Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The Mercury Summer Theater "The Moat Farm Murder" (07-26-46)

The Moat Farm Murder (Aired July 26, 1946)


The Mercury Theater was a theater company founded in New York City by Orson Welles and John Houseman. They had initial success in the theater, then went to radio, and one of the most notable radio broadcasts of all time, The War of the Worlds. Welles had already worked extensively in radio drama, playing the Shadow for a year, and directing a seven-part adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. In 1938, he was offered a chance to direct his own weekly, hour-long radio series, initially called First Person Singular, then The Mercury Theater on the Air. Welles insisted his Mercury company--actors and crew--be involved in the radio series. This was an unprecedented and expensive request, especially for one so young as Welles. He won out, however, and went on to produce some of the finest radio drama of any era. The Mercury Theater on the Air was an hour-long dramatic radio program which began in the summer of 1938 on the CBS radio network. Most episodes dramatized many works of classic and contemporary literature. Houseman wrote the early scripts for the series himself, turning the job over to Howard Koch at the beginning of October. Music for the program was conducted by Bernard Herrmann.

THIS EPISODE:

The Mercury Summer Theater. July 26, 1946. CBS network. "The Moat Farm Murder". Sponsored by: Pabst Beer. A tour-de-force one-man performance. A murderer confesses. Described as "a radio documentary." Orson Welles (producer, host, performer), Mercedes McCambridge, Norman Corwin (writer), Jim Ameche (announcer), Bernard Herrmann (composer, conductor). 29:30.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The New Adventures Of Michael Shayne "Deadly Dough" (10-23-48)

Deadly Dough (Aired October 23, 1948)


Michael Shayne was a fictional sleuth created by Brett Halliday (a pen name for author Davis Dresser) who was first initiated into the fraternity for detectives in the 1939 novel "Dividend of Death". Dresser based the character on a “tall and rangy” brawler who once saved his life during a braw in a Mexican cantina. The Shayne character would go on to appear in 69 novels, plus a long-running mystery magazine—and in 1941, was brought to the silver screen in Paramount’s Michael Shayne, Private Detective, an adaptation of Dividend of Death that starred Lloyd Nolan, and paved the way for six additional B-mysteries to follow. The New Adventures of Michael Shayne—premiered on July 15, 1948 starring Jeff Chandler.

THIS EPISODE:

October 23, 1948. Program #14. Broadcaster's Guild syndication. "The Case Of The Deadly Dough". Commercials added locally. Shayne gets a suitcase with $100,00 in it. However, a few killers are also interested in the money. The date is approximate. Jeff Chandler, Jack Webb, Don W. Sharp (producer), Brett Halliday (creator), William P. Rousseau (director, host), John Duffy (composer, conductor). 26:57.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - 21st Precinct "Armed Robbery At Bar And Grill" (12-15-54)

Armed Robbery At Bar And Grill (Aired December 15, 1954)


21ST PRECINCT was one of the realistic police drama series of the early- to mid-1950's that were aired in the wake of DRAGNET. NBC's DRAGNET had proven that a realistic police show could attract and hold an audience. In 1953 CBS decided to use New York City as the backdrop for their own half-hour police series and focus on the day-to-day operation of a single police precinct. Actual cases were used as the basis for stories. The Precinct Captain acted as the narrator for the series.

THIS EPISODE:

December 15, 1954. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. After a robbery in a bar and grill, the search begins for a man named, "Nellie." Art Hannes (announcer), Elaine Rost, Everett Sloane, George Petrie, Jack Orrison, Ken Lynch, Mandel Kramer, Michael Dreyfus, Santos Ortega, Stanley Niss (writer, director), John Ives (producer). 30:22.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The Hallmark Playhouse "Valley Forge" (10-22-51)

Valley Forge (Aired October 22, 1951)


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 READER'S DIGEST, which ran from September 13, 1942 thorugh June 3, 1948. Hallmark sponsored the RADIO READER'S 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 22, 1951. CBS network, KMBC, Kansas City aircheck. "Valley Forge". Sponsored by: Hallmark. Not auditioned. Van Heflin, Maxwell Anderson (author), James Hilton (host), Frank Goss (announcer), Bill Gay (producer, director), Lyn Murray (composer, conductor), Leonard St. Clair (adaptor), Lurene Tuttle, Ben Wright, Ted Osborne, Ted de Corsia. 29:13.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The Lives Of Harry Lime (The Third Man) "Horseplay" (11-23-51)

Horseplay (Aired November 23, 1951)


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:

November 23, 1951. Program #17. Lang-Worth syndication. "Horse Play". Commercials added locally. Harry uses a "lost wallet" con in Paris, pretending to be an expert on the ponies. The "fix is in" and a sucker is lined up! Orson Welles, Anton Karas (zither), Harry Alan Towers (producer), Tig Roe (director). 26:52.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Fred Allen's Hour Of Smiles "Judge Allen's Cut Rate Court" (03-21-34)

Judge Allen's Cut Rate Court (Aired March 21, 1934)


Born John Florence Sullivan on May 31, 1894, Fred Allen began his career in vaudeville before becoming one of radio’s most acerbic and admired wits. Allen and his wife, former chorus girl Portland Hoffa, began their radio career on October 23, 1932, starring on The Linit Bath Club Revue. By 1934, Allen was starring on Town Hall Tonight, a one-hour show which featured Allen examining current events and interviewing unusual guests. It was here that Allen began radio’s longest-running “feud” in 1937, when he made a series of jokes about fellow comedian Jack Benny. Allen's best-remembered feature was “Allen's Alley,” a weekly segment in which he would discuss issues of the day with eccentric creations like the blustery Senator Claghorn, Brooklyn housewife Pansy Nussbaum and stoic New Englander Titus Moody. Allen was known to read up to nine newspapers a day and often spent 12 to 14 hours a day writing and re-writing his scripts. Poor health forced Allen off the air in 1944, but he returned in the fall of 1945 with The Fred Allen Show, which lasted until June 26, 1949. Fred Allen died on March 17, 1956. Fred Allen was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.

THIS EPISODE:

The Hour Of Smiles. March 21, 1934. NBC network. "The Passe News Of The Day." A visit to Judge Allen's courtroom. A rock is thrown through the courthouse window. The Jewish owner of a pet shop accues Minnie of shoplifting a cat. Madame Pizzicato's obligato went awry. Has Casper Wince caused the Depression? He's married to the piccolo! The People Vs. The Count of Dwanacheck; he didn't kill Rasputin! Fred's question box: "The beard and soup dilemma." Fred Allen, Portland Hoffa, Minerva Pious, J. Scott Smart (billed as "Jack Smart"), Erwin Delmore (possibly Kenny Delmar), Lionel Stander, Eileen Douglas, Lennie Hayton and His Orchestra (heard briefly), The Sal Hepatica Singers (heard briefly). 31:06.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Radio City Playhouse "Witness For The Prosecution" (04-25-49)

Witness For The Prosecution (Aired April 25, 1949)


Radio City Playhouse - A Half-hour drama, sometimes comedy, often very exciting and suspenseful. The cast were made up of New York veterans of radio and stage, including Jan Minor and John Larkin as featured performers. The director, Harry W. Junkin, also served as the show's host and narrator. Each week the show introduced a new story, often written by well-known writers of fantasy and suspense such as Ray Bradbury, Cornell Woolrich, Agatha Christie and Paul Gallico. They were dramatized with a full orchestral soundtrack and excellent sound effects.

THIS EPISODE:

April 25, 1949. Program #34. NBC network. "Witness For The Prosecution". Sustaining. An excellent courtroom drama. A man accused of murder relies of the testimony of his wife to prove his innocence. The program is also known as, "NBC Short Story." Arnold Moss, David Gothard, Lotte Stavisky, Agatha Christie (author), Bob Warren (announcer), Richard P. McDonough (production supervisor), Agnes Eckhardt (adaptor), Hester Sondergaard, Roy Shield (composer, conductor), Ethel Browning, Edgar Stehli, Arnold Robertson, Frank Milano. 29:15.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Beyond Midnight "40th Birthday" (1968)

40th Birthday (1968)

Let us journey “into the land that lies beyond midnight,” into a world of ghost hunters, men going mad, and DEATH DEATH DEATH! Written by the masterful Michael McCabe, these well-done radio shows will capture your attention and keep you up listening to them well beyond midnight. A replacement series for SF 68, this South African horror anthology was far more successful than its predecessor, running from 1968 through 1969. Its success may have been due in part to producer Michael McCabe - who also produced SF 68 - honing his talents to a higher degree. Little else is known about it, including the number of shows produced. As far as I can discover, there were at least 43 episodes, all in half-hour format.

THIS EPISODE:

A man is growing older and fears he is losing his looks and his wife.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Inheritance "Gorgas And The Panama Canal" (10-24-54)

Gorgas And The Panama Canal (Aired October 24, 1954)


"INHERITANCE" A Dramatized look into American History. NBC Networ in cooperation with the AMERICAN LEGION Sundays 4:30 - 5:00 pm PRUDUCER/DIRECTOR: Albert McCleary ANNOUNCER: John Wald MUSIC: Robert Armbruster.

THIS EPISODE:

October 24, 1954. Program #29. NBC network. "Gorgas and The Panama Canal" Produced in co-operation with The American Legion. The after-drama speaker is a National Vice Commancder of The American Legion, Leonard Jackson. Wade Arnold (producer), Harry Frazee (director), Leonard Jackson, Earl Hamner (writer), Roy Shield (composer, conductor), Bob Hastings, Everett Sloane, Kenny Delmar, Peggy Allenby, Donald Buka, Jane Webb, Bill Hanrahan (announcer). 29:54.

William Crawford Gorgas KCMG (October 3, 1854 – July 3, 1920) was a United States physician and 22nd Surgeon General of the U.S. Army (1914-18). He is best known for his work in abating the transmission of yellow fever and malaria by controlling the mosquitoes that carry them at a time when there was considerable skepticism and opposition to such measures. Born at Toulminville, Alabama, Gorgas was the first of six children of Josiah Gorgas and Amelia Gayle Gorgas.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - David Harding Counterspy "Blackmailed Hijacker" (08-09-49)

Blackmailed Hijacker (Aired August 9, 1949)


Counterspy was an espionage drama radio series that aired on ABC and Mutual from May 18, 1942 to November 29, 1957. David Harding (Don MacLaughlin) was the chief of the United States Counterspies, a unit engaged during World War II in counterespionage against Japan's Black Dragon and Germany's Gestapo. With spies still lurking in the post-war years, the adventures continued apace well after World War II ended.

THIS EPISODE:

August 9, 1949. ABC network. "The Case Of The Blackmailed Hijacker". Sponsored by: Pepsi Cola. The system cue has been deleted. Don MacLaughlin, Mandel Kramer, Phillips H. Lord (producer), Rosa Rio (organ). 28:50.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - CBS Radio Mystery Theater "Body and Soul" (08-15-79)

Body and Soul (Aired August 15, 1979)


The CBS Radio Mystery Theater (or CBSRMT) was an ambitious and sustained attempt to revive the great drama of old-time radio in the 1970s. Created by Himan Brown (who had by then become a radio legend due to his work on Inner Sanctum Mysteries and other shows dating back to the 1930s), and aired on affiliate stations across the CBS Radio network, the series began its long run on January 6, 1974. The final episode ran on December 31, 1982. The show was broadcast nightly and ran for one hour, including commercials. Typically, a week consisted of three to four new episodes, with the remainder of the week filled out with reruns. There were a total of 1399 original episodes broadcast. The total number of broadcasts, including reruns, was 2969. The late E.G. Marshall hosted the program every year but the final one, when actress Tammy Grimes took over. Each episode began with the ominous sound of a creaking door, slowly opening to invite listeners in for the evening's adventure. At the end of each show, the door would swing shut, with Marshall signing off, "Until next time, pleasant...dreams?"

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - You Bet Your Life "Secret Word "Book" (05-31-50)"

Secret Word "Book" (Aired May 31, 1950)


Groucho Marx matches wits with the American public in four episodes of this classic game show. Starting on the radio in 1947, You Bet Your Life made its television debut in 1950 and aired for 11 years with Groucho as host and emcee. Sponsored rather conspicuously by the Dodge DeSoto car manufacturers, the show featured two contestants working as a team to answer questions for cash prizes. Another mainstay of these question and answer segments was the paper mache duck that would descend from the ceiling with one hundred dollars in tow whenever a player uttered the "secret word." The quiz show aspect of "You Bet Your Life" was always secondary, to the clever back-and-forth between host and contestant, which found Groucho at his funniest. It's in these interview segments that "You Bet Your Life" truly makes its mark as one of early television's greatest programs. Directed by: Robert Dwan.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The Whistler "Death Comes At Midnight" (10-18-42)

Death Comes At Midnight (Aired October 18, 1942)


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. Other directors included Sterling Tracy and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. 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:

October 18, 1942. CBS network. "Death Comes At Midnight". Sustaining. A man dreams that he's going to be killed in forty eight hours...and it looks like he's going to be proved correct! Wilbur Hatch (composer, conductor), Herbert Connor (writer), J. Donald Wilson (writer). 29:28.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - You Are There "Declaration Of Independance" (07-04-48)

Declaration Of Independance (Aired July 4, 1948)


Imagine if CBS radio news existed when the Bastille was stormed in 1789, or if radio reporters were stationed in Ford Theater as Lincoln was assassinated, or again at the Battle of Gettysburg? Indeed, such was the premise behind the CBS series, You Are There. Audiences witnessed history through the present-tense accounts of newsmen allegedly witnessing historical events transpiring before their eyes. Don Hollenbeck and John Daley (known for his TV game show panelist appearances) played the lead anchors, while real-life newsman provided the remote commentaries as the dramas unfolded. As show opened, an anchor would describe the present situation with "As it stands now…" and segue into commentaries, live remote feeds or analysis as the story unfurled. The show was well received, but perhaps was doomed to eventual failure in part due John Daly's emoting. Bernard DeVoto in Harper Magazine lamented: "We have heard his (Daly) voice vibrate with the real emotion, and our memory of the real simply turns the imagined to ham."

THIS EPISODE:

July 4, 1948. CBS network. "The Signing Of The Declaration Of Independance". Sustaining. The events of July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. An incorrect system cue has been added. John Daly (anchor), George Fielding Eliot, Ken Roberts, Ned Calmer, Bud Collyer. 27:31.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Barry Craig Confidential Investigator "Ghost Of A Chance [Remo Torch]" 12-19-51

Ghost Of A Chance [Remo Torch] Aired December 19, 1951


Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator is one of the few detective radio series that had separate versions of it broadcast from both coasts. Even the spelling changed over the years. It was first "Barry Crane" and then "Barrie Craig". NBC produced it in New York from 1951 to 1954 and then moved it to Hollywood where it aired from 1954 to 1955. It attracted only occasional sponsors so it was usually a sustainer.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.

THIS EPISODE:

December 19, 1951. NBC network. "Ghost Of A Chance". Sustaining. Not auditioned. "A man comes back from the dead to haunt a wife whose been dead amost as long as he has; in an insurance scheme that almost, but not quite cancels out (Barrie Craig)." Don Pardo (announcer), John Roeburt (writer), William Gargan, Fran Carlon, Himan Brown (director). 28:07.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Amos & Andy "Annual Lodge Hall Picnic" (05-06-51)

Annual Lodge Hall Picnic (Aired May 6, 1951)


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.

THIS EPISODE:

May 6, 1951. CBS network. Sponsored by: Rexall. The lodge picnic is this Saturday and the Kingfish has to come up with the $380 needed for it...fast! The picnic winds up being held on an artillery range! Freeman Gosden, Charles Correll, Jeff Alexander (music), Ernestine Wade, Bob Ross (writer), Joe Connelly (writer), Bob Mosher (writer), Ken Niles (announcer), Lou Lubin, Johnny Lee, John Brown, Will Wright, Leo Cleary, Griff Barnett (commercial spokesman). 29:41.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Hollywood Star Playhouse "Calculated Risk" (02-05-51)

Calculated Risk (Aired February 5, 1951)


The Hollywod Star Playhouse was a CBS presentation sponsored by Bromo Seltzer and aired on Mondays 8:00PM to 8:30PM. The host/narrator was Herb Rawlinson, the announcer was Norman Brokenshire, director Jack Johnstone and the Orchestra Jeff Alexander. The show was well written and many greats appeared during it’s run. James Stewart, Deborah Kerr, William Conrad, Betty Lou Gerson and Harry Bartell, among others.

THIS EPISODE:

February 5, 1951. CBS networek. "Calculated Risk". Sponsored by: Bromo Seltzer. Not auditioned. Vincent Price, Herbert Rawlinson (host), Jeff Alexander (composer, conductor), Jack Johnstone (director), Maurice Zim (writer), Norman Brokenshire (commercial spokesman), Betty Lou Gerson, Theodore Von Eltz, Edwin Max, Byron Kane, Jerry Hausner, Wendell Corey (recorded preview of next week's program). 29:09.

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Boxcars711 Overnight Western "The Lone Ranger" - Coming Of Age (03-23-38)

Boxcars711 Overnight Western "The Lone Ranger" - Coming Of Age (Aired March 23, 1938)


The Lone Ranger was an American long-running early radio and television show created by George W. Trendle (with considerable input from station staff members), and developed by writer Fran Striker. The titular character is a masked Texas Ranger in the American Old West, who gallops about righting injustices, usually with the aid of a clever and laconic American Indian sidekick called Tonto, and his horse Silver. He would famously say "Hi-yo Silver, away!" to get the horse to gallop. On the radio and TV-series, the usual opening announcement was: “ A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty 'Hi-yo Silver!' The Lone Ranger! ”In later episodes the opening narration ended with the catch phrase "Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear.... The Lone Ranger Rides Again!" Episodes usually ended with one of the characters lamenting the fact that they never found out the hero's name ("Who was that masked man?"), only to be told, "Why, that was the Lone Ranger!" as he and Tonto ride away. The theme music was the "cavalry charge" finale of Gioacchino Rossini's William Tell Overture, now inseparably associated with the series, which also featured many other classical selections as incidental music including Wagner, Mendelssohn, Liszt, and Tchaikovsky. The theme was conducted by Daniel Perez Castaneda. Inspiration for the name may have come from The Lone Star Ranger, a novel by Zane Grey. Karl May's tales of Old Shatterhand and Chief Winnetou may have influenced the creation of the concept; they in turn were influenced by The Leatherstocking Tales of James Fenimore Cooper. The legends of Robin Hood and the popular character Zorro were also a likely inspiration.

THIS EPISODE:

March 23, 1938. Program #804/29. Syndicated. "Zeke Salters" AKA "Coming of Age". Music fill for local commercial insert. Zeke's house is burning down, but he tries to keep the Lone Ranger from putting out the fire! What's he up to, and why does he later accuse the Ranger and Tonto of starting the fire? Earle Graser, John Todd.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The Adventures Of The Falcon "Disappearing Doll" (08-30-50)

Disappearing Doll (Aired August 30, 1950)


This hard boiled spy drama began as an RKO Radio Pictures theatrical serial in the 1940s, went on radio in 1945, and then came to TV ten years later in this Syndicated series produced for distribution by NBC Films; Charles McGraw had been in many motion pictures before and after including "The Killers", "Spartacus" and "Cimarron"; in this series he played the title role of a man whose real name was supposedly Mike Waring, an American agent whose code name was "Falcon"; Later Charles McGraw starred in a short lived TV version of "Casablanca" (1955 - 1956) in the character of Rick; He also had a role on the detective drama "Staccato" (1959) Actor McGraw (whose birth name was Charles Butters) met an unfortunate death in real life when he fell through a shower glass door in 1980 at his home in Studio City, CA.

THIS EPISODE:

August 30, 1950. NBC network. "The Case Of The Disappearing Doll". Commercials deleted. After three guys rob an $80,000 payroll, they're double-crossed by their moll. One of the robbers hires "The Falcon" to find Janet Halsey (and the money). Les Damon. 25:18.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The Diary Of Fate "Henrick Potenoff" (04-13-48)

Henrick Potenoff (Aired April 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, April 13, 1948. Program #18. Finley syndication. "Henrick Potenoff". Commercials added locally. Book 82, page 216. A man delays a letter and has to deal with "Fate." Not auditioned. The date is subject to correction. Larry Finley (producer), Herb Lytton, Earl Wallace, Howard McNear, Barney Phillips, Ervin Lee, Ray Ehrlenborn (probable sound effects), Ivan Ditmars (organ), Hal Sawyer. 28:40.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Box 13 "The Bitter Bitten" (07-17-49)

The Bitter Bitten (Aired July 17, 1949)


The premise of the program was that Dan Holiday was an author who wrote mystery novels. To get ideas for his novels he placed an advertisement in a newspaper saying "Adventure wanted, will go anywhere, do anything, Box 13." The ads always brought fun adventures of all kinds: from racketeer's victim to psychotic killer looking for fun. 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. Announcer/Director was Vern Carstensen. The series was produced by Richard Sanville with Alan Ladd as co-producer.

THIS EPISODE:

July 17, 1949. Program #48. Mayfair syndication. "The Biter Bitten". Commercials added locally. A deadly snake checks into a hotel. Alan Ladd, Richard Sanville (director), Robert Light (writer), Rudy Schrager (composer, conductor), Sylvia Picker, Vern Carstensen (production supervisor). 26:54.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - It's Higgins Sir "Summer Vacation" (07-24-51)

Summer Vacation (Aired July 24, 1951)


The Roberts, a normal, middle income American family inherit a silver tea set from distant relative in England. The tea set is accompanied by it's caretaker, Higgins, their new butler. Normal family situations are punctuated by Higgin's smart aleck comments and his general disdain for otrt things American and all things common. The show was a Summer Replacement Series for The Bob Hope Show. Cast : Harry McNaughton (as Higgins), Vinton Hayworth, Peggy Allenby, Charles Nevil, Pat Hosley and Denise Alexander.Creator/Director: Paul Harrison Writers: Paul Harrison and Rick Vollick.

THIS EPISODE:

July 24, 1951. Program #4. NBC network. Sustaining. The Roberts' are planning to vacation at Lake Platookie at "The Roberts' Nest." Aunt Millie, mosquitoes and poison ivy add to the fun! Harry McNaughton, Lionel Ricou (announcer), Paul Harrison (conceiver, producer), Peggy Allenby, Rick Villerts (writer), Vinton Hayworth. 29:31.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - I Deal In Crime "Abigail Murray Case" (09-27-46)

Abigail Murray Case (Aired September 27, 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 EPISODE:

September 27, 1946. ABC network. Sustaining. Ross Dolan is hired by Miss Abigail Murray to drive her around town. She's received a letter that says she'll be murdered tonight. A good murder mystery with lots of gunplay, dead bodies and conks on the head. The system cue has been deleted. Skitch Henderson (composer, conductor), Ted Hediger (writer, director), Rudy Schrager (music arranger, conductor), William Gargan, Dresser Dahlstead (announcer). 29:45.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Exploring Tomorrow "First Men On The Moon" (01-22-48)

First Men On The Moon (01-22-48)


Starting as a replacement show for Gangbusters and Counterspy, the series premiered December 11, 1957 and it ran until June 13, 1958. Quoting from Astounding Magazine, "Exploring Tomorrow is the first science fiction radio show of science-fictioneers, by science- fictioneers, and for science-fictioneers" The shows were narrated by the editor of Astounding Magazine, John W. Campbell, Jr., with scripts written by Gordon Dickson, Robert Silverberg and many other notable science fiction writers.

THIS EPISODE:

January 22, 1958. Mutual network. "The First Men On The Moon". Commercials deleted. The first American astronaut lands on the Moon, to find the first Russian already there...and claiming the Moon as Soviet property! The date is approximate. The story may be titled, "The Moon Is New." John Campbell Jr. (host), Bill Mahr (announcer). 18 1/2 minutes.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - The Great Gildersleeve "Leroy Makes Nitro" (12-27-42)

Leroy Makes Nitro (Aired December 27, 1942)


The Great Gildersleeve (1941-1957), initially written by Leonard Lewis Levinson, [1] was one of broadcast history's earliest spin-off programs. Built around a character who had been a staple on the classic radio situation comedy Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve enjoyed its greatest success in the 1940s. Actor Harold Peary played the character during its transition from the parent show into the spin-off and later in a quartet of feature films released at the height of the show's popularity. On Fibber McGee and Molly, Peary's Gildersleeve was a pompous windbag who became a consistent McGee nemesis. "You're a haa-aa-aa-aard man, McGee!" became a Gildersleeve catch phrase. The character was given several conflicting first names on Fibber McGee and Molly, and on one episode his middle name was revealed as Philharmonic. Gildy admits as much at the end of "Gildersleeve's Diary" on the Fibber McGee and Molly series (10/22/40). He soon became so popular that Kraft Foods — looking primarily to promote its Parkay margarine spread — sponsored a new series with Peary's Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve as the central, slightly softened, and slightly befuddled focus of a lively new family.

THIS EPISIODE:

December 27, 1942. NBC network. Sponsored by: Kraft Parkay, Kraft Dinner. Gildersleeve gets a letter "S. W. A. K." from Leila Ransom, but he can't find a private place to read it. Then, there's Leroy's bottle of nitroglycerine! Arthur Q. Bryan, Billy Mills (composer, conductor), Earle Ross, Harold Peary, John Whedon (writer), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Lillian Randolph, Lurene Tuttle, Richard LeGrand, Verna Felton, Walter Tetley. 29:35.

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Boxcars711Old Time Radio Pod - Casebook Of Gregory Hood "The Delphene Bloggs Case" (10-30-46)

The Delphene Bloggs Case (Aired October 30, 1946)

The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Gale Gordon in the title role, took over where Sherlock Holmes had left off. Sponsored by Petri wine, it used the same "weekly visit" format and the same team of Anthony Boucher and Dennis Green that had written The New Adventured of Sherlock Holmes. Gregory Hood was modelled after true-life San Francisco importer Richard Gump, and many of the stories revolve around a mystery surrounding some particular imported treasure. Hood's sidekick Sanderson "Sandy" Taylor was played by Bill Johnstone. The show aired from June, 1946 through August, 1950. There were an additional couple of shows aired in October 1951. Hood and Sanderson were played in later episodes by Elliott Lewis and Howard McNear, respectively.

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