Summary: Death Rides The Highway (Aired March 26, 1940) John Dunning called Big Town "perhaps the most famous series of reporter dramas." Premiering over CBS Radio, the early series (there were two) starred the Hollywood actor Edward G. Robinson as Steve Wilson along with Clair Trevor as his sidekick and Society editor, Lorelei Kilbourne. The show was initially created around these two actors, though Trevor was then a young budding actress appearing in movies as well as radio. Producer-Director-Writer Jerry McGill had been a newspaperman and wrote the series about a crusading managing editor of the Illustrated Press. McGill took his show to heart writing stories about juvenile delinquency, drunk driving and racism, though the show was at worst melodramatic at best poignant. Hard-nosed editor, Wilson, as played by Robinson would get the story no matter what it takes. Though sometimes over the top, Robinson was excellent in his role. THIS EPISODE: March 26, 1940. Program #42. CBS network. "Death Rides The Highway". Sponsored by: Rinso. Who is the unknown driver who caused a truck to crash into a school bus? The system cue has been deleted, the date is subject to correction. Edward G. Robinson, Ona Munson, Howard Duff (doubles), Leith Stevens (music), Jerry McGill (writer), William N. Robson (director), John Conte (announcer), Ted Osborne, Paula Winslowe. 28:58. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.
