Box 13 - "The Philanthropist" (01-30-49)

The Philanthropist (Aired January 30, 1949)

INTRO: Bob Camardella Remembers Nat & Natalie Cole "Unforgetable" (1991)

Alan Ladd's early portrayals of Dan Holiday did tend to be a bit pat, somewhat sparse in depth, and even wooden in the beginning. Ladd hired some excellent voice talent for his project, and these superb, veteran Radio professionals set a pretty high bar for Ladd, himself. Box 13 is highly expositional, as are most programs of the genre, and Ladd's grovelly, gritty voice lends itself well to the production. But by Episode #6 it seems apparent that Alan Ladd was beginning to hit his stride in the role. What seems to get in the way for many reviewers of this program is its somewhat implausible premise. Dan Holiday was purportedly a successful fiction writer for the Star-Times news magazine who becomes disenchanted with the utter, mind-numbing routine of it. Dan Holiday opts out. He posts an ad reading "Go anywhere, Do anything, Write Box 13".

 

THIS EPISODE:

Ref# 8327. Box Thirteen. January 30, 1949. Program #24. Mutual network origination, Mayfair syndication. "The Philanthropist". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. Dan Holiday takes to the hobo jungles to break an unusual and cruel racket. Alan Ladd, Edmond MacDonald, Richard Sanville (director), Rudy Schrager (composer, conductor), Russell Hughes (writer), Sylvia Picker, Vern Carstensen (production supervisor). 27:43 Ref# 8327 Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.