Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod

Welcome Home (Aired May 20, 1945) As with The Mysterious Traveler that preceded it, The Sealed Book was an anthology of supernatural drama, produced and directed by Jock MacGregor for the Mutual network, and written by the extraordinary team of Robert Arthur and David Kogan. Indeed this same entire team of network, director, and writers were responsible for the entire run of The Mysterious Traveler. Going even further, The Sealed Book reprised 26 of the Arthur/Kogan scripts written for The Mysterious Traveler. And in yet another similarity, Philip Clarke performed as an actor in five of the original Mysterious Traveler episodes. Where the series' differed was in the 'hook' or novelty intro to each week's new episode. With the Mysterious Traveler, the atmospheric element was the mournful whistle of the train, and Maurice Tarplin's equally exaggerated exposition at the beginning of each episode. THIS EPISODE: May 20, 1945. Program #10. Mutual network. "Welcome Home". Sustaining. A man returns home to find his family isn't exactly glad to see him. This program has also been dated July 22, 1945 on WGN, Chicago. Robert A. Arthur (writer), David Kogan (writer), Phillip Clarke (host), Jock MacGregor (producer, director). 29:54. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Case Of The Persistant Beggars (Aired January 26, 1947) Nick Carter first came to radio as The Return of Nick Carter. Then Nick Carter, Master Detective, with Lon Clark in the title role, began April 11, 1943, on Mutual, continuing in many different timeslots for well over a decade. Jock MacGregor was the producer-director of scripts by Alfred Bester, Milton J. Kramer, David Kogan and others. Background music was supplied by organists Hank Sylvern, Lew White and George Wright. Patsy Bowen, Nick's assistant, was portrayed by Helen Choate until mid-1946 and then Charlotte Manson stepped into the role. Nick and Patsy's friend was reporter Scubby Wilson (John Kane). Nick's contact at the police department was Sgt. Mathison (Ed Latimer). The supporting cast included Raymond Edward Johnson, Bill Johnstone and Bryna Raeburn. Michael Fitzmaurice was the program's announcer. The series ended on September 25, 1955. THIS EPISODE: January 26, 1947. Mutual network. "The Case Of The Persistent Beggars". Sponsored by: Old Dutch Cleanser, Del Rich Margarine. The panhandlers of the city are unionized...and controlled by crooks! Lon Clark. 29:18. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Balance Sheet (Aired December 24, 1973) Wyllis Cooper, who created, wrote, and produced it, was then a 36-year-old staffer in Chicago's NBC Studios. Cooper left the show in 1936 and Arch Oboler was given the job. Oboler lost no time establishing himself as the new master of the macabre. Between May 1936 and July 1938, he wrote and directed more than 100 Lights Out plays. To follow Cooper was a challenge: he was "the unsung pioneer of radio dramatic techniques," but Oboler had passed the test with his first play. His own name soon became synonymous with murder and gore, though horror as a genre had always left him cold. Oboler aspired to more serious writing. Oboler's shows are well represented -- this series of Lights Out was syndicated in The Devil and Mr. O offerings of 1970 - 73. A transcribed syndication of original broadcasts from 1942 - 43 with Arch Oboler as the host. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: December 24, 1973. CBS network. "Balance Sheet". Sponsored by: Ironized Yeast, Energene Shoe White. A woman inherits the ideal factory, filled with workers who want nothing more out of life, except to labor. The story is also known as, "Profits Unlimited" and "Efficiency Island." Arch Oboler (writer, host), Frank Martin (announcer). 28:49. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

A Murder Deep In A Killers Mind (Aired June 20, 1951) Heard every Wednesday night at 7:30, this thriller is typical of radio mystery shows. However, it has one thing the others don't--that is a sauve Englishman by the name of Rex Harrison. Harrison turns in a better than average performance as a private detective. With the help of an assistant played by Leon Janey, the "dick" goes his way solving a new mystery each week. Impressing us most was the quiet manner in which Harrison plays his new role. Not once during the entire half hour show did he raise his voice enough to activate the decible meter on the KSMO switchboard. Most radio detectives are of the loud and fast talking type, who just love to order their girl friends and constituted police authorities around like mad. Harrison's show keeps away from this sort of thing. As a detective--gentleman or otherwise--Rex Harrison lends a distinctively intelligent and understated confidence to the role. THIS EPISODE: June 20, 1951. NBC network. "A Murder Deep In A Killer's Mind". Sponsored by: RCA Victor. Rex Harrison, Edward Adamson (writer), Himan Brown (director), Kenneth Banghart (announcer), Leon Janney. 28:12. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Handy Man (Aired November 28, 1952) In an arrangement that amplified the growing pains of American broadcasting, as radio "grew up" into television (as George Burns once phrased it), the Nelsons' deal with ABC gave the network itself the right to move the show to television whenever it wanted to do it---they wanted, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, to have talent in the bullpen and ready to pitch, so to say, on their own network, rather than risk it defecting to CBS (where the Nelsons began) or NBC. Their sons, David and Ricky, did not join the cast until five years after the radio series began. The two boys felt frustrated at hearing themselves played by actors and continually requested they be allowed to portray themselves. Prior to April 1949, the role of David was played by Joel Davis (1944-45) and Tommy Bernard, and Henry Blair appeared as Ricky. Since Ricky was only nine years old when he began on the show, his enthusiasm outstripped his ability at script reading, and at least once he jumped a cue, prompting Harriet to say, "Not now, Ricky." Other cast members included John Brown as Syd "Thorny" Thornberry, Lurene Tuttle as Harriet's mother, Bea Benaderet as Gloria, Janet Waldo as Emmy Lou, and Dick Trout as Roger. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli. THIS EPISODE: November 28, 1952. "The Handy Man" - ABC network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. Ozzie's the handyman, but Thorny's power tools are needed. Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard, David Nelson, Ricky Nelson, Verne Smith (announcer), John Brown. 26:38. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Escape To Nowhere (Aired May 7, 1974) The Zero Hour (aka Hollywood Radio Theater) was a 1973-74 radio drama anthology series hosted by Rod Serling. With tales of mystery, adventure and suspense, the program aired in stereo for two seasons. Some of the scripts were written by Serling. Originally placed into syndication on September 3, 1973, the series was picked up by the Mutual Broadcasting System in December of that year. The original format featured five-part dramas broadcast Monday through Friday with the story coming to a conclusion on Friday. Including commercials, each part was approximately 30 minutes long. Mutual affiliates could broadcast the series in any time slot that they wished. In 1974, still airing five days a week, the program changed to a full story in a single 30-minute installment with the same actor starring throughout the week in all five programs. That format was employed from late April 1974 to the end of the series on July 26, 1974. Producer J.M. Kholos was a Los Angeles advertising man who acquired the rights to suspense novels, including Tony Hillerman's The Blessing Way, for radio adaptations. In some cases, the titles were changed.

Statement In Full (Aired January 15, 1951) The Hollywood Star Playhouse , well written and performed, presented many original plays and popular Hollywood stars. Some of those who accepted roles in this great series included Jimmy Stewart, William Conrad, Deborah Kerr, Vincent Price, Harry Bartell and Betty Lou Gerson. Highlights included an episode entitled The Six Shooter and which later became it’s own series staring James Stewart. In 1952, Marilyn Monroe made her radio debut on The Hollywood Star Playhouse. This 30 minute anthology program was heard over three different networks during its three seasons. Many leading Hollywood stars appeared before the microphones for this programs original scripts. Marilyn Monroe made her radio debut on the 08/31/52 broadcast. Several programs were intended to become new series. On 04/13/52, the broadcast # 99 of The Six Shooter w/James Stewart did indeed become a new NBC series The Six Shooter in 1953, while the broadcast of 05/18/52 Safari w/Ray Milland failed to make it. There was a title change to this series. During the third network change to NBC the series picked up the sponsorship of the American Bakers and the series was called Baker’s Theater Of Stars. THIS EPISODE: January 15, 1951. CBS network. "Statement In Full". Sponsored by: Bromo Seltzer. "If you could get away with murder, would you?" Joan Crawford, Herbert Rawlinson (host), Norman Brokenshire (commercial spokesman), Donald Woods, Harry Bartell, John McIntire, Paul McVey, Jeanette Nolan, Maurice Zim (writer), Jeff Alexander (composer, conductor), Jack Johnstone (director), Dick Haymes (recorded preview of next week's story). 29:25. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Agnes Bolton (Aired June 5, 1949) Typically, a person unknown to Pat asks him to do an unusual or risky job. Pat reluctantly accepts and finds himself in hot water in the form of an unexplained dead body. Police Inspector Hellman (played by Raymond Burr) arrives on the scene and pins the murder on Novak. With only circumstantial evidence to go on, Hellman promises to haul Novak in the next day for the crime. The rapid, staccato dialogue between Webb & Burr is typical of harboiled fiction and is often humorous. Pat uses the time to try to solve the case. He usually employs the help of his friend Jocko Madigan (played by Tudor Owen) - a drunken ex-doctor typically found at some disreputable tavern or bar - to help him solve the case. As Pat asks for his help, Jocko launches a long-winded philosophical diatribe, full of witty and funny remarks, until Novak cuts him off. Jocko and Pat unravel the case and Hellman makes the arrest. Finally, we hear the foghorn and Novak's footsteps on the pier again before Novak spells out the details of the case for us. THIS EPISODE: June 5, 1949. Program #13. "Agnes Bolton" - ABC network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. The fat lady with a green package in a bowling alley. Espionage and the usual frame for Novak. Jack Webb, Richard Breen (writer), Hal Gibney (announcer), Charles McGraw, Tudor Owen. 32:05. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Fatal Auction (Aired June 26, 1947) Johnny Modero, Pier 23 is an outstanding old time radio detective and drama series. Playing the part of Johnny Modero is the great Jack Webb. It was aired on the Mutual Network as a summer relacement show in 1947, and Johnny Modero was a fast talking, wise cracking guy who ran a boat shop in San Francisco. When Modero was on a case, he usually solved it before his nemesis, but sometimes friend, a cop who went by the name of Warchek. Warchek was played by another old time radio great William Conrad. As far as Jack Webb goes, this is the kind of part he thrived on, he had similar roles in Jeff Regan PI, and Pat Novak For Hire. This was also before his stint on Dragnet. Sometimes it seems like this show was produced just to show off Webb's style of radio acting. He set the standard for the tough talking, no nonsense, Private Investigator type for old time radio shows. When it was cancelled, or more accuratley not picked up for a full time show, it caused an uproar for the Mutual Network. Show Notes From Eddie's Old Time Radio THIS EPISODE: June 26, 1947. " Fatal Auction" - Mutual network. Sustaining. The waterfront character with a nose for trouble. A saxophone worth $1000 and two murders. Why? Jack Webb, Gale Gordon, William Conrad, Herb Butterfield, Harry Zimmerman (composer, conductor), Nat Wolff (director). 28:32. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Nightfall - The Dentist (Aired October 29, 1982) *The Exact Date Is Unknown. Nightfall is a radio drama series produced and aired by CBC Radio from July 1980 to June 1983. While primarily a supernatural/horror series, Nightfall featured some episodes in other genres, such as science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and human drama. One episode was even adapted from a folk song by Stan Rogers. Some of Nightfall's episodes were so terrifying that the CBC registered numerous complaints and some affiliate stations dropped it. Despite this, the series went on to become one of the most popular shows in CBC Radio history, running 100 episodes that featured a mix of original tales and adaptations of both classic and obscure short stories. Nightfall was the brainchild of producer Bill Howell, who was best known at the time for his work on CBC Playhouse and the cult favorite adventure series, Johnny Chase: Secret Agent of Space. (Howell later went on to be executive producer of CBC Radio's highly-popular series, The Mystery Project, which ran from 1992 to 2004.) When CBC Radio was revamped and given an expanded budget in 1980, Howell approached the newly-appointed Head of Radio Drama, Susan Rubes, about his idea for a supernatural/horror anthology series that would push the envelope.

The Romantic Engineer (1946) *The Exact Date Is Unknown. Charlie Chan is a fictional Chinese-American detective created by Earl Derr Biggers in 1923. Biggers conceived of the benevolent and heroic Chan as an alternative to Yellow Peril stereotypes, such as villains like Fu Manchu. Chan is a detective of the Honolulu police, though many stories feature Chan traveling the world as he investigates mysteries and solves crimes. Chan first appeared in Biggers' novels, but went on to be featured in a number of media. Over four dozen films featuring Charlie Chan have been made, beginning in 1926. On radio, Charlie Chan was heard in different series on four networks (Blue, NBC, ABC, MBS) between 1932 and 1948. Walter Connolly initially portrayed Chan as part of Esso Oil's Five Star Theater, which serialized adaptations of Biggers novels. Ed Begley, Sr. had the title role in NBC's The Adventures of Charlie Chan (1944–45), followed by Santos Ortega (1947–48). Leon Janney and Rodney Jacobs were heard as Lee Chan, Number One Son, and Dorian St. George was the program's announcer. Radio Life magazine described Begley's Chan as "a good radio match for Sidney Toler's beloved film enactment."

Nikki Porter Suspect (Aired March 5, 1947) Tuska cited Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940) and Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as the best of the Bellamy-Lindsay pairings. "The influence of The Thin Man series was apparent in reverse", Tuska noted about Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery. "Ellery and Nikki are unmarried but obviously in love with each other. Probably the biggest mystery... is how Ellery ever gets a book written. Not only is Nikki attractive and perfectly willing to show off her figure", Tuska wrote, "but she also likes to write her own stories on Queen's time, and gets carried away doing her own investigations." In Ellery Queen, Master Detective, "the amorous relationship between Ellery and Nikki Porter was given a dignity, and therefore integrity", Tuska wrote, "that was lacking in the two previous entries in the series", made at Republic Pictures before Bellamy and Lindsay were signed by Columbia. THIS EPISODE: March 5, 1947. Grace Gibson syndication. "Nikki Porter Suspect". Commercials added locally. A bank robber with a broken nose has been shot and murdered on board a train. The evidence points to Nikki as the killer. An Australian production. The script was produced in the United States on March 5, 1947. Gypsy Rose Lee (guest armchair detective, she was on tour in Australia), Ken Crossen (writer), Manfred B. Lee (writer), John Saul (director). 25:40. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Giddyup Horsie (Aired August 7, 1950) The series started on Monday evenings at 7:30 PM (on WMGM) and held that time/day spot until Oct. 30, 1950. The 56'th show marked a change to Wednesday night, again at 7:30. After show number 78 (Apr.11, 1951) the shows were repeated, starting with the first, "Kid With a Gun". The repeats followed the original order up until repeat of number 26, "Ingenious Woman" on Oct. 10, 1951. Repeats were not uncommon. Even before the last original show, older shows were repeated on alternate dates to the main series run. On Jan. 7, 1952, the series moved to Mutual but lasted just one year. Only repeats of the original series were aired and show ordering did not match the first run. The show was heard on Dec. 22, 1952. THIS EPISODE: August 7, 1950. Program #9. MGM syndication. "Giddyup Horsie". Commercials added locally. A jockey is blackmailed in order to fix a race. When that doesn't work, the jockey is murdered and the horse if framed! The date above is the date of the first broadcast on WMGM, New York, from which this syndicated version may have been taken. Richard Webb, Jon Gart (composer, conductor), Marx B. Loeb (producer, director), Ira Marion (writer), Burton B. Turkas (technical advisor), Bob Williams (announcer). 26:09. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Acting Police Commissioner (Aired March 30, 1949) 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. THIS EPISIODE: March 30, 1949. NBC network. Sponsored by: Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Kraft Mustards. Gildersleeve is appointed "Acting Police Commissioner", and is determined to catch the "Whistling Bandit!" Andy White (writer), Earle Ross, Gloria Holiday, Harold Peary, Jack Meakin (music), John Elliotte (writer), John Wald (announcer), Ken Christy, Lillian Randolph, Marylee Robb, Richard LeGrand, Walter Tetley. 29:49. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Potters Of Frisk (Aired July 28, 1950) Dimension X was first heard on NBC April 8, 1950, and ran until September 29, 1951. Strange that so little good science fiction came out of radio; they seem ideally compatible, both relying heavily on imagination. Some fine isolated science fiction stories were developed on the great anthology shows, Suspense and Escape. But until the premiere of Dimension X -- a full two decades after network radio was established -- there were no major science fiction series of broad appeal to adults. This show dramatized the work of such young writers as Ray Bradbury, Robert (Psycho) Bloch, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Kurt Vonnegut. In-house script writer was Ernest Kinoy, who adapted the master works and contributed occasional storied of his own. Dimension X was a very effective demonstration of what could be done with science fiction on the air. THIS EPISODE: July 28, 1950. NBC network. "The Potters Of Firsk". Sponsored by: Wheaties. On a far distant planet, controlled by the planet Earth, the inhabitants of the remote village of Firsk make the most unusual pottery. The middle commercial features Ed Prentiss interviewing Luke Appling of The Chicago White Sox. Jack Vance (author), Ernest Kinoy (adaptor), Karl Weber, Wendell Holmes, Raymond Edward Johnson, Ed Prentiss, Luke Appling, Norman Rose (host), Van Woodward (producer), Edward King (director), Bob Warren (announcer). 25:06. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.