The constant patter between George and "Brooksie" sounds a great deal like an old time radio version of much-later TV series like "Hart to Hart," "Moonlighting" and "Remington Steele."

THIS EPISODE:

April 19, 1948. "The Penthouse Roof Murder" - Mutual-Don Lee network. Sponsored by: Standard Oil, Chevron (baseball book premium). Elliott Wormsley, an urban bird watcher, spots a murder in a penthouse several blocks away with his binoculars. Bob Bailey, Frances Robinson, Wally Maher, Louise Arthur, Charles Seel, Charlie Lung, Bud Hiestand (announcer), Fred Howard, Peter Leeds, Eddie Dunstedter (composer, conductor), David Victor (writer), Herbert Little Jr. (writer), Don Clark (director). 30:11. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Life With Luigi - Trick Or Treat (10-30-51)

Trick Or Treat (Aired October 30, 1951)

Life with Luigi was a radio comedy-drama series which began September 21, 1948 on CBS. The story concerned Italian immigrant Luigi Basco, and his experiences as an immigrant in Chicago. Many of the shows take place at the US citizenship classes that Luigi attends with other immigrants from different countries, as well as trying to fend off the repeated advances of the morbidly-obese daughter of his landlord/sponsor. Luigi was played by J. Carrol Naish, an Irish-American. Naish continued in the role on the short-lived television version in 1952, and was later replaced by Vito Scotti. With a working title of The Little Immigrant, Life with Luigi was created by Cy Howard, who earlier had created the hit radio comedy, My Friend Irma. The show was often seen as the Italian counterpart to the radio show The Goldbergs, which chronicled the experience of Jewish immigrants in New York.

THIS EPISODE:

 October 30, 1951. CBS network. Sponsored by: Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum. A Halloween show. "Trick or Treat!".  J. Carrol Naish, Alan Reed, Cy Howard (creator, producer), Mac Benoff (writer, director), Lou Derman (writer), Mary Shipp, Hans Conried, Joe Forte, Ken Peters, Lud Gluskin (music director), Pat Burton (associate producer), Jody Gilbert (mis-credited as "Rosa Gilbert"), Charles Lyon (announcer). 29:27.  Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Life With Luigi - "Luigi Finds A Wallet" (03-28-50)

Luigi Finds A Wallet (Aired March 28, 1950)

Life with Luigi was a radio comedy-drama series which began September 21, 1948 on CBS. The story concerned Italian immigrant Luigi Basco, and his experiences as an immigrant in Chicago. Many of the shows take place at the US citizenship classes that Luigi attends with other immigrants from different countries, as well as trying to fend off the repeated advances of the morbidly-obese daughter of his landlord/sponsor. Luigi was played by J. Carrol Naish, an Irish-American. Naish continued in the role on the short-lived television version in 1952, and was later replaced by Vito Scotti. With a working title of The Little Immigrant, Life with Luigi was created by Cy Howard, who earlier had created the hit radio comedy, My Friend Irma. The show was often seen as the Italian counterpart to the radio show The Goldbergs, which chronicled the experience of Jewish immigrants in New York.

THIS EPISODE:

March 28, 1950. "Luigi Finds A Wallet" - CBS network. Sponsored by: Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. Luigi finds a wallet in the street and returns it to a policeman. The owner then claims that there was another $100 in the wallet and takes Luigi to court! J. Carrol Naish, Cy Howard (creator, producer), Mac Benoff (writer, director), Lou Derman (writer), Bob Stevenson (announcer), Alan Reed, Lud Gluskin (music director), Mary Shipp, Ken Peters, Joe Forte, Hans Conried, Jody Gilbert. 29:46. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Tom Corbett Space Cadet - Mission Of Mercy (2-Episodes - COMPLETE) 03-25-52

Mission Of Mercy (2-Episodes - COMPLETE) Aired 03-25-52 and 03-28-52

The original Tom Corbett series was published by Dell Comics beginning in their 4-Color series. The 4-Color series was used to try out new story lines on the public to obtain feedback. If successful the series would be spun off to form its own title. Tom Corbett won his own title after three tryout issues. As the popularity of the television series waned, Dell stopped producing the comic book and the series was then taken up and produced by Prize Comics. There were a small number of Tom Corbett comic books in Manga style published in the 1990s by Eternity Comics, but these are universally rejected as non-canonical by Tom Corbett fans.

TODAY'S SHOW:

Part One Of Two March 25, 1952. ABC network, WJZ, New York aircheck. "Mission Of Mercy". Sponsored by: Kellogg's Pep, Kellogg's Raisin Bran. There's a student election at Space Academy while an epidemic breaks out on Titan. The system cue has been deleted. Edward Bryce, Frank Thomas Jr., Jackson Beck (announcer), Jan Merlin, Carter Blake, Al Markim, Drex Hines (director), Hal Rine (writer), Jon Gart (organist). 23:52.

Part TWO Of Two March 27, 1952. March 27, 1952. "Mission Of Mercy" - ABC network, WJZ, New York aircheck. Sponsored by: Kellogg's Pep, Kellogg's Raisin Bran. Tom comes down with the disease and the cadets get in trouble trying to rescue the children of Titan from another spaceship. The last thirty seconds of the program have been deleted. Al Markim, Drex Hines (director), Edward Bryce, Frank Thomas Jr., Jackson Beck (announcer), Jan Merlin, Jon Gart (organist). 24:11. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of The Saint - The Sinister Sneeze (06-11-50)

The Sinister Sneeze (Aired June 11, 1950)

Vincent Price's closing comments were generally directed towards social issues of the era: race, ethnic and religious discrimination, tolerance and worthy causes of the era. Price at first tied his closing message to the theme of the preceding script. By the later scripts, Vincent Price simply closed with whatever social comment he felt most compelled to address. The comments were clearly heartfelt and sincere. Vincent Price's entire career was a tribute to any number of deeply felt causes and efforts to promote tolerance and unity throughout the world. In that light, Price's portrayals of The Saint must be taken at face value. Perhaps not widely perceived as the rock'em sock'em type of actor, Price could certainly portray the most sinister of characters to the glee of any Vincent Price fan of the era. Indeed, it was Price's wide appeal that brought him to the role in the first place. Leslie Charteris himself clearly approved of the choice of Price and it's clear that as the Price canon progressed, the scripts were tailored as much to Price's off-screen persona and interests as to his on-screen and on-Radio performances.

THIS EPISODE:
 
June 11, 1950. NBC network. "The Sinister Sneeze". Sustaining. The first show of the series on NBC. The Saint meets a sneezing girl on a bus, which leads to a boxer in need of protection! Hal March, Barney Phillips, Peter Leeds, Louis Vittes (writer), Vaughn Dexter (composer, conductor. A trade publication referred to him as "Von Dexter"), Helen Mack (director), Lawrence Dobkin, Leslie Charteris (creator), James L. Saphier (producer), Doug Gorlay (announcer), Vincent Price, Sandra Gould. 27:58. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Tales Of The Texas Rangers" - Hitchhiker (02-10-52)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Tales Of The Texas Rangers"
Hitchhiker (Aired February 10, 1952)

Tales of the Texas Rangers, a western adventure old-time radio drama, premiered on July 8, 1950, on the NBC radio network and remained on the air through September 14, 1952. Movie star Joel McCrea starred as Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson, who used the latest scientific techniques to identify the criminals and his faithful horse, Charcoal, to track them down. The shows were reenactments of actual Texas Ranger cases. The series was produced and directed by Stacy Keach, Sr., and was sponsored for part of its run by Wheaties. Captain Manuel T. "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas, a Ranger for 30 years and who was said to have killed 31 men during his career, served as consultant for the series. The series was adapted for television from 1955 to 1957. During the opening and closing credits of the TV show, the actors would march toward the camera and sing the theme song, "We are the Texas Rangers", to the tune of "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You", which is also the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad".

THIS EPISODE:

February 10, 1952. NBC network. "The Case Of The Hitch-Hiker". Sustaining. An escaped convict hitch-hikes a ride on a country road. Joel McCrea, Phil Harris (promotional announcement), Elliott Lewis, Stacy Keach (producer, director), Hal Gibney (announcer), Frank Lovejoy, Jack Paar (promotional announcement), M. T. Lone Wolf Gonzaullas (technical advisor), Tony Barrett, Herb Ellis, Lawrence Goldman (writer, transcriber), Tim Graham, Lou Krugman, Nestor Paiva, Ed Begley. 29:58. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The CBS Radio Workshop - The Oedipus Story (09-21-56)

The Oedipus Story (Aired September 21, 1956)

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:

September 21, 1956. CBS network. "The Oedipus Story". Sustaining. A study of the dramatic character and psycho-analytical look at excessive mother-love from Sophocles to Eugene O'Neill. Alexander Scourby (narrator), Elspeth Eric, Jack Manning, Roger De Koven, Guy Repp, Robert Dryden, Joseph Julian. 29:08. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Murder By Experts - It's Luck That Counts (08-29-49)

It's Luck That Counts (Aired August 29, 1949)

Murder By Experts was a radio drama anthology series that ran on American radio from 1949-1951, and was hosted first by John Dickson Carr, and later by Brett Halliday. Evidently, a mystery, authored by a leading crime fiction writer, was presented, and "guest experts," such as Alfred Hitchcock or Craig Rice, were invited to solve it. Or maybe not -- nobody seems to know much about this one. David Kogan, the writer/creator of Murder by Experts, also created and wrote The Mysterious Traveler. 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:

August 29, 1949. Mutual network. "It's Luck That Counts". Sustaining. A woman's been killed and her $75,000 has been stolen. A vagrant finds himself with the claim check for a fortune. Larry Haines, George Fass (writer), Gertrude Fass (writer), Robert A. Arthur (producer, director), David Kogan (producer, director), Jack Faron (announcer), Lesley Woods, Bill Smith, Emerson Buckley (music director), Santos Ortega, Richard Dupage (composer), Ed Latimer. 29:34. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Philip Morris Playhouse - "Apology" (04-01-49)

"Apology" (Aired April 1, 1949)

The first CBS season of Philip Morris Playhouse On Broadway showcased some of the more popular Broadway plays of the era, as well as the talents of some of the finer east coast Film and Stage luminaries of the era. Great Stage and Film character actors such as Joseph Schildkraut, Walter Abel, Louis Calhern, Dane Clark, Marsha Hunt, Edmond O'Brien, Olga San Juan, Martha Scott, Chester Morris, Lucille Watson, Edward Everett Horton, Jessica Tandy, and Hume Cronyn added their solid performances to the half-hour format. That first season also showcased Film and Stage superstars of the era, such as Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Veronica Lake, Margaret Sullavan, Eva LeGallienne, Joan Bennett, Rosalind Russell, Lillian Gish, and Gloria Swanson.

THIS EPISODE:

April 1, 1949. CBS network, KNX, Los Angeles aircheck. "Apology". Sponsored by: Philip Morris, Revelation Pipe Tobacco, Tide (local). An ordinary guy poisons his wife, but then has to deal with her very tough father. An unusual drama in that all characters have New York Jewish dialects. Elliott Lewis, Alan Reed, Sidney Miller, Cathy Lewis, Ken Christy, William Spier (producer, director, editor), David Ellis (writer), Lud Gluskin (music director), Art Ballinger (announcer). 30:33. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Life Of Riley - Halloween Haunted House (10-29-44)

Halloween Haunted House (Aired October 29, 1944)

 

 

The first Life of Riley radio show was a summer replacement show heard on CBS from April 12, 1941 to September 6, 1941. The CBS program starred Lionel Stander as J. Riley Farnsworth and had no real connection with the more famous series that followed a few years later. The radio program starring William Bendix aired on the ABC Blue Network from January 16, 1944 to June 8, 1945. Then it moved to NBC, where it was broadcast from September 8, 1945 to June 29, 1951. The supporting cast featured John Brown, who portrayed not only undertaker Digger O'Dell but also Riley's co-worker Gillis. Whereas Gillis gave Riley bad information that got him into trouble, Digger gave him good information that "helped him out of a hole," as he might have put it. Brown's lines as the undertaker were often repetitive, including puns based on his profession; but, thanks to Brown's delivery, the audience loved him. The series was co-developed by the non-performing Marx Brother, Gummo. Procter and Gamble (Prell shampoo) and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer were the show's longtime sponsors.

Mr. IA Moto - The Schraum Method (09-23-51)

The Schraum Method (Aired September 23, 1951)

With the beginning of World War II, Mr. Moto fell out of favor with Americans, and no new books or movies about him appeared between 1942 and 1957. A dedicated and cold-blooded spy for Imperial Japan, Moto is not a conventional hero. He does not look for opportunities to commit violence but has no problem with killing people who obstruct his plans, and he would not hesitate to take his own life if necessary. But he is a master of concealing his true nature while under cover, and usually appears dull, naive, utterly harmless. He does not try to correct the bigoted attitudes of Westerners toward him and other Asians, and is not above encouraging such condescension.

THIS EPISODE:

September 23, 1951. NBC network. "The Schraum Method". Sustaining. Mr. Moto flies to Hong Kong to find a nutty woman, a crazy psychiatrist and a dead body. Most confusing. James Monks, Fred Collins (announcer), John P. Marquand (creator), Doris Quinlan (producer), Dan Ocko, Robert Tallman (writer), Arthur Hannah (director), Carol Irwin (producer), Alice Frost, John Larkin, Eileen Heckert, Walter Greaza. 30:06. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Mr. & Mrs. North - The Fallen Star (03-16-54)

The Fallen Star (Aired March 16, 1954)

Their long-run series continued for over two decades and came to an end in 1963 with the death of Frances Lockridge. Albert Hackett and Peggy Conklin had the title roles in the Broadway production Mr. and Mrs. North, which ran 163 performances at the Belasco Theatre from January 12, 1941, to May 31, 1941. Alfred De Liagre, Jr. produced and directed the play written by Owen Davis. In this version, the North's apartment was located on Greenwich Place, realized in a scenic design by Jo Mielziner. The Owen Davis play became a 1942 MGM movie starring Gracie Allen and William Post, Jr. with Millard Mitchell repeating his role of Detective Mullins from the Broadway production. Others in the cast were Paul Kelly, Rose Hobart and Keye Luke. In 1946, producer-director Fred Coe brought the Owen Davis play to television (on New York City's WNBT) with John McQuade and Maxine Stewart in the leads and Don Haggerty, Joan Marlowe and Millard Mitchell repeating their Broadway roles. Barbara Britton and Richard Denning starred in the TV adaptation seen on CBS from 1952 to 1953 and on NBC in 1954.

THIS EPISODE:

March 16, 1954. CBS network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Fallen Star". The daughter of a famous actress fakes a suicide...but then her mother is murdered! Richard Denning, Barbara Britton, Frances Lockridge (creator), Richard Lockridge (creator). 27:00. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Ozzie & Harriet Halloween Show- The Haunted House (10-31-48)

INTRO: Bob "Halloween Haunted House" 10-31-48
Ozzie & Harriet Halloween Show- The Haunted House (10-31-48)

The Haunted House (Aired October 31, 1948)

The Nelsons' deal with ABC gave the network itself the right to move the show to television whenever it wanted to do it---they wanted, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, to have talent in the bullpen and ready to pitch, so to say, on their own network, rather than risk it defecting to CBS (where the Nelsons began) or NBC. Their sons, David and Ricky, did not join the cast until five years after the radio series began. The two boys felt frustrated at hearing themselves played by actors and continually requested they be allowed to portray themselves. Prior to April 1949, the role of David was played by Joel Davis (1944-45) and Tommy Bernard, and Henry Blair appeared as Ricky. Since Ricky was only nine years old when he began on the show, his enthusiasm outstripped his ability at script reading, and at least once he jumped a cue, prompting Harriet to say, "Not now, Ricky." Other cast members included John Brown as Syd "Thorny" Thornberry, Lurene Tuttle as Harriet's mother, Bea Benaderet as Gloria, Janet Waldo as Emmy Lou, and Dick Trout as Roger. Vocalists included Harriet Nelson, the King Sisters, and Ozzie Nelson.

THIS EPISODE:

October 31, 1948. NBC network. Sponsored by: International Silver. It's Halloween, and Ozzie and Harriet are exploring "The Haunted House". Ozzie Nelson (executive producer, performer), Harriet Hilliard, Verne Smith (announcer), John Brown, Janet Waldo, Henry Blair, Tommy Bernard, Jack Kirkwood, Billy May (composer, conductor), Ted Bliss (producer, director). 29:48.Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Sealed Book - King Of The World (03-25-45)

 King Of The World (Aired March 25, 1945)

With The Sealed Book, each epsisode opened with the sound of the great gong, followed by Philip Clarke's observation that the Keeper of The Book had once again opened the door to the secret vault, within which was contained the 'great sealed book' recording 'all the secrets and mysteries of mankind through the ages.' At the end of all but the last episode, Clarke would tell listeners to tune in the following week when "the sound of the great gong heralds another strange and exciting tale from... the sealed book." Keep in mind that even though the 26 scripts of The Sealed Book were derived from The Mysterious Traveler, it's instructive to note that each production used a different cast than that of it's associated production from The Mysterious Traveler. And indeed, some of the production values were a cut above in The Sealed Book, as contrasted with their similar productions from The Mysterious Traveler.

THIS EPISODE:

March 25, 1945. Program #2. Mutual network. "King Of The World". Sustaining. Robert A. Arthur (writer), David Kogan (writer), Phillip Clark (host). 29:32. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Light's Out - The Word (09-14-43)

"The Word" (Aired September 14, 1943)

Lights Out was created in Chicago by writer Wyllis Cooper in 1934, and the first series of shows (each 15 minutes long) ran on a local NBC station, WENR. By April 1934, the series was expanded to a half hour in length and moved to midnight Wednesdays. In January 1935, the show was discontinued in order to ease Cooper's workload (he was then writing scripts for the network's prestigious Immortal Dramas program), but was brought back by huge popular demand a few weeks later. After a successful tryout in New York City, the series was picked up by NBC in April 1935 and broadcast nationally, usually late at night and always on Wednesdays. Cooper stayed on the program until June 1936, when another Chicago writer, Arch Oboler, took over. By the time Cooper left, the series had inspired about 600 fan clubs.

THIS EPISODE:
 
September 14, 1943. CBS network. "The Word". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene. A decent from the Empire State Building to nothingness. The story is also known as, "Where Are You?" This is a network, sponsored version. Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Martin (commercial sp[okesman), Mercedes McCambridge, Byron Kane. 25:51. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Henry Morgan Show - Peter & The Landlord (03-26-47)

Peter & The Landlord (Aired March 26, 1947)

Morgan had to read an Adler commercial heralding the new fall line of colors; Morgan thought the colors were dreadful, and said he wouldn't wear them to a dogfight, but perhaps the listeners would like them. Old Man Adler demanded a retraction on the air. Morgan obliged: "I would wear them to a dogfight." Morgan later recalled with bemusement, "It made him happy." Later, he moved to ABC (formerly the NBC Blue Network) in a half-hour weekly format that allowed Morgan more room to develop and expand his topical, often ad-libbed satires, hitting popular magazines, soap operas, schools, the BBC, baseball, summer resorts, government snooping, and landlords. His usual signoff was, "Morgan'll be here on the same corner in front of the cigar store next week." But he continued to target sponsors whose advertising copy rankled him, and those barbs didn't always sit well with his new sponsors, either. When Eversharp sponsored his show to promote both Eversharp pens and Schick shaving razors and blades, Morgan threw this in during a show satirizing American schools: "They're educational. Try one. That'll teach you."

THIS EPISODE:

March 26, 1947. ABC network, WENR, Chicago aircheck. Sponsored by: Eversharp-chick. A look at the housing shortage, "The Question Man," "Peter and The Landlord." The system cue has been deleted. Arnold Stang, Bernard Green and His Orchestra, Charles Irving (announcer), Henry Morgan, The Golden Gate Quartet, Florence Halop, Madeline Lee. 28:11. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Creaking Door - White Scarf Strangler (1953)

The White Scarf Strangler (1953) *The Exact Date Is Unknown.

The Creaking Door stands on its own as a unique, well-produced, engaging supernatural thriller series on its own merit. The etymology of the name, The Creaking Door, bears some reflection. When legendary producer and director, Himan Brown first presented Inner Sanctum as one of three requested sponsorship candidates to Carter Products, he presented Inner Sanctum as The Creaking Door. Carter didn't care for the name, so on the spur of the moment Hi Brown suggested Inner Sanctum as an alternative, and voila, Radio history was made. The expositions were deftly introduced and shaded with just the right amount of chilling narrative. Not quite as chilling and melodramatic as Raymond Johnson, perhaps, but Peter Broomfield rightly camped up his delivery for The Creaking Door, and it worked. Indeed, given the reported conservative budget of each episode, it's a tribute to The Creaking Door's producers that they managed to tease so much quality out of such relatively humbly funded productions. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

Dad's Army - A Soldiers Farewell (06-02-72)A Soldiers Farewell (Aired June 2, 1972)

 A Soldiers Farewell (Aired June 2, 1972)

In May 1940, Sir Anthony Eden makes his historic speech calling for men under and over the age of active service in the armed forces to form a local defence corps. In Walmington, the Local Bank manager George Mainwaring set's up the town's Local Defence Volunteers,with the assistance of his Bank Clerk, Arthur Wilson and the Local Butcher, Jack Jones. The LDV later become known as the Home Guard or affectionately (to the TV audience) "Dad's Army" as the platoon mainly consist of Old Soldiers.From week to week they would become entangled in many exploits while defending Walmington from a possible invasion and any interference from the Local Air Raid Warden. Although a comedy series, "Dad's Army" probably depicted more of an accurate version of the Home Guard than anyone could actually realise. Initially it was felt the series was maybe mocking England's finest hour and its first episodes were reviewed with great criticism. However, Jimmy Perry , David Croft and the cast felt that the show had many strengths and so did the steady flow of the British public which began following the Walmington-On-Sea platoon's exploits on Television each week. In 1969,

Boston Blackie - "Only One Way Out For Me" (11-12-46)

"Only One Way Out For Me" (Aired November 12, 1946)

The Boston Blackie radio series, also starring Morris, began June 23, 1944, on NBC as a summer replacement for The Amos 'n' Andy Show. Sponsored by Rinso, the series continued until September 15 of that year. Unlike the concurrent films, Blackie had a steady romantic interest in the radio show: Lesley Woods appeared as Blackie's girlfriend Mary Wesley. Harlow Wilcox was the show's announcer. On April 11, 1945, Richard Kollmar took over the title role in a radio series syndicated by Frederic W. Ziv to Mutual and other network outlets. Over 200 episodes of this series were produced between 1944 and October 25, 1950. Other sponsors included Lifebuoy Soap, Champagne Velvet beer, and R&H beer. While investigating mysteries, Blackie invaribly encountered harebrained Police Inspector Farraday (Maurice Tarplin) and always solved the mystery to Farraday's amazement. Initially, friction surfaced in the relationship between Blackie and Farraday, but as the series continued, Farraday recognized Blackie's talents and requested assistance. Blackie dated Mary Wesley (Jan Miner), and for the first half of the series, his best pal Shorty was always on hand. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli.

Bold Venture - "Dead Men Don't Leave Prints" (11-26-51)

INTRO:  The Royalettes "Its Gonna Take A Miracle" (1965)
"Dead Men Don't Leave Prints" (Aired November 26, 1951)

Bold Venture was a classy production from start to finish. At an estimated cost of $36,000 per taping week [or about $12,000 per episode], it pretty much had to have been. Even subtracting the Bogarts' contribution of $5,000 per episode, that still left $7,000 per episode to fund the remaining production costs. That's about $420,000 a week in today's dollars. More than enough budget to ensure a top notch production. The cost to the sponsor-subscribers reportedly varied between $25 a week to as much as $250 a week, depending on the size and reach of the target market(s). That would have yielded anywhere from $975,000 to $9.75M over the course of three years of Bold Venture's sales. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

November 26, 1951. "Dead Men Leave No Prints" - Ziv Program #36. Jester Hairston as King Moses, Paolo Ruez the jewel messenger, Sopapo the Jeweler, William Conrad as Kirk the insurance investigator, Nestor Paiva as Inspector La Salle. 26:37. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Beyond Midnight - The Visits (1969)

The Visits (1969) *The Exact Date Is Unknown

This series was written by Michael McCabe and was produced in South Africa. It was a replacement for another series McCabe produced, called SF68. That series adapted famous Sci-fi stories to radio, and it seems to have been the place where McCabe honed his craft. The subject matter to Beyond Midnight was more horror oriented, including madness, murder, and supernatural sleuths! What survives today doesn't involve a horror host per se, but a few include framing narration (by someone involved in the plot) while others just start up the story with no announcer or lead-in whatsoever. So it's possible the regular host or announcer was left off (edited out) of the recordings. The host-- if there was one-- may have only been heard by those who listened to this series when it first aired. It's another radio mystery we may never know for sure, but we're lucky to at least have some of the recordings!  

The Amos & Andy Show - Worthless Oil Stock (03-20-49)

Worthless Oil Stock (Aired March 20, 1949)

As a result of its extraordinary popularity, Amos 'n' Andy profoundly influenced the development of dramatic radio. Working alone in a small studio, Correll and Gosden created an intimate, understated acting style that differed sharply from the broad manner of stage actors -- a technique requiring careful modulation of the voice, especially in the portrayal of multiple characters. The performers pioneered the technique of varying both the distance and the angle of their approach to the microphone to create the illusion of a group of characters. Listeners could easily imagine that that they were actually in the taxicab office, listening in on the conversation of close friends. The result was a uniquely absorbing experience for listeners who in radio's short history had never heard anything quite like Amos 'n' Andy. While minstrel-style wordplay humor was common in the formative years of the program, it was used less often as the series developed, giving way to a more sophisticated approach to characterization.

Academy Award Theater - Night Train (11-13-46)

Night Train (Aired November 13, 1946)

The list of films and actors on Academy Award Theater is very impressive. Bette Davis begins the series in Jezebel, with Ginger Rogers following in Kitty Foyle, and then Paul Muni in The Life of Louis Pasteur. The Informer had to have Victor Mclaglen, and the Maltese Falcon, Humphrey Bogart, Sidney Greenstreet (this movie was his first major motion picutre role) plus Mary Astor for the hat trick. Suspicion starred Cary Grant with Ann Todd doing the Joan Fontaine role, Ronald Coleman in Lost Horizon, and Joan Fontaine and John Lund were in Portrait of Jenny. How Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio were done is something to hear! Some films are less well known, such as Guest in the House, with Kirk Douglas and Anita Louise, It Happened Tomorrow, with Eddie Bracken and Ann Blythe playing Dick Powell and Linda Darnell's roles, and Cheers for Miss Bishop with Olivia de Havilland.

THIS EPISODE:

November 13, 1946. CBS network. "Night Train". Sponsored by: Squibb. An exciting spy story about a British agent who recaptures a kidnapped scientist from the Gestapo, just before WWII. Rex Harrison. 28:43. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

21st Precinct - Doctor's Daughter Missing (04-20-55)

Doctor's Daughter Missing (Aired April 20, 1955)

21st Precinct was one of the realistic police drama series of the early- to mid-1950's that were aired in the wake of Dragnet. In 1953 CBS decided to use New York City as the backdrop for their own half-hour police series and focus on the day-to-day operation of a single police precinct. Actual cases were used as the basis for stories. The Precinct Captain acted as the narrator for the series.The official title of the series according to the series scripts and the CBS series promotional materials was 21st Precinct and not Twenty-First Precinct or Twenty First Precinct which appears in many Old-Time Radio books. In 1953 CBS decided to use New York City as the backdrop for their own half-hour police series and focus on the day-to-day operations of a single police precinct.  Actual cases would be used as the basis for stories.  It was mentioned in each episode's closing by the announcer  that, "Twenty-first Precinct is presented with the official cooperation of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association an organization of more than 20,000 members of the Police Department, City of New York." Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

April 20, 1955. "Doctor's Daughter Missing" - CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. The system cue and music fill have been deleted. Announced as the last program of the current series. Everett Sloane, Stanley Niss (writer, director), Ken Lynch, Harold Stone, Lola Peyser, Jan Miner, Les Damon, Frank Campanella, George Bryan (announcer). 28:24. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Gunsmoke" - Who Lives By The Sword (02-26-56)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Gunsmoke"
Who Lives By The Sword (Aired February 26, 1956)

 

Two auditions were created in 1949. The first was very much like a hardboiled detective series and starred Rye Billsbury as Dillon; the second starred Straight Arrow actor Howard Culver in a more Western, lighter version of the same script. CBS liked the Culver version better, and Ackerman was told to proceed. But there was a complication. Culver's contract as the star of Straight Arrow would not allow him to do another Western series. The project was shelved for three years, when MacDonnell and Meston discovered it creating an adult Western series of their own. MacDonnell and Meston wanted to create a radio Western for adults, in contrast to the prevailing juvenile fare such as The Lone Ranger and The Cisco Kid. Gunsmoke was set in Dodge City, Kansas during the thriving cattle days of the 1870s. Dunning notes, "The show drew critical acclaim for unprecedented realism."

THIS EPISODE:

February 26, 1956. CBS network. "Who Lives By The Sword". Sponsored by: L & M, Chesterfield. Marshal Dillon beats up Joe Delk, a professional gunfighter. Delk loses his courage shortly thereafter. The system cue is added live. The script was used on the Gunsmoke television series on May 18, 1957. William Conrad, John Meston (writer), Georgia Ellis, John Dehner, Sam Edwards, Clayton Post, Parley Baer, Norman Macdonnell (producer, director), Rex Koury (composer, conductor), Tom Hanley (sound patterns), Bill James (sound patterns), George Walsh (announcer). 25:31. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Your's Truly Johnny Dollar - Yankee Pride Matter (10-14-50)

Yankee Pride Matter (Aired January 30, 1956)

For over twelve years, from 1949 through 1962 (including a one year hiatus in 1954-1955), this series recounted the cases "the man with the action-packed expense account, America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar". Johnny was an accomplished 'padder' of his expense account. The name of the show derives from the fact that he closed each show by totaling his expense account, and signing it "End of report... Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar". Terry Salomonson in his authoritative.

THIS EPISODE:

October 14, 1950. CBS network. "The Yankee Pride Mater". Sustaining. Johnny investigates murder, intrigue and sabotage in mysterious Singapore. Edmond O'Brien, Gil Doud (writer), Alexander Courage (conductor), Jaime del Valle (producer, director), Bob Stevenson (announcer), Jack Kruschen, Virginia Gregg, Tudor Owen, William Johnstone, Wally Maher, Ben Wright, Bob Sweeney. 29:42. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Life Of Riley - Riley's Tonsillectomy (02-23-51)

Riley's Tonsillectomy (Aired February 23, 1951)

Beginning October 4, 1949, the show was adapted for television for the DuMont Television Network, but Bendix's film contracts prevented him from appearing in the role. Instead, Jackie Gleason starred along with Rosemary DeCamp as wife Peg, Gloria Winters as daughter Barbara (Babs), Lanny Rees as son Chester Jr. (Junior), and Sid Tomack as Gillis, Riley's manipulative best buddy and next-door neighbor. John Brown returned as the morbid counseling undertaker Digby (Digger) O'Dell ("Well, I guess I'll be... shoveling off"; "Business is a little dead tonight"). Television's first Life of Riley won television's first Emmy (for "Best Film Made For and Shown on Television"). However, it came to an end on March 28, 1950 because of low ratings and because Gleason left the show, thinking he could find a better showcase for his unique abilities. Groucho Marx received a credit for "story.

THIS EPISODE:
 
February 23, 1951. NBC network origination, WRVR-FM, New York rebroadcast. Participating sponsors. The story of "Riley's Tonsillectomy". Syndicated rebroadcast date: February 25, 1975. Riley enters the hospital for a routine tonsillectomy. Somehow, everyone thinks he dies. Lots of laughs. William Bendix, John Brown. 30:54. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

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

INTRO: Andy Williams "Moon River" (1962)
Doctor's Secret (Aired August 21, 1950)

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.

THIS EPISODE:

August 21, 1950. "Doctor's Secret"- 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. The broadcast of August 28, 1950 was pre-empted. 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. 29:42. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Walk Softly Peter Troy - The Repentant Red Head (12-17-63)

The Repentant Red Head (Aired December 17, 1963)

  Walk Softly, Peter Troy Detective Drama Aired on Springbok Radio from 10 December 1963 to 21 February 1964. This series was produced in the Durban Studios of Herrick Merril Productions. It starred Tom Meehan, John Simpson, and Merle Wayne. It was sponsored by Irving & Johnson, who also sponsored the "Gunsmoke" series which "Walk Softly, Peter Troy" replaced. A sequel to this series was heard on the English Radio Service from 19 May 1964 to 28 November 1964. The sponsors, Irving & Johnson, reportedly disliked the series, which is why it was discontinued on Springbok Radio and moved to the English Service. This was the first series on the English Service that came from an independent production house, not produced by the SABC. There was an Australian version of this radio series produced prior to the South African productions.

THIS EPISODE:

December 17, 1963. Program #2. Springbok Radio (South African) origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Repentant Redhead". A famous author is shot...with a faint aroma of perfume in the air. Tom Meehan, Herrick Merril (producer), John Simpson, Merle Wayne. 24:56. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The New Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes - The Camberwell Poison (02-18-46)

The Camberwell Poison (Aired February 18, 1946)

According to Holmes, it was an encounter with the father of one of his classmates that led him to take up detection as a profession and he spent the six years following university working as a consulting detective, before financial difficulties led him to take Watson as a roommate, at which point the narrative of the stories begins. From 1881, Holmes is described as having lodgings at 221B Baker Street, London, from where he runs his private detective agency. 221B is an apartment up seventeen steps, stated in an early manuscript to be at the "upper end" of the road. Until the arrival of Dr. Watson, Holmes works alone, only occasionally employing agents from the city's underclass, including a host of informants and a group of street children he calls the Baker Street Irregulars. The Irregulars appear in three stories, "The Sign of the Four", "A Study in Scarlet" and "The Adventure of the Crooked Man".

THIS EPISODE:

February 18, 1946. Mutual network. "The Camberwell Poison". Sponsored by: Petri Wines. A family of four cousins is certain that cousin Gerald is going to murder them all and keep the inheritance. Cousin Gerald, however, is the one who's found murdered! A good story! The story is based on, "The Five Orange Pips" by Arthur Conan Doyle. Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Harry Bartell (announcer), Arthur Conan Doyle (author), Dean Fosler (music), Anthony Boucher (writer), Denis Green (writer), Edna Best (producer). 29:28. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Rogue's Gallery - Favor For A Condemned Man (04-04-46)

Favor For A Condemned Man (Aired April 11, 1946)

This series preceded Richard Powell's most famous series, Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Rogue trailed lovely blondes and protected witnesses in the new tough guy persona of Dick Powell. This was the transition series for Powell in his quest to be recognized as an actor rather than a singer. It had some of the same cute elements that would make Richard Diamond a high spot four years later. During the summer of 1946, the show was billed as Bandwagon Mysteries, with a tip of the hat to the sponsor. In the summer of 1947, it was again revived on NBC Sundays for Fitch, with Barry Sullivan in the title role. In 1950 the character again turned up in a two-year sustainer on the ABC Wednesday-night schedule. Chester Morris played the lead. Chester Morris was the original Boston Blackie. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

April 11, 1946. Mutual network. "Favor For A Condemned Man" - Sponsored by: Fitch's Shampoo, Fitch's Shaving Cream. Mike Royal is about to die in the electric chair. He asks Richard Rogue to return gems he had stolen for the reward. An interesting story. Dee Englebach (producer, director), Dick Powell, Gerald Mohr, Jim Doyle (announcer), Leith Stevens (composer, conductor), Ray Buffum (writer), Peter Leeds, Ken Christy. 28:20. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Nightfall - The Undertaker (03-11-83)

The Undertaker (Aired March 11, 1983)

NIGHTFALL was a horror series heard over the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation first from July 4, 1980 to May 22, 1981 and then from November 20, 1981 to June 24, 1983.  Thirty shows were selected from the first season to be rebroadcast on NPR from October 2, 1981 to June 25, 1982. Since it is a fairly modern series, most shows are available in stereo.  Because it's a modern series, it's not widely available (copyright issues). This show may be the most horrifying series ever done.  It was so terrifying, that many stations refused to play it or had to cancel the broadcasts due to listener complaints.  This is a well done series and well worth searching for sources.

THIS EPISODE:

March 11, 1983. Program #91. CBC network, Toronto origination. "The Undertaker". "Death is the best cosmetic there is." That's the advice an embalmer gives his student, while his former lover is on the table! John Stocker, Al Purdy (writer), John Douglas (adaptor), Sean O'Hara, Colleen O'Neil, Elva Mai Hoover, Nonnie Griffin, Tom Hauff, Ken James, Bill Reiter (host, billed as "Frederick Hende"), Brian Peyton (technician), Nancy McElvene (production assistant), Don Kowalchuk (executive producer), Bill Howell (producder, director), Bill Robinson (sound effects), Donna Howlett (script editor). 29:43. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

I Was A Communist For FBI - An Un-American Activity (05-06-53)

An Un-American Activity (Aired May 6, 1953)

I Was a Communist for the FBI was an American espionage thriller radio series with 78 episodes syndicated by Ziv to more than 600 stations in 1952-54. Made without FBI cooperation, the series was adapted from the book by undercover agent Matt Cvetic, who was portrayed by Dana Andrews.The series was crafted to warn people about the threat of Communist subversion of American society. The tone of the show is very jingoistic and ultra-patriotic. Communists are evil incarnate and the FBI can do no wrong. As a relic of the Joe McCarthy era, this show is a time capsule of American society during the Second Red Scare.

THIS EPISODE:

May 6, 1953. Program #55. ZIV Syndication. "An Un-American Activity". Commercials added locally. "The Party" is planning an attack against the House Un-American Activities Committee. The date is subject to correction. Dana Andrews, Truman Bradley (announcer). 26:53. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of The Falcon - The Case Of The Flaming Club (05-06-51)

The Case Of The Flaming Club (Aired May 6, 1951)

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:

May 6, 1951. NBC network. "The Case Of The Flaming Club". Sponsored by: Kraft Salad Oil, Kraft Caramels. Dean wants The Falcon to follow his partner Larrabee. But Dean is found dead when his nightclub burns down. Suspicion falls on the nosy bartender. Les Damon, Ed Herlihy (announcer), Drexel Drake (creator), Bernard L. Schubert (producer), Jerome Epstein (writer), Richard Lewis (director), Arlo (music), Ken Lynch. 26:03. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Beyond Tomorrow - Requeim (04-05-50)

"Requeim" (Aired April 5, 1950)

In 2005, Beyond 2000 returned to the Seven Network under the new name of Beyond Tomorrow. The first episode aired 1 June 2005. Picking up where its predecessor left off, Beyond Tomorrow delves even deeper into the world of technological innovations and scientific breakthroughs. Topics range from how probes planted in the brain can now be used to battle Parkinsons disease and obsessive compulsive disorder, to how the grumpiness of North Sea oil workers has led to a cure being found for snoring. Segments from MythBusters, another Beyond Television production, also air as part of the program. The hour-long magazine style episodes feature breakthroughs in all areas of life including the environment, medicine, sport, computers, space, agriculture, transport, architecture, leisure and adventure. Beyond Tomorrow airs in the US on The Science Channel and on Discovery Channel Canada.

THIS EPISODE:

April 5, 1950. CBS network. "Requiem". Sustaining. The first show of the series, which evolved from the series "Beyond This World." The story old man who wanted to die on the moon. Robert Heinlein (author), Everett Sloane, William N. Robson (producer), Mitchell Grayson (director), Henry Sylvern (music), John Campbell Jr. (host). 27:34. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.