Theater Royal - "The Aspern Papers" (05-23-54)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Al Martino "Here In My Heart" (1952)

Harry Alan Towers produced and directed the show for his Towers of London company for international syndication, at the time in Europe, South Africa and Australia. The episodes included in this distribution are from the initial US run on NBC. However selected episodes were repeated, with a different series opening and close on the ABC Mystery Time series during the late 1950s. The show Theatre Royal remained in active syndication in the United States well up into the 1970s. Many of the copies in circulation today, come from those 1970s repeats where the individual episodes were cut to about 20 minutes. Luckily these cuts were made by the production company and generally do not take away from the actual program enjoyment. This reduced length comes from a combination for factors including removing dated introductory material from the beginning of the early episodes, making time for local stations to include hourly 5 minute newscasts and to insert commercials locally. From the Old Time Radio Researcher's Group



THIS EPISODE:



May 23, 1954. NBC net origination, Towers Of London syndication, WRVR-FM, New York. "The Aspern Papers". Participating sponsors. WRVR-FM rebroadcast date: January 24, 1975. Ralph Richardson (host, performer), Derek Patmore (adaptor), Sidney Torch (music), Harry Alan Towers (producer), Henry James (author). 25 minutes. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

I Deal In Crime - "The Laura Shields Case" (01-21-46)

Laura Shields Case (Aired January 21, 1946)

I Deal in Crime ran for almost two years on ABC network radio and starred the very capable radio and Hollywood actor, William Gargan. In this, one of his many PI radio series (he's best known, of course, for his role as Martin Kane), Gargan played ROSS DOLAN, described as a veteran detective who returned to his sleuthing job after his WW II service as a sailor. Or as Dolan puts it, "a hitch in Uncle Sugar's Navy." This series was written by Ted Hediger and directed by Leonard Reeg. The show's announcer was Dresser Dahlstead and Skitch Henderson (later to win fame on television) handled the music. The show began in January 1946 and ran as a 30 minute show, first on Monday nights but for the last eleven months on Saturday evenings. It ended in October 1947.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
January 21, 1946. ABC network. "The Laura Shields Case."  Sustaining. Possibly the first show of the series. William Gargan as detective Ross Dolan. Laura Shields hires Dolan to be her bodyguard. He finds plenty of murder. Dresser Dahlstead (announcer), Leonard Reeg (director), Skitch Henderson (composer, conductor), Ted Hediger (director), William Gargan. 30:43. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Sleep No More - "Three O'Clock" (12-12-56)

Three O'Clock (Aired December 12, 1956)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Playsd Elvis Presley

"Burning Love" (Aloha From Hawaii, Live in Honolulu, 1973)

Sleep No More was Nelson's Olmsted's contribution to The Golden Age of Radio's rich tradition of broadcasting compelling and stirring supernatural and suspense dramas, predominantly from the finest supernatural literature throughout modern history. Sleep No More arrived during the waning years of the Golden Age of Radio--understandably risky Radio programming for the mid-1950s. On the plus side of the equation were Nelson Olmsted's extremely loyal following throughout the U.S. combined with the classic nature of the stories which comprised the series. These stories were many of the most popular and compelling supernatural stories and adventures in literary history.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
December 12, 1956. NBC network. "Three O'Clock". Sustaining. A man plans murder of his wife but out smarts himself. Nelson Olmsted, Ben Grauer (announcer), Kenneth MacGregor (director), Cornell Woolrich (author, using the name William Irish). 29:13. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Mayor Of The Town - "Bob Hope Visits" (03-21-43)

Bob Hope Visits (Aired March 21. 1943)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Frank Sinatra "Autumn Leaves" (1956)

An NBC offering. Aired on Sundays from 7:00PM to 7:30PM, starring Lional Barrymore and Agnes Moorehead. The creator and writer was Jean Holloway, the announcer Harlow Wilcox, music by Gordon Jenkins and sponsored by Rinso detergent. The show was a perfect vehicle for Lionel Barrymore: rich with warmhearted humor, and good-natured grumbling, its "mayor" had a fierce bark but a mushy heart when confronted with the plight of an orphan or a stray dog. The mayor cared little about political advantage: he even found time, once a year, to turn the town of Springdale into a special theater, to give his traditional performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. THE CAST: Lionel Barrymore as the mayor of the town of Springdale. Agnes Moorehead as Marilly, his housekeeper. Conrad Binyon as the mayor's ward, Butch. Gloria McMillan as Sharlee Bronson, Butch's best girl. Priscilla Lyon as Holly-Ann, the mayor's granddaughter. Also: Will Wright, Sharon Douglas, Irvin Lee, Marjorie Davies.

 

THIS EPISODE:

March 21. 1943. "Bob Hope Visits" - CBS network. Sponsored by: Rinso. The first show of the series on CBS. The mayor is asked to take care of an eleven-year-old war orphan. A heartwarming, tearful script. The system cue has been deleted. Lionel Barrymore, Harlow Wilcox (announcer), Bob Bailey, Jerry Hausner, Billy Roy, Agnes Moorehead, Jean Holloway (writer). 28:44. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Frontier Gentleman" - A Horse For Kendall (09-14-58)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Frontier Gentleman"
A Horse For Kendall (Aired September 14, 1958)

1958's Frontier Gentleman wasn't a ground-breaking adult western. That ground had been pulverized both in Radio and Television six years earlier. But Frontier Gentleman's perspective on the rough and tumble Montana and Wyoming Territories of the 1870s was a fascinating twist on the--by then--formulaic adult western. The premise has who spent most of his military career in the Punjab area of India. He takes a position with the London Times, on assignment to cover the developing frontier of the Montana and Wyoming Territories of America during the 1870s. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 

September 14, 1958. CBS network. "A Horse For Kendall". Sustaining. A race from Deadwood to Cheyenne...the hard way! The public service announcements have been partially deleted.  John Dehner, Will Wright, Vic Perrin, Ralph Moody, Jack Moyles, Antony Ellis (writer, producer, director), William Alland, Bud Sewell (announcer). 25:42. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Tales Of The Texas Rangers" - The Ice Man (03-02-52)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "Tales Of The Texas Rangers"
The Ice Man (Aired March 2, 1952)

 

Tales of the Texas Rangers, a western adventure old-time radio drama, premiered on July 8, 1950, on the NBC radio network and remained on the air through September 14, 1952. Movie star Joel McCrea starred as Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson, who used the latest scientific techniques to identify the criminals and his faithful horse, Charcoal, to track them down. The shows were reenactments of actual Texas Ranger cases. The series was produced and directed by Stacy Keach, Sr., and was sponsored for part of its run by Wheaties. Captain Manuel T. "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas, a Ranger for 30 years and who was said to have killed 31 men during his career, served as consultant for the series. The series was adapted for television from 1955 to 1957.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 

March 2, 1952. NBC network. "The Ice Man". Sustaining. Based on the events of September 17, 1948. A strange burglar who eats before he robs and who wields a mean ice pick is finally tracked down by the Rangers. Joel McCrea, Stacy Keach (producer, director), Hal Gibney (announcer), Tony Barrett, Lillian Buyeff, Whitfield Connor, Parley Baer, Phil Harris (NBC promo), Alice Faye (NBC promo), Bill Forman (NBC promo), Jack Paar (NBC promo). 29:50. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Lives Of Harry Lime - "The Hard Way" (06-27-52)

 

 

 INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Earth Wind And Fire "After The Love Is Gone" (1979)

"The Hard Way" (Aired June 27, 1952)

The Third Man (The Lives of Harry Lime) was a old-time radio adventure series that ran in 1951 and 1952. It was based on the 1949 film of the same name. Orson Welles stars as Harry Lime, a perpetually broke confidence man, smuggler, and general scoundrel. He will participate in virtually any criminal activity to make a fast buck, but uses his wits rather than a gun. He draws the line short of murder, blackmail, or drugs. Even so, Harry is an endearing character and listeners love to hear of his one-step-ahead-of-the-law misadventures as he hops around the globe looking for his next pigeon. The zither music of Anton Karas adds a wonderful Viennese ambience to each episode and really makes this show special.

 

THIS EPISODE:

June 27, 1952. Program #48. Syndicated, WRVR-FM, New York aircheck. "The Hard Way". Participating sponsors. Harry finds himself in the charter airline business, where he meets the strange Mr. Butterboy, wanting to fly to Zurich. WRVR air date: August 12, 1975. Orson Welles, Anton Karas (zither), Harry Alan Towers (producer), Tig Roe (director). 28:21. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

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

 

The First Show: Jun 26, 1952
Number Shows: 480 shows, 2 auditions, 5 hour tribute
Audition Shows: Jun 11, 1949, Jul 13, 1949

Gunsmoke is one of those long-running classic Old-Time Radio shows that everyone knows and remembers. It's also one that is still respected for its high values, in all aspects. Gunsmoke first aired on the CBS network on April 26, 1952, billed as the first adult western. It was set in Dodge City, Kansas in the 1870's.

The main character, Matt Dillon, was played by William Conrad. On August 6, 1951, William Conrad played the lead in a show entitled "Pagosa" in the series Romance, where he played the part of a reluctant sheriff in a tough Western town. Although not a true audition, Conrad's character role is very close the that of Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke. It was one of the "stepping stones" toward the production of Gunsmoke. Other regular characters were Chester Proudfoot, played by Parley Baer; Kitty, played by Georgia Ellis; and Doc Adams, played by Howard McNear.

The series featured top-notch acting and well-developed scripts that set it apart from many other shows, not only Westerns; however, it was the sound effects that stood out the most. Listen carefully and one can hear many levels of sound that really helps transport the listener back to the old west.

Besides the US version, there was an Australian production of Gunsmoke. It began sometime in 1955, transcribed under the Artransa label, and aired Mondays at 7:00 PM on the Macquarie network. It is not known how many shows aired or how long the series ran.

NOTE: Updated with Version 5 files (05-Jan-2020).
From the Old Time Radio Researchers Group. See "Notes" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

The Strange Dr. Weird In Europe Confidential "The Senator Payne Affair" ** The exact date is unknown.

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Basil Rathbone In Europe Confidential "The Senator Payne Affair"  ** The exact date is unknown in this broadcast.

Presents Basil Sir. Rathbone in "Europe Confidential". Rathbone's most famous role was Sherlock Holmes, on the screen in 1939 The Hound of the Baskervilles, and countless times on the radio. He introduces the show and the main character, reporter Mike Connoy palyed by actor Lionel Murton, a reporter for an American newspaper based in Paris.  The character is "knee deep" in  Wartime espionage, spy cases, murder, blackmail and theft. This was the best of the 1950's radio.

For in depth study, see ALL episodes at  OTRCAT.com
 

5 Stars from Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod "Where The Oldies Are Still Young"

The Stan Freberg Show - "Great Moments In History" (08-04-57)

Great Moments In History (Aired August 4, 1957)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Bobby Caldwell "Coming Down From Love" (1980)

Stanley Victor Freberg (born August 7, 1926 in Los Angeles) is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, puppeteer and advertising creative director. The son of a Baptist minister, Stan Freberg grew up in Pasadena, California. His traditional upbringing is reflected both in the gentle sensitivity which underpins his work (despite his liberal use of biting satire and parody), and in his refusal to accept alcohol and tobacco manufacturers as sponsors (an impediment to his radio career when he took over for Jack Benny on CBS radio), as Freberg explained to Rusty Pipes: 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.

 

THIS EPISODE:

 
August 4, 1957. "Great Moments In History" - Program #4. CBS network. Sustaining. The story behind the ride of Paul Revere, Dr. Herman Horn lectures on Hi Fi, The Lox Audio Theatre presents "Rock Around My Nose," "The Yellow Rose Of Texas." Stan Freberg (performer, writer), Billy May and His Orchestra, Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires, Peter Leeds, Peggy Taylor, Daws Butler, June Foray, Pete Barnum (producer). 28:26. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Hall Of Fantasy - "The Shadow People" (09-21-53)

The Hall Of Fantasy - "The Shadow People" (09-21-53)

INTRO Bob Camardella Plays George Benson (1985)

There were four series under the  Hall Of Fantasy banner, all produced by Richard Thorne. The first  Hall Of Fantasy originated from radio station KALL in Salt Lake City, Utah. Richard Thorne and Carl Greyson were announcers for the station and produced the rather barebones shows, possibly late in 1946 and into 1947.  The series consisted of 26 shows. Broadcast dates for the shows are not known. The shows were written or adapted by Robert Olson and directed by Mr. Thorne. Most were classic murder mysteries with traditional endings; the evil-doer got his just rewards.  The series was sponsored by the Granite Furniture Company, although existing shows are missing the commercials, apparently because they were inserted live.

 

THIS EPISODE:

September 21, 1953. Mutual network, WGN, Chicago origination. "Sustaining. A well-done story of those who are never seen but are always there. The announcements have possibly been deleted. This program has also been dated September 5, 1952. J. Sheridan LeFanu (author). 24:27. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Man from Homicide

 

 

INTRO: Bob Camardella Plays Jay & The Americans "Only In America" (1964)
 

 

Ride along on the case with the Man from Homicide. Lieutenant Lou Dana is that man, and he's got "a dirty dangerous job that doesn't end until the killer is found. I don't like killers."

 
Dan Duryea "Man from Homicide", airing in the early 1950s, was a classic in the genre of crime drama. Though not as well remembered as similar shows such as Dragnet or Broadway is my Beat, Man from Homicide brought audiences gritty stories, seedy criminals, sordid crimes and an outline of police procedure infused with drama. Lt. Dana is a cynical yet determined detective who has seen it all, and uses that experience to outwit less seasoned criminals and bring them to justice.

Dana was played by two accomplished film noir actors, Dan Duryea and Charles McGraw. McGraw often played a leading man in 1940s and '50s film noir, and his gravelly voice and "rocks in a wheelbarrow" style of delivery is especially enjoyable in a radio format. Dan Duryea was famous for a wide variety of roles and genres in Hollywood, and his radio work as Lt. Dana beautifully complemented his "bad boy" film noir persona.

This collection of the three existing episodes is a must have in any classic radio or crime drama collection.

Show & Episode Notes From OTRCAT.com