Classic Radio Theater

Enjoy two free comedy episodes of Duffy’s Tavern w/ Ed “Archie” GardnerA) 1/5/51 w/ guest, Vincent PriceB) 2/9/51 w/ guest, Shelley WintersManaging a fly-infested dive-of-a-tavern that had pretensions to be something much more was a weekly struggle for Archie the barkeep of Duffy’s Tavern. His unhappy conversations with his boss, Duffy (who was an absentee owner) occurred over the telephone at the beginning of each episode. Miss Duffy, Duffy’s man-hungry daughter and would-be singer, warned the gullible Archie of the evils of get-rich-quick schemes and made fun of his attempts to compete against other taverns in New York City. The resulting sitcom was hilarious and hugely popular. Created by Ed Gardner, who also played the role of Archie, the weekly comedy featured Eddie Green, a wisecracking black porter who often managed to get the upper hand. Other tavern regulars, including the dim-witted Finnegan and Clancy the cop, proved that intellectual discussions would never get beyond first-grade level. Writer Abe Burrows (whose son James Burrows created the sitcom Cheers) gave Archie license to misuse and mangle the English language in every episode, as well as deliver brilliant malapropisms. The highlight of the show, and what helped make it so successful, was the weekly guest spot. Hollywood celebrities would, for various reasons, drop in from time to time to discover that the rumors were true: the tavern was beyond any assistance. Exchanges were peppered with offensive barbs and no celebrity was immune to Archie’s sarcasm. Listeners tuned in each week (from 1940 until 1951) just to hear their screen favorites insulted on the air.

Enjoy two free true-crime episodes of Tales of the Texas Rangers w/ Joel McCreaA) 11/12/50 Blood RelativeB) 1/27/52 Night ChaseHopping on the adult western bandwagon, NBC radio presented a semi-documentary based on authentic case files of the select 50-member federation known as the Texas Rangers.  Screen actor Joel McCrea was well-cast as the calm, cool and collected Ranger Jace Pearson.  Given an assignment each week by superior Captain Stinson, Pearson investigated crimes and hunted down the culprits.  Tales of the Texas Rangers was an instant hit; a modern-day take on Dragnet with a western flavor.  By diligently and methodically tracking down murderers and desperadoes, Pearson always got his man.  Then as each weekly case file was closed, judgment and sentence were meted out to the captured fugitives. Created and directed by Stacy Keach, Sr. (father to actor Stacy Keach of Mike Hammer fame), Tales of the Texas Rangers came to radio in 1950 and lasted until 1952.  In 1953, a television version went into production at Columbia Pictures.  Unlike the radio program, which focused exclusively on contemporary case files, the TV shows featured 19th century western capers as well as modern-day stories.  Interestingly, Joel McCrea had been appearing in films, from screwball comedies to wild west movies, since the 1920s.  During the two years that Tales of the Texas Rangers was on air, McCrea’s screen career revived.

Enjoy two free comedy episodes of The Abbott & Costello ShowA) 11/16/44 School PlayB) 10/3/46 Breaking up the ActBud Abbott and Lou Costello started in vaudeville in the early 1930s and by 1938 they were appearing as regulars on The Kate Smith Hour. By the fall of 1942, they had their own weekly radio program which topped the popularity polls of Radio Daily and Radio Guide. At first, radio listeners had trouble telling them apart, so they quickly adapted by Bud lowering his voice a tad with Lou raising his (something they continued to do throughout their careers). Their celebrated Who’s On First baseball routine helped make them a national sensation. The Abbott & Costello Show ran for seven years until the summer of 1949 when the boys ventured into the television business. Produced by Costello’s wife, Patricia, their television series lasted two seasons and gave Bud and Lou an opportunity to reprise the best comedic sketches and scenarios from their radio scripts. The next time you watch one of their television programs, or one of their big screen movies, remember that the flat sarcasm of Bud Abbott and shrieks from Lou Costello originated on radio – the perfect medium for verbal standup that is often imitated today.

Enjoy two free mystery episodes of Suspense w/ Vincent Price, Ida Lupino and Henry FondaA) 6/1/44 Fugue in C Minor w/ Vincent Price and Ida LupinoB) 10/18/45 Summer Storm w/ Henry FondaConceived as a potential radio vehicle for Alfred Hitchcock to direct, Suspense was a radio series of epic proportion. It aired on CBS from 1942 to 1962, and is considered by many to be the best mystery/drama series of the golden age.  Known as Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills it focused on suspenseful stories starring the biggest names in Hollywood. Early in the run, the episodes were hosted by the 'Man In Black' who, from an omniscient perch, narrated stories of people thrown into dangerous or bizarre situations with plots that, at the very end, usually had an unseen twist or two. Hollywood’s finest actors jumped at the chance to appear on Suspense, including: Cary Grant, James Stewart, Alan Ladd, Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis and Orson Welles. Scripts were by John Dickson Carr, Lucille Fletcher, James Poe, Ray Bradbury and many others. Running more than 20 years, Suspense aired nearly 1,000 radio broadcasts. It made the transition to television in 1949, but it was much better suited for radio where the theatre of the mind could run free.

Enjoy two free comedy episodes of The Life of Riley w/ William BendixA) 10/8/48 Better Husband w/ William BendixB) 12/8/50 Lawn-mowing Business w/ William BendixCreated by Irving Brecher, the popular family sitcom The Life of Riley featured the comic misadventures of Chester A. Riley, an inept blue-collar factor worker and father of two, played by screen actor William Bendix. Riley’s wife, Peg, tried in vain to prevent her hot-headed husband’s interventions, which only made matters worse and usually ended in an embarrassing revelation. With a tendency to try and solve non-existent problems, Riley sought advice from his best friend and next-door neighbor, Gillis, but this only led to misunderstandings. Help came from Digger O’Dell, the “friendly undertaker,” who offered gruesome theories laced with repetitive puns, brilliantly delivered by John Brown. In 1949, Universal Studios released a Life of Riley motion picture and later that same year NBC produced a TV version with Jackie Gleason playing Riley (Bendix was unable to play the role due to a contract dispute).  After 26 episodes, Gleason left the series for greener pastures and William Bendix resumed the role he’d made famous.

Enjoy two free detective episodes of Sherlock HolmesA) 10/12/46 The Adv. of the Stuttering Ghost w/ Tom ConwayB) 10/19/46 The Adv. of the Black Angus w/ Tom ConwaySir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective genius, Sherlock Holmes, came to NBC radio in 1930 starring Richard Gordon.  By 1939, Basil Rathbone was heard as Holmes with Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson.  The duo were simultaneously starring in a popular series of Sherlock Holmes features for Fox, and later for Universal.  By the end of the feature run in the mid 1940’s, Rathbone was eager to separate himself from the radio show to avoid being typecast, and even though the show’s sponsor (Petri Wines) offered him generous pay to continue, he decided to move on.  Tom Conway took over with Nigel Bruce continuing as Watson (in this paring Nigel Bruce received top billing).  Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce were replaced in 1947 by John Stanley and Alfred Shirley.  Others to portray Holmes and Watson over the radio run were George Shelton and Ian Martin and Ben Wright and Eric Snowden.  In 1955, NBC signed heavyweights Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson to star as Holmes and Watson, but with radio fast giving way to television, it only lasted one season.

Enjoy two free thrilling adventures of The Green HornetA) 10/31/39 The Parking Lot Racket w/ Al HodgeB) 11/24/46 Giuseppi’s Secret w/ Robert HallBy day, Britt Reid was a successful newspaperman and publisher, by night he was The Green Hornet, a masked avenger determined to combat crime and hand out his own brand of justice.  As the publisher of the Daily Sentinel, Reid had access to inside information from both police and criminal sources, and he made full use of it to combat his foes.  Kato, Reid’s faithful Asian valet (and the only person who knew his secret identity) rendered valuable assistance in their crusade against crime.  Armed with a gas gun to incapacitate his enemies, The Green Hornet always had the upper hand.  With a roaring speedster known as the Black Beauty, the vigilante avoided capture by the police and being unmasked by his inquisitive staff reporter, Mike Axford.  During World War II, The Green Hornet’s enemies included black market operators, Nazi spies and saboteurs.  By 1949, The Green Hornet was smashing rackets on the waterfront, confronting juvenile delinquents, fighting Communist foes, and anyone else who, in the words of the opening narration, “sought to destroy our America.”

Enjoy two free horror episodes of Murder At MidnightA) 6/7/46 Nightmare w/ Elspeth EricB) 11/1/46 The Ape Song w/ Raymond Edward JohnsonProduced in New York, “Murder At Midnight” came to ABC radio in September of 1946 and featured crime dramas and supernatural thrillers. Raymond Morgan, a former long-Island Minister, who had left the cloth For the excitement of radio, was the foreboding host who each week uttered the lines: "Midnight, the witching hour when the night is darkest, our fears the strongest, and our strength at its lowest ebb. Midnight, when the graves gape open and death strikes." Over its six-year run in syndication “Murder at Midnight” had a relatively high production budget (about $5,000 per show) which helped it pull respectable audience shares. The supporting players were New York’s best, including: Lawson Zerbe, Karl Swenson, Berry Kroeger, Lon Clark, Elspeth Eric and Raymond Edward Johnson. Anton M. Leader directed the series and the scripts were by top writers, including Joe Ruscoll, Max Erlich and Robert Newman.

Enjoy two free comedy episodes of The Great GildersleeveA) 4/25/43 Raising Rabbits w/ Hal PearyB) 8/29/43 Vacation at Grass Lake w/ Hal PearyThrockmorton P. Gildersleeve was a popular character appearing regularly on The Fibber McGee & Molly Show.  On August 31, 1941, the character landed his own situation comedy show, The Great Gildersleeve, becoming radio’s first spin-off.  Gildy moved from the town of Wistful Vista to Summerfield, where he raised his orphaned niece and nephew, Marjorie (originally played by Lurene Tuttle and followed by Louise Erickson and Mary Lee Robb) and Leroy (Walter Tetley). The household also included a cook named Birdie (Lillian Randolph).  The Great Gildersleeve was the first show to be centered on a single parent balancing raising children, work, and a social life, accomplished with taste and genuine wit, often at the expense of Gildersleeve's slightly understated pomposity. Radio veteran, Hal Peary originated the role of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve but left the series at the height of its popularity in 1950 giving way to Peary-sound-a-like and well-known character actor, Willard Waterman. Waterman continued in the radio role until 1957 and also played Gildersleeve in a TV version syndicated in 1955.

Enjoy two free detective adventures of Boston BlackieA) 10/1/46 The Undersea Murder w/ Dick KollmarB) 5/28/47 The Ghost of Florence Newton w/ Dick KollmarHoratio Black was known to friend and foe as Boston Blackie -- an ex-jewel thief and safecracker constantly suspected of crimes he did not commit and forced to play the role of detective to clear his name.  His girlfriend, Mary Wesley, assisted Blackie from time to time, as did his pal Shorty.  Forced to defend himself against the accusations of New York Police Inspector Faraday, Blackie always managed to stay one step ahead of the cops in solving a crime.  The wisecracks exchanged between Blackie and Faraday made the program an enjoyable mix of comedy and mystery.  Chester Morris played the character in 15 Boston Blackie films for Columbia.  When The Amos ‘N’ Andy Show needed a summer replacement in 1944, Chester Morris was lured to the NBC microphone for a short-lived Boston Blackie series sponsored by Rinso. The following year, Boston Blackie was syndicated by Ziv with Dorothy Kilgallen’s husband, Dick Kollmar, in the title role.  This syndicated series lasted until 1950 and featured Maurice Tarplin as Inspector Faraday with Leslie Woods and Jan Miner as Mary. In 1951, the series made the leap to television starring Kent Taylor as Blackie, Lois Collier as Mary and Frank Orth as Faraday.

Enjoy two free comedy/quiz episodes of You Bet Your LifeA) 4/13/57 w/ Groucho MarxB) 3/30/57 w/ Groucho MarxCreated by John Guedel, You Bet Your Life was one of the best-loved quiz show to air on both radio and television.  It was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman.  It debuted on radio in 1947 and lasted until 1960.  For much of this time it was also seen on television.  Contestant teams usually consisted of one male and one female, mostly selected from the studio audience.  Groucho would engage in humorous conversations with the contestants and if they said the “secret word” (a common word revealed to the audience at the outset of each episode) a toy duck resembling Groucho – with eyeglasses and a mustache – descended from the ceiling to bring a $100 prize.  After the conversations, the actual game began.  Contestants were allowed to choose from a list of 20 available categories and try to answer a series of questions within the category to win additional money.  At the end of the show, the contestants could play for a Jackpot question, risking half of their previous earnings in the hope of winning the Jackpot.

Enjoy two free exciting adventures of Box ThirteenA) 2/27/48 The Better Man w/ Alan LaddB) 1/9/48 Damsel in Distress w/ Alan LaddMovie star Alan Ladd played Dan Holiday, retired newspaperman turned fiction writer and adventurer extraordinaire. To gain ideas for his books, Holiday placed an ad in the Star-Times newspaper "Adventure wanted – will go anywhere, do anything – Box 13." It wasn’t long before his Box 13 became jammed with adventures galore.  Holiday always had more adventure than he had originally sought, because those who responded to his ad never revealed all of their glorious, unusual, and sometimes sinister details until they met in person and the adventure had already begun. Silvia Picker played Holiday's scatter-brained secretary, Suzy.  Suzy added touches of humor to the mystery-adventure and nail-biting storylines. “Box 13” was produced by Mayfair Productions, a company run by Alan Ladd and Richard Sandville. The name came from Mayfair Restaurant, which Ladd and Sandville owned during WWII. In addition to producing “Box 13”, Ladd also wrote some of the scripts.

Enjoy two western adventures of Hopalong Cassidy A) 2/17/51 Black Gross Fever w/ William Boyd B) 12/29/51 The Killers of Lion Canyon w/ William Boyd Fictional cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy was created in 1904 by author Clarence E. Mulford in a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Beginning in 1935, William Boyd starred as Hoppy in 66 popular films. On screen, the white-haired Bill “Hopalong” Cassidy was clad strikingly in all black, rode a white horse named “Topper” and thwarted dishonest characters that took advantage of honest citizens. By 1946, Hopalong Cassidy became the first network Western television series. Capitalizing on the success of the films and TV series, Mutual radio began broadcasting a weekly radio version in 1950 starring William Boyd as Hoppy with Andy Clyde as his comedic sidekick “California Carlson.” By 1950 more than 100 companies were manufacturing $70 million of Hopalong Cassidy product, including children’s dinnerware, lunch-boxes, pillows, roller skates, soap, wristwatches and pocketknives.

Enjoy two mystery episodes of The Whistler A) 11/25/46 Two Year Plan w/ Lurene Tuttle B) 4/1/46 Three Times a Sinner w/ Joseph Kearns The Whistler was one of radio’s top mystery programs airing from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955 sponsored by the Signal Oil Company. The Whistler was an ominous narrator who opened each episode with: I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. The opening dialog was heard over the echo of footsteps and Wilbur Hatch's haunting signature 13-note theme, whistled each week by Dorothy Roberts. The stories followed an effective formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically undone by their own missteps. The Whistler narrated, often commenting directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting the criminal from an omniscient perspective. One of the show’s trademarks was the ironic twist endings that helped serve as a payoff for the listener. Bill Forman had the title role of host and narrator the longest. Others who portrayed the Whistler included: Gale Gordon (Lucille Ball's future television nemesis), Joseph Kearns (Mr. Wilson on TV series Dennis the Menace), Marvin Miller (soon to be television's Michael Anthony on The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (The Shadow on radio from 1938-1943) and Everett Clarke.

Enjoy two detective adventures of Philip Marlowe A) 9/15/50 The Final Payment w/ Gerald Mohr B) 9/8/50 The Fifth Mask w/ Gerald Mohr Raymond Chandler's celebrated hardboiled private eye, Philip Marlowe, made his radio debut in 1945 on The Lux Radio Theatre with “Murder My Sweet” starring Dick Powell. Two years later, NBC would bring the character to the air in his own weekly series starring Van Heflin in The New Adventures of Philip Marlowe. A summer replacement for The Bob Hope Show, the series was short-lived, ending September 9th, 1947. CBS revived it in 1948 with The Adventures of Philip Marlowe starring Gerald Mohr as Marlowe. With Producer/Director Norman Macdonnell at the helm, the series captured the largest audience in radio by 1949. Scripts were by Gene Levitt, Robert Mitchell, Mel Dinelli and Kathleen Hite. While Chandler’s distinctive similes were largely lacking, the strong, dry, sarcastic narration was there, and the way Mohr delivered his lines made you forget they weren’t written by Chandler. Supporting Mohr, were radio’s best, including Howard McNear, Parley Baer, Lawrence Dobkin, Virginian Greg and Lou Krugman. One of the best detective shows on the air, it lasted until 1951.

Enjoy two comedy episodes of My Favorite Husband A) 11/6/48 Liz and Katie Switch Identities w/ Lucille Ball B) 4/1/49 April Fool’s Day w/ Lucille Ball My Favorite Husband began on CBS Radio July 23, 1948, starring Lucille Ball and Richard Denning as Liz and George Cugat. Midway into the first season, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Liz and George Cooper. The cheerful couple lived at 321 Bundy Drive in the fictitious city of Sheridan Falls and were billed as "two people who live together and like it." George was a banker and Liz was his happily married housewife. Sponsored by Jell-O, the series transitioned to television in 1953 starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson while Lucille Ball (and husband Desi Arnaz) starred in the mega-TV hit I Love Lucy.

Enjoy two western episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel A) 7/5/59 Comanche w/ John Dehner B) 7/12/59 Young Man w/ John Dehner Have Gun, Will Travel followed the adventures of Paladin, a soldier of fortune-turned-hired gunfighter, played by John Dehner. Paladin preferred to settle problems without violence, yet, when forced to fight, excelled. He lived at the swanky Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, where he dressed in formal wear, ate gourmet food, attended the opera and enjoyed the company of beautiful women. When working as a gun-for-hire, he dressed in all black, used calling cards and wore a holster, decorated by a characteristic chess knight emblem. The knight symbol was in reference to his name and his occupation as a champion-for-hire. One of radio’s best-loved westerns, Have Gun, Will Travel lasted on radio until 1960 and was televised from 1957 through 1963.

Enjoy two horror episodes of Inner Sanctum Mystery A) 10/2/45 Shadow of Death w/ Richard Widmark B) 1/31/49 The Devil’s Fortune w/ Karl Swenson Taking its name from a popular series of mystery novels, Inner Sanctum Mystery debuted over NBC’s Blue Network in January 1941. Inner Sanctum Mystery featured one of the most memorable and atmospheric openings in radio history: an organist hit a dissonant chord, a doorknob turned and the famous “creaking door” slowly began to open. Every week, Inner Sanctum Mystery told stories of ghosts, murderers and lunatics. Produced in New York, the cast usually consisted of veteran radio actors, with occasional guest appearances by such Hollywood stars Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Claude Rains. What made Inner Sanctum Mystery unique among radio horror shows was its host, a slightly sinister sounding fellow originally known as “Raymond.” The host had a droll sense of humor and an appetite for ghoulish puns, and his influence can be seen among horror hosts everywhere, from the Crypt-Keeper to Elvira. Raymond Edward Johnson was the show’s host until 1945; Paul McGrath took over as host until the show left the air in 1952. Producer Himan Brown would utilize the creaking door again in the 1970s, when he produced and directed The CBS Radio Mystery Theater.