Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod "The Chase - Blackout" (11-23-52)

Blackout (Aired November 23, 1952)


The Chase is an exciting Old Time Radio series in which every episode contains, well, a chase. Tales, highly melodramatic and often improbable, of people on the run. The concept of "hunter and hunted" was built into the signatures. with the lone bugle of a fox hunt, the braying of dogs, the sounds of a man running, a gunshot, and the slowing footsteps and eventual fall of the victim. It may be an adventure story, a crime story, or even science fiction, but there will always be a suspense filled chase.

THIS EPISODE:

November 23, 1952. NBC network. "Blackout". Sustaining. The title may be incorrect. Am amnesiac trying to discover his past life finds out he was some louse. Don MacLaughlin, Fred Collins (announcer), Fred Weihe (director, transcriber), Joan Tompkins, Lawrence Klee (creator, writer), Linda Watkins, Ned Wever, William Keene. 29:27.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Boston Blackie "Hipnotic Murder" (08-06-45)

Hipnotic Murder (Aired August 6, 1945)


The Boston Blackie radio series, also starring Morris, began June 23, 1944, on NBC as a summer replacement for The Amos 'n' Andy Show. Sponsored by Rinso, the series continued until September 15 of that year. Unlike the concurrent films, Blackie had a steady romantic interest in the radio show: Lesley Woods appeared as Blackie's girlfriend Mary Wesley. Harlow Wilcox was the show's announcer. On April 11, 1945, Richard Kollmar took over the title role in a radio series syndicated by Frederic W. Ziv to Mutual and other network outlets. Over 200 episodes of this series were produced between 1944 and October 25, 1950. Other sponsors included Lifebuoy Soap, Champagne Velvet beer, and R&H beer. While investigating mysteries, Blackie invaribly encountered harebrained Police Inspector Farraday (Maurice Tarplin) and always solved the mystery to Farraday's amazement. Initially, friction surfaced in the relationship between Blackie and Farraday, but as the series continued, Farraday recognized Blackie's talents and requested assistance. Blackie dated Mary Wesley (Jan Miner), and for the first half of the series, his best pal Shorty was always on hand. The humorless Farraday was on the receiving end of Blackie's bad puns and word play. Kent Taylor starred in the half-hour TV series, The Adventures of Boston Blackie. Syndicated in 1951, it ran for 58 episodes, continuing in repeats over the following decade.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Tom Corbett Space Cadet "Marooned With Death" (05-15-52) Pt.2 of 2

Marooned With Death (Aired May 15, 1952) Pt.2 of 2


Tom Corbett is the main character in a series of Tom Corbett — Space Cadet stories that were depicted in television, radio, books, comic books, comic strips, coloring books, punch-out books and View-Master reels in the 1950s. The stories followed the adventures of Tom Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, cadets at the Space Academy as they train to become members of the elite Solar Guard. The action takes place at the Academy in classrooms and bunkroom, aboard their training ship the rocket cruiser Polaris, and on alien worlds, both within our solar system and in orbit around nearby stars. The Tom Corbett universe partook of pseudo-science, not equal to the standards of accuracy set by John W. Campbell in the pages of Astounding. And yet, by the standards of the day, it was much more accurate than most media science fiction. Mars was a desert, Venus a jungle, and the asteroids a haunt of space pirates, but at least planets circled suns and there was no air in space. Contrast this with Twilight Zone, years later, where people could live on asteroids wearing ordinary clothes, or Lost in Space, years after that, where a spaceship could be passing "Jupiter and Andromeda" at the same time. Before Star Trek, Tom Corbett — Space Cadet was the most scientifically accurate series on television, in part due to official science advisor Willy Ley, and later due to Frankie Thomas. Thomas read up on science and everyone on the set turned to him for advice on matters scientific.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Haunting Hour "Mystery Of The Southern Star" (05-26-48)

Mystery Of The Southern Star (05-26-48)


The shows are classic chills from the old school, with creepy organ, overwrought women and over the top men. Perhaps not the highest of melodrama, but obsessively workmanlike. After all, they might have known they were a skeleton staff toiling relentlessly without a ghost of a chance of fame. Thanks to transcription, these unknowns are still with us. John Dunning, succinctly states in "On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio," "There were no credits, so casts and production crews are unknown."

THIS EPISODE:

May 26, 1948. Program #33. NBC syndication. "The Mystery Of The Southern Star". Commercials added locally. A missing diamond aboard ship, and a dead body in a trunk. 27:42.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Diary Of Fate "John Haynes" (07-13-48)

John Haynes (Aired July 13, 1948)


Diary of Fate is a mystery and horror program where “Fate” narrates and always wins by the end of the story. These are great suspense filled stories about average people who are subject to the mysteries of their ‘Fate’. In This episode, July 13, 1948. Program #31. Finley syndication. "John Haines". Commercials added locally. Book 82, page 509. Not auditioned. A man shoots his brother-in-law to get $50,000. Beware the stray cat. The date is subject to correction. Herb Lytton, Lurene Tuttle, Benny Rubin, Tyler McVey, Michael Stewart, Lou Lane, Ray Ehrlenborn, Hal Sawyer, Larry Finley (producer). 26:20.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Tom Corbett Space Cadet "Marooned With Death" (Pt1 of 2) 5-13-52

Marooned With Death (Pt1 of 2) Aired May 13, 1952


Tom Corbett is the main character in a series of Tom Corbett — Space Cadet stories that were depicted in television, radio, books, comic books, comic strips, coloring books, punch-out books and View-Master reels in the 1950s. The stories followed the adventures of Tom Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, cadets at the Space Academy as they train to become members of the elite Solar Guard. The action takes place at the Academy in classrooms and bunkroom, aboard their training ship the rocket cruiser Polaris, and on alien worlds, both within our solar system and in orbit around nearby stars. The Tom Corbett universe partook of pseudo-science, not equal to the standards of accuracy set by John W. Campbell in the pages of Astounding. And yet, by the standards of the day, it was much more accurate than most media science fiction. Mars was a desert, Venus a jungle, and the asteroids a haunt of space pirates, but at least planets circled suns and there was no air in space. Contrast this with Twilight Zone, years later, where people could live on asteroids wearing ordinary clothes, or Lost in Space, years after that, where a spaceship could be passing "Jupiter and Andromeda" at the same time. Before Star Trek, Tom Corbett — Space Cadet was the most scientifically accurate series on television, in part due to official science advisor Willy Ley, and later due to Frankie Thomas. Thomas read up on science and everyone on the set turned to him for advice on matters scientific.

THIS EPISODE:

May 13, 1952. ABC network, WJZ, New York aircheck. Sponsored by: Kellogg's Pep, Kellogg's Raisin Bran. The cadets start on a rescue mission to the planet Del Porte and are nearly drowned by a tidal wave. Al Markim, Drex Hines (director), Edward Bryce, Frank Thomas Jr., Jackson Beck (announcer), Jan Merlin, Jon Gart (organist). 25 minutes.

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The Mutual (Sears) Radio Theater "Double Exposure" (03-12-80)

Double Exposure (Aired March 12, 1980)


Mutual Radio Theater (Sears Radio Theater (SRT) (CBS Radio Mystery Theater) was an anthology series of radio drama which ran weeknightly on CBS Radio in 1979, sponsored by the department-store chain; in its second year, 1980, it moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System and became the Mutual Radio Theater; the MBS series was repeats from the CBS run, until September of 1980, when a short season of new dramas was presented. The Mutual run was still most often sponsored by Sears. Often paired with The CBS Radio Mystery Theater on those stations which cleared it in its first season, the SRT offered a different genre of drama for each day's broadcast. Monday was "Western Night" and was hosted by Lorne Greene. Tuesday was "Comedy Night", hosted by Andy Griffith. Wednesday was "Mystery Night" with Vincent Price as host. Thursday was "Love And Hate Night" with Cicely Tyson doing honors as host. Finally, Friday brought "Adventure Night", first hosted by Richard Widmark and later by Howard Duff and then by Leonard Nimoy. Though less long-lived than NPR's Earplay or the Mystery Theater, it was an ambitious if not particularly critically-favored attempt to reinvigorate a neglected field.

THIS EPISODE:

September 9, 1974. Program #145. CBS network. "Double Exposure". Sponsored by: Budweiser, Buick. E. G. Marshall (host), Ian Martin (writer), Kim Hunter, Larry Haines, Joan Shea, Sam Grey. 52 minutes.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Thirteenth Juror "Whatever Happened To John Wilkes Booth" (04-23-49)

Whatever Happened To John Wilkes Booth (04-23-49)


Vincent Price was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Marguerite Cobb (née Willcox) and Vincent Leonard Price, Sr., who was the president of the National Candy Company. His grandfather, Vincent Clarence Price, invented "Dr. Price's Baking Powder", the first cream of tartar baking powder, and secured the family's fortune. Price attended St. Louis Country Day School. He was further educated at Yale in art history and fine art. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity and the Courtauld Institute, London. He became interested in theater in the 1930s, appearing professionally on stage from 1935. He made his film debut in 1938 with Service de Luxe and established himself as a competent actor, notably in Laura (1944), opposite Gene Tierney, directed by Otto Preminger. He also played Joseph Smith, Jr. in the movie Brigham Young (1940), as well as a pretentious priest in The Keys of the Kingdom (1944). Price's first venture into the horror genre was in the 1939 Boris Karloff film Tower of London in which his character was murdered by Karloff's. The following year he portrayed the title character in the film The Invisible Man Returns (a role he reprised in a vocal cameo at the end of the 1948 horror-comedy spoof Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein).

THIS EPISODE:

The Thirteenth Juror. August 20, 1953. NBC network. "What Happened To John Wilkes Booth?". Sustaining. Announced as the first show of the series. The mystery of the man who shot Abraham Lincoln. What ever happened to John Wilkes Booth? Interesting listening. The script and an almost identical recording) was used four years previously (possibly an audition). Arnold Marquis (author, director), Vincent Price, Henry Russell (composer, conductor), Hans Conried, John Storm (announcer). 26:36.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Milton Berle Show "Salute To Women" (02-24-48)

Salute To Women (Aired February 24, 1948)


In 1934-36, Berle was heard regularly on The Rudy Vallee Hour, and he got much publicity as a regular on The Gillette Original Community Sing, a Sunday night comedy-variety program broadcast on CBS from September 6, 1936 to August 29, 1937. In 1939, he was the host of Stop Me If You've Heard This One with panelists spontaneously finishing jokes sent in by listeners. Three Ring Time, a comedy-variety show sponsored by Ballantine Ale was followed by a 1943 program sponsored by Campbell's Soups. The audience participation show Let Yourself Go (1944-45) could best be described as slapstick radio with studio audience members acting out long suppressed urges (often directed at host Berle). Kiss and Make Up, on CBS in 1946, featured the problems of contestants decided by a jury from the studio audience with Berle as the Judge. He also made guest appearances on many comedy-variety radio programs during the 1930s and 1940s. Scripted by Hal Block and Martin Ragaway, The Milton Berle Show brought Berle together with Arnold Stang, later a familiar face as Berle's TV sidekick. Others in the cast were Pert Kelton, Mary Schipp, Jack Albertson, Arthur Q. Bryan, Ed Begley, vocalist Dick Forney and announcer Frank Gallop. The Ray Bloch Orchestra provided the music for the series. Sponsored by Philip Morris, it aired on NBC from March 11, 1947, until April 13, 1948. His last radio series was The Texaco Star Theater, which began September 22, 1948 on ABC and continued until June 15, 1949, with Berle heading the cast of Stang, Kelton and Gallop, along with Charles Irving, Kay Armen and double-talk specialist Al Kelly. It employed top comedy writers (Nat Hiken, brothers Danny and Neil Simon, Aaron Ruben), and Berle later recalled this series as "the best radio show I ever did... a hell of a funny variety show." It served as a springboard for Berle's rise as television's first major star.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Man Called X. "A Man A Girl A Plot" (05-25-51)

A Man A Girl A Plot (Aired May 25, 1951)


The Man Called X was an espionage radio drama which aired on CBS and NBC from July 10, 1944 to May 20, 1952. Herbert Marshall had the lead role of Intelligence Agent Ken Thurston who took on dangerous cases in a variety of exotic locations. Gordon Jenkins Orchestra supplied the background music. Cast: Leon Belasco as Pagan Seldchmidt ANNOUNCER: Wendell Niles DIRECTOR: Jack Johnstone.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Phil Silvers Show "Guest - Frank Sinatra" (02-09-46)

Guest - Frank Sinatra (Aired February 9, 1946)


It is my opinion that THE PHILS SILVERS SHOW (aka YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH) remains the single most underrated sitcom in television history and that Phil Silvers remains the most underrated comedian in that medium. This is really saying something because the series has indeed received great acclaim over the years. Even so, Silvers is just not given his proper due for creating the Bilko character. As for the jewels in the supporting cast--they are simply terrific in this Nat Hiken creation that surely stands shoulder to shoulder with Jackie Gleason's THE HONEYMOONERS as perhaps the greatest sitcom ever on television. Silvers did not just play Ernie Bilko--he WAS Ernie Bilko! The character of the scheme-driven, gambling-addicted army sergeant forever duping the lovable Col. Hall (Paul Ford) while manipulating his platoon for his personal aggrandizement, is so fast-paced, fresh, and funny that one wonders if BILKO ought not be a stage play.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Studio One "Thunder Rock" (09-02-47)

Thunder Rock (09-02-47)


STUDIO ONE, a drama anthology, which first aired Tuesday, April 29, 1947, at 9:00 over CBS stations. It brought hour-long presentations of books and plays to radio, many of which had not been attempted before. Fletcher Markle, a CBC radio veteran, produced, hosted and occasionally acted in the series. Half way through the season, ratings were not as expected, possibly because the series didn't air on the West Coast. Big name actors were brought in to help improve ratings. The sustained series still left the air after only one season. STUDIO ONE ran until July 27, 1948, when it was replaced by ROOFTOPS OF THE CITY. However, the standards it set led to a TV series of the same name which ran for nine seasons. STUDIO ONE seems to be a forgotten gem. If you like high drama, these shows should not be overlooked.

THIS EPISODE:

September 2, 1947. CBS network. "Thunder Rock". Sustaining. A fascinating story of a lighthouse keeper who imagines six people who died 90 years ago in a wreck are alive again. Clarence Derwent, Fletcher Markle (producer, director, performer), Hester Sondergaard, Robert Audrey (author), Robert Dryden, Stefan Schnabel. 1 hour.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Adventures In Research - "Eyes and Ears For The Millions" (11-21-44) (11-28-44)

Eyes and Ears For The Millions (11-21-44) (11-28-44)


Down through the long corridors of time, man has strived unceasingly to solve the hidden mysteries of the universe...has sought to pierce the veil that shrouds the eternal riddle of life. Back from the dust of centuries past...reaching forward through the portals of tomorrow, comes a voice that will not be stilled...a voice that cries: Learn! Investigate! Instruct! Urging new generations to carry forward the work of progress for humanity...listen to the voice of science!" These syndicated program were produced at the studios of KDKA (Pittsburgh) and distributed by the station's parent company, Westinghouse Radio Stations Inc. The series began about 1942 and were distributed, probably as a public service educational feature, for weekly programming. The early shows were discussions with Paul Shannon asking the questions, Dr. Phillips Thomas (research physicist for Westinghouse, specializing in electronics) answering the questions. The later programs were written by Dr. Thomas, but were dramatizations instead of the Q and A fomat. The programs themselves present a fascinating look at the state of scientific knowledge during the war and the immediate post-war years. Many of the topics are hopelessly outdated, a surprising number are still up to date and reflect the state of knowledge about the subject many years later. The purpose of instilling an interest in science in the general public is still as valid now as it was then. Even more important, the program themselves are good radio and interesting. Those listeners with little or no interest in science will still be captivated. The post-war programs feature an organist whose efforts range from mediocre to absolutely great! This program: the story of the microscope and von Leeuwenhoek. Paul Shannon, Phillips Thomas. 14:45.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Bold Venture "Death By A Fighting Bird" (1951)

Death By A Fighting Bird (1951)


The Hollywood husband and wife team of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall set sail for adventure in the Bold Venture radio series in early 1951. There were well over 400 stations that aired the program. Since thiswas syndicated * the starting date varied from station to station but Mar 26, 1951 was the official date of the first show. Humphrey Bogart portrayed Slate Shannon, owner of a rundown Havana hotel, Shannon's Place. The action took place on land as well aboard Slate's boat, The Bold Venture, thus the title of the series. Lauren Bacall was his ward Sailor Duval, a stubborn and flirtatious young woman whose late father had willed her to Slate for her protection. Together the duo found adventure, intrigue, mystery and romance in the sultry settings of tropical Havana and the mysterious islands of the Caribbean.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Danger Doctor Danfield "Nola Jerrolds Wants To Kill Her Husband" (09-15-46)

Nola Jerrolds Wants To Kill Her Husband (Aired September 15, 1946)


Danger, Dr Danfield was first broadcast on August 18, 1946 and consisted of 26 episodes with the last one being April 13, 1947. All episodes are available. It starred Michael Dunn as Dr. Danfield, with JoAnne Johnson as Rusty Fairfax, his secretary. The series was written by Ralph Wilkinson and produced by Wally Ramsey. This series consistently featured some of the worst acting and writing of any detective show to reach the airwaves. The show had a formula with the crime usually being committed in the first third of the program, the good doctor solving it in the second third, and then pedantically explaining the solution to someone (usually his "pretty, young" secretary, Rusty) in the conclusion. Dr. Daniel Danfield was an obnoxious unlicensed private investigator/criminal psychologist with an ego complex. Why Rusty would put up with this guy is beyond understanding. In this case, love is not only blind, but also deaf and dumb. But then, Rusty was no prize package either. In fact, the most complex person on the show is Dr. Dan Danfield's pretty young secretary, Miss Rusty Fairfax. Why does Dr. Dan always call her Miss Fairfax? Dr. Dan goes to extremes to keep her at arm's length, but it's obvious he's just taunting her. After all, he's a criminal psychologist, and the way he treats Rusty is criminal! She can flare up, but usually just slow simmers in her professionally feminine way. Too bad one of the bad guys wasn't able to rub both of them out but these crooks were incredibly inept. Unfortunately, the toughs, society-types in trouble and the necessary law enforcement officers in this series, are nearly as individual as furniture in a model home. Still, if mindless detective drama is what you're looking for and you've tried the rest, then let Dr. Dan Danfield give you a little of a criminal psychologist's caseload. The show makes good drive-time or casual listening, since it doesn't make great demands on the emotions or intellect.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe "The Soft Spot" (09-01-50)

The Soft Spot (Aired September 1, 1950)


The first portrayal of Phillip Marlowe on the radio was by Dick Powell, when he played Raymond Chandler's detective on the Lux Radio Theater on June 11, 1945. This was a radio adaptation of the 1944 movie, from RKO, in which Mr. Powell played the lead. Two years later, Van Heflin starred as Marlowe in a summer replacement series for the Bob Hope Show on NBC. This series ran for 13 shows. On September 26, 1948, Gerald Mohr became the third radio Marlowe, this time on CBS. It remained a CBS show through its last show in 1951.

THIS EPISODE:

September 1, 1950. CBS network. "The Soft Spot". Sustaining. An old man dead in a flop house, a sot who carves wood, a fallen lady with an eye for gold lockets, and a snake with big ears all lead Marlowe to a soft spot in a killer's hard heart! Bill Bouchey, Edgar Barrier, Gene Levitt (writer), Gerald Mohr, Nestor Paiva, Paul Dubov, Peter Leeds, Raymond Chandler (creator), Richard Aurandt (music), Richard Sanville (director), Robert Mitchell (writer), Roy Rowan (announcer), Verna Felton, Vivi Janis. 29:42.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The NBC UniversityTheater "The Time Of Man" (07-09-50)

The Time Of Man (Aired July 9, 1950)


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:

July 9, 1950. NBC network. "The Time Of Man". Sustaining. The start of the program is delayed by a Korean War news bulletin. A rural romance, as told in the hill country of America. Andrew C. Love (director), Betty Niglis, Don Stanley (announcer), Earl Hamner (adaptor), Elizabeth Maddox Roberts (author), Gail Bonney, Georgia Backus, Jeff Corey, John Dehner, John Stevenson, Kay Stewart, Noreen Gammill, Paul McVey, Terry Lee (folksinger), Wade Arnold (producer). 59:42.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Lux Radio Theater "Magic Town" (12-15-47)

Magic Town (Aired December 15, 1947)


Lux Radio Theater strove to feature as many of the original stars of the original stage and film productions as possible, usually paying them $5,000 an appearance to do the show. It was when sponsor Lever Brothers (who made Lux soap and detergent) moved the show from New York City to Hollywood in 1936 that it eased back from adapting stage shows and toward adaptations of films. The first Lux film adaptation was The Legionnaire and the Lady, with Marlene Dietrich and Clark Gable, based on the film Morocco. That was followed by a Lux adaptation of The Thin Man, featuring the movie's stars, Myrna Loy and William Powell. Many of the greatest names in film appeared in the series, most in the roles they made famous on the screen, including Abbott and Costello, Lauren Bacall, Lucille Ball, Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart, Charles Boyer, Claudette Colbert, Gary Cooper, Joseph Cotton, Bing Crosby, Dan Duryea, Ava Gardner, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Vivien Leigh, Agnes Moorehead, Vincent Price, Donna Reed, Frank Sinatra, Ann Sothern, Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Gene Tierney, John Wayne, Jane Wyman, Orson Welles and Loretta Young.

THIS EPISODE:

December 15, 1947. CBS network. "Magic Town". Sponsored by: Lux, Pepsodent. A pollster's dream comes true. He finds the typical American city that is statistically accurate...until the residents come to realize how valuable they are! Love complicates the plot. William Keighley hosts the program from Washington D. C. Jimmy Stewart, Jane Wyman, William Keighley (host), John Milton Kennedy (announcer), Louis Silvers (music director), Herb Butterfield, Jeff Chandler (doubles, billed as "Ira Grossel"), Wally Maher, John McIntire (narrator), Alex Carey, Jack Edwards Sr. (doubles), Norman Field, Tommy Cook, Gil Stratton, Lois Corbett, Edward Marr, Marie Windsor, Charles Woolf, Robert Griffin, Earl Lee, Dorothy Lovett (commercial spokesman: as "Libby"), Martha Hyer (intermission guest), Robert Riskin (screenwriter), Joseph Krumgold (screenwriter), Fred MacKaye (director), Sanford Barnett (adaptor), Charlie Forsyth (sound effects). 59:48.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Life Of Riley "17th Anniversary" (11-08-47)

17th Anniversary (Aired November 8, 1947)


The Life of Riley, with William Bendix in the title role, was a popular radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film and continued as a long-running television series during the 1950s. The show began as a proposed Groucho Marx radio series, The Flotsam Family, but the sponsor balked at what would have been essentially a straight head-of-household role for the comedian. Then producer Irving Brecher saw Bendix as taxicab company owner Tim McGuerin in the movie The McGuerins from Brooklyn (1942). The Flotsam Family was reworked with Bendix cast as blundering Chester A. Riley, riveter at a California aircraft plant, and his frequent exclamation of indignation---"What a revoltin' development this is!"---became one of the most famous catch phrases of the 1940s. 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:

November 8, 1947. NBC net. Sponsored by: Prell Shampoo, Ivory Snow. Not auditioned. Junior and Babs plan an anniversary party for their parents. William Bendix, Irving Brecher (producer, director), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Alan Lipscott (writer), Reuben Ship (writer), Paula Winslowe, John Brown. 29:44.

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Boxcars711 Overnight Western - Gunsmoke "Tail To The Wind" (11-25-56)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western - Gunsmoke "Tail To The Wind" (Aired November 25, 1956)


Gunsmoke - The radio show first aired on April 26, 1952 and ran until June 18, 1961 on the CBS radio network. It was created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. 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 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:

November 25, 1956. CBS network. "Tail To The Wind". Sponsored by: L & M. Bert Reese and his son Spike, the town bullies, are picking on Hezzie Nuller, a meek man who refuses to defend himself. The script was used on the Gunsmoke television series on October 17, 1959. William Conrad, Howard McNear, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Ralph Moody, John Dehner, Helen Kleeb, Rex Koury (composer, conductor), Les Crutchfield (writer), Norman Macdonnell (producer, director), John Meston (editorial supervisor), Ray Kemper (sound patterns), Bill James (sound patterns). 24:40.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Amos & Andy Show "Sapphire's Sister Floresca" (01-21-47)

Sapphire's Sister Floresca (Aired January 21, 1947)


Amos 'n' Andy was a situation comedy popular in the United States from the 1920s through the 1950s. The show began as one of the first radio comedy serials, written and voiced by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll and originating from station WMAQ in Chicago, Illinois. After the series was first broadcast in 1928, it grew in popularity and became a huge influence on the radio serials that followed. Amos 'n' Andy creators Gosden and Correll were white actors familiar with minstrel traditions. They met in Durham, North Carolina in 1920, and by the fall of 1925, they were performing nightly song-and-patter routines on the Chicago Tribune's station WGN. Since the Tribune syndicated Sidney Smith's popular comic strip The Gumps, which had successfully introduced the concept of daily continuity, WGN executive Ben McCanna thought the notion of a serialized drama could also work on radio. He suggested to Gosden and Correll that they adapt The Gumps to radio. They instead proposed a series about "a couple of colored characters" and borrowed certain elements of The Gumps. Their new series, Sam 'n' Henry, began January 12, 1926, fascinating radio listeners throughout the Midwest. That series became popular enough that in late 1927 Gosden and Correll requested that it be distributed to other stations on phonograph records in a "chainless chain" concept that would have been the first use of radio syndication as we know it today. When WGN rejected the idea, Gosden and Correll quit the show and the station that December. Contractually, their characters belonged to WGN, so when Gosden and Correll left WGN, they performed in personal appearances but could not use the character names from the radio show. Initially, Gosden and Correll portrayed all the male roles. Between the two, they voiced over 170 distinct characterizations in the show's first decade. With the episodic drama and suspense heightened by cliffhanger endings, Amos 'n' Andy reached an ever-expanding radio audience. It was one of the earliest success stories of radio syndication, and at least 70 stations besides WMAQ carried the program using prerecorded records.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Great Gildersleeve "College Chum Visits" (05-17-42)

College Chum Visits (Aired May 17, 1942)


The Great Gildersleeve (1941-1957) was the arguable founding father of the spin-off program, as well as one of the first true situation comedies (as opposed to sketch programs) in broadcast history. Hooked around a character who had been a staple on the classic radio hit Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve enjoyed its greatest period in the 1940s, when Harold Peary graduated the character from the earlier show into the sitcom and in a quartet of likeable feature films at the height of the show's popularity.

THIS EPISIODE:

May 17, 1942. NBC network. Sponsored by: Kraft Foods. Gildersleeve's old college chum comes to visit and starts selling shares in a magnesium mine! Harold Peary, Lurene Tuttle, Lillian Randolph, Walter Tetley, William Randolph (composer, conductor), Jim Bannon, Leonard L. Levinson (writer). 29:28.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Weird Circle "Strange Judgement" (Episode30 - 1947)

Strange Judgement (Episode 30 - 1947)


THE WEIRD CIRCLE presented 30 minute tales of horror, frequently inspired by classic horror or ghost stories, frequently done by French authors. It opened with the sound of the surf and the chant-like opening, "In this cave by the restless sea, we are met to call from out of past, stories strange and weird. Bell keeper, toll the bell, so that all may know that we are gathered again in the Weird Circle". The show was heard on Mutual stations November, 1943 through October, 1947 and very briefly in September/October of 1947 on ABC.

THIS EPISODE:

Program #30. NBC syndication. "The Strange Judgment". Commercials added locally. An honest fisherman and his good wife have an evil son, not worthy of his parents. A judgment must be made! . 25:05.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Suspense "Overdrawn" (05-31-51)

Overdrawn (Aired May 31, 1951)


Suspense was one of the premier programs of the Golden Age of Radio (aka old-time radio), and advertised itself as "radio's outstanding theater of thrills." It was heard in one form or another from 1942 through 1962. There were approximately 945 episodes broadcast during its long run, over 900 of which are extant in mostly high-quality recordings. Suspense went through several major phases, characterized by different hosts, sponsors and director/producers. There were a few rules which were followed for all but a handful of episodes: Protagonists were usually a normal person suddenly dropped into a threatening or bizarre situation. Evildoers must be punished in the end. The program made only occasional forays into science fiction and fantasy.

THIS EPISODE:

May 31, 1951. CBS network. "Over Drawn". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A bank teller with seventeen years of faithful service embezzles $28,311, but is spotted by a new teller on his first day on the job. Dick Powell, Harlow Wilcox (commercial spokesman), Blake Edwards (adaptor), Edwin Max, Benny Rubin, Joseph Kearns (announcer), Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Richard Crenna, Mary Jane Croft, Lucien Moraweck (composer), Lud Gluskin (conductor), Norman Field, Robert Platt (possibly Robert Flask, writer). 29:41.

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Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Planet Man "3 Episodes (ep2 ep3 ep4)" From 1950.mp3

(Ep02 "Orbit The Moon") (Ep03 "Cosmic Communicator") and (Eep05 "Marston To Attack Earth")


Produced in about 1950 by Palladium Radio Productions, "The Planet Man" is the golly-gee-whillikers saga of Dantro, an intergalactic troubleshooter for an organization known as the League of Planets - "the law enforcement body for peace and justice in the celestial world." (Think of him as an outer-space version of Marshal Matt Dillon - "It's a chancy job, and it makes a [planet] man watchful...") With their center of operations situated on Planeria Rex, "the capital of the planets," the League sends their water-carrier Dantro out into the celestial world to maintain law and order "whenever danger threatens the universe." Dantro is assisted in his quest for law-and-order by the members of Earth's first rocket expedition: Dr. John Darrow, his daughter Pat, and engineer Slats, who are rescued by the Planet Man before their rocket comes perilously close to crashing into the moon. (The explanation for this is that Darrow and crew took on a pair of stowaways before blast-off, namely his nephew Billy and niece Jane - which makes a listener wonder why the heck they weren't in school.) These five individuals join forces with the Planet Man to defeat evildoers like Marston, the ruler of Mars who possesses an insatiable appetite for interplanetary domination. Background on "The Planet Man" is sketchy at best - even with the original disks close at hand. Various sources date its syndicated run around 1952-53, but specific airdate information remains unknown.

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