The Maxwell House Burns & Allen Show - "Special Guest Is Marlene Dietrich" (03-17-49)

Guest Is Marlene Dietrich (Aired March 17, 1949)

Burns and Allen were an American comedy duo consisting of George Burns and his wife, Gracie Allen.Burns wrote most of the material, and played the straight man. Allen played a silly, addleheaded woman. Both attributed their success to the other, to the ends of their lives. Early on, the team had played the opposite roles until they noticed that the audience was laughing at Gracie's straight lines, so they made the change. Burns and Allen developed their popular routine over more than three decades of stage, radio, film, and television. Historians of popular culture have often stated that Allen was a brilliant comedian, whose entire career consisted of engaging in dialogues of "illogical logic" that left her verbal opponents dazed and confused, and her audiences in stitches.

THIS EPISODE:

March 17, 1949. NBC network. Sponsored by: Maxwell House Coffee. George has caught a cold. "Special Guest Is Marlene Dietrich" tries to make Gracie jealous. The Maxwell House Coffee production number is built around the tune, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." The system cue has been deleted. Bill Goodwin, Tobe Reed, Marlene Dietrich, Bea Benaderet, Harry Lubin and His Orchestra, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Paul Henning (writer), Keith Fowler (writer). 28:43. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index

Case Dismissed - "Responsibilities Of Eye Witnesses" (04-03-54)

Responsibilities Of Eye Witnesses (Aired April 3, 1954)

Case Dismissed was developed as a public service to frame "the story of your legal rights." It was produced in cooperation with The Chicago Bar Association and employed John Fitzgerald, Dean of Loyola University Law School as both host and advisor to the series. A local production of WMAQ AM/FM, NBC's network affiliate in Chicago, the series ran for thirteen weeks during the Spring of 1954. The production employed local talent for the most part. Carlton KaDell, who started his Radio career in Chicago, starred in most of the productions. The remainder of the casts were comprised of WMAQ employees, local Chicago artists, and WMAQ's own production staff. While it's tempting to label this series a Public Service Announcement, it was far more than that. Most of the scripts very cleverly portrayed every right way--or wrong way--to approach a range of legal matters that might concievably affect any American. <I>Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.</I>

THIS EPISODE:
 
April 3, 1954. "Responsibilities Of Eye Witnesses" - NBC network, WMAQ, Chicago origination. Sustaining. The program is produced is co-operation with the Chicago Bar Association. Your responsibility as a witness. Beryl Vaughn, Carlton KaDell, Marshall Kent, Jack Lester, Clare Baum, Robert Carmen (writer), Gil Ferguson, John C. Fitzgerald (host, Dean of the Law School, Loyola University), Betty Ross, Herbert Littow (director), Tom Evans (sound), Harold Witteberry (engineer), Lee Bennett (announcer). 27:19. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Candy Matson - The Devil In The Deep Freeze (11-10-49)

The Devil In The Deep Freeze (Aired November 10, 1949)

INTRO: Bob Plays The Lettermen "I'll Be Seeing You" (1962)

Candy Matson was the private eye star of Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8208, an NBC West Coast show which first aired in March 1949 and was created by Monty Masters. He cast his wife, Natalie Parks, in the title role of this sassy, sexy PI. Her understated love interest, Lt. Ray Mallard, was played by Henry Leff while her assistant and best pal, aptly named Rembrandt Watson, was the voice of Jack Thomas. Every show opened with a ringing telephone and our lady PI answering it with "Candy Matson, YU 2-8209" and then the organ swung into the theme song, "Candy". Each job took Candy from her apartment on Telegraph Hill into some actual location in San Francisco. The writers, overseen by Monty, worked plenty of real Bay Area locations into every plot. Candy was bright, tough, and fearless.

THIS EPISODE:
 
November 10, 1949. NBC network, San Francisco origination. "The Devil In The Deep Freeze". Sustaining. A restaurant owner asks Candy to get rid of a body in his meat refrigerator, and he's dressed like the devil! Guest Dorothy Warenskjold (famous opera singer) helps Candy to solve this operatic murder. The title is subject to correction. Dorothy Warenskjold, Dudley Manlove (announcer), Harry Bechtel, Henry Leff, Jack Thomas, Jerry Walter, Monte Masters (writer, producer), Natalie 29:25. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index

The Story Of Dr. Kildare - "Kildare's Old Girlfriend" (05-10-50)

Kildare's Old Girlfriend (Aired May 10, 1950)

Dr. James Kildare was a fictional character, the primary character in a series of American theatrical films in the late 1930s and early 1940s, an early 1950s radio series, a 1960s television series of the same name and a comic book based on the TV show. The character was invented by the author Frederick Schiller Faust (aka Max Brand). The character began in the film series as a medical intern; after becoming a doctor he was mentored by an older physician, Dr. Leonard Gillespie. After the first ten films, the series eliminated the character of Kildare and focused instead on Gillespie. In the summer of 1949, MGM reunited Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore to record the radio series, The Story of Dr. Kildare, scripted by Les Crutchfield, Jean Holloway and others. After broadcasts on WMGM New York from February 1, 1950 to August 3, 1951, the series was syndicated to other stations during the 1950s. The supporting cast included Ted Osborne as hospital administrator Dr. Carough, Jane Webb as nurse Mary Lamont and Virginia Gregg as Nurse Parker, labeled "Nosy Parker" by Gillespie, with appearances by William Conrad, Stacy Harris, Jay Novello, Isabel Jewell and Jack Webb.

My Friend Irma - "Psychology" (01-27-52)

Psychology (Aired January 27, 1952)

The show was sponsored by Swan Soap, and Irma would usually make a silly remark about it so the name could be advertised. Frank Bingman was the announcer for Swan Soap. The program was also sponsored by EMMD's which got rid of breath and body odors and each tiny capsule was said to contain 100g (nearly four ounces) of chlorophyll, which is a miracle in itself. Pepsodent was also a sponsor. Because of the popularity of the show, early in the series (shows 41-43), a contest was run for the services of Irma/Marie Wilson to act as a secretary for the highest bidder for one day, with her willing to travel anywhere in America. The money was to go to the March of Dimes charity to fight polio. Three business men bid $1,000, but the winner was the Coca Cola Bottling Company of Fort Worth, Texas which bid $5,000 to have Irma as their secretary for a day.

THIS EPISODE:

January 27, 1952. "Psychology" - CBS network. Sponsored by: Ennds, Eye-Gene. Irma and Al break up, then each join a Lonely Hearts Club! The script was used previously on "My Friend Irma" on January 26, 1948. Alan Reed, Carl Caruso (announcer), Cathy Lewis, Cy Howard (writer, producer, director), Edwin Max, Gloria Gordon, Hans Conried, John Brown, Leif Erickson, Lud Gluskin, Marie Wilson, Parke Levy (writer), Pat Burton (associate producer), Sandra Gould, Stanley Adams (writer). 25:46. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Calling All Cars - "The Homicidal Hobo" (02-15-38)

The Homicidal Hobo (Aired February 15, 1938)

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

THIS EPISODE:

February 15, 1938. Program #221. CBS Pacific network (Don Lee network). "The Homicidal Hobo". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil. The owner of a railroad restaurant in Portola has been shot and wounded. A "message" is read from the sheriff of Plumas county. Jesse Rosenquist (dispatcher), Charles Frederick Lindsley (narrator). 30:15. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Barry Craig Confidental Investigator - "Visitor At Midnight" (05-12-55)

Visitor At Midnight (Aired May 12, 1955)

William Gargan, who also played the better known television (and radio) detective Martin Kane, was the voice of New York eye Barry Craig while Ralph Bell portrayed his associate, Lt. Travis Rogers. Craig's office was on Madison Avenue and his adventures were fairly standard PI fare. He worked alone, solved cases efficiently, and feared no man. As the promos went, he was "your man when you can't go to the cops. Confidentiality a speciality." Like Sam Spade, Craig narrated his stories, in addition to being the leading character in this 30 minute show. Nearly sixty episodes are in trading circulation today William Gargan as a Detective (and an actor) If William Gargan brought an air of authenticity to his roles as a private detective, there were some good very reasons. His father was a bookmaker, so Gargan learned a lot about the gambling world and met a lot of interesting characters from across the spectrum of society. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

THIS EPISODE

May 12, 1955. NBC network. "Visitor At Midnight". Sustaining. "It never pays to be friendly with murderers. Give them an inch and they'll take a yard...usually a rope tied around your throat and tied to the nearest rafter." William Gargan, Louis Vittes (writer), Andrew C. Love (director), Ken Christy, Kay Stewart, Jack Carroll, Byron Kane, Jack Kruschen. 24:51. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Aldrich Family - "Date Mixup" (10-17-39)

 Date Mixup (Aired October 17, 1939)

The Aldrich Family was launched in its own series as a summer replacement program for Jack Benny in NBC's Sunday night lineup, July 2, 1939, and it stayed there until October 1, 1939, when it moved to Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., sponsored by General Foods's popular gelatin dessert Jell-O, which also sponsored Jack Benny at the time. The Aldriches ran in that slot from October 10, 1939 until May 28, 1940, moving to Thursdays, from July 4, 1940 until July 20, 1944. After a brief hiatus, the show moved to CBS, running on Fridays from September 1, 1944 until August 30, 1946 with sponsors Grape Nuts and Jell-O before moving back to NBC from September 5, 1946 to June 28, 1951 on Thursdays and, then, as a Sustaining program in its final run of September 21, 1952 to April 19, 1953 on Sundays. The show was a top-ten ratings hit within two years of its birth.

 

THIS EPISODE:

October 17, 1939. "Date Mixup" - Blue Network. Sponsored by: Jell-O. A poignant story about Henry and two girls, Barbara and Constance. Which one will it be? The movie ("What A Life") opened on Broadway this week (based on the play of the same name). This series is based on the characters created on Broadway April 13, 1938. Ezra Stone, Betty Field, Clifford Goldsmith (writer), Harry Von Zell (announcer), Jack Miller (composer, conductor). 29:05. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

It's A Crime Mr. Collins - "The Dead White Life Boat" (1957)

The Dead White Life Boat (1957) *The Exact Date Is Unknown.

It's a Crime, Mr. Collins was a half-hour mystery/adventure radio program broadcast weekly from August, 1956 to February, 1957 by Mutual Broadcasting System in the United States that was a "flagrant rip-off of The Adventures of the Abbotts in which only the names had been changed." San Francisco private detective Greg Collins was played by Mandel Kramer (who had previously been heard as Lieutenant Tragg in the radio version of Perry Mason) and his wife, Gail Collins, was played by namesake Gail Collins. Each week, Gail Collins, "the gumshoe's gorgeous spouse -- with green-eyed predilections emerging as curvaceous damsels in distress frequently petitioned her husband -- shared his investigative exploits with her Uncle Jack and thereby with the listeners at home."

THIS EPISODE:

1957. Program #28. Crawford syndication (Australia). "The Dead-White Lifeboat". Commercials added locally. "Even breaking up an international crime ring doesn't justify another woman borrowing your husband for a honeymoon...does it?" The date is approximate. Keith Eden, Mary Disney. 26:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Box 13 - "Speed To Burn" (06-26-49)

Speed To Burn (Aired June 26, 1949)

INTRO: Bob Plays The Fifth Dimension "One Less Bell To Answer" (1970) * Burt Bacharach

Most of the episodes were based on Dan Holiday replying to a letter he received at Box 13. He would generally solve a mystery in the process, and return to his office in time to enjoy a hearty laugh at the expense of Suzy, his amusingly stupid secretary. He would certainly not meet the strictest requirements for private eyes (not licensed, collected no fees from clients), but the definition should stretch to sneak him in under the rope. It was heard over the Mutual Broadcasting System as well as being syndicated. The series was produced by Mayfair Productions. Box 13, starring Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday. Sylvia Picker played Suzy, Dan Holiday's secretary and Edmond MacDonald as Lt. Kling. Other stars in the series were Betty Lou Gerson, Lurene Tuttle, Alan Reed, Luis Van Rooten, John Beal and Frank Lovejoy. Music was by Rudy Schrager and the writer was Russell Hughes.

 

THIS EPISODE:

June 26, 1949. Program #45. Mutual network origination, Mayfair syndication. "Speed To Burn". Commercials added locally. Why shouldn't a 1938 jalopy with a British tank engine go one hundred miles per hour? Alan Ladd, Albert Wagner (adaptor), Bernard Feins (writer), Gerald Mohr, Richard Sanville (director), Rudy Schrager (composer, conductor), Sylvia Picker, Vern Carstensen (production supervisor). 26:56. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Macabre - Weekend (11-20-61)

Weekend (Aired November 20, 1961)

INTRO: Bob Plays Bobby Caldwell "Heart Of Mine" (1989)

The series arose out of an improptu competition between The Far East Network and The Armed Forces Network-Germany. Both networks sent 15 ips audition tapes to the AFRTS Headquarters in Los Angeles and FEN Tokyo won the 'competition'. The AFRTS transcribed and distributed the Macabre series on October 4, 1961-- a month before FEN Tokyo recorded a ninth episode of Macabre for Christmas Day, titled Of Frankincense and Myrrh. FEN Launches Macabre on the lucky 13th of November 1961. Launched, appropriately enough on the 13th of November, 1961, the series ran for nine weeks, including a special Christmas Day broadcast, "Of Frankincense and Myrrh," and ending on January 8, 1962 with "Edge of Evil." Note that in the article in the 'Provenances' sidebar below mentions a run of eight weeks. That's apparently the tenuous provenance upon which most of the misinformation about the true run of Macabre has been based for the past forty years. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

November 20, 1961. Program #2. AFRTS-FEN origination. "Weekend". A weekend on a mysterious island with a mad doctor who is experimenting with a deadly drug. John Buey, Walt Sheldon, Bob Eddy, Hiroshi Ono (technical supervisor), Shirley Ashey, William Verdier, Milton Radmilovich, Al Lepage (announcer). 27:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet - "Invitations To Dinner" (02-20-49)

"Invitations To Dinner"  Aired (February 20 1949)

When Red Skelton was drafted in March 1944, Ozzie Nelson was prompted to create his own family situation comedy. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet launched on CBS on October 8, 1944, moving to NBC in October 1948, and making a late-season switch back to CBS in April 1949. The final years of the radio series were on ABC (the former NBC Blue Network) from October 14, 1949 to June 18, 1954. In total 402 radio episodes were produced. In an arrangement that amplified the growing pains of American broadcasting, as radio "grew up" into television, the Nelsons' deal with ABC gave the network the option to move their program to television.

 

THIS EPISODE:

February 20, 1949. "Invitations To Dinner" - NBC network. Sponsored by: International Silver. Ozzie accepts a dinner invitation from a man whose name he can't remember. Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard. 29:29. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boston Blackie - "The Brandon Jewel Robbery" (02-05-46)

The Brandon Jewel Robbery (Aired February 5, 1946)

Boston Blackie was portrayed in silent films by Bert Lytell, Lionel Barrymore, David Powell, William Russell, Forest Stanley and Raymond Glenn before Chester Morris made the role his own in 14 Columbia films and in a 1944 NBC summer replacement series (with Richard Lane reprising his screen role as Inspector Farraday). Following Chester Morris' summer series, Richard Kollmar starred as Blackie (with Maurice Tarplin as Farraday and Lesley Woods and Jan Miner as Mary Wesley) in a syndicated series that aired from April 11, 1945 through September 25, 1950. Kent Taylor later portrayed Boston Blackie in a 1951-53 television series. Show Notes From CHRISNEYLON.COM.
 

THIS EPISODE:

 February 5, 1946. Program #43. "The Brandon Jewel Robbery" - ABC network origination, Ziv syndication. Sponsored by: Champagne Velvet Beer (of Indiana). Blackie is framed for a jewelry store robbery and murder. Richard Kollmar, Lesley Woods, Maurice Tarplin. 23:55. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

MOVIE "99 River Street" MOVIE

MOVIE "99 River Street" (Released (USA) October 3, 1953)-MOVIE

99 River Street is a 1953 film noir directed by Phil Karlson and starring "John Payne and Evelyn Keyes". It also features Brad Dexter, Frank Faylen, and Peggie Castle. The screenplay is by Robert Smith, based on a short story by George Zuckerman. The film was produced by Edward Small, with cinematography by Franz Planer.

Ernie Driscoll is a former boxer who, after sustaining an injury in the ring severe enough to force him to give up prize fighting, is a New York taxi driver. His wife, Pauline, unhappy living a hard-up life, is having an affair with the much better-heeled Victor Rawlins, who happens to be a thief. An arrangement Rawlins made, to be paid for a batch of diamonds he has stolen, falls through; his fence indicates it is the presence of Pauline that has impeded the deal. In an effort to rekindle it, Rawlins kills Pauline and attempts to frame Driscoll for the murder. With the help of a female acquaintance (Evelyn Keyes), Driscoll tries to track down Rawlins before the criminal leaves the country.

Murder Clinic "A Scrap Of Lace" (09-22-42)

Murder Clinic "A Scrap Of Lace" (09-22-42) 

 INTRO: Bob Plays Jim Croce "Time In A Bottle"

Murder Clinic, the WOR-Mutual series which brought you each week one exciting case; one member from the special branch of the worldâs great detectives. Each week on Murder Clinic another detective story from another well-known mystery writer was adapted for broadcast. Fans of the so-called Golden Age of Detection should certainly sit up and take notice at the veritable cornucopia of delights that were heard during the year and a few months that the program was on the air. Every week another story by an author such as Edgar Wallace, Ngaio Marsh, Carter Dickson (John Dickson Carr), Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, G. K. Chesterton, Jacques Futrelle, Stuart Palmer, and (as we discovered) on and on.

THIS EPISODE:

 

September 22, 1942. Mutual network. "A Scrap Of Lace" (Aired September 22, 1942) . Sustaining. A handkerchief is the clue for detective Rosita Story. Elizabeth Morgan, Frank Knight (announcer). 1/2 hour.

The Abbott & Costello Show - "A Job For Lou's Girlfriend" (-04-45)

A Job For Lou's Girlfriend (Aired October 4, 1945)

Abbott and Costello William (Bud) Abbott and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo) were an American comedy duo whose work in radio, film and television made them one of the most popular teams in the history of comedy. Thanks to the endurance of their most popular and influential routine, "Who's on First?"---whose rapid-fire word play and comprehension confusion set the preponderant framework for most of their best-known routines---the team are also the only comedians known to have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bud Abbott was born in Asbury Park, NJ, October 2, 1897 and died April 24, 1974 in Woodland Hills, California. Lou Costello was born in Paterson, NJ, March 6, 1906 and died March 3, 1959 in East Los Angeles, California. After working as Allen's summer replacement.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
October 4, 1945. "A Job For Lou's Girlfriend" - Red network. Sponsored by: Camels, Prince Albert Pipe Tobacco. The first show of the season. The boys have just returned from New York. Lou has claimed to be the owner of NBC and has promised to get Lena Genster (say it fast) into the movies. Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Ken Niles (announcer), Will Osborne and His Orchestra, Dick Mack (director), Connie Haines. 29:55. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Hallmark Playhouse - "So Big" (02-24-49)

 So Big (Aired February 24, 1949)

The Hallmark Playhouse was heard over CBS stations Thursday evenings. This drama anthology of 30-minute shows was sponsored by, of course, Hallmark Greeting Cards. It was preceded by the Radio Readers Digest, which ran from September 13, 1942 thorugh June 3, 1948. Hallmark sponsored the Radio Readers Digest from January 13, 1946 to it's end. On Feb. 8, 1953, the series name and format was changed. It was now called The Hallmark Hall Of Fame and presented biographal sketches of famous persons, past and present. The new format was used until the end of the 1955 season. The exception to the new format was the broadcast each Christmas season of "A Christmas Carol". Like other dramatic series of this time, this one made use of major screen actors in the productions. James Hilton, author of "Random Harvest", "Lost Horizon" and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" plus others, served as host and Narrator. Dee Engelbach produced and directed the shows. Jean Holloway was the writer. Sound Effects were by Harry Essman and Gene Twombly. Musical conductor was Lyn Murray. The show's theme was "Dream of Olwne" by Charles Williams.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 

February 24, 1949. CBS network. "So Big". Sponsored by: Hallmark Cards. A woman's life on the farms of the Midwest during the last century. Edna Ferber (writer), Virginia Bruce, Jeff Chandler, Howard McNear, James Hilton (host). 28:34. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Gunsmoke - "Confederate Money" (03-13-54)

"Confederate Money" (Aired March 13, 1954)

The radio show first aired on April 26, 1952 and ran until June 18, 1961 on the CBS radio network. The series starred William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Parley Baer as Deputy Chester Proudfoot. Doc's first name and Chester's last name were changed for the television program. Gunsmoke was notable for its critically acclaimed cast and writing, and is commonly regarded as THE true adult western and one of the finest old time radio shows. Some listeners (such as old time radio expert John Dunning) have argued that the radio version of Gunsmoke was far more realistic than the television program. Episodes were aimed at adults, and featured some of the most explicit content of the day: there were violent crimes and scalpings, massacres and opium addicts. Miss Kitty's occupation as a prostitute was made far more obvious on the radio version than on television. Many episodes ended on a down-note, and villains often got away with their crimes.

THIS EPISODE:


March 13, 1954. CBS network. "Confederate Money". Sustaining. Neil Butler is fired by his boss Fate Ender when Lee Shin comes to town. Fate is bushwacked and wounded. He swears to get Neil for the crime. Barney Phillips, George Walsh (announcer), Georgia Ellis, Harry Bartell, Howard McNear, Jimmy Ogg, John Meston (writer), Norman Macdonnell (producer, director), Parley Baer, Rex Koury (composer, performer), Vic Perrin, William Conrad. 24:42. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Adventures Of Archie Andrews - "The Big Ballgame" (05-20-51)

The Big Ballgame (Aired May 20, 1951)

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. As the lead singer of The Archies, Archie performs with Betty, Veronica, Reggie, and Jughead. The Andrews family originated in Scotland, with great-grandfather "Andy Andrews" immigrating to the United States and befriending Moose Mason's Russian ancestor, who was emigrating at the same time. Archie has been depicted wearing the traditional kilt of his ancestors and playing bagpipes (but not very well).

Best Plays - "Winterset" (06-08-52)

Winterset (Aired June 8, 1952)

The Golden Age of Radio (sometimes referred to as old–time radio) refers to a period of radio programming in the United States lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until television's replacement of radio as the primary home entertainment medium in the 1950s. During this period, when radio was dominant and filled with a variety of formats and genres, people regularly tuned into their favorite radio programs. In fact, according to a 1947 C. E. Hooper survey, 82 out of 100 Americans were found to be radio listeners. Going on-air from 1952 to 1953, the Best Plays was a NBC Radio program that featured some of the most excellent theatric plays ever created. Some of the best ones featured were dramatic or comedic plays. John Chapman, New York Daily News' drama critic, served as the program's host.

THIS EPISODE:

June 8, 1952. NBC network. "Winterset". Sustaining. The first show of the series. John Chapman (host, editor), Fred Collins (announcer), Burgess Meredith, Maureen Stapleton, Maxwell Anderson (author), Joe DeSantis, Edwin Jerome, Roger De Koven, Joseph Julian, Ralph Bell, Bill Lipton, Gilbert Mack, Matt Crowley, Hal Benhoe (music selector), William Welch (supervisor), Edward King (director). 59:28. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Murder At Midnight - "The House Time Forgot" (08-16-46)

The House Time Forgot (Aired August 16, 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:
 

August 16, 1946. Program #18. KFI, Los Angeles origination, Cowan syndication, World transcription. "The House That Time Forgot". Commercials added locally. A couple buy a house with invisible tenants, and time runs backwards too! A good story of the supernatural. Raymond Morgan (host), Albert Buhrman (organist), Anton M. Leader (director), Elsie Hitz, Sigmund Miller (writer), Vinton Hayworth, Louis G. Cowan (producer). 26:17. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Mel Blanc Show - "Mel Imitates Actors" (11-12-46)

Mel Imitates Actors (Aired November 12, 1946)

In 1936, Mel Blanc joined Leon Schlesinger Productions, which made animated cartoons distributed by Warner Bros. Blanc liked to tell the story about how he got turned down at the Schlesinger studio by music director Norman Spencer, who was in charge of cartoon voices, saying that they had all the voices they needed. Then Spencer died, and sound man Treg Brown took charge of cartoon voices, while Carl Stalling took over as music director. Brown introduced Blanc to animation directors Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, Friz Freleng, and Frank Tashlin, who loved his voices. The first cartoon Blanc worked on was Picador Porky as the voice of a drunken bull. He took over as Porky Pig's voice in Porky's Duck Hunt, which marked the debut of Daffy Duck, also voiced by Blanc. Blanc soon became noted for voicing a wide variety of cartoon characters from Looney Tunes, adding Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird, Pepé Le Pew and many others. His natural voice was that of Sylvester the Cat, but without the lispy spray. (Blanc's voice can be heard in an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies that also featured frequent Blanc vocal foil Bea Benaderet; in his small appearance, Blanc plays a vexed cab-driver.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
November 12, 1946. "Mel Imitates Actors" - CBS network. Sponsored by: Colgate Toothpowder, Halo Shampoo. A fraternal initiation takes place while Mel minds the baby. Earle Ross, Hans Conried, Joseph Kearns, Mary Jane Croft, Mel Blanc, The Sportsmen, Victor Miller and His Orchestra. 24:40. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Life Of Riley - "Monohan Spends A Week" (05-22-48)

Monohan Spends A Week (Aired May 22, 1948)

INTRO: Bob Remembers The Fiestas "So Fine" (1959)   

The radio series also benefited from the immense popularity of a supporting character, Digby "Digger" O'Dell (John Brown), "the friendly undertaker."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:

May 22, 1948. "Monohan Spends A Week" - NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. Sidney Monahan, Peg's old flame from Brooklyn, comes for a visit. Riley becomes convinced that they're planning to run away together. Alan Lipscott (writer), Irving Brecher (producer), John Brown, Ken Niles (announcer), Paula Winslowe, Reuben Ship (writer), William Bendix. 34:22. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Nightfall - "Late Special" (08-08-80)

Late Special (Aired August 8, 1980)

BOB INTRO - Always & Forever - Heat wave (1976)-With My Intro

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:

August 8, 1980. Program #6. CBC, Toronto origination, NPR network, WPBH-FM, Middlefield, CT. aircheck. "Late Special". Sustaining. An excellent horror story about a man and a woman in a car wreck during a snow storm who are badly injured. "Tom," the conductor of a strange train offers to help, for a price. The WPBH-FM rebroadcast date is March 28, 1982. Henry Ramer (host), Clint Bomphray (writer, performer), Terry Tweed, Chris Wiggins, David Hughes, Trisha Allen, Judy Sinclair, Richard Donat, Frank Perry, John Jessop (recording engineer), Bill Robinson (sound effects), Nina Callaghan (production assistant), John Douglas (story editor), Bill Howell (producer, director). 26:22. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Man Called X - "Five Ounces Of Treason" (01-13-51)

Five Ounces Of Treason (Aired January 13, 1951)

The 1944 CBS Summer season finale, Murder, Music and A Blonde Madonna, gives some credence to the way CBS promoted this first run. 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. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
January 13, 1951. "Five Ounces Of Treason" - NBC network. Sponsored by: Anacin, RCA Victor. Ken Thurston flies to Cuba to track down "a tiny package that threatens the welfare of the world." Herbert Marshall, Leon Belasco, J. Richard Kennedy (producer), Felix Mills (composer, conductor), Les Crutchfield (writer), Jack Latham (announcer). 28:51. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Bob Hope and James Cagney In A Tabletop Dance-off From 1955

 

 

The video here is the famous 'dance off' scene between JAMES CAGNEY and BOB HOPE taken from 'The Seven Little Foys', a 1955 comedy film starring Bob Hope. This highlight of the film is an energetic tabletop dance showdown sequence with Bob Hope as Eddie Foy and James Cagney as George M. Cohan (reprising his role from Yankee Doodle Dandy).

Bob Hope and James Cagney in a tabletop dance-off (from the 1955 film "The Seven Little Foys"). Hope played vaudeville comedian Eddie Foy, while Cagney reprised his Academy Award-winning role as George M. Cohan (from 1942's "Yankee Doodle Dandy")
Bob Hope, perhaps the Great American Entertainer, standup comic, star of stage, screen, and song, who worked tirelessly up till death at 100.

Mr. Keen Tracer Of Lost Persons - "The Rented Cottage Murder Case" (04-03-52)

The Rented Cottage Murder Case (Aired April 3, 1952)

When Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons first debuted over the Blue Network on October 12, 1937, the show’s title accurately described Keen’s stock-in-trade; the “kindly old investigator” tracked down individuals who had mysteriously vanished, leaving behind their families, homes, jobs and other day-to-day activities. Keen (he never had a first name, unless it was “Peachy”) was assisted in these duties by an Irishman named Mike Clancy. Mike wasn’t much of a brainiac (the quote that comprises the title of this post was a semi-catchphrase that he seemed to use on the show every week) but he could use the necessary brawn when the situation called for it. Bennett Kilpack played kindly ol' Keen throughout most of the program’s run, as well as Philip Clarke and Arthur Hughes, while Jim Kelly took the role of Clancy.

 

THIS EPISODE:

April 3, 1952. NBC network. "The Rented Cottage Murder Case". Sponsored by: Anacin, Dentyne, Chesterfield. A strange cottage, renting for $25 during the housing shortage, is the scene of the murder of a cripple. The clue is in the crutches. Phillip Clarke, Richard Leonard (director), Jack Costello (announcer), Frank Hummert (originator, producer, dialogue), Anne Hummert (originator, producer). 28:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Mr. & Mrs. North - "Literary Murder" (01-26-44)

Literary Murder (Aired January 26, 1944)

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. Guest appearances on this series included Raymond Burr, Hans Conried, Mara Corday, Carolyn Jones, Katy Jurado, Jimmy Lydon, Julia Meade, William Schallert and Gloria Talbott.

The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet - "The Nelson Bank" (02-27-49)

The Nelson Bank (Aired February 27, 1949)

INTRO: Bob Plays The Moonglows "Sincerely" (1953)

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet launched on CBS October 8, 1944, making a mid-season switch to NBC in 1949. The final years of the radio series were on ABC (the former NBC Blue Network) from October 14, 1949, to June 18, 1954. In an arrangement that amplified the growing pains of American broadcasting, as radio "grew up" into television (as George Burns once phrased it), 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.

 

THIS EPISODE:

February 27, 1949. NBC network. Sponsored by: International Silver. "The Nelson Bank" gets in trouble when the $17 on deposit disappears. Verne Smith (announcer), John Brown, Tommy Bernard, Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard, Henry Blair, Hans Conried, Alan Reed, Billy May (composer, conductor). 29:29. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Aldrich Family - "Raising Carrier Pigeons" (02-27-40)

Raising Carrier Pigeons (Aired February 27, 1940)

INTRO: Bob Plays Harry Nilsson "Everybody's Talking (1966)

The Aldrich Family as a separate radio show was born as a summer replacement for Jack Benny in NBC's Sunday night lineup, July 2, 1939, and it stayed there until October 1, 1939, when it moved to Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., sponsored by General Foods's popular gelatin dessert Jell-O---which also sponsored Jack Benny at the time. The Aldriches ran in that slot from October 10, 1939 until May 28, 1940, moving to Thursdays, from July 4, 1940 until July 20, 1944. After a brief hiatus, the show moved to CBS, running on Fridays from September 1, 1944 until August 30, 1946 with sponsors Grape Nuts and Jell-O,.before moving back to NBC from September 05, 1946 to June 28, 1951 on Thursdays and, then, its final run of September 21, 1952 to April 19, 1953 on Sundays.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
February 27, 1940. NBC network. "Raising Carrier Pigeons" - Sponsored by: Jell-O. The Aldrich's have just hired a maid named Martha. Henry's raising rabbitts in the cellar. Henry and his pal Tommy are now raising carrier pigeons. Harry Von Zell (announcer), Clifford Goldsmith (creator, writer), House Jameson, Katharine Raht, Ezra Stone, Jack Miller (composer, conductor). 29:29. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The NBC University Theater - "Number One" (08-13-48)

Number One (Aired August 13, 1948)

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

THIS EPISODE:

August 13, 1948. NBC network. "Number One". Sustaining. A portrait of the seamier side of Southern politics and corruption. Barry Sullivan, Bob Bruce, Charles Seel, Dan Riss, Doris Singleton, Frank Gerstle, Henry Russell and His Orchestra, John C. Wilson (adaptor), John Dos Passos (writer), Marvin Miller, Ralph Moody, Shepard Menken, Tom Charlesworth, Truda Marson, Wally Maher, William Lally. 01:01:10. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The New Adventures Of Nero Wolf - "The Tell Tale Ribbon" (03-30-51)

The Tell Tale Ribbon (Aired March 30, 1951)

Nero Wolf is a fictional detective created by American author Rex Stout in the 1930s and featured in dozens of novels and novellas.In the stories, Wolfe is one of the most famous private detectives in the United States. He weighs about 285 pounds and is 5'11" tall. He raises orchids in a rooftop greenhouse in his New York City brownstone on West 35th Street, helped by his live-in gardener Theodore Horstmann. Wolfe drinks beer throughout the day and is a glutton. He employs a live-in chef, Fritz Brenner. He is multilingual and brilliant, though apparently self-educated, and reading is his third passion after food and orchids. He works in an office in his house and almost never leaves home, even to pursue the detective work that finances his expensive lifestyle. Instead, his leg work is done by another live-in employee, Archie Goodwin. He works in an office in his house and almost never leaves home, even to pursue the detective work that finances his expensive lifestyle. Instead, his leg work is done by another live-in employee, Archie Goodwin. While both Wolfe and Goodwin are licensed detectives, Goodwin is more of the classic fictional gumshoe, tough, wise-cracking, and skirt-chasing.

The Mysterious Traveler - "Operation Tomorrow" (04-11-50)

Operation Tomorrow (Aired April 11, 1950)

INTRO: Bob Plays Jackie Wilson "To Be Loved"  (1958)

Written and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Kogan, the series began on the Mutual Broadcasting System, December 5, 1943, continuing in many different timeslots until September 16, 1952. Unlike many other shows of the era, The Mysterious Traveler was without a sponsor for its entire run. The lonely sound of a distant locomotive heralded the arrival of the malevolent narrator, portrayed by Maurice Tarplin, who introduced himself each week in the following manner. This is the Mysterious Traveler, inviting you to join me on another journey into the strange and terrifying. I hope you will enjoy the trip, that it will thrill you a little and chill you a little. So settle back, get a good grip on your nerves and be comfortable -- if you can!

THIS EPISODE:

 April 11, 1950. Mutual network. "Operation Tomorrow". Sponsored by: Ford. A professor sends his assistant 100 years into the future in a newly built time machine. Arriving in the year 2050, the assistant finds that the world has been at war for ninety-five years! Leon Janney, Charlotte Holland, Maurice Tarplin (as "The Traveler"), Robert A. Arthur (writer, producer, director), David Kogan (writer, producer, director), Robert Donnelly, Ralph Bell, Durward Kirby (announcer). 29:19. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Cisco Kid" - Buffalo Skinner (10-20-53)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Cisco Kid" - Buffalo Skinner (Aired October 20, 1953)

Broadcast constantly sometimes once a week sometimes 3 times a week By Mutual, between 1942 and 1956. Western Drama mainly for the young ones or maybe just the young at heart. I say the young at heart, because The Cisco Kid and his likeable but simple partner Pancho were a couple of lovable rogues and because there was usually a lovely senorita around in every episode who fell madly in love with Sisco, there may well have been an element of lady listeners included in the audience rating figures. Here they were, these two Mexican bandits, travelling from sunset to sunset (because that's where they always road off to at the end of each episode) robbing the rich, but I wouldn't say giving it to the poor. At least they did it in a kind and humorous way. It was more a question of the victim being relieved of the heavy burden of his or her riches, rather than having some of their prized possessions taken away from them. 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.

The NBC University Theater - "A Farewell To Arms" (08-06-48)

A Farewell To Arms (08-06-48) 

Launched as an experiment in July, 1948, The following is a quote taken from the Peabody Award web site: The response to the first five performances, which included "A Farewell To Arms," by Ernest Hemingway, "Noon Wine," by Katherine Anne Porter, and "Main Street," by Sinclair Lewis, was so vociferous that the network pocketed any misgivings it may have had, moved the show to a more desirable hour, and found the actors and the funds to sustain a series of absorbing and skillfully adapted programs. Unfortunately, the "University" in the title kept listeners away for fear of the shows being to "high brow". NBC attempted to change this view by removing the "University" from the title for a short time. 

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
February 5, 1950. NBC network. "The Track Of The Cat" Sustaining. A story of family conflict, complicated by a murderous black panther. Andrew C. Love (director), Andrew C. Love (President and Editor of The New Republic and New York correspondent of The Manchester Guardian), Don Randolph, Don Stanley (announcer), George Lefferts (writer), John Dehner, Lee Miller, Lynn Milland, Lynn Whitney, Noreen Gammill, Ralph Moody, Steven Chase, Walter Van Tilber Clark (author). 59:58.  Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Stan Freberg Show - "College Football Report" (09-22-57)

 College Football Report (Aired September 22, 1957)

"After I replaced Jack Benny in 1957 they were unable to sell me with spot announcements in the show. That would mean that every three minutes I'd have to drop a commercial in. So I said, "Forget it, I want to be sponsored by one person like Benny was, by American Tobacco or State Farm Insurance," except that I wouldn't let them sell me to American Tobacco. I refused to let them sell me to any cigarette company. Freberg has two children, Donna Jr. (Donna Jean Ebsen, named after her mother, Donna) and Donavan Freberg, who was given his name on his fifth birthday. Before that he was simply known as "Baby Boy." Donavan Freberg explained, "As for how they decided on Donavan, my sister is named Donna, as was my mother. My dad had writer's block, so he just elongated Donna. Until then, they called me baby boy, a name I shared with the family dog, a freakishly small but very cute Yorkshire terrier." Stan Freberg's first wife, Donna, died in 2000, and he married Betty Hunter in 2002.

THIS EPISODE:
 
September 22, 1957. Program #11. "College Football Report" - CBS network. Sustaining. A sports interview, A Hollywood agent with canine clients, Bang Gunley: U. S. Marshall Fields (sponsored by "Puffed Grass" cereal). Stan Freberg, Billy May and His Orchestra, Daws Butler, June Foray, Peggy Taylor, Peter Leeds. 35:39. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

James Cagney - "Yankee Doodle Medley" (1942)

 Bob Plays James Cagney - "Yankee Doodle Medley" (1942)

Yankee Doodle Dandy is a 1942 American biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as "The Man Who Owned Broadway".[2] It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf, and features Irene Manning, George Tobias, Rosemary DeCamp, Jeanne Cagney, and Vera Lewis. Joan Leslie's singing voice was partially dubbed by Sally Sweetland.

The film was written by Robert Buckner and Edmund Joseph, and directed by Michael Curtiz. According to the special edition DVD, significant and uncredited improvements were made to the script by the twin brothers Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein. The film was a major hit for Warner Brothers, and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three.

In 1993, Yankee Doodle Dandy was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant", and in 1998, the film was included on the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Movies list, a compilation of the 100 greatest films in American cinema.

The Saint - "The Music Maestro Murder" (06-18-50)

The Music Maestro Murder (Aired June 18, 1950)

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. The formula continued through the Mutual rebroadcasts and the move to NBC in June of 1950.

THIS EPISODE:

June 18, 1950. NBC network. "The Music Maestro Murder" aka: "A Sonata For Slayers". Sustaining. A famous pianist is shot at the keyboard and killed. One of the suspects is Ludwig Von Beethoven! Sidney Marshall (writer), Alice Frost, Vaughn Dexter (composer, conductor), James L. Saphier (produer), Helen Mack (director), Doug Gorlay (announcer), Fritz Feld, Ted Osborne, Tony Barrett, Vincent Price, Leslie Charteris (creator), George Neise. 28:05. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Rogue's Gallery - "Cabin On The Lake" (07-07-46)

Cabin On The Lake (Aired July 7, 1946)

Rogue's Gallery also starred different actors as Rogue, in later incarnations of the series, but Richard Powell was the most popular. 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.
 

THIS EPISODE:

 

July 7, 1946. "Cabin On The Lake" - NBC network. Sponsored by: Fitch Shampoo, Fitch's Ideal Hair Tonic. At a resort, Janice Cole is found dead in her room. Her body promptly disappears while Rogue sleeps through his weekly hit-on-the-head. Rogue is then accused of the crime! This is a rehearsal recording or unedited tape. Dick Powell, Dee Englebach (producer, director), Leith Stevens (composer, conductor), Jimmy Doyle (announcer), Ray Buffum (writer), Peter Leeds. 30:53. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Whitehall1212 - "The Blitz Murder Case" (11-18-51)

The Blitz Murder Case (Aired November 18, 1951)

Whitehall 1 2, 1 2 Tweaked Jan. 12, 2006 This series was very similar to the Black Museum that was hosted by Orson Welles. Both the Black Museum and Whitehall 1212 drew their material from the files of Scotland Yard. The stories were true in every respect except that the names were changed to protect the innocent, as they say. The Whitehall 1212 series boasted that for the first time Scotland Yard opened its files and the producers promised to bring to the public authentic true stories of some of the most celebrated cases. Permission for these records came from Sir Harold Scott, Commissioner of the yard at that time. There is actually a Black Museum. This area is located on the lower ground floor of Scotland Yard and it does indeed contain articles that are closely associated with the solving of a crime. And "Whitehall 1212" was the actual emergency phone number for the yard at the time.

 

THIS EPISODE:
 

November 18, 1951. NBC network. "The Blitz Murder Case". Sustaining. The first show of the series. A visit to the "Black Museum" and an exhibit of teacup fragments. A woman and her companion have been killed with a shotgun. Percy Hoskins (researcher), Wyllis Cooper (writer, director). 30:01. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Mystery House - "Well Well Another Body" (09-23-45)

Well Well Another Body (Aired September 23, 1945)

That strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn - where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff, before it is accepted for publication. Mystery House was a program in the 1950’s, but not your run of the mill type program. Actually it was more of a proving ground for novels. Dan and Barbara Glenn owned a publishing company named “Mystery House”  located at 70 Park Avenue, New York City. Dan and Barbara decided to test some of their novels on a real listening audience. Each episode was taken from a novel they were planning on publishing. The entire staff at Mystery House was involved,  everyone doing their part, whether it was rewriting to adapt it to radio, playing the parts or doing sound effects, everyone joined in. Sadly, not a lot is known about this series. Only 15 are known to exist.

 

THIS EPISODE:

September 23, 1945. Mutual network, WGN, Chicago origination, Harry S. Goodman syndication. "Well, Well, Another Body". Commercials added locally. A body has been found in a front yard, by Mr. Richauver. He finds them all the time! Nanette Sargent, Forrest Lewis, Rye Billsbury (announcer). 24:46. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Rocky Fortune (Starring Frank Sinatra) - Carnival One Way (12-08-53)

Carnival One Way (Aired December 8, 1953)

Frank Sinatra seemed very comfortable in the role of Rocco Fortunato--'Rocky Fortune'--and the scripts that George Lefferts and Ernest Kinoy wrote for Sinatra made for some fascinating adventures. The role was clearly written specifically for him, and more importantly for the more 'adult' persona his agents and publicity reps were trying to portray of him at this point in his career. He'd already done the teen and 20-something idol gig, and he had been expressing more of an interest in dramatic work. Perhaps Sinatra's managers were simply hedging their bets. Sinatra's greatest initial dramatic role in From Here To Eternity was released October 19, 1953, just weeks after Rocky Fortune began its 26-week run on NBC. As we all know now, From Here to Eternity was a box-office smash, propelling Sinatra into a whole new career in Film. Thus, as with Alan Ladd in his Mayfair Productions program, Box-13, Sinatra--and Las Vegas and Hollywood--found a far greater immediate demand for his talent on stage and in Film. The Big-Screen's gain was Radio's loss. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

THIS EPISODE:

December 8, 1953. NBC network. "Carnival One-Way". Sustaining. Not auditioned. Frank Sinatra, Fred Weihe (director), Bryna Raeburn, David Pfeffer, Ken Williams, William Griffis, Leon Janney, Mason Adams, George Lefferts (writer), Ray Barrett (announcer). 22:51. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.