Radio Retropolis

Arson is suspected in a cover-up of a gruesome double murder. Commentary on why this is one of the best Dragnet episodes so far.  This episode was one of the first to be adapted for television for its brilliance.  The final ten minutes are exceptional Dragnet drama not to be missed!

Kent learns though Gazette editor Leonard that homesteading war veterans were committing acts of vandalism due to the drought and most likely confronted Lois for covering the story.  JR comments on how this plotline correlates to the hard hitting "hate" stories from 1946.

Michael and Eve are newlyweds who travel to the 102nd floor of a skyscraper overlooking New York City. As a raging storm approaches, they decide to head back down to the main floor but find that none of the elevator attendants are at their station. Walking their way back down, they soon come to the horrible realization that everyone in the city has inexplicably vanished.

Unbeknownst to the passengers, munitions for a band of revolutionaries are being smuggled on the luxury steamship "Amazon." When the conspirators find out that their plans might be thwarted, they plan to blow up the ship, killing those on board.

In Act 2, Vangie suspects she is being played the fool after Harry spends all his time with her sister Grace in his quest to control the family business.  When the gas heater begins to leak in her room slowly suffocating her, it may be because somebody wants her dead. 

When a successful businessman is tragically killed, a mysterious stranger shows up to announce to his three daughters that he is their father’s business partner.  JR speaks on how the elements of mystery is set in this episode that leads to several possibilities.

Kent has arrived in Freeville and suspects something dangerously evil is going on in the small village when Lois Lane has now gone missing.  JR comments on the life of Superman himself- Bud Collyer.

Liz buys a book that tells the danger signs to look out for to tell if your husband is being unfaithful, and George has them all! We look at the "misunderstanding" plot line that was the staple for many great sitcoms including Three's Company.  We also take a look at show sponsors Jello and Log Cabin syrup which are still powerhouse brands to this day.

Friday and Romero investigate the abduction of a three day old baby from Mercy Hospital. Commentary on Hispanic mothers and emphasis on family.  Also a look at the guest actors who gave these excellent performances.  One of Dragnet's finer moments.

Kent races to Freeville to check in on the welfare of Lois Lane who sent a series a bizarre telegrams to Perry White.  JR speaks on why a story on a simple drought is more significant that it appears.

A rich man is hooked on his mistress and plans to leave his wife. But there is a far greater force at work who refuses to let that happen. Commentary on how this episode misfired, what could have made it better, and the real story about the show's sponsor Ironized Yeast.

Lamont and Margot visit an island to find out why a dozen ships have vanished in "The Graveyard of the Pacific."

As the attacks continue, suspicion focuses on the avenger’s description of a tall, distinguished person very similar to our Mr. Sleuth…the lodger!  JR speaks on how this story's emphasis would have been different if told through Mr. Sleuth.  Plus, updates on the real Jack the Ripper!

Robert Montgomery doing double duty tonight as both the narrator and as the mysterious man who rents a room from a couple at a time when a serial killer terrorizes 1888 London.  JR speaks on the special history of this episode with Suspense radio series.

With Lois going on her own determined to find the truth about the drought in Freeville, Perry White is shaken by a telegram he received from Lois asking him to get her out of town at once.  JR speaks about the blooper with Julian Noa who plays Perry White.

Liz is playing "cops and robbers" with little Tommy Wood from next door, and lets him handcuff her and George with what turn out to be real handcuffs. Commentary on the classic handcuff formula used in several sitcoms as well as this being adapted into the classic I Love Lucy TV episode. Also, comic legend Dick Tracy, silent movie icon Rudolph Valentino, and the actor who plays little Tommy, Johnny McGovern, are discussed.

Friday and Romero investigate a woman who is receiving life-threatening letters and phone calls and need to find this stalker before she winds up dead. Commentary on how this was a departure from its regular procedural format and how mental illness was treated in 1950.

As Superman puts the final move on Zara to end his racketeering terror, Perry White goes into a rage when he receives bad news from one of his reporters from the small village of Freeville.  In part 2 of his commentary, JR discusses the downfall of George Reeves' career and conspiracies surrounding his death.

A young man finds himself among a group of people who look alike and are several hundred years old.

A brilliant scientist, who has discovered the secret formula for a super-powered explosive, has been kidnapped and tortured to madness by foreign nationals. As the formula resides only in his mind, they kidnap a second person- a famous psychiatrist-who is their only hope in extracting it from the scientist's brain. Lamont Cranston, as the Shadow, and Margo Lane learn of the dastardly plot by a telepathic phone call from the psychiatrist and work against time and international waters to thwart the evil plot.