A man is killed by drowning in a bathtub in a small upstate town. His killers take his body to the city where they dump it in the sea lion pool at the zoo. When the body is found it looks like suicide until laboratory tests prove what Boston Blackie suspected.

 Duration: 26:47

 Starring: Dick Kollmar, Jan Miner, Maurice Tarplin 

Broadcast Date: 14th May 1947

The World's Great Novels

Experience distance learning 1940s style with The World's Great Novel presented by the NBC University of the Air.

The World's Great Novels, produce by the NBC University of the Air,  worked with the University of Louisville, the University of Tulsa and Washington State University to present serialized adaptions of classic novels over two to six episodes. Listeners could enroll in correspondence courses and earn college credit for listening to the books. For a quarter, students could purchase a companion study guide, The Handbook of the World's Great Novels.

The show was broadcast out of Chicago from 1944 to 1948 on WMAQ and other NBC stations with a group of actors from Chicago.  In 1948 the show changed names to NBC University Theater, moved to Hollywood and changed the format from 30-minute shows to one hour shows. This version of the show aired from 1948 to 1951.

Guest commentators appeared on some shows providing commentary about the book currently being reuded novelists, magazine editors, and academics.The universities also provided messages during the broadcast to let listeners know that they can earn college credit for listening to and reading the classics.

Sam Dodsworth has just sold his automobile company and he and his wife Fran are just about to set of on a trip to Europe. They set sail from New York and eventually arrive in England for their six months tour. As the story unfolds it becomes apparent that Fran Dodsworth has an eye for other men and to make matters worse they seem to be attracted to her. They cross the channel to visit Paris and it looks as if they’ve reached the point of no return when he returns to the States alone. 

Duration: 60:00

 Starring: Walter Huston 

Broadcast Date: 4th October 1937

Are you willing to undertake a dangerous mission behind the enemy line knowing that you may never return alive? This was the question asked during the war to agents of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) ordinary citizens who to this question answered yes.

 Before this first episode begins you will hear from the co-author of the book Cloak & Dagger who was also a former OSS officer on whom the series is based, Colonel Corey Ford.

 Duration: 28:42

 Starring: Joseph Julian, Berry Kroeger 

Broadcast Date: 7th May 1950

Matt called early to the saloon to see Kitty. There was a party the following night a dance to benefit the new school and Matt plucked up courage to ask Kitty to go with him but she turned him down. Kitty was concerned at what the “ladies” would think him taking a hostess from the saloon but Matt was not going to take no for an answer. 

Duration: 28:17 

Starring: William Conrad

 Broadcast Date: 29th November 1952

The term 'music depreciation' is an interesting enough play on words in and of itself. Spike Jones and His Orchestra may well have coined the term in the course of their various irreverent, but brilliant send-ups of popular--and traditional--music over the years. Their aim being to both knock some of the most revered classics off their pedestals a notch or two, while at the same time deconstructing some of the most popular classics and contemporary music to their basic common denominators: beat and meter, dynamics, and harmony. Spike Jones, while ostensibly clowning with famous music, was brilliant at breaking down those three key essentials to illustrate what made truly great music great. Kay Kyser had also been a proponent of musical deconstruction. Over the course of their combined forty years of influence in musical entertainment, they both helped to fire the imaginations of countless music enthusiasts into looking at music, its structure and composition in a far different light. As mentioned above, The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street often went to great lengths to illustrate these very points. It was the popular success of The Chamber Music Society . . . that inspired the Don Lee-Mutual network to create a similar program that began airing in the Winter of 1944. Called Music Depreciation, it aired a format very similar to the long-running Chamber Music Society series, but in an even more abbreviated and light-hearted tone. And in a nod to the era, the overarching theme of most broadcasts was Swing Music of the era. The program was in all likelihood the brainchild of Ruben Gaines, a poet, writer and radio broadcaster with a flair for irony and music education. His previous Meet the Band series over Don Lee equally sought to shed light on not only the history of music, but its proponents as well. Gaines assembled the team for Music Depreciation comprised of the brilliant and versatile composer and arranger, Frank De Vol, and Les Paul and his Trio.

Jim Doby runs the Dodge Hotel. But, he’s in for a little competition. One of the local cattle ranchers has decided that he wants a hotel too, so he has begun the building work. Jim Doby is not at all happy, and he has even begun threatening people. . . This episode was probably a rehersal show. It is hilarious. It’s a wonder this fantastic cast ever got any shows made they had so much fun which you can share in this episode! It’s a must listen to!!! 

Duration: 20:15 

Starring: William Conrad

 Broadcast Date: 19th February 1956

The novel opens with mystery author Harriet Vane on trial for the murder of her former lover, Phillip Boyes: a writer with strong views on atheism, anarchy, and free love. Publicly professing to disapprove of marriage, he had persuaded a reluctant Harriet to live with him, only to renounce his principles a year later and to propose. Harriet, outraged at being deceived, had broken off the relationship.

Following the separation, the former couple had met occasionally, and the evidence at trial pointed to Boyes suffering from repeated bouts of gastric illness at around the time that Harriet was buying poisons under assumed names, to demonstrate – so she said – a plot point of her novel then in progress.

Returning from a holiday in North Wales in better health, Boyes had dined with his cousin, the solicitor Norman Urquhart, before going to Harriet's flat to discuss reconciliation, where he had accepted a cup of coffee. That night he was taken fatally ill, apparently with gastritis. Foul play was eventually suspected, and a post-mortem revealed that Boyes had died from acute arsenic poisoning. Apart from Harriet's coffee and the evening meal with his cousin (in which every item had been shared by two or more people), the victim appeared to have taken nothing else that evening.

The trial results in a hung jury. As a unanimous verdict is required, the judge orders a re-trial. Lord Peter Wimsey visits Harriet in prison, declares his conviction of her innocence and promises to catch the real murderer. Wimsey also announces that he wishes to marry her, a suggestion that Harriet politely but firmly declines.

Working against time before the new trial, Wimsey first explores the possibility that Boyes killed himself. Wimsey's friend, Detective Inspector Charles Parker, disproves that theory. The rich great-aunt of the cousins Urquhart and Boyes, Rosanna Wrayburn, is old and senile, and according to Urquhart (who is acting as her family solicitor) when she dies most of her fortune will pass to him, with very little going to Boyes. Wimsey suspects that to be a lie, and sends his enquiry agent Miss Climpson to get hold of Rosanna's original will, which she does in a comic scene exposing the practices of fraudulent mediums. The will in fact names Boyes as principal beneficiary.

Wimsey plants a spy, Miss Joan Murchison, in Urquhart's office where she finds a hidden packet of arsenic. She also discovers that Urquhart had abused his position as Rosanna's solicitor, embezzled her investments, then lost the money on the stock market. Urquhart recognised that he would face inevitable exposure should Rosanna die and Boyes claim his inheritance. However, Boyes was unaware of the will's contents and Urquhart reasoned that if Boyes were to die first, nobody could challenge him as sole remaining beneficiary, and his fraud would not be revealed.

After perusing A.E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad (in which the poet likens the reading of serious poetry to King Mithridates' self-immunization against poisons) Wimsey suddenly understands what had happened: Urquhart had administered the arsenic in an omelette which Boyes himself had cooked. Although Boyes and Urquhart had shared the dish, the latter had been unaffected as he had carefully built up his own immunity beforehand by taking small doses of the poison over a long period. Wimsey tricks Urquhart into an admission before witnesses.

We have an expert on murder here tonight. He has a rather strange idea, something about everyone being a potential murderer. Maybe he’s right. Take a good look at your neighbor, maybe he’s the one – maybe its you. . . Boris Karloff stars as Mr Herbert March in this original radio play by Sigmund Miller. At the time of going to broadcast Boris Karloff was appearing in the smash Broadway hit Arsenic and old Lace 

Duration: 32:00 

Starring: Raymond Edward Johnson 

Broadcast Date: 3rd May 1942

The great explorer, Peter Stranski, is giving a lecture on the head-hunters of the Amazon when he finds Ellen, his wife, in the arms of another man, John. Ellen wants a divorce. Peter invites John and Ellen to his home and asks John to witness the divorce papers and he scratches himself on Peter’s pen. Has Peter used the poison of the Amazon head-hunters? What strange and terrible revenge could a jealous husband take against his wife and the man she loved? 

Duration: 30:47 

Starring: Bret Morrison 

Broadcast Date: 27th July 1943

ichard Rogue is travelling on the train in a compartment with Betty a friend and journalist to the Charlie Miller trial when a Latin type woman enters his compartment and says that there is a man on the train that has designs on her life. When the man knocks on the door the woman asks Rogue to look after her briefcase before leaving the compartment. The man comes back and whacks Betty and Rogue knocking them out before jumping from the train with the briefcase. However he has taken the wrong briefcase. Then Rogue discovers the Latin woman in her compartment stabbed to death and he has the briefcase, which is obviously the reason for her death. Things get more interesting when Rogue is told that the dead woman is Diane Miller wife of Charlie Miller on trial for murder.

Duration: 24:43 

Starring: Dick Powell 

Broadcast Date: 23rd May 1946

Roland Young plays the part of an author of detective novels who invented his best part when his life was at stake. With Mr Young to play his long-suffering secretary is Miss Peggy Conklin. Written by John Dickson Carr. 

Duration: 28:53 

Starring: Roland Young 

Broadcast Date: 23rd March 1943

Part James Bond, part Wonder Woman, The Avengers epitomized Sixties British Cool on the small screen. The infrastructure for TV broadcasting was slow to be adopted in South Africa, but they had this terrific version of The Avengers from Springbok Radio.

The Avengers burst in the door of spy and super-hero adventure drama on South African radio in 1971, starring Donald Monat as John Steed, and Diane Appleby as the wonderful Emma Peel. It was based on the fine TV series, which was very popular from the start in the UK, and is an excellent example of radio's adaptation of the television medium...as it had done with movies all along.Part pop art, part super hero, and part adventure serial... This radio show has all of the excitement and intelligence of the original television hit. Donald Monat has said, "I guess I was aiming to interpret the script in the spirit of the TV series, but in my own way - as my voice is quite different to Patrick's." Patrick McNee played Steed on the original television show, and the radio format, as national TV wasn't available in South Africa until '76, was the way it was popularized there. It was produced as usually six fifteen-minute serial episodes (with space for commercials), very unlike the hour TV show with the entire adventure. The "cliff hanging" segments keep the action moving and always leading up to a thrill to be continued. The quality of production sounds great. The radio stars even caught the fever and appeared to sign autographs as Steed and Peel to promote the show!

Exactly as the television show did, it features outlandish, quirky villains, mad scientists, secret organizations and off-the-wall situations. Each adventure presents the Avengers with a Gordian knot of plot twists that they almost always manage to fray with aplomb. (Part James Bond, part Wonder Woman...why not?) A quick scan of the stories give the flavor: "From Venus with Love" is a fine example, featuring a very odd organization with a hidden agenda. Another excellent adventure is "Super Secret Cypher Snatch" the title alone titillates! "Not to be Sneezed At..." are the Avengers.

Such madcap multi-parted adventures with two perfectly adept and adroit Avengers is a great radio example of why the pictures in the mind are the most exciting. As for the lovely Emma Peel, you may substitute the television vision of Diana Rigg if you desire.

Basil Rathbone whom for a very long time played the role of Sherlock Holmes.

Here a few sound bits of Basil telling us about:

Melba Toast

Stoic

Tangerine

The Saxophone

To Get One's Goat

It’s January and the time of year when we all make our New Year resolutions and Gildy has decided to go on diet. His niece Marjorie has decided she’s going to do everything she can to help him. 

Duration: 27:25 

Starring: Harold Peary 

Broadcast Date: 4th January 1942

Broadcast in 1937, each episode of Jerry of the circus is approximately 15 minutes long and are stories set around characters of the circus and their lives. Young Jerry turns up at the circus in search of Sam Randall the circus boss. Randall informs him they’ve no jobs at present then Jerry hands him a letter from his late father Tim Duggan. Sam Randall knew Tim from years ago “a great showman”. He read the letter, “If things don’t break and I’m gone before you get here take care of the kid. He’s been brought up with horses, the circus is in his blood.” So that begins the tales of Jerry and the circus.

Broadcast Date: 1937

Episodes - 61 -80

The story begins in one of the manufacturing plants in the Worldwide Business Machines Corporation. In one wing of the plant is housed the huge laboratory where newly designed and experimental calculating machines are built and tested. It is evening, and the vast laboratory with the small rows of intricate looking machines is deserted except for a young university professor Lester DeWitt who is tall, lanky and in his early 30s. DeWitt stands before a massive machine that dwarfs all others in the laboratory. Swiftly and efficiently he presses tabulating keys on the control board, oblivious of all else. Written, produced, and directed by Robert A. Arthur and David Kogan and starring Leon Janny and Marilyn Erskin. Reviewed by Kitty 

Duration: 29:47 

Starring: Maurice Tarplin 

Broadcast Date: 14th March 1950

Enjoy 4 hours of music.   

Broadcast in 1937, each episode of Jerry of the circus is approximately 15 minutes long and are stories set around characters of the circus and their lives. Young Jerry turns up at the circus in search of Sam Randall the circus boss. Randall informs him they’ve no jobs at present then Jerry hands him a letter from his late father Tim Duggan. Sam Randall knew Tim from years ago “a great showman”. He read the letter, “If things don’t break and I’m gone before you get here take care of the kid. He’s been brought up with horses, the circus is in his blood.” So that begins the tales of Jerry and the circus.

Broadcast Date: 1937

Episodes: 41-60

Ian MacAndrews was the man who founded Lake City. He died five years ago and his life policy had been paid out but now it seemed that he had come back or his ghost had come back. 

Duration: 24:57

 Starring: Bob Bailey

 Broadcast Date: 18th May 1958

Our story tonight takes us to Brooklyn New York. Brooklyn is a quiet little place at the end of a bridge, it is noted for its cemetaries, a tree that grows there and its baseball club, the Dodgers. Now Brooklyn is also the home of an assortment of rather odd characters not the least of whom is Aubery Piper played by Fred Allen. Aubery has recently blown in to the Fisher home as the suiter of daughter Amy and you can tell exactly what the rest of the family feels about him if you listen to what mother Fisher has to say. . . 

Duration: 30:14

 Starring: Fred Allen 

Broadcast Date: 21st January 1945

Billy Saxton had killed Joe Powell shot him in the back and now he was about to be lynched by Joe’s brother. When Matt Dillon found him he told Ken Powell that if it were him that had arranged the lynching he would get a fair trial for the murder the same way that Saxton should have had one. 

Duration: 28:01

 Starring: William Conrad 

Broadcast Date: 16th August 1952

When Maisie stepped in to a hamburger joint leaving her two suitcases parked on the sidewalk she ends up with a fine from Officer Riley. It seems that this hick town is full of crazy laws when she tries to contest the fine she only makes it worse and ends up with fines totalling $50.

 Duration: 28:16 

Starring: Ann Sothern 

Broadcast Date: 9th February 1950

Christmas Seals Recordings

brought in top stars like Fibber McGee and Molly and Frank Sinatra to be sure that every card and package sent during Christmas included a Christmas Seal.

Christmas Seals donated money to various charitable organizations for over 100 years. The organization began in the early 1900s when in the industrial cities many children and adults alike suffered from tubercuosis. In Denmark, a postage stamp was used to gather extra money for children suffering from tuberculosis.

In the United States, the Christmas Seals began in 1907 by Red Cross worker Emily Bissell and seals were originally sold in post offices for one cent. Money from the seals went to the American Red Cross and an organization that helped prevent tuberculosis which went from the number one cause of death to the seventh cause y charitable money gathered from Christmas Seals benefit the American Lung Association. 

Philip Lock from Philadelphia arrived in Dodge City from Philadelphia looking for a girl. This girl had apparently written to her mother telling her that she was working at a school in Dodge but the school had never heard of her and Lock was worried that something had happened to her. When Marshall Matt Dillon asked her name and description he was told Laura Simmons whom he knew well but he did not let on to Lock instead he went to see Laura. He wanted to know why Philip Lock was looking for her.

 Duration: 24:29 

Starring: William Conrad 

Broadcast Date: 19th December 1953

It was early on January morning and Detective Danny Clover had not even had time for his coffee or paper before a call came in to get down to St Anthony’s Hospital. Sister Angela was waiting to see him; it appeared that her patient Jimmy Hunt had committed suicide with a steak knife from his dinner plate. However, further inspection confirmed that it was murder.

 Duration: 29:00 

Starring: Larry Thor 

Broadcast Date: 03 February 1950

ncludes a public notice by Bulldog Drummond on inflation and war bonds. Out of the fog. . . out of the night. . . and into his American adventures. . . comes. . . Bulldog Drummond! Champion of lost causes, amateur detective, the most celebrated soldier of fortune of the screen and radio Bulldog Drummond comes to you with more of his baffling and intriguing mysteries. The story began when two men known as Barnaby Mullans and Spike Saunders were arrested for hijacking trucks. 

Duration: 27:36 

Starring: Ned Wever, Luis Van Rooten

 Broadcast Date: 23rd April 1945

Matt Dillon and Kitty are having a drink when Webb Johnson who thinks he has a way with women interrupts and asks Kitty to join him at the poker table. The previous night Johnson had offered Kitty a job at the Longhorn Saloon, which he had bought up. Matt Dillon thought Johnson was talky enough to cause trouble sooner or later. . . 

Duration: 29:59 

Starring: William Conrad, Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, Lawrence Dobkin, John Dehner, Howard McNear, Charlotte Lawrence

 Broadcast Date: 1st August 1953

It is 48 hours before Christmas. Archie Goodwin receives a telephone call from Santa Claus! He is coming around to Nero’s office at 8pm. Two Santa’s have been murdered and this Santa is very worried. It seems that someone is trying to murder all the Santa Claus’s of Carlisle Avenue and they seem to be succeeding! 

Duration: 27:54 

Starring: Sydney Greenstreet

 Broadcast Date: 22nd December 1950

I look just like any other guy standing on a platform waiting for a train at night. The other people walking up and down here waiting for their train they might look and they might not, just a guy waiting for a train, waiting to say goodbye to New York. They don’t know I’m different, they think that the way I’m clutching my coat collar together is because I’m cold. They don’t know I’ve got a bullet in my neck. . . 

Duration: 30:48 

Starring: Victor Mature

 Broadcast Date: 27th October 1949

A man was shot from outside by a bullet, which came in through the window. The killer was across the street in a parked car with a high-powered rifle. There had been another two auto killings with the same MO recently and the police suspected Bat McCoy but Casey wondered why he would want to kill his piano player. It seems that his piano player had married a woman that McCoy had a crush on. Casey and his girlfriend reporter, Ann Williams attend the funeral to see what they can discover.

 Written by: Alonzo Deen Cole 

Duration: 28:41 

Starring: Staats Cotsworth, Jan Miner, John Gibson 

Broadcast Date: 19th May 1949

The Philip Morris Playhouse grew from an earlier program called Johnny Presents, which included music and drama performances. Johnny Presents, too, was sponsored by Philip Morris. It was named after Philip Morris' trademark midget bellhop, Johnny Roventini. This show includes the famous commercial, "Callll for Philip Morrriiiiiiaaaasssss, yelled by none other than Johnny. This commercial began when ad man for Philip Morris spotted Johnny the bellhop in the Hotel New Yorker, and thought up the scheme to have him run around the lobby yelling "Last call for Philip Morris! He was an instant hit, henceforth receiving $20,000 a year for advertising for the company.

For some people there is only one chase and no other exists: the chase to secure and hold money, nothing, nothing else matters. There is no love except for pennies, dimes and dollars and only hate for those who would deprive them of it…

Duration: 28:44

Broadcast Date: February 8, 1953

A thoroughly enjoyable adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s novel, Rebecca, by and starring Orson Welles. Introduced by newsman Edwin C. Hill and broadcast only a month after the famous broadcast of War of the World. If you have not read the book or seen the film then this really is a must. It is radio drama at its very best. 

Duration: 59:36 

Starring: Orson Welles 

Broadcast Date: 9th December 1938

The phone rings, and Michael Waring, the Falcon, answers and tells the party on the other line, “You’ll have to count me out this evening, I have to see about a gambling debt, a boy I know tried to make a seven the hard way and discovered murder was a natural.” It is late evening in New York, and at Frency Devlin’s, a gambling house in the east 70s, a young man named Steve Richards is conducting an interesting experiment. Steve is trying to get a pair of ivory cubes to come up the right way. 

Duration: 26:09 

Starring: Les Tremayne

 Broadcast Date: 30th August 1948

The Long Way Home – a glimpse of the future we trust will never happen. A story of the fate of man to whom it is given to do what they have to do who with or without understanding, but with patience, goodwill and a sense of comradeship.

 Duration: 24:02 

Broadcast Date: 12th May 1957

Death Swims At Midnight is the very exciting story of a singular beach where the tide goes out and murder comes in. . . 

Duration: 29:12 

Starring: Arthur Vinton, Elspeth Eric, Murray Forbes

 Broadcast Date: 28th August 1947

It had been a long time since they’d had any real trouble and Matt Dillon, United States Marshall liked it peaceful for a change and hoped it would stay that way. But of course it doesn’t. The stage that was due in was carrying fifty thousand dollars in gold when it was held up and Mr. Carter’s fiance was kidnapped. However ´ the stage rider said it didn’t much look like she was kidnapped, more like she went along willingly.

 Duration: 29:38 

Starring: William Conrad 

Broadcast Date: 12th July 1952

A tale as old as the bible, but with a ghostly twist. A mother and her two sons, Thomas, a good, loving man, keeping the family a float with his meager earnings; Paddy, his brother, is just the opposite- mean-spirited and lazy. Its the day of Thomas’ wedding, and his brother comes to him with a story of treasures under the sea. “It will only take a couple of hours”, says Paddy, “and then you’ll have money to be married with”. So the two take to the sea, but the sea takes its payment and only one man returns. . . Reviewed by Sarah B. 

Duration: 22:13 

Starring: Arch Oboler 

Broadcast Date: 16th September 1936

Happy New Year.

RECORDING NOTE: While audible there is a lot of hiss on this 1930 recording. 

This playlet is offered as a tribute to the men who served in World War I. It is a story of a reunion of friends who served together at Dunkirk. It brings a picture of what actually happened along the many miles of frontline trenches when word was received that the World War was over. It was written by an American army officer who was there.

 Duration: 27:48 

Starring: Harvey Hays 

Broadcast Date: 11th November 1930

On the afternoon of 10 November, ninety-year-old General Fentiman is called to the deathbed of his estranged sister, Lady Dormer, and learns that under the terms of her will he stands to inherit most of her substantial fortune – money sorely needed by his grandsons Robert and George Fentiman. However, should the General die first, nearly everything will go to Lady Dormer's companion, Ann Dorland.

Lady Dormer dies the next morning, Armistice Day,  and that afternoon the General is found dead in his armchair at the Bellona Club. Dr Penberthy, a club member and the General's personal physician, certifies death by natural causes but is unable to state the exact time of death. As the estate would amply provide for all three claimants, and as it is unknown whether the General or his sister died first, the Fentiman brothers suggest a negotiated settlement with Ann Dorland, but she surprisingly and vehemently refuses. Wimsey is asked to investigate.

..... read more ....

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club - Wikipedia

Fred Wilkinson from North Eastern Fidelity has a case for Johnny relating to the Alvin Summers fraud. A guy called Fred from a little town in Mexico called Santa Thomas with some vital information relating to the Summers case, but before Fred could get any additional details the line was cut off, which means Johnny has to set off on what could be a wild goose chase.

Starring: Bob Bailey 

Broadcast Date: 24th October - 28th 1955

Robert Arden News Commentary ran from 1940 to 1942 and featured Robert Arden, who was a foreign correspondent. Arden made insightful comments about the current events of the time. Most of the episodes in this collection aired before the US became involved in WWII and offer a interesting and introspective pre-war American viewpoint. Once the USA became involved in WWI Arden reported on the news of the war in Europe and examined both side of the war, including the life history of Adolf Hitler.

SHOWS LIST

Pre-War Commentary and War News
A Biography of Hitler
New Year's War News
The Balkan Situation
President Roosevelt Comments
Labor Day
FDR's Warning to the Axis Powers
Roundtable Discussion on WW2
Address to Police Officers

Well the holiday season is practically with us. To our Miss Brooks who teaches English Madison High School it means more than just a respite from a difficult school term. . .

 Duration: 27:42 

Starring: Eve Arden 

Broadcast Date: 18th December 1949

Breaking Walls is a once-per-month audio documentary on the history of American Network Radio Broadcasting, focusing on people, places, and events from the Golden Age of Radio.

http://thewallbreakers.com/breaking-walls/

To find out more about James Scully:

http://thewallbreakers.com/jamesscully/

I personally recommend listening to episodes in this order to get the full story of the beginning of Radio Wave, and the beginning of the three major networks NBC, CBS, ABC.

EP75: We Are Echoes—The Birth Of Radio (1887 - 1912)

EP76: Over There—The War for Radio’s Airwaves (1912 - 1922)

EP77: The Birth Of The Radio Networks—From NBC To CBS To Mutual Broadcasting (1922 - 1934)

EP82: Depression, War, And The Birth of ABC (1932 - 1946)

EP83: Sarnoff & Paley: Tainted Friendships, Tall Tales, Talent Raids, and TV (1934 - 1952)

..................

Okay so I'm going to copy and paste from James Scully's page for the high lights .... because truly I can not beat his own words for his own podcast.

Highlights:
• Early days at NBC’s Radio City in New York
• How Press Associations caused NBC and CBS to launch a news service
• The Birth of the Mutual Broadcasting System and their Struggles
• NBC Red and NBC Blue
• The FCC and US Justice Department Get Involved with Radio
• The Murrow Boys and Encroaching War in Europe
• The War Comes Home
• NBC sells The Blue Network
• Norman Corwin and His World War II Work
• Bing Crosby, Philco Radios, and Network Transcription
• The Talent Raids of 1949

.....

If you are interested in learning about the history of the Radio; going as far back as learning about the waves that make Radio possible then James is the best person to listen too.   He makes learning about the actual beginning of wireless telegraphy; and building the very first radio into a story ....  he brings to life the men and the women whom strive to bring the beginning of sharing of information beyond the newspaper; or telegraph.   He uses background music and sounds that is highly fitting for the time period.

scape with us now, to a small fishing boat off the California coast and a night of terror and death at the hands of a brilliant madman. . .

 Duration: 28:46

 Starring: William Conrad

 Broadcast Date: 3rd November 1950

In class Miss Spalding explains that their street is 50 years old this year. Luigi suggests that it would be a good idea to have a block pary so that the neighbors can get to know each other but Pasquale the “head of the block” or as Luige puts it the “block head” won’t donate the food unless Luigi marries his daughter Rosa. Oh no, it looks like there isn’t going to be a party!

 Duration: 29:20

 Starring: J. Carrol Naish 

Broadcast Date: 1st May 1949

Dependable, level-headed Jane Stacy began each weekly radio program by narrating a misadventure of her innocent, bewildered roommate, Irma, a dim-bulb stenographer from Minnesota. The two central characters were in their mid-twenties. Irma had her 25th birthday in one episode; she was born on May 5. After the two met in the first episode, they lived together in an apartment rented from their Irish landlady, Mrs. O'Reilly.

Duration: 28:45

Starring: Marie Wilson, Cathy Lewis

Broadcast Date: April 11, 1947

Amy Goodridge was a nightclub singer and needed to hire Jeff Regan to protect her. Two years ago she worked as a singer for Tim Connover at the Diamond Club and he was interested in her but she turned him down. Now he was casing the cub that she currently worked at and Amy was worried that he intended to hurt her. 

Duration: 29:34 

Starring: Frank Graham, Frank Nelson 

Broadcast Date: 26th October 1949

Starring Robert Young. The Anderson Kids are all down in the dumps at the thought of going back to school after the summer vacation but not so Mrs. Anderson, she’s concerned that Father has done something to the house. Jim assures her that there’s nothing to worry about; he hasn’t done anything, well nothing much really!

 Duration: 29:36

 Starring: Robert Young 

Broadcast Date: 7th September 1950

Madame Ottilie Tibault, owner of a prosperous little cafe in the French quarter of New Orleans, gives the $25,000 she has been keeping under her mattress to Gaspard Morin, one of her customers, for "investment".   But, before he can tell her what he ahs invested in, Morin dies.   O. Henry agress to help Madame Tibault find out what happened to the money.   His most promising clue is the name of a woman Morin uttered just before he died: "Miss Liberty."

Host: Himan Brown

Duration: 43m 52s

Cast:  Bob Dryden, .n Martin, Bill Griffis, Bryna Raseburn, 

Broadcast Date: January 15th, 1977

Ellery Queens Minute Mysteries are exactly that, a one minute mystery. A problem is posed for you to work out the answer to but you only have a few seconds to work it out befor Ellery Queen gives you the answer.

It'll only take a minute out of your time ... enjoy these really minute long mysteries.   See if you can beat Ellery Queen to the punch before the minute is up.

A 6-foot well-dressed man in a dark grey overcoat turned up at Diamond’s office. But his face raised goose bumps, it was as grey as his overcoat even his tongue was grey as he spoke. The man offered him a $1000 to find a missing science teacher at the State College Mr. Carnes within 5 hours. He owed the man a debt and the reason he needed him finding in five hours? He only had 5 hours to live. 

Duration: 29:11

 Starring: Dick Powell

 Broadcast Date: 16th February 1951

Its two night before Halloween and Riley is full of the spirit of the thing. It’s quite dark out and Riley’s son Junior is just returning from a meeting of the wild cats, his club, in a very thoughtful mood. . . . 

Duration: 26:27 

Starring: William Bendix 

Broadcast Date: 29th October 1944

It was just twenty four hours before the commencement of The Battle of the Marne In the first winter of World War 1. Holmes and Watson found themselves in the front seat of an army staff car. They were taken to General Morris’s Headquarters four miles from the front line. The General’s brother Maitland and his wife, both famous Shakespearian actors, accompanied them. They were to give a performance for the troops that evening. But shortly before the performance it is discovered that the General’s brother has mysteriously disappeared.

 Duration: 30:00

 Starring: Basil Rathbone 

Broadcast Date: 14th May 1945

The FBI was after four men and one woman in the vicinity of Park Dale after they abandoned their getaway car following a hold-up. Meantime tension is building between the gang members. 

Duration: 28:06 

Starring: Larry Haines Broadcast 

Date: 14th September 1950

Fearing the racketeers behind a brutal gang killing of a construction foreman may not know the only witness against them is their victims blind sister Lorelei has taken Anna Bartam to her apartment for safety while Steve Wilson managing editor of the illustrated press has set a trap for them. 

Duration: 29:35 

Starring: Edward Pawley 

Broadcast Date: 14th September 1948

Mathew Slade: Private Investigator was a featured, half-hour mystery presentation by The Pacifica Players of Pacifica Radio of Berkeley, California and the Pacifica Foundation of North Hollywood, California. It premiered as a Starlight Mystery Theater production on July 5, 1964 over Pacifica Radio affiliate stations. Initially announced for alternating Sundays, the program soon began airing in erratic installments from August through November of 1964. Starring William Wintersole as Mathew Slade, the program was billed as a radio mystery revival series from the outset, presented in recognition of the hundreds of popular detective mysteries that had aired throughout The Golden Age of Radio. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

Go to the website for more details:

Mathew Slade – The Thrilling Detective Web Site

To the young and the valiant New York is a city for conquest and that is the name Warner Brothers gave to a fine motion picture drama, which Lux presents with Alice Faye and Robert Preston in the starring roles. City For Conquest is hard driving drama of a fight for success waged by one man and one girl in this fabulous town. A fight that takes courage and a stalwart but is not worth wining without love. It is a story with a very moving lesson, which is real and human. 

Duration: 59:14 

Starring: Alice Faye, Robert Preston, Cy Kendall, Eddie Marr, Howard McNear, Bea Benaderet, Charles Seel 

Broadcast Date: 9th February 1942

The Knock This story starts with the wonderful words ” The last man on earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door”. With such a wonderful opening it is impossible not to listen on to this sinister little tale. 

Duration: 29.40

 Starring: Norman Rose 

Broadcast Date: 6th May 1950

You are traveling east on a cross-country bus and among your fellow passengers seemingly innocent and friendly are a man and a woman who plan to destroy you and a hundred and fifty million of your countrymen. Now Escape brings you Anthony Ellis’s exciting story - Classified Secret. 

Duration: 28:52

 Broadcast Date: 12th April 1953

“No doubt the telephone is an ingenious invention but as far as I know no one as yet has been able to commit murder over it although many people have wanted to. Still there are worse things you can get on the phone than the wrong number especially if you happen to call the voice on the wire. . . ”

 Duration: 28:57 

Starring: Lesley Woods

 Broadcast Date: 29th November 1944

It’s nine o’clock in the evening at the Blue Note Cafe,´ too early for the late crowd and the early crowd have gone home for dinner. The place is practically deserted when Casey and Miss Williams enter. Ethel Bert, proprietor of the Blue Note Cafe advised him that a dame ´ had been in looking for him. 

Duration: 28:17

 Starring: Staats Cotsworth 

Broadcast Date: 6th November 1947

Cathy is being questioned about the death of poor old Billy. Earlier Billy had confided in Cathy that he was concerned about something he’d found and now he’s dead.

Duration: 29:12

Starring: Bill Lipton

Broadcast Date: 14th August 1952

Pat Nokak was approached by a woman in a bar who gave him $50 to go to a flower stand tomorrow at two o’clock and collect a geranium and deliver it to an address. She told him nothing more and said that would be the last time he saw her. He collected the flower but on his way to the address someone tried to run him down in their car.

 Duration: 29:04

 Starring: Jack Webb

 Broadcast Date: 14th May 1949

The story of a woman who went down in to darkness as she might bring another in to light Ann Sullivan Macy takes ranks among the foremost educators for her work with the labor of love and she found her reward in aiding her beloved pupil Helen Keller who knew her only as teacher. 

Duration: 30:19

 Broadcast Date: 2nd March 1938

Smiley I Must Be Crazy Smith was a DJ and for his Friday Night Stunt Night he was going to spend the night on a spook hunt in a haunted house in which four people were known to have committed suicide. 

Duration: 29:28 

Starring: Ralph Edwards

 Broadcast Date: 23rd June 1949

 --- Note --

This is my personal favorite Suspense episode.  

Sam is called up to the third floor by Mrs. Kelsey due to a commotion going on between Rosemary Thelma and Joe Dunnigan. Rosemary is convinced that Joe is going to murder her and wants Sam to prove it. 

Duration: 24:35 

Starring: Howard Duff 

Broadcast Date: 16th January 1949

Richard Red Skelton was an American entertainer best known for his national radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program The Red Skelton Show.

Tonight we escape with the story of the murderous priests of a weird cult, hidden in the barren desert of Mexico. . . 

Duration: 27:46

 Starring: William Conrad 

Broadcast Date: 18th August 1950

The Shadow: Orson Welles, Bill Johnstone, Bret Matterson

The Face

Ghosts Can Kill

The Firebug

Terrible Legend Of Crownshield Castle
Night Without End

The Three Ghosts

The Werewolf Of Hamilton Mansion

Shyster Payoff

Murder On Approval

Death Is A Colored Dream

Black Rock

The Power Of The Mind

Sears Radio Theater was a radio drama anthology series which ran weeknightly on CBS Radio in 1979, sponsored by the Sears chain. Often paired with The CBS Radio Mystery Theater during its first season, the program offered a different genre of drama for each day's broadcast.

In 1980, the program moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System and became the Mutual Radio Theater. The Mutual series broadcast repeats from the CBS run until September 1980, when a short season of new dramas was presented. Sears continued as a sponsor during the Mutual run.

Monday was "Western Night" and was hosted by Lorne Greene. Tuesday was "Comedy Night", hosted by Andy Griffith. Wednesday was "Mystery Night" with Vincent Price as host. Thursday was "Love And Hate Night" with Cicely Tyson doing honors as host. Finally, Friday brought "Adventure Night", first hosted by Richard Widmark and later by Howard Duff and then by Leonard Nimoy.

Actors heard on the series included Parley Baer, Mary Jane Croft, Howard Culver, John Dehner, Virginia Gregg, Janet Waldo, Vic Perrin, Hans Conried, Marvin Miller, Elliot Lewis, Jeff Corey, Lesley Woods, Robert Rockwell, Lurene Tuttle, Eve Arden, Keith Andes, Harriet Nelson, Alan Young, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Lloyd Bochner, Rick Jason, Frank Campanella, Toni Tennille, Arthur Hill, Dan O'Herlihy, Jesse White and Frank Nelson.

It was produced and directed by Fletcher Markle and Elliott Lewis. The theme was composed and conducted by Nelson Riddle.

Though less long-lived than NPR's Earplay or the Mystery Theater, it was an ambitious attempt to reinvigorate a neglected field. Like Earplay, it was broadcast in stereo.

Beavers Come to Jack's for Christmas

The Christmas Tree

George Valentine’s case started with a book of poems by Robert Burns a valuable early edition from Four Dials Press in Edinburgh a book that someone broke into Mr Humber’s shop just to read, a book that an agent wanted to buy for a collector named Emery Whitsill. And who is Emery Whitsill? Well lieutenant Johnson from homicide has an opinion on that because now it seems the little book may have been the cause of murder. . .

Duration: 30:34

Starring: Bob Bailey, Virginia Gregg, Ken Christie,

Robert Griffin, William Conrad, Jack Kruschen, Lillian Buyeff

Broadcast Date: 11th December 1950

All good things must come to an end but bad things come to an end too which means that Phil Harris’s band rehearsal is finally over. Right now we find Phil and Elliott strolling casually up Hollywood Boulevard on what would otherwise be a very pleasant afternoon. . . 

Duration: 30:47 

Starring: Phil Harris, Alice Faye, Bill Forman, Elliott Lewis

 Broadcast Date: 11th December 1953

There it is, an echo of the past – an exciting past, a romantic past – the era of the horse and carriage, gas-lit streets and free for all football games: the era of one of the most beloved characters in American fiction, Frank Merriwell. Merriwell is loved as much today as ever he was and so the NBC brings him to radio in a brand new series of thirty minute stories. Listen here to The Riddle Of The Wrong Answer or Gambling is the Devil’s Pastime. 

Duration: 30:30

 Starring: Lawson Zerbe 

Broadcast Date: 5th October 1946

Bragston on the Marsh in the heart of the Norfolk Fens, is the scene at the beginning of this tale. Holmes is looking for a vital clue which he hopes will help convict the last of the Moriarty Gang. Whilst there, they visit a gypsy fair and a chance meeting brings them into contact with Arthur Threadgold and his wife Olive who live at the Manor House. He tells Holmes that the gypsies have threatened that they will kidnap his nephew, heir to the Threadgold fortune. . .

 Duration: 28:26 

Starring: Basil Rathbone

 Broadcast Date: 11 February 1946

One of the most popular stories ever broadcast on The Mercury Theatre on The Air. A wonderful tale of a little boy and how he and his father deals with the trials of life. First it is the death of John, his treasured dog. Then it is the value of money. Next comes his first romance and his first fight. Along the way the story touches on everything from religion and the ten commandments through to racism. It’s a tale all parents will enjoy, particularly new parents. 

Duration: 52:57

Starring: Orson Welles

 Broadcast Date: 19th January 1942

Peter Grant is being blackmailed by his secretary Karen Wells and he has paid her $20,000 to prevent her telling his wife about his indiscretions. But he had borrowed $15000 of that money from Sidney Bonden who now wanted his money back and Grant feared that Bonden may kill him if he didn’t get the money soon. Grant depressed and not knowing what to do tells his wife everything and plans to mortgage their house and insurance to get the money and hopes that when he runs for election as Alderman they will be able to recover from this situation. Then Kevin Astio turns up and warns him not to rerun for election again but doing that would mean he couldn’t get the loans he needed. When Grant is killed Jonathan Kegg is called in to cross examine the witnesses including Grant’s neighbour who had called to borrow some milk moments before he was shot. 

Duration: 28:34 

Starring: Carlton KaDell 

Broadcast Date: 27th August 1952

Last winter had been an especially severe winter, colder than usual with almost constant snows so deep and heavy that even the winter range was useless, cattle froze, starved and died right and left. It was late in February up in the mountain town appropriately named Headstone, the principle business building in Headstone is a long narrow room operated as a cafe or ´ saloon and run by a strange hard faced woman called Burbon Kate. This particular night was a blustery one, Kate’s saloon was empty for a change and Kate stood behind the bar cleaning up and polishing glasses when suddenly the door opened and the sheriff entered. . . 

Announcer: Bill Foreman 

Duration: 27:37 

Starring: Jeff Chandler 

Broadcast Date: 2nd January 1953

Happy New Year Everyone.   I hope you have a great 2021.

Duration: 28:33 

Starring: Staats Cotsworth 

Broadcast Date: 1st January 1948

Mrs Myra Wilson and her husband arrived in town and took a room at the Hotel Mica. After lunch she went shopping and to a movie and then she went back to the hotel. It looked the same but when she asked at the hotel for her husband the clerk told her that there was no one registered by that name. 

Duration: 22:44 

Starring: William Gargan

 Broadcast Date: 9th February 1955

Betrayal In Vienna is a story taken from life. It is a true story of a man who destroyed an empire one of the most dramatic spy stories ever told. 

Duration: 29:50 

Starring: Herbert Marshall, Ben Wright, Joseph Kearns, Bill Johnstone, Herb Butterfield, Charles Davis, Byron Kane, John Stevenson 

Broadcast Date: 8th October 1951

Whitey Gear was blackmailing Don Mason for $10,000. Whitey knew that Mason was really Jimmy Burke who was wanted for murder after being mixed up in a juvenile gang some years ago when a guard was killed. Don suffered from blackout periods when he couldn’t remember what had happened but he hadn’t had one for a while until apparently last night when he met and killed Whitey. 

Duration: 24:42 

Starring: Lon Clark 

Broadcast Date: 7th November 1948

Henry has decided that he needs a course in physical development and after filling out the rather intimate questions on the application blank he discovers that he has left the blank in a book belonging to Nancy Adams. . . 

Duration: 29:01

 Starring: Ezra Stone

 Broadcast Date: 28th September 1952

Orchids don’t grow up overnight. They have to be carefully planted, tended, watered and watched and the same thing goes for murder. Take Zavros’ Flower shop minutes after Archie Goodwin got that phone call for Nero Wolfe. . .

 Duration: 29:07

 Starring: Sydney Greenstreet 

Broadcast Date: 29th December 1950

It was a long ride from Dodge up to Ponka Creek in the Dakota Territory and Matt Dillon killed a good horse getting there but he caught Lee Trombow. He was asleep in a lump of willow and he took him without a fight. Trumbow was wanted for murdering a man but his brother Dolph was determined to get him free without a trial and hires a gunman to kill Dillon. 

Duration: 29:25 

Starring: William Conrad, Harry Bartell 

Broadcast Date: 5th July 1954

Includes a public notice on inflation and its affect on America. Out of the fog. . . out of the night. . . and into his American adventures. . . comes. . . Bulldog Drummond! Champion of lost causes, amateur detective, the most celebrated soldier of fortune of the screen and radio Bulldog Drummond comes to you with more of his baffling and intriguing mysteries. Frederick Trent is found murdered and with Bull Drummond away on important business Denny decides he is going to solve this case alone. 

Duration: 30:54 

Starring: Luis Van Rooten 

Broadcast Date: 13th August 1945

Running out of gas on a foggy back road in Maine, a couple become frightened by news reports of a murderous woman who's escaped from an asylum. Searching for help, the two take refuge in an abandoned shack. When an hysterical woman appears at the window wanting refuge, they're convinced she's the lunatic that's on the loose.

What does “have your cake and eat it too” mean? Having your cake refers to keeping it with you. This means you want to preserve the cake for the future. But you also want to eat it. This is contradictory. The moment you eat your cake, you can’t have it because it is finished. Conversely, if you decide to have or keep your cake then you can’t eat it. This proverb highlights a very valuable lesson which is that you cannot have it both ways. When you are presented with two choices that are mutually exclusive, you have to choose one. You cannot choose both. Either you have to eat the cake or have it. If we examine the wording, we find that ‘eat your cake and have it’ sounds more logical.

Original broadcast day Wednesday, July 25, 1979. A hard-working honest plumber and a small time hustler join forces for the perfect kidnapping. Only they discover they need their victims help to collect the ransom. 

Merry Christmas.   

The Mystery Theater was a radio series that was written, adapted, produced and broadcast by the CBC from 1966 to 1968. Chills, thrills, mystery and adventure make up the stories from this classic series from the CBC. Includes episodes 10 episodes from the ABC Mystery Theater.

Arthur Stevens was prepared to pay Richard Diamond $500 for a quick trip to Florida. That was easy enough but Loucious Timken was going to make it tough. Stevens wanted Diamond to deliver a very rare European art object worth a considerable fortune and Loucious Timpken would try to stop him by killing him if necessary.

 Duration: 29:42 

Starring: Dick Powell, Virginia Gregg, Sidney Miller, Ted de Corsia, Tony Barrett, Alan Reed, Herb Butterfield 

Broadcast Date: 11th January 1952

Dan Holiday was a fiction writer who got his material for his books through his provocative ads in the Star Times which read “adventure wanted – will go anywhere –do anything-Box 13”. Today in Box 13 he received a note as follows:- I know my life is in danger, I think you can help me I’m desperate and dare not go to the police. Please if you want to help go to the Tivoli theatre box office for the ticket left there. That’s how it started, the note from a girl named Maria, the ticket and then murder. 

Duration: 27:36

 Starring: Alan Ladd

 Broadcast Date: 24th October 1948

All sorts of people are going around making all sorts of surveys about the habits of the American male and female. If they ever questioned Pam and Jerry North they would learn something that would make their hair stand on end. For instance in the morning Jerry prefers regaining consciousness by degrees but Pam on the other hand is as gay, fresh and romantic as a lark. . . 

Duration: 26:16 

Starring: Joseph Curtin, Alice Frost

 Broadcast Date: Not Known

It is June 1912, The Great Gandolfo and his assistant Miss Florine Le Suer are playing at the Devonshire Theater in Eastbourne. At the same time a spy is operating which is causing some concern to the British Government. Holmes and Watson feel they may have solved the mystery, when suddenly the suspect gets murdered.

 Duration: 28:55 

Starring: Basil Rathbone

 Broadcast Date: 22nd October 1945

Broadcast in 1937, each episode of Jerry of the circus is approximately 15 minutes long and are stories set around characters of the circus and their lives. Young Jerry turns up at the circus in search of Sam Randall the circus boss. Randall informs him they’ve no jobs at present then Jerry hands him a letter from his late father Tim Duggan. Sam Randall knew Tim from years ago “a great showman”. He read the letter, “If things don’t break and I’m gone before you get here take care of the kid. He’s been brought up with horses, the circus is in his blood.” So that begins the tales of Jerry and the circus.

Broadcast Date: 1937

Episodes 21-40

I find that this episode is a good episode to broadcast six days before the 2020 for the next American President.   This election truly does feel like the feel that I'm show that the election between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.

Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr and the Election of 1800

For seven days, as the two presidential candidates maneuvered and schemed, the fate of the young republic hung in the ballots.  (Does this sound very familiar?   Not just for the 2020 election but going back to the 2016 election.   And pretty much all the other elections also .... but we are talking about the current President after all right now).