Murder At Midnight - "The Line Is Dead" (09-20-46)

The Line Is Dead (Aired September 20, 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. The writing staff was also top-notch, with names such as Max Erlich, Joe Ruscoll and Robert Newman, among others

 

THIS EPISODE:
 

September 20, 1946. Program #23. KFI, Los Angeles origination, Cowan syndication, World transcription. "The Line Is Dead". Commercials added locally. A man who was nearly buried alive has a telephone installed in his coffin, in case it happens again! Raymond Morgan (host), Rafe Blau (writer), Raymond Edward Johnson, Mrs. Raymond Edward Johnson, Anton M. Leader (director), Charles Paul (organist), Louis G. Cowan (producer). 27:21. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.