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

Death Is The Judge (Aired June 15, 1947)

The Mysterious Traveler had much to recommend it for atmospherics alone. Maurice Tarplin opened each program with the following mood setter: "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 . . . ." That introduction, accompanied by the now famous sound of the rushing train and its whistle served as the chilling prologue to every episode of the run. The train whistle and doppler sound seemed to improve with each new season--as did much of the foley work throughout the series. Maurice Tarplin for his part, leant a provocatively nuanced sense of anxiety to each new program, both framing the script to follow and interjecting key exposition during most episodes. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

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 (organist), Robert A. Arthur (writer, producer, director), David Kogan (writer, producer, director), Donald Buka, Ralph Paul (announcer), Eleanor Phelps, Juano Hernandez, Morton Lawrence, Maurice Tarplin (as "The Traveler"), Cameron Prud'Homme. 29:17. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Mr. & Mrs. North - "Wheel Of Chance" (06-09-53)

Wheel Of Chance (Aired June 9, 1953)

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:

June 9, 1953. CBS network. "Wheel Of Chance". Sponsored by: Colgate Shaving Cream, Colgate Toothpaste, Halo Shampoo. Just back from a Mexican vacation, Pam and Jerry have unknowingly brought back a roll of microfilm, hidden in a hubcap. Threatened with a gun "that ain't chocolate," the microfilm has been found by a mechanic who's being blackmailed. The system cue is added live. Alice Frost, Joseph Curtin, Maurice Tarplin, Peter Capell, Charles Paul (music), Don Brinkley (writer), Richard Lockridge (creator), Frances Lockridge (creator), John W. Loveton (producer, director), Joe King (announcer). 28:40. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Whisperer - "Hippity Hoppy" (07-22-51)

 Hippity Hoppy (Aired July 22, 1951)

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

THIS EPISODE:
 
July 22, 1951. "Hippity Hoppy" - NBC network. Sustaining. The Syndicate orders the death of two men in jail, and suceeds with one murder with the help of a "teacher." Betty Lou Gerson, Betty Moran, Bill Cairn (director), Bob Anderson, Carleton Young, Dan Riss, Don Rickles (announcer), John Duffy (original music), Julius Crowlbein, Paul Frees, Stetson Humphrey (creator). 24:34. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Adventures Of The Saint - "A Gangster District Attorney" (10-15-47)

A Gangster District Attorney (Aired October 15, 1947)

The format of the Vincent Price run of The Saint bears a bit of exposition. The signature theme of The Saint over Radio opened all of the Vincent Price canon and beyond. Any sponsor messages usually prefaced the signature whistle and opening theme. The Trim Hair Tonic-sponsored regional run of The Saint from CBS' KNX studios provided three sponsor messages: one at the open, one in the middle and one near the close. From that run forward, Vincent Price would customarily close the program with a personal message directed at one of several pet causes. Though it's not currently known if this was at Price's request or the producers', one can well imagine Vincent Price requesting the closing appeal. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:
 
October 15, 1947. CBS network. "A Gangster District Attorney". Sponsored by: Trim (a hair tonic made with "pure virgin olive oil"!). The Saint is after the killer of G-Man John Daniels, despite an offer of $5000 to leave town. He discovers that the District Attorney is the killer! Vincent Price, Leslie Charteris (creator), Wendell Niles (announcer), William Fontaine (composer, conductor), Michael Cramoy (writer), James L. Saphier (producer). 27:49. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

This Is Your FBI - "The Highway Hi-Jacker" (12-14-45)

The Highway Hi-Jacker (Aired December 14, 1945)

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 is Your FBI had counterparts on the other networks. The FBI in Peace and War also told stories of the FBI, although some were not authentic. Earlier on, Gangbusters, and the previously mentioned Mr. District Attorney gave the authentic crime treatment to their stories. And Dragnet, and Tales of the Texas Rangers, took the idea on as well. Crime, especially true crime, was a genre in the magazines early on, with the Police Gazette and its predecessors in England printing lurid true crime stories prior to radio. This is Your FBI took the idea, and made it realistic, exciting and even informational.

The Milton Berle Show - "A Salute To Relaxation" (08-19-47)

A Salute To Relaxation (Aired August 19, 1947)

Three Ring Time, a comedy-variety show sponsored by Ballantine Ale was followed by a 1943 program sponsored by Campbell's Soups. The audience participation show Let Yourself Go (1944-45) could best be described as slapstick radio with studio audience members acting out long suppressed urges (often directed at host Berle). Kiss and Make Up, on CBS in 1946, featured the problems of contestants decided by a jury from the studio audience with Berle as the Judge. He also made guest appearances on many comedy-variety radio programs during the 1930s and 1940s. Scripted by Hal Block and Martin Ragaway, The Milton Berle Show brought Berle together with Arnold Stang, later a familiar face as Berle's TV sidekick. Others in the cast were Pert Kelton, Mary Schipp, Jack Albertson, Arthur Q. Bryan, Ed Begley, vocalist Dick Forney and announcer Frank Gallop. The Ray Bloch Orchestra provided the music for the series.

THIS EPISODE:

August 19, 1947. NBC network. Sponsored by: Philip Morris. "A Salute To Relaxation". Miltie tries to get a good night's sleep. Frank Gallop (announcer), Milton Berle, Ray Bloch and His Orchestra, Arnold Stang, Al Kelly. 29:44. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index

I Was A Communist For FBI - "Treason Comes In Cans" (12-17-52)

Treason Comes In Cans (Aired December 17, 1952)

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:

December 17, 1952. Program #35. ZIV Syndication. "Treason Comes In Cans". Commercials added locally. Secret Communist plans are hidden in a case of tuna fish and dumped into the harbor. Dana Andrews, Olan Soule, David Rose (composer, conductor), Olan Soule, Barney Phillips, Gerald Mohr, Truman Bradley (announcer), Henry Hayward (director). 26:15. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Father Knows Best - "The Boy Next Door" (01-15-53)

 Father Knows Best - "The Boy Next Door" (01-15-53)

 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.

THIS EPISODE:

January 15, 1953. NBC network. Post cereals, Postum. Betty makes the mistake of allowing Bud to find out that she's interested in "The Boy Next Door". Bud promptly tells the boy next door all about it. Robert Young, Jean VanderPyl, Rhoda Williams, Ted Donaldson, Norma Jean Nilsson, Helen Strohm, Ed James (creator), Bill Forman (announcer), Ed Prentiss (commercial spokesman), Paul West (writer), Roz Rogers (writer), Arthur Jacobson (director), Dorothy Lovett. 29:40. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index Cat# 110272

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Sears Radio Theater (Mutual)" - Punishment And Crime (10-25-80)

 

INTRO: Bob Plays The Danleers "One Summer Night" (1958)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Sears Radio Theater (Mutual)" - Punishment And Crime (Aired October 25, 1980)

Clearly one of the last big attempts to produce radio programming, with many of Hollywood's best. The series premiered on Monday 02/05/79 and offered a different genre each weekday night. Each genre was hosted by a different celebrity. The program was produced on Paramount's Stage F in Hollywood. These first 130 programs were broadcast over a six month period and then rebroadcast over the following six months. From 02/14/80 to 12/19/81 this series was heard again, this time over Mutual, as The Mutual Radio Theater. This was clearly one of the last big attempts to produce radio programming, with many of radio’s best talents, the way radio was heard in its “golden days.” Despite budget and talent, it just wasn’t to be.

THIS EPISODE:

October 25, 1980 - Program #116. CBS network. "Punishment and Crime". Sponsored by: Sears Roebuck and Company. Fletcher Markle (producer, director, performer), Howard Culver, Jack Carroll, Joe Moross, Len Birman, Lorne Greene (host), Parley Baer, Peggy Webber, Percy Grainger (writer).38:02. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Theater Guild On The Air - "Payment Deferred" (05-12-46)

Payment Deferred (Aired May 12, 1946)

The series originated on radio in the 1940s as Theater Guild on the Air. Organized in 1919 to improve the quality of American theater, the Theatre Guild first experimented with radio productions in Theatre Guild Dramas, a CBS series which ran from December 6, 1943 to February 29, 1944. Actress-playwright Armina Marshall (1895–1991), a co-administrator of the Theater Guild, headed the Guild's newly created Radio Department, and in 1945, Theatre Guild on the Air embarked on its ambitious plan to bring Broadway theater to radio with leading actors in major productions. It premiered September 9, 1945, on ABC with Burgess Meredith, Henry Daniell and Cecil Humphreys in Wings Over Europe, a play by Robert Nichols and Maurice Browne which the Theatrer Guild had staged on Broadway in 1928-29.

THIS EPISODE:

May 12, 1946. ABC network, KECA, Los Angeles aircheck. "Payment Deferred". Sponsored by: United States Steel. An impoverished Englishman poisons his wealthy nephew from Australia, and find himself 30,000 pounds richer, but not much happier! The program originates from The Ebell Theatre, Hollywood. Lawrence Langner substitutes for Roger Pryor as the host. The series is also known as, "The United States Steel Hour." Armina Marshall (executive producer), Charles Laughton, Edward Marr, Elsa Lanchester, Franklyn Parker, Gale Gordon, Gayne Whitman, George Hicks, George Kondolf (producer), Greg Holland (adaptor), Harold Levey (composer, conductor), Herbert Rawlinson, Homer Fickett (director), Jeffrey Dell (writer), Joseph Kearns, Lawrence Langner (supervisor), Maria Manton, Susan Douglas, William Johnstone. 58:15. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Your's Truly Johnny Dollar - "The Dixon Murder Matter" (06-16-57)

The Dixon Murder Matter (Aired June 16, 1957)

On October 3, 1955, after a hiatus of over a year, the show came back with a vengeance. A new production team, including director/writer Jack Johnstone, a new star, Bob Bailey, from the radio series Let George Do It, and a new format would set the series apart from its competitors. Johnny's cases were now a continuing serial, five days a week, for fifteen minutes each evening. With 75 minutes of airtime, minus commercials and openings and closings, there was sufficient time to develop good storylines and interesting characters. During this time, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar attracted some of the best writers in Hollywood, including Jack Johnstone, E. Jack Neuman (using the pen name John Dawson), Robert Ryf, and Les Crutchfield. Bob Bailey also wrote a script while he was playing Johnny Dollar. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

June 16, 1957. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Dixon Murder Matter". The name of the boat is the clue to the killer. See if you can guess whodunit! Bob Bailey, Frank Nelson, Russell Thorson, Sam Edwards. 29:12. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Space Patrol - "Last Voyage Of The Lonesome Lena" (12-27-52)

The Last Voyage Of The Lonesome Lena (Aired December 27, 1952)

The special effects used in the live half-hour TV episodes had to be performed in real time. For example, pistols that shot invisible rays necessitated pre-positioning a small explosive charge on the wall. An actor would point the prop at that spot, whereupon a special effects worker would throw a detonation switch. These effects could not have been superimposed on film for the series was done live. For distribution to distant stations, an image of a tiny, bright TV monitor was filmed to make kinescopes, and most of the Saturday half-hour TV broadcasts are available in this form today.

THIS EPISODE:
 
December 27, 1952. ABC network. "The Last Voyage Of The Lonesome Lena". Sponsored by: Ralston cereals. After a broken down space freighter and her sickly pilot are grounded, Commander Corry and Cadet Happy are nearly drowned in a uranium mine on Titan, one of the moons of Saturn. A trail of "callium seeds" leads to a missing shipment of medicine and the last voyage of, "The Lonesome Lena." Marvin Miller (performer, announcer), Nina Bara, Norman Jolley, Larry Robertson (director), Lou Houston (writer), Mike Mosser (producer), Ed Kemmer, Lyn Osborn. 28:47. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Secrets Of Scotland Yard - "The Case of The Lucky Murderer" (07-31-50)

The Case of The Lucky Murderer (Aired July 31 1950)

Stories presented in the series include the theft of the British crown jewels by Colonel Thomas Blood; the story of a man who finds an armless and legless body wrapped in ribbons and lace; or the strange story of two close brothers who love one another enough to contemplate the murder of a brother’s affluent, yet unsightly and ignorant, wife. Murders, forgery, and robberies all get a through review on the program. Each time, Scotland Yard detectives are afoot to solve the crime mystery! The Secrets of Scotland Yard was initially hosted by Clive Brook, probably for the first year or so. To add to the air of authenticity, Brook sometimes discusses matters with Percy Hoskins, a 1950s crime expert and reporter for the London Daily Express. Hoskins knew every nook and cranny in London’s seedier districts and personally reported on many of the major crimes of the day.

Damon Runyon Theater - "The Lily Of St. Pierre" (07-24-49)

The Lily of St. Pierre (Aired July 24, 1949)

Damon Runyon Theatre - Broadcast from January to December 1949, "The Damon Runyon Theatre" dramatized 52 of Runyon's short stories for radio. Damon Runyon (October 4, 1884 – December 10, 1946) was a newspaperman and writer. He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. He spun tales of gamblers, petty thieves, actors and gangsters; few of whom go by "square" names, preferring instead to be known as "Nathan Detroit", "Big Jule", "Harry the Horse", "Good Time Charlie", "Dave the Dude", and so on. These stories were written in a very distinctive vernacular style: a mixture of formal speech and colorful slang, almost always in present tense, and always devoid of contractions.

THIS EPISODE:

July 24, 1949. Program #30. Mayfair syndication. "The Lily Of St. Pierre". Commercials added locally. A Runyonesque love story about an unsavory Broadway type and an innocent Canadian girl. John Brown, Damon Runyon (author), Russell Hughes (adaptor), Vern Carstensen (production supervisor), Richard Sanville (director), Frank Gallop (announcer). 26:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Duffy's Tavern - "Hawaiian Vacation" (12-28-51)

Hawaiian Vacation (Aired December 28, 1951)

In the show's familiar opening, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling," either solo on an old-sounding piano or by a larger orchestra, was interrupted by the ring of a telephone and Gardner's New Yorkese accent as he answered, "Duffy's Tavern, where the elite meet to eat. Archie the manager speakin'. Duffy ain't here — oh, hello, Duffy." Duffy, the owner, was never heard (or seen, when a film based on the show was made in 1945 or when a bid to bring the show to television was tried in 1954). But Archie always was — bantering with Duffy's man-crazy daughter, Miss Duffy (played by several actresses, beginning with Gardner's real-life first wife, Shirley Booth); with Eddie, the waiter/janitor (Eddie Green); and, especially, with Clifton Finnegan (Charlie Cantor), a likeable soul with several screws loose and a knack for falling for every other salesman's scam.

THIS EPISODE:
 
December 28, 1951. "Hawaiian Vacation" - NBC network. Sponsored by: RCA Victor, Anacin. Archie has entered a slogan contest and he's sure that he's won a trip to Hawaii. "Fats" plays a hot, "Sweet Leilani" on the piano. After he wins the contest, Archie discovers that it was for entries by children under 13-years-old only. The system cue has been deleted. Ed Gardner (performer, producer as "Edward F. Gardner"), Ed Pinchon, Charlie Cantor, Larry Rhine (writer), Hazel Shermet. 29:59. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Weird Circle - "Falkland" (04-23-44)

Falkland (Aired April 23, 1944)

The stories offered by "The Weird Circle" were generally adapted from popular fiction - popular fiction of the 19th century, that is. And since the focus was on horror and suspense, the macabre, atmospheric, and often ironic tales of such writers as Edgar Allan Poe and Honore de Balzac were a staple of its success. Also included were such familiar chestnuts as "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens' "The Queer Client", Charlotte Bronte’s novel "Jane Eyre" (also a particular favorite of Orson Welles and his Mercury Theater company), and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Stories of this vintage, rooted in the Victorian attitudes and morality of the 1800s, generally made for good radio drama; they were, after all, classics, familiar to anyone with a public school education. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

THIS EPISODE:
 
April 23, 1944. Program #35. NBC syndication. "Falkland". Commercials added locally. The strange man who learns the secret of eternal life also learns the secret of eternal love. The date is approximate. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (author). 25:36. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes - "The Adventure Of The Retired Colourman" (10-09-64)

The Adventure Of The Retired Colourman (Aired October 9, 1964)

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who first appeared in publication in 1887. He is the creation of Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A brilliant London-based detective, Holmes is famous for his intellectual prowess, and is renowned for his skillful use of deductive reasoning (somewhat mistakenly so called — see inductive reasoning) and astute observation to solve difficult cases. He is arguably the most famous fictional detective ever created, and is one of the best known and most universally recognisable literary characters in any genre.

THIS EPISODE:
 
October 9, 1964. BBC Light Programme origination, WETA-FM, Washington rebroadcast. "The Adventure Of The Retired Colourman". Sustaining. A miser engages Mr. Holmes to recover his wayward wife...and his money as well. An excellent example of Mr. Holmes' deductive abilities. Arthur Conan Doyle (author), Michael Hardwick (adaptor), John Ruddock, Denis Goacher, Garand Green, Michael Kilgarriff, Janet Morrison, Graham Gauld (producer, director), Carleton Hobbs, Norman Shelley. 27:39. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Clock - "Behind The Mask" (05-01-56)

Behind The Mask (Aired May 1, 1956)

Imported from Austrailia, The Clock was a dramatic thirty-minute suspense and mystery series. It was written by Lawrence Klee and was first broadcast in November 1946. The story always began the same; “Sunrise and sunset, promise and fulfilment, birth and death … the whole drama of life is written in the sands of time”. This is a great series where the main theme seems to be Retribution. Stories as told by Father Time.

THIS EPISODE:

May 1, 1956. Grace Gibson/Michelson syndication, WRVR-FM, New York City aircheck. "Behind The Mask". Participating sponsors. A man uses a pathological liar to help him murder his invalid wife, but the plan backfires. WRVR rebroadcast date: June 22, 1973. Lawrence Klee (writer), Harp McGuire (as "The Clock"), John Bushell, Coralie Neville, Moira Redmond, Rodney Jacobs, John Saul (director), Grace Gibson (producer). 22:30. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Dad's Army - "Don’t Fence Me In" (05-15-75)

Don’t Fence Me In (Aired May 15, 1975)

"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, "Dad's Army" embarked on its first Colour TV series, and with that success followed. A feature length film based on the series was made by Columbia Pictures in 1971, and a stage show based on the series toured the UK between 1975 - 76. The programme was also adapted for BBC Radio. Most of the cast are now no longer with us, but their memory lives on through regular repeats on BBC Television and UK Gold as well as many video and DVD releases.

The Crime Club - "A Pitch In Time" (08-07-47)

A Pitch In Time (Aired August 7, 1947)

The Crime club was a Mutual Network  murder and mystery series, a product of the Doubleday Crime Book Club imprints found weekly in bookstores everywhere. The telephone rings "Hello, I hope I haven't kept you waiting. Yes, this is the Crime Club. I'm the Librarian. Murder Rents A Room? Yes, we have that Crime Club story for you.Come right over. (The organist in the shadowed corner of the Crime Club library shivers the ivories) The doorbell tones sullenly"And you are here. Good. Take the easy chair by the window. Comfortable? The book is on this shelf." (The organist hits the scary chord) "Let's look at it under the reading lamp." The Librarian, played by Raymond E. Johnson,  begins reading the tale. Veteran Willis Cooper (Lights Out, Quiet Please) did some of the scripts from the Crime Club books.

THIS EPISODE:

August 7, 1947. Mutual network. "A Pitch In Time". Sustaining. A comical crime story about an incredibly stupid cop and a bank robbery. Walter Kinsella, Ann Thomas, Cameron Prud'Homme, King Calder, Stedman Coles (writer), Roger Bower (producer, director), Bill Smith, Earl George, Barry Thomson. 30:01. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Calling All Cars -"The Missing Messenger" (08-13-36)

Calling All Cars - The Missing Messenger (08-13-36)
INTRO: Bob Remembers Van McCoy "The Hustle" April 18, 1975

 The Missing Messenger (Aired August 13, 1936)

Calling All Cars was one of the earliest police shows on the air. It ran from Nov. 29, 1933-Sept. 8, 1939. It’s sponsor was the Rio Grande Oil Company, which is why the show only ran in areas where Rio Grande "cracked" gasoline was sold. The sponsor promoted its "close ties" with police departments in Arizona and Southern California, urging listeners to buy its product for "police car performance" in their own cars. As shows of this nature do it dealt with tracking killers and robbers with a recap of the justice which was enforced. The writer and director was William N. Robson.

THIS EPISODE:

August 13, 1936. Program #142. CBS Pacific network (Don Lee network). "The Missing Messenger" Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil. A suspicious person has been spotten near Pasadena Avenue and Avenue Forty-Two. "An ideal officer" solves a brutal crime. Jesse Rosenquist (dispatcher), Charles Frederick Lindsley (narrator), James E. Davis (Chief of Police, Los Angeles). 32:03. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

MOVIE "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

 

Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an anthology television series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades. Originally 30 minutes per episode, the series was expanded to 60 minutes in 1962 and retitled The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Hitchcock himself only directed 17 of the 270 filmed episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and only one of the hour-long episodes, "I Saw the Whole Thing" with John Forsythe. Audiences, however, preferred the shorter version, and in 1963 the show and title returned to their thirty-minute format for the final two seasons. The last new episode aired on June 26, 1965, but the series continued to be popular in syndication for decades. The first season was released on DVD in 2005, the second season in 2006, the third in October 2007, and the fourth in November, 2009. Episodes from select seasons are also available on Hulu, the iTunes Store, Netflix streaming, and on NBC's website.
 

THIS EPISODE:


July, 1962.  - "The Great Sadini finds" a young man passed out from hunger on the carnival grounds and takes him inside to his trailer. The boy, Hugo, proves to be simple. His first thought on waking is that he is dead and that Sadini and his wife are the devil and an angel. He's nearly right -- but he has the roles reversed. Sadini's compassion prompts him to take the kid under his wing and teach him about magic.

Broadway Is My Beat - "Donald Jordan Murder Case" (11-13-53)

The Donald Jordan Murder Case (Aired November 13, 1953)

Broadway Is My Beat, a radio crime drama, ran on CBS from February 27, 1949 to August 1, 1954. With music by Robert Stringer, the show originated from New York during its first three months on the air, with Anthony Ross portraying Times Square Detective Danny Clover. John Dietz directed for producer Lester Gottlieb. Beginning with the July 7, 1949 episode, the series was broadcast from Hollywood with producer Elliott Lewis directing a new cast in scripts by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. The opening theme of "I'll Take Manhattan" introduced Detective Danny Clover (now played by Larry Thor), a hardened New York City cop who worked homicide "from Times Square to Columbus Circle -- the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world." Danny Clover narrated the tales of the Great White Way to the accompaniment of music by Wilbur Hatch and Alexander Courage, and the recreation of Manhattan's aural tapestry required the talents of three sound effects technicians (David Light, Ralph Cummings, Ross Murray). Bill Anders was the show's announcer. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

Box 13 - "Look Pleasant Please" (12-05-48)

Look Pleasant Please (Aired December 5, 1948)

Alan Ladd's early portrayals of Dan Holiday did tend to be a bit pat, somewhat sparse in depth, and even wooden in the beginning. Ladd hired some excellent voice talent for his project, and these superb, veteran Radio professionals set a pretty high bar for Ladd, himself. Box 13 is highly expositional, as are most programs of the genre, and Ladd's grovelly, gritty voice lends itself well to the production. But by Episode #6 it seems apparent that Alan Ladd was beginning to hit his stride in the role. What seems to get in the way for many reviewers of this program is its somewhat implausible premise. Dan Holiday was purportedly a successful fiction writer for the Star-Times news magazine who becomes disenchanted with the utter, mind-numbing routine of it. Dan Holiday opts out. He posts an ad reading "Go anywhere, Do anything, Write Box 13". Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:
 
December 5, 1948. Program #16. Mutual network origination, Mayfair syndication. "Look Pleasant Please". Commercials added locally. Dan Holiday is asked to have his picture taken with a beautiful girl, and finds himself engaged to an heiress about to come into fifteen million dollars! The date is approximate. Alan Ladd, Edmond MacDonald, John Beal, Richard Sanville (director), Rudy Schrager (composer, conductor), Russell Hughes (writer), Sylvia Picker, Vern Carstensen (production supervisor). 27:10. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Cisco Kid" - Night Stage (03-17-53)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Cisco Kid" - Night Stage (Aired March 17, 1953)

Half the fun in the series was listening to Pancho try to explain in his simple Mexican way that the sheriff's posse was hard on their heels and to quote him, "Ceesco, eef they catch up with us, perhaps they weel keel us." At the beginning The Cisco Kid was played by Jackson Beck then later Jack Mather took over the role. Whilst Pancho was played first by Louis Sorin then by Harry Lang. Originally the Announcer was Michael Rye and the Director Jock McGregor and during the days of Jack Mather and Harry Lang the Producer was J. C. Lewis with the series being written by Larry Hays.

THIS EPISODE:

March 17, 1953. Program #69. Mutual-Don Lee network origination, Ziv syndication. "Night Stage". Commercials added locally. Pa Walters is cheated out of his home by Joe Dawson when he complains about the noise from Dawson's cafe. Jack Mather, Harry Lang. 28:17. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of Maisie - "The Financial Advisor" (11-09-50)

The Financial Advisor (Aired November 9, 1950)

Throughout the 1930s and '40s, Ann Sothern and Lucille Ball, like many performers in Hollywood, had not one but two careers - one in motion pictures and one on radio.  MGM Studios had created the series of ten motion pictures based on a brash blonde with a heart "of spun gold." Sothern, due in great part to the Maisie films type-casting, would ultimately admit she was "a Hollywood princess, not a Hollywood queen." But in its time, the Maisie series in film and on radio made her known and loved the world over. And for many of us, Ann Sothern was a beautiful and intelligent actress whose warmth and charm were singularly beguiling. She continued to do TV (Private Secretary, The Ann Sothern Show) and movie work (A Letter to Three Wives, '49), and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1987 for The Whales of August.She died March 15, 2001.

THIS EPISODE:

November 9, 1950. Program #39. MGM syndication. Commercials added locally. Maisie becomes the "Financial Advisor" for a soldier's growing family, which leads to a declined bridge loan and a reported bank robbery! The program has also been identified as program #43. The date above is the date of first broadcast on WMGM, New York City. Ann Sothern, Frank Nelson, Elvia Allman, Byron Kane, Peter Leeds, Lurene Tuttle, Jack McCoy (announcer), Arthur Phillips (writer), Harry Zimmerman (composer, conductor). 29:00. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Amos & Andy Show - "Of Sound Mind And Body" (04-21-44)

Of Sound Mind And Body (Aired April 21, 1944)

After the associations with Pepsodent toothpaste (1929–37) and Campbell's Soup (1937–43), primary sponsors included Lever Brothers' Rinso detergent (1943–50), the Rexall drugstore chain (1950–54) and CBS' own Columbia brand of television sets (1954–55). President Calvin Coolidge was said to be among the devoted listeners. Huey P. Long took his nickname of "Kingfish" from the show. At the peak of the popularity, many movie theaters began the practice of stopping the films for the 15 minutes of the Amos 'n' Andy show and then playing the program through the theater's sound system or simply by placing a radio on the stage. Some theaters attempted to attract patrons by noting the fact that they offered the broadcast in their advertisements. NBC sought to stop the practice by charging the theaters who did so with copyright infringement, claiming that charging admission for a free broadcast was not legal.

THIS EPISODE:
 
April 21, 1944. "Of Sound Mind And Body" - NBC network. Commercials deleted. Andy hires a beautiful secretary named Henrietta Davis. He then takes a job in a foundry (loading ingots!) so he can pay her. The system cue has been deleted. Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Harlow Wilcox (announcer), James Basquette. 26:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of Frank Race - "The Lady In The Dark" (11-27-49)

INTRO: Bob Plays Perry Como - "For The Good Times" (1973)

The Lady In The Dark (Aired November 27, 1949)

The Series was heard over all four networks over the following four years in initial syndication and rebroadcast. Given one's geographical location, a listener might well have been able to hear as many as three or four weekly airings of The Adventures of Frank Race. Seasoned writer Joel Murcott joined Broadcasters Program Syndicate for the express purpose of writing and supervising Bruce Eells' first two dramatic offerings, Frontier Town, starring Jeff Chandler under the tongue in cheek performing name 'Tex Chandler' and The Adventures of Frank Race initially starring durable and versatile character actor Tom Collins. Legendary composer Ivan Ditmars scored both the audition and production series. The audition for the series was recorded during February 1949. The audition featured Tom Collins as former attorney and O.S.S. officer, Frank Race. Race is aided by his associate, former cab driver, Marcus 'Marc' Donovan portrayed by Tony Barrett. Lurene Tuttle is also featured in the audition. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

November 27, 1949. Program #31. Broadcasters Program Syndicate syndication. "The Adventure Of The Lady In The Dark". Commercials added locally. A doctor running a free clinic in Paris is the target of a killer's bullets. Paul Dubov, Tony Barrett, Buckley Angel (writer, director), Joel Murcott (writer, director), Bruce Eells (producer), Ivan Ditmars (organist), Art Gilmore (announcer). 28:43. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of Frank Merriwell - "The Quarantine" (12-18-48)

The Quarantine (Aired December 18, 1948)

Merriwell originally appeared in a series of magazine stories starting April 18, 1896 ("Frank Merriwell: or, First Days at Fardale") in Tip Top Weekly, continuing through 1912, and later in dime novels and comic books. Patten would confine himself to a hotel room for a week to write an entire story. The Frank Merriwell comic strip began in 1928, continuing until 1936. Daily strips from 1934 provided illustrations for the 1937 Big Little Book. There are at least three generations of Merriwells: Frank, his half-brother Dick, and Frank's son, Frank Jr. There is a marked difference between Frank and Dick. Frank usually handled challenges on his own. A film serial entitled The Adventures of Frank Merriwell was created by Universal Studios in 1936.

THIS EPISODE:
 
December 18, 1948. NBC network. "The Quarantine". Sustaining. A false alarm case of measles almost keeps the Frank and Bart from winning a basketball game for Yale. Lawson Zerbe, Hal Studer, Elaine Rost, Harlow Wilcox (announcer), Burt L. Standish (creator). 29:37. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Rogue's Gallery - "The Corpse I Didn't Kil" (06-13-46)

The Corpse I Didn't Kill (Aired June 13, 1946)

Rogue's Gallery came to the Mutual network on September 27, 1945 with Dick Powell portraying Richard Rogue, a private detective who invariably ended up getting knocked out each week and spending his dream time in acerbic conversation with his subconscious self, Eugor. Rogue's Gallery was, in a sense, Dick Powell's rehearsal for Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Powell played private detective Richard Rogue, who trailed luscious blondes, protected witness, and did whatever else detectives do to make a living. It was a good series, though not destined to make much of a mark. Under the capable direction of Dee Englebach and accompanied by the music of Leith Stevens, Powell floated through his lines with the help of such competents as Lou Merrill, Gerald Mohr, Gloria Blondell, Tony Barrett, and Lurene Tuttle. Peter Leeds played Rogue's friend Eugor, an obscure play on names with Eugor spelling Rogue backwards.

THIS EPISODE:
 
June 13, 1946. Mutual network. "The Corpse I Didn't Kill". Sponsored by: Fitch's Shampoo, Fitch's Hair Tonic. Rogue's pal Joe Dale has been shot dead in his elegant home. Rogue is accused of the crime by two of his "friends." Rogue gets hit on the head only two minutes into the program! The program opening is slightly upcut, the system cue has been deleted or is added live. Dick Powell, Jim Doyle (announcer), Ray Buffum (writer), Leith Stevens (composer, conductor), Dee Englebach (director), Peter Leeds. 29:02. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Screen Directors Playhouse - "Shadow Of A Doubt" (11-09-50)

Shadow Of A Doubt (Aired November 9, 1950)

From 01/09/49 to 09/28/51 this series was greatly enjoyed by the radio listening audience. It opened as NBC Theater and was also known as The Screen Director’s Guild and The Screen Director’s Assignment. But most people remember it simply as Screen Director’s Playhouse. Many of the Hollywood elite were heard recreating their screen roles over the radio. John Wayne in his rare radio appearances, Cary Grant, Edward G. Robinson, Lucille Ball, Claire Trevor, Tallulah Bankhead and many others were on the air week after week during these broadcasts. Many of Hollywood’s directors were also heard in the recreation of their movies. The President of the Screen Director’s Guild appeared on 02/13/49, and Violinist Isaac Stern supplied the music for the 04/19/51 broadcast.

THIS EPISODE:

November 09, 1950 "Shadow Of A Doubt" (An Alfred Hitchcock Thriller) (Stars: Carey Grant) - Uncle Charlie relies heavily on his relationship with his niece and name sake Charlie to make him appear like butter wouldn't melt. However, as soon as Niece Charlie puts two and two together and comes to realise the truth about her Uncle the close relationship between them deteriorates at a rapid pace. But, it is less the fact that niece Charlie realises what her uncle really is, but it is because she is growing into a woman that Charlie doesn't like. In becoming a woman niece Charlie now represents all that her uncle can't abide. And it is this misogynistic streak in "Uncle Charlie" that compels him to attempt to murder his niece, as opposed to what she knows of him.

The Abbott & Costello Show - "The Merchant Marines" (01-25-50)

The Merchant Marines (Aired January 25, 1945)

The Abbott and Costello Show mixed comedy with musical interludes (usually, by singers such as Connie Haines, Marilyn Maxwell, the Delta Rhythm Boys, Skinnay Ennis, and the Les Baxter Singers). Regulars and semi-regulars on the show included Artie Auerbrook, Elvia Allman, Iris Adrian, Mel Blanc, Wally Brown, Sharon Douglas, Verna Felton, Sidney Fields, Frank Nelson, Martha Wentworth, and Benay Venuta. Ken Niles was the show's longtime announcer, doubling as an exasperated foil to Abbott & Costello's mishaps (and often fuming in character as Costello insulted his on-air wife routinely); he was succeeded by Michael Roy, with annoncing chores also handled over the years by Frank Bingman and Jim Doyle. The show went through several orchestras during its radio life, including those of Ennis, Charles Hoff, Matty Matlock, Jack Meaking, Will Osborne, Freddie Rich, Leith Stevens, and Peter van Steeden. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

THIS EPISODE:
 
January 25, 1945. "The Merchant Marines" - NBC network. Sponsored by: Camels, Prince Albert. Costello plans to join the Merchant Marine. This is a network, sponsored version. Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Freddie Rich and His Orchestra, Connie Haines, Ken Niles (announcer), Mel Blanc, Artie Auerbach. 29:53. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of The Abbotts - "The Yellow Chip" (02-20-55)

INTRO: BOB Plays "A Taste Of Honey" (1978)

The Yellow Chip (Aired February 20, 1955)

 

 

Abbott Mysteries was a comedy-mystery radio program adapted from the novels of Frances Crane (1896-1981). Initially a summer replacement for Quick As a Flash, the series was heard on Mutual and NBC between the years 1945 and 1955. The Mutual series, sponsored by Helbros Watches, debuted June 10, 1945, airing Sundays at 6pm. Scripts were by Howard Merrill and Ed Adamson in the lighthearted tradition of Mr. and Mrs. North. Julie Stevens and Charles Webster starred as Jean and Pat Abbott, a San Francisco married couple who solved murder mysteries. In the supporting cast were Jean Ellyn, Sydney Slon and Luis Van Rooten. The Abbotts were portrayed by Claudia Morgan and Les Damon. The NBC series ran until June 12, 1955.


THIS EPISODE:
 
February 20, 1955. Program #3. NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Yellow Chip". Les Damon, Claudia Morgan, Frances Crane (creator), Everett Sloane, Jan Miner, William Johnstone, Howard Merrill (writer), Bernard L. Schubert (producer), Ted Lloyd (producer), Harry Frazee (director, recordist), Wayne Howell (announcer), Dewey Bergman (composer conductor). 30:22. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Tales Of The Texas Rangers" - The Hatchet (02-11-51)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Tales Of The Texas Rangers"
The Hatchet (Aired February 11, 1951)

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.

THIS EPISODE:

February 11, 1951. NBC network. "The Hatchet". Sustaining. Based on events of May 16, 1941. The murder of a high school teacher leads Ranger Jace Pearson to a cattle water tank and the murder weapon at the bottom of it. Gerald Mohr, Hal Gibney (announcer), Joe Dubov, Joel McCrea, Michael Ann Barrett, Parley Baer, Sam Edwards, Stacy Keach (producer, director), Tommy Cook, Tony Barrett. 30:48. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Theater Guild On The Air - "The Third Man" (01-07-51)

INTRO: BOB Plays The Nutmegs "Story Untold" (1955)

The Third Man (Aired January 7, 1951)

 

 

The theatrical society in U.S.A. is termed as Theater Guild. Founded in New York City in 1918 by Lawrence Langner (1890-1962) and others, the group proposed to produce high-quality, noncommercial plays. Its board of directors shared responsibility for choice of plays, management, and production. After the premiere of George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House in 1920, the Guild became his U.S. agent and staged 15 of his plays. It also produced successful plays by Eugene O’Neill, Maxwell Anderson, and Robert Sherwood and featured actors such as the Lunts and Helen Hayes. It helped develop the American musical by staging Porgy and Bess (1935), Oklahoma! (1943), and Carousel (1945); later also producing the radio series Theatre Guild on the Air (1945-53) and even presented plays on television.

THIS EPISODE:

January 7, 1951. NBC network. "The Third Man". Commercials deleted. The program originates from the Belasco Theatre, New York. The program is also known as, "The United States Steel Hour" and "The NBC Theatre Guild." An excellent production of the thriller set in post-war Vienna. Intrigue and death in the sewers beneath the city. Zither transitions possibly by Anton Karas. The program closing has been deleted. Graham Greene (writer), Joseph Cotten, Signe Hasso, Anthony Ireland, Stefan Schnabel, Berry Kroeger, Roger Pryor (host), Anton Karas. 55:19.
Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Fort Laramie" - Boredom (02-09-56)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Fort Laramie" - Boredom (Aired February 19, 1956)

Gunsmoke had been running for almost four years when Norman Macdonnell brought Fort Laramie to CBS. The latter had the same gritty realism, attention to detail, and integrity that audiences admired in GUNSMOKE. Both Dodge City, Kansas and Fort Laramie, Wyoming were real, and significant, locations in our history of the Western Expansion. The original Fort Laramie, located on the eastern Wyoming prairie (about 100 miles from where the city of Laramie is now located) was an important fur trading post from 1834 to 1849. For the next forty years, it was a U.S. Army post. Located near the confluence of the North Platte and Laramie Rivers, this military post was in the heart of the homeland of the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho. From 1841 to 1849 the fur trade in that area continued to decline, but the fort was a major stop-over for wagon trains of settlers heading west, enroute to Oregon.

THIS EPISODE:

February 19, 1956. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Boredom". Private Soothey is bored with garrison duty. He has a plan for getting a little action out of the Indians. The Cheyenne oblige. The program was recorded February 16, 1956 and is also known as, "Unknown Disease At Fort." Vivi Janis, Raymond Burr, Joe Cranston, Les Crutchfield (writer), Parley Baer, Sam Edwards, Jack Kruschen, Howard Culver. 30:16.  Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Sealed Book - "Welcome Home" (05-20-45)

Welcome Home (Aired May 20, 1945)

As with The MysteAs with The Mysterious Traveler that preceded it, The Sealed Book was an anthology of supernatural drama, produced and directed by Jock MacGregor for the Mutual network, and written by the extraordinary team of Robert Arthur and David Kogan. Indeed this same entire team of network, director, and writers were responsible for the entire run of The Mysterious Traveler. Going even further, The Sealed Book reprised 26 of the Arthur/Kogan scripts written for The Mysterious Traveler. And in yet another similarity, Philip Clarke performed as an actor in five of the original Mysterious Traveler episodes. Where the series' differed was in the 'hook' or novelty intro to each week's new episode. With the Mysterious Traveler, the atmospheric element was the mournful whistle of the train, and Maurice Tarplin's equally exaggerated exposition at the beginning of each episode.

THIS EPISODE:

May 20, 1945. Program #10. Mutual network. "Welcome Home". Sustaining. A man returns home to find his family isn't exactly glad to see him. This program has also been dated July 22, 1945 on WGN, Chicago. Robert A. Arthur (writer), David Kogan (writer), Phillip Clarke (host), Jock MacGregor (producer, director). 29:54. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Life With Luigi - "Soothos Cough Syrup Guarantee" (05-02-50)

 Soothos Cough Syrup Guarantee (Aired May 2, 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:

May 2, 1950. "Soothos Cough Syrup Guarantee" - CBS network. Sponsored by: Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum. Luigi tries to take advantage of the guarantee for "Sootho Cough Syrup." He wants double his money back. J. Carrol Naish, Alan Reed, Cy Howard (creator, producer, director), Mac Benoff (writer), Lou Derman (writer), Mary Shipp, Hans Conried, Ken Peters, Joe Forte. 29:45. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Inner Sanctum Mysteries - "The Silent Hands" (05-13-44)

The Silent Hands (Aired May 13, 1944)

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:
 
May 13, 1944. CBS network. "The Silent Hands". Sponsored by: Palmolive Shaving Cream, Palmolive Soap. A woman in a white evening dress is a murderess. Which one of the two sisters is known as, "The Woman In White?" The story has a good suprise ending. Mary Astor, Himan Brown (director), Raymond Edward Johnson (host), Robert Tallman (writer), Robert Sloane (writer), Myron McCormick, Berry Kroeger, Lesley Woods. 25:30. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Let George Do It (LGDI) - "A Minor Case Of Murder" (08-30-48)

A Minor Case Of Murder (Aired August 30, 1948)

As Valentine made his rounds in search of the bad guys, he usually encountered Brooksie's kid brother, Sonny (Eddie Firestone), Lieutenant Riley (Wally Maher) and elevator man Caleb (Joseph Kearns). For the first few shows, Sonny was George's assistant, but he was soon relegated to an occasional character. Sponsored by Standard Oil, the program was broadcast on the West Coast Mutual Broadcasting System from October 18, 1946 to September 27, 1954, first on Friday evenings and then on Mondays.

THIS EPISODE:

August 30, 1948. Mutual-Don Lee network. "A Minor Case Of Murder". Sponsored by: Standard Oil, Chevron. Chuck Wilson, of "The Bearcat Social Club," hires George Valentine to prove that Dan Corey is innocent of knifing his step-father. Bob Bailey, Bud Hiestand (announcer), David Victor (writer), Don Clark (director), Eddie Dunstedter (music), Frances Robinson, Gloria Blondell, Herb Lytton, Herbert Little Jr. (writer), Irene Tedrow, Jack Kruschen, Sidney Miller, Tommy Cook, Tony Barrett. 29:34. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Hancock's Half Hour - "Back From Holiday" (10-14-56)

Back From Holiday (Aired October 14, 1956)

INTRO: Bob Plays Danny & The Juniors "Sometimes" (1957)

Tony Hancock starred as an exaggerated version of his own character, a down-at-heel comedian living at the dilapidated 23 Railway Cuttings in East Cheam. Sid James played a criminally-inclined confidante who usually managed to con Hancock, while Bill Kerr appeared as Hancock's dim-witted Australian lodger. Moira Lister also appeared in the first series before being replaced by Andrée Melly for the next two, both playing love interests for Hancock's character. In the fourth and fifth series, Hattie Jacques played Griselda Pugh, live-in secretary to Hancock and occasional girlfriend of Sid James. The series broke from the variety tradition dominant in British radio comedy into the sitcom or Situation comedy genre. Instead of sketches, guest stars and musical interludes, humour developed from the characters and situations. The domestic situation varied, Hancock usually portrayed as unemployed or a hopeless, down-at-heel comedian. Sid was always on the fiddle in some way. Bill was dim and virtually unemployable (though he started as a fast-talking American-type Australian). Miss Pugh, Hancock's secretary, had such a loose job description that she cooked Sunday lunch.

Adventures In Research - 2 Episodes From 1943 (02-02-43 and 02-09-43)

2 Episodes - "A Piece Of Silk" (02-02-43) and "The Fight Against Fire" (02-09-43)"

A wonderfully informative old time radio series can be found in Adventures In Research. With tales that are not only wonderfully dramatic, but at the same time extremely interesting and entertaining. Adventures In Research offers the listener accounts in American scientific research history. You will be enthralled, as will your children. Best of all, in regards to providing a great educational tool for children, the episodes are made for their attention span, and run approximately fifteen minutes. Hear about the development of the parachute; History of 1st Regular Radio Broadcast; learn about the George Westinghouse; be amazed at The First American Patent; the horrible Dread Scourge - Typhus; be in awe of The Man Who Found A Continent; and so much more wonderful history.

The Price Of Fear - "Remains To Be Seen" (09-01-73)

Remains To Be Seen (Aired September 1, 1973)

Recorded in every corner of the world when first broadcast over the BBC's World Service, The Price of Fear soon became one of the most widely recorded offerings of its era. As with most BBC productions, the acting talent and production values were excellent throughout. The stories dramatized in the series are from some of the supernatural fiction world's finest authors. William Ingram was responsible for almost half of the stories and scripts, backed up the works of Bram Stoker, Roald Dahl, Robert Arthur, Rene Basilico, Stanley Ellin, and R. Chetwynd-Hayes. John Dyas produced and directed all three series over the ten year period. Host Vincent Price, already long since recognized throughout the world as the reigning Master of The Macabre, virtually ensured that the series would be heard. True to his legend, Price's imprimatur on the series provided a voice as chilling and familiar to World Service listeners as that of their own Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. The Price of Fear has been an international favorite ever since it's first airing. It was picked up by several short-wave and FM stations in the U.S. and enjoyed broadcast airing over several American public broadcasting stations from 1973, on. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.