Dimension X - "Nightfall" (09-29-51)

Nightfall (Aired September 29, 1951)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays The Supremes "You Cant Hurry Love" (1966)

It was released on July 25 of 1966 as the second single from their studio album The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966). Written and produced by Motown production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song topped the United States Billboard pop singles chart, made the UK top five, and made the top 10 in the Australian Singles Chart.

Dimension X was first heard on NBC April 8, 1950, and ran until September 29, 1951. Strange that so little good science fiction came out of radio; they seem ideally compatible, both relying heavily on imagination. Some fine isolated science fiction stories were developed on the great anthology shows, Suspense and Escape. But until the premiere of Dimension X -- a full two decades after network radio was established -- there were no major science fiction series of broad appeal to adults. This show dramatized the work of such young writers as Ray Bradbury, Robert (Psycho) Bloch, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Kurt Vonnegut. In-house script writer was Ernest Kinoy, who adapted the master works and contributed occasional storied of his own. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
September 29, 1951. NBC network. "Nightfall". Sustaining. A visit to a planet on the edge of our galaxy that circles a group of six suns. There hasn't been a sunset for the last two thousand forty nine years...until now! The last show of the series. The script was used subsequently on "X Minus One" on December 7, 1955. Cameron Prud'Homme, Isaac Asimov (author), Lyle Sudrow, Ernest Kinoy (adaptor), John McGovern, Norman Rose (host), Albert Buhrman (music), William Welch (producer), Fred Weihe (director), Bill Rippe (announcer), Staats Cotsworth, Joseph Boland. 30:22. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Let George Do It - "Human Nature" (09-15-52)

Human Nature (Aired September 15, 1952)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Kenny Rogers "Lady" (1980)

Let George Do It was a radio drama series produced by Owen and Pauline Vinson from 1946 to 1954. It starred Bob Bailey as detective-for-hire George Valentine (with Olan Soule stepping into the role in 1954). Clients came to Valentine's office after reading a newspaper carrying his classified ad: "Personal notice: Danger's my stock in trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you've got a job for me. George Valentine. "The few earliest episodes were more sitcom than private eye shows, with a studio audience providing scattered laughter at the not-so-funny scripts. Soon the audience was banished, and George went from stumbling comedic hero to tough guy private eye, while the music became suspenseful. Valentine's secretary was Claire Brooks, aka Brooksie (Frances Robinson, Virginia Gregg, Lillian Buyeff). As Valentine made his rounds in search of the bad guys, he usually encountered Brooksie's kid brother, Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 

September 15, 1952. Mutual-Don Lee network. "Human Nature". Sponsored by: Standard Oil. A nightclub cleaning woman suspects that her boss is a fence. The boss is murdered in a very secure room...with a suspicious cuckoo clock! The program has also been dated April 30, 1951. Bob Bailey, Virginia Gregg, Ken Christy, Bud Hiestand (announcer), David Victor (writer), Kenneth Webb (director), Griff Barnett, Gaylord Carter (music), Noreen Gammill, Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell. 29:54. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Duffy's Tavern - "Special Guest Is Linda Darnell" (01-19-45)

Special Guest Is Linda Darnell (Aired January 19, 1945)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays The Chimes "Once In A While" (1961)

Duffy's Tavern, an American radio situation comedy (CBS, 1941-1942; NBC-Blue Network, 1942-1944; NBC, 1944-1952), often featured top-name stage and film guest stars but always hooked those around the misadventures, get-rich-quick-scheming, and romantic missteps of the title establishment's malaprop-prone, metaphor-mixing manager, Archie, played by the writer/actor who co-created the show, Ed Gardner. 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.

Dragnet - "The Big Convertible" (06-28-55)

The Big Convertible (Aired June 28, 1955)

Number 0ne Hit For Barbra & Neil.

Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond recorded “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” in 1978. Diamond reminisced about the recording session: “It was the two of us with a piano and we sang it, and they put the strings on it later. And just — I think two or three takes. And, you know, it was easy … I mean, she’s, you know, probably the greatest female singer of my generation.”Neil Diamond  Barbra Streisand - You Dont Bring Me Flowers Anymore 1978

Dragnet was a long running radio and television police procedural drama, about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a Dragnet, meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet was perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in American media history. The series gave millions of Americans a feel for the boredom and drudgery, as well as the danger and heroism, of real life police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. Actor and producer Jack Webb's aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting. He achieved both goals and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
June 28, 1955. Program #306. NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Convertible". A man cashing bad payroll checks all over town has been using a rented car. Jack Webb, Ben Alexander. 25 minutes. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Dr. Christian - Guest Of Honor (01-10-39)

 

 Dr. Christian is a long-running radio series with Jean Hersholt in the title role. It aired on CBS Radio from November 7, 1937, to January 6, 1954.[1] In 1956, the series was adapted for television where it aired in syndication until 1957. After Hersholt portrayed the character Dr. John Luke, based on Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the obstetrician who delivered and cared for the Dionne Quintuplets, in the 20th Century Fox movie The Country Doctor (1936) and its two sequels. He wanted to do the same role on radio but could not get the rights. He decided to create his own doctor character for radio, and since he was a Hans Christian Andersen enthusiast, he borrowed that name for his character of philosophical Dr. Paul Christian.

THIS EPISODE:

January 10, 1939. CBS network. "Guest Of Honor". Sponsored by: Vaseline. The program originates from New York City. Jean Hersholt, Andre Baruch (announcer), Gloria Holden, Jeffrey Bryant, Eustace Wyatt, Stanley Harris, Berry Kroeger, Lucille Meredith, Frank Butler, Bennett Kilpack, Jack Grimes. 29:27.  Episode Notes From Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod.

Yellowjack (Aired June 18, 1946)

 

 

Encore Theater. June 18, 1946. CBS net. "Yellowjack". Sponsored by: Schenley Laboratories. The story of how Dr. Reed discovered the cause of Yellow Fever. Ronald Colman, Edwin Max, Norman Field, Frank Nelson, Ken Christy, Jerry Hausner, Bill Lawrence (producer, director), Frank Graham (announcer), Leith Stevens (music), Jean Holloway (writer), Sidney Howard (author). 29:16.

Show Description: ENCORE THEATER was a 1946 Summer replacement series, sponsored by Schenley Labs, Inc. All shows had a medical theme, some concerned medical research, some covered personal stories of people in the medical field but all based on true stories. Schenley Labs, Inc. was the sponsor for the series. The shows aired Tuesday evenings from 9:30 to 10:00 PM over CBS affiliated stations. Members of the cast were typically well-known radio or screen actors, such as Lurene Tuttle, Eric Snowden, Gerald Mohr, Ronald Colman, Robert Young or Lionel Barrymore. Producer for series was Bill Lawrence, who also directed the series. The announcer was Frank Graham. Music was by Leith Stevens. Scripts were written and adapted by Jean Holloway, Lloyd C. Douglas, Sidney Kingsley and Milton Geiger. Twelve of the thirteen scripts were adapted by Jean Holloway. The 1946 Summer series ended with the August 27th show, replaced by "Cresta Blanca Hollywood Players" (possibly known as "The Hollywood Players Company". There was a second ENCORE THEATER Summer series in 1949, however there is little information on it. It aired on Sundays. Eight shows are known to be in circulation. Known air dates are April 17, April 24, May 8 and June 5.

The Witch's Tale - "Four Fingers And A Thumb" (10-19-37)

Four Fingers And A Thumb (Aired October 19, 1937)

John Dunning in his "On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio," relates the odd tale of getting the replacement for the original Nancy, Adelaide Fitz-Allen, who died at 79 in 1935. A radio veteran, only a mere 13 years old, Miriam Wolfe by name, was then on the fine children's program, Let's Pretend. Of course, she wasn't considered for the part. She stayed in the studio during a late-night broadcast by Witch's Tale writer/director, Alonzo Deen Cole, and began her "Nancy" without warning. Cole was so chilled by her mimicry of an ancient crone that she got the part on the spot. Later in the show's run, the role was taken by Martha Wentworth.

 

THIS EPISODE:

October 19, 1937. Program #2. MacQuarrie (Australian) syndication. "Four Fingers and A Thumb". Commercials added locally. Old Nancy is 117 years old today. The hand of a dead Chinaman returns to haunt its killer. The story was subsequently produced on The Star Spangled Theater on August 3, 1941. The date of the Australian production is approximate; and the program may have been syndicated by Artransa. The script is similar to "The Witch's Tale" program titled, "The Gypsy's Hand'. Alonzo Deen Cole (writer). 26:57. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Wild Bill Hickock" - Ghost Town Gold (09-02-51)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Wild Bill Hickock"
Ghost Town Gold (Aired September 2, 1951)

Wild Bill Hickock was quick with his fists and a quip, but Jingles (dear god that nickname) got all his glory by using his immense girth to fight the bad guys. Jingles if you couldn’t tell was the comedic element in the series. And what is it with overweight sidekicks in westerns? See Cisco Kid’s partner, the jolly and rotund Pancho. Give the horses a break. The radio program lasted until 1954. The television show was started at the same time in 1951 and lasted until 1958. Also Wild Bill was portrayed by Gary Cooper in the 1936 movie, The Plainsman. Wild Bill has shown up in various other movies and television shows, most recently in the show Deadwood on HBO.

 

THIS EPISODE:

September 2, 1951. Program #15. Mutual network. "Ghost Town Gold". Sponsored by: Kellogg's Corn Pops. The sheriff has disappeared, the deputy sheriff has been holding up stagecoaches, attacking the ranchers and blaming it on the Choctaws. The system cue is added live. Charles Lyon (announcer), David Hire (producer), Paul Pierce (director), Richard Aurandt (music), Marion Richman, Clayton Post, Frederick Shields, Guy Madison, Andy Devine, Forrest Lewis, Jack Moyles. 25:27. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Family Theater - "The Lonely Road" (Starring Gregory Peck) 05-15-47

 

Family Theater - Lonely Road (Starring Gregory Peck) Aired May 15, 1947

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Percy Faith & His Orchestra
"The Theme From A Summer Place" (1960) #1 Hit

This instrumental song that indicates summer romance was part of the score for the 1959 movie A Summer Place, which stared Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee and was set on an island in Maine.
In the US, this was the top selling single of 1960. It won the 1960 Grammy for Record Of The Year, becoming the first movie theme to win the award. Faith was a composer who arranged songs for a variety of artists, including Tony Bennett.

Each program was preceded by the familiar announcement: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”—a quote from Alfred, Lord Tennyson. And always worked in somewhere before the end of the show was the famous slogan that became Peyton’s signature: “The family that prays together stays together!” Father Peyton’s vision of the family is expressed in his book, The Ear of God: “The family was meant to be the cradle of religion,” he wrote. “Restore to the family its religious soul and you enrich the entire country, you strengthen civilization.” Many people, including Hollywood entertainers, were happy to support this vision. The lineup of stars that Peyton recruited for his radio show included Hollywood’s best: Gary Cooper, Loretta Young, Lucille Ball, Jane Wyatt, Henry Fonda, Jack Benny, Rosalind Russell, Shirley Temple, Margaret O’Brien, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Durante, Gene Kelly, Natalie Wood, Vincent Price, Charlton Heston and Raymond Burr, to name a few.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 May 15, 1947. Mutual network. "The Lonely Road". Sustaining. An honest politician is offered a substantial bribe and a potent threat to "sell out" or else. His decision is made easier by a visit from Abraham Lincoln himself! Max Terr (music), Rod O'Connor, Frederick J. Lipp (writer), Mel Williamson (director), Betty Arnold, Tony La Frano (announcer), John Ryder (producer, director), Nelson Eddy (host), Gregory Peck, Phillip Abbott, Byron Kane, Barney Phillips, Jean Layton, Lou Merrill. 29:39.Episode Notes From Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod.

Whirehall 1212 - "The Heathrow Affair" (12-23-51)

The Heathrow Affair (Aired December 23, 1951)

Bob Camardella Plays Lee Andrews & The Hearts "Long Lonely Nights" (1957)
"Long Lonely Nights" (1957 Chess Records) U.S. Pop #45, R&B #11 (with b-side: "The Clock")

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. The research for the shows was done by Percy Hoskins, chief crime reporter for the London Daily Express.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
December 23, 1951. "The Heathrow Affair"- NBC network. Sustaining. An intelligent criminal plans to rob Heathrow airport of a shipment of gold. Beware the poisoned tea! The final public service announcement and the system cue have been deleted. Percy Hoskins (researcher), Wyllis Cooper (writer, director). 28:25. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Whistler - "A Quiet Sunday" (06-10-46)

A Quiet Sunday (Aired June 10, 1946)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Elvis Presley "Suspicious Minds" (1969)

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

 

THIS EPISODE:

June 10, 1946. CBS Pacific network. "A Quiet Sunday". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. Henry is caught between his wife and his mistress, which leads to a dead body in the trunk. The story has a good "whistleresque" ending. Surprise! The script was subsequently produced on The Whistler on July 2, 1950 (see cat. #76166). George W. Allen (producer), Wilbur Hatch (music), Marvin Miller (announcer), Joseph Kearns, Mary Lansing, Bernard Gerard (writer), Zane Mann (writer). 27:37. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Whirehall 1212 - "The Heathrow Affair" (12-23-51)

The Heathrow Affair (Aired December 23, 1951)

Bob Camardella Plays Lee Andrews & The Hearts "Long Lonely Nights" (1957)
"Long Lonely Nights" (1957 Chess Records) U.S. Pop #45, R&B #11 (with b-side: "The Clock")

 

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. The research for the shows was done by Percy Hoskins, chief crime reporter for the London Daily Express.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
December 23, 1951. "The Heathrow Affair"- NBC network. Sustaining. An intelligent criminal plans to rob Heathrow airport of a shipment of gold. Beware the poisoned tea! The final public service announcement and the system cue have been deleted. Percy Hoskins (researcher), Wyllis Cooper (writer, director). 28:25. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.
 

 

The Whisperer - "The Woman On Ice" (09-09-51)

 The Woman On Ice (Aired September 9, 1951)

The Whisperer, relentless crime-fighter against organized crime, or 'The Syndicate.' Galt used his legal contacts and knowledge of the Law to burrow deep into 'The Syndicate' in order to influence their actions and wreck havoc with their various new--and tried and true--criminal schemes. A subsequent surgical operation by famed surgeon Dr. Benjamin Lee, restored attorney Galt's voice, but Galt continues to employ his gruesome whisper to both retain his cover, and to further gain access to--and influence over--The Syndicate. He's aided by Ellen Norris, formerly a nurse who'd assisted Dr. Lee in restoring Galt's vocal chords. She becomes Galt's assistant and love interest for the remainder of the production. Phillip Galt is portrayed by Carleton G. Young, one of Radio's most recognizable voices. The part of Ellen Norris is portrayed by Betty Moran. 

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
September 9, 1951. "The Woman On Ice" - NBC network. Sustaining. The Whisperer gives the syndicate's instructions. It's only one word, "Now." Carleton Young, Betty Moran, Stetson Humphrey (creator), John Duffy (original music), Bill Cairn (producer, director), Don Rickles (announcer), Sidney Miller, Stacy Harris, Charles Moody, Michael Ann Barrett, Jonathan Twice (writer). 29:00. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

I Love Adventure "The Finishing School Kidnapping" (05-30-48)

I Love Adventure "The Finishing School Kidnapping" Aired (May 30, 1948)

 

 

 INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays The Rivieras "Count Every Star" (1958)

Episode 6 in this Carlton Morse series. Reggie York, and Jack Packard are back in London for their next assignment from the 21 distinguished gentlemen. They recieve a mysterious message warning them off of taking on this assignment. In loud, resonant voice, they get their mission. Good thing it’s a sound proof room. Instead of one damsel in distress, they are to rescue an entire finishing school of girls. All daughters of world leaders, and important families. It’s off to India to find a one-eyed Greek. Gunplay on the airplane? My, you can sure tell this is before the days of modern airport security. Trivia Alert: In the general timeframe of this show it was common for the pilot and cockpit crew to carry a pistol. Now, just where would you hide a bunch of young girls in India? A Harem? Follow our heros high in the mountains to get to the bottom of the mystery.

 

THIS EPISODE:

"The Finishing School Kidnapping" (May 30, 1948) - A mysterious message warning them off of taking on this assignment. In loud, resonant voice, they get their mission. Good thing it’s a sound proof room. Instead of one damsel in distress, they are to rescue an entire finishing school of girls. All daughters of world leaders, and important families. It’s off to India to find a one-eyed Greek. Gunplay on the airplane? My, you can sure tell this is before the days of modern airport security. Show Notes From Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod.

The Adventures Of Ellery Queen - "The Message In Red" (11-07-45)

"The Message In Red" (Aired November 7, 1945)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Tony Williams & The Platters "Only You" (1956)

The Platters are an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound bridges the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the new burgeoning genre. The act has gone through multiple line-ups over the years, earning it the branding tag "Many Voices One Name", with the most successful incarnation comprising lead tenor Tony Williams, David Lynch, Paul Robi, founder and naming member Herb Reed, and Zola Taylor. The group had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1955 and 1967, including four number-one hits.

Tuska cited Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940) and Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as the best of the Bellamy-Lindsay pairings. "The influence of The Thin Man series was apparent in reverse", Tuska noted about Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery. "Ellery and Nikki are unmarried but obviously in love with each other. Probably the biggest mystery... is how Ellery ever gets a book written. Not only is Nikki attractive and perfectly willing to show off her figure", Tuska wrote, "but she also likes to write her own stories on Queen's time, and gets carried away doing her own investigations."

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
November 7, 1945. CBS network. "The Adventure Of The Message In Red". Sponsored by: Anacin, Hill Cold Tablets. Three women have been shot to death in one night...by the same gun. What did the three women have in common...and who killed them? Don Hancock (anouncer), Victor Jory ("Guest Armchair Detective"), Sydney Smith, Santos Ortega, Ted de Corsia, Gertrude Warner, Raymond Edward Johnson, Anthony Boucher (writer), Manfred B. Lee (creator, writer), Frederic Dannay (creator), Bob Steel (producer, director), Chet Kinsbury (music), Frank Mellow (sound effects), James Rinaldi (sound engineer), Virginia Dwyer (commercial spokeswoman). 29:55. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.