Radio Retropolis

Friday questions Henry Ross, a suspect in a man's disappearance, which Friday believes is actually a murder.  Commentary on the unusual format of this episode which starts right at the interrogation and never lets up.  Plus, we discuss the first uses of the polygraph machine.

An eight-year-old boy and his sister have been going from door to door begging for food even though they are from well to do parents.  Commentary on yet another award won by Dragnet.  This one was The Motion Picture Herald Association with Fame Award.  Also discussed are the millions of children abused each year and why this episode may have had special meaning for star Jack Webb.

As Kent and Wayne are close to figuring out who the real Monkey Burglar is, Spider is planning one last job to pin on Robin.  But this could be the end for both Robin and Billy, who is the real Monkey Burglar.  JR comments on Radio Retropolis.

A cameraman and his sound man are looking to get the ultimate interview-with a ghost. Commentary on the problems  with this episode making it one of the worst in the Lights Out catalogue.

Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane attend a private party given by a crazy millionaire who believes that he's an Italian Duke from the 12th century. He and his mad scientist friend plan a night of destruction to fulfill a prophecy.  Can the Shadow figure it out in time to prevent the worst? Commentary to follow episode.

In Act 2, Quinn Williams is a young man who upon returning money he stole from a client finds the client dead and now has team up with a girl, Bricky, from his hometown to clear his name.  But as they gather revealing clues in the dead man’s apartment, a sudden sound is heard at the door.  JR speaks on this being the very last of the hour episodes of Suspense.  He looks at what went wrong and what's next.

In Act 1, a young man steals money from his client and has a change of heart and decides to return it before its reported missing.  When he returns to the apartment, his client is found murdered.  JR comments on the lightness of the act with a Thin Man approach to it.

Using the gymnastic medal, they’re only clue, they found ten boys who won the award and are positive ONE will be revealed as the Monkey Burglar. The audio for this episode is very rough at best but you can still hear what’s going on and follow the adventure.  JR speaks on the two big issues Batman faces in this episode

Liz is a finalist in a radio script writing contest.  But in order to win she, George, Iris, and Rudolph now have to perform it on the local radio station.  Commentary on the musical Show Boat plus Gale Gordon's tie to another very important character referenced in this episode.

A band of dope peddlers launches a full-scale operation in Los Angeles targeting high-school children. Commentary on the recent commendation both Dragnet and Jack Webb received for the best new star of tomorrow and excellence in programming.

Just when all hope was lost in not only catching the Monkey Burglar but in finding Robin, Kent makes the discovery of a gymnastic medal they believe belongs to the real Monkey Burglar.  JR comments on the continuing  problem with Batman in this serial.

A British officer and his servant in India make use of their eastern mystic powers to avenge the death of the officer’s brother at the hands of thugs in Chicago. Commentary on why this episode, although enjoyable, was a rare miss for Wyllis Cooper.

Lamont Cranston and Commissioner Weston witness a condemned man being hanged at the prison, but they later learn he's somehow still alive and killing off the jury members who sent him to the death house. Plus, commentary to follow.

A young man needs money soon to pay a debt or he’s a dead man who devises a plan to get the insurance money off his mother’s boarder who doesn’t have long to live.  JR speaks about stars Fay Bainter and Tony Barrett.  Plus, the reason why they aired a 30 minute episode instead of their hour long program.

The trap Kent had planned using Robin as bait backfired when the Spider and Jonesy intercepted those plans and kidnapped both Robin and Jimmy Olsen.  JR comments on the tribute paid to Superman by the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the problems they faced throughout the years.

Liz is concerned when George wants to check her will which turns to fear once she's convinced George wants to do her in when she finds a one way airline ticket and a receipt for some arsenic and some rope. Commentary on the behind scenes story about the I Love Lucy episode called Lucy thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her from this script as well as the rarely heard audio clip from the never aired pilot episode of I Love Lucy about Ricky's will upsetting Liz.

A pair of hold-up men known as "The Kid Bandits" are robbing and beating their victims. They're young and brutal with no pattern to their operation.  But a pack of matches may be Friday and Romero’s best lead.  Commentary on the first scene which shows a much more informal, off duty friendship between Friday and Romero.

Clark Kent gets Henderson to agree to release Robin for 48 hours in his custody to bait a trap for the real Monkey Burglar.  But someone else is wise to Kent’s plan.  JR comemnts on an Adventures of Superman television episode similar to this story.

Saladine and Erlich are two warlocks in the eternal battle between good and evil with Erlich using his black magic to control zombies in destroying the world.  Saladine is the only one who can stop him. Commentary on the real origins of the zombie and how they were represented here as compared to those in Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later, and, of course, the television phenomenon The Walking Dead.

Two spies are gaining War Department secrets with the help of a spiritualist who reads people's minds.