Radio Retropolis

Frank Jeremy, Eve’s husband, has been found guilty of murder and now Eve must figure out a way to prove his innocence.  Commentary on comparison to the novel from which the radio episode was based.  Plus, The Brown Derby Restaurant.

A Hollywood starlet, her producer husband, and a prominent actress sets the tone to this warped story of jealousy, passion and murder.  Yet not everything is as it seems and not everything plays out as expected.  Commentary on Prince Michael Romanoff of the famed Romanoff's Restaurant in Hollywood.

As Kent sets a trap for the racketeers at their own game, the fates of Lois Lane and Luisa rapidly becomes a life- threatening situation.  Commentary on the life and career of TV Superman George Reeves part 1.

Liz vows to finish knitting George a sweater by Christmas by taking a few regretful shortcuts.   Commentary on the ointment Unguentine and why that line was funny. Plus, Eleanor Audley as George's mom and the connection between Lucille Ball's new movie Miss Grant Takes Richmond and a classic I Love Lucy episode.

Sgt. Friday tries to trap Howard Scully, a careful narcotics wholesaler, by posing as a buyer. Commentary on Joe Friday's tough character when faced with a situation of having to actually kill someone...or be killed.

Kent has concluded that finding Lois Lane alive and well may be only a dim hope.  Plus, JR reviews Super/Man the Christopher Reeve Story.

A man takes his unfaithful wife down into the labyrinth of corridors beneath a large department store very late one night to 'show her around. But his sinister intentions backfire when they encounter a thing that should not exist.

When a blind street singer is killed, the Shadow goes after a band of extortionists who prey on the city's street beggars.

James Cagney returns in Act 2 as gangster Ben Grace and his love for June may prove fatal in his desire for money and power. Commentary on Cagney's stellar performance.  Plus, more concern on the hour long format.

In Act 1, James Cagney stars as Ben Grace, a gangster torn between his love for June Lyons, a reform politician's campaign manager, and his desire for money and power.  Adapted from the James M. Cain novel. Commentary on the previous Radio Retropolis podcast of this episode as a half hour story.

As Superman looks to break up the racketeers’ plot at daybreak, Lois is in peril for her very life. Commentary on one of the most infamous murders of all time that occurred on this very day.

Liz and Iris are humiliated when they can't read the menu at a French restaurant, so they decide to take French lessons from a handsome Frenchman.

An expert check forger has hit the city of Angels. The suspect is an unassuming middle-aged woman-who has taken in over $20,000. Commentary on the everyday minutia Friday and Romero face and why these unassuming moments are among the most brilliant in Dragnet episodes.

The racketeers, knowing that Superman is gathering proof against them, removes all evidence of fraud.  Commentary on South Africa in 1947 as it relates to this episode.

During the days of King George III, a man becomes obsessed with his profession as the state executioner, reveling in his work as he sends criminals to their death at the gallows. Turned callous and bloodthirsty by his job, the executioner purposefully withholds evidence that would prove his next victim innocent. Commentary tonight on the true horror of what Arch Oboler provided in Lights out, how we address limitations in our own minds, the prospect of death, and fighting our demons.

Two pyromaniacs hold Margot Lane hostage and it's up to the Shadow to use his powers of psychological manipulation to rescue her.

Act 2 of tonight’s story features Sam Spade looking for a valuable tooth that was smuggled into the US via some dental work in an unsuspecting patient who now has ended up murdered which we discovered right before the end of Act 1.   Commentary on Sam Spade and why this hour long format is problematic after only two episodes.

Private Investigator Sam Spade is looking for a valuable tooth that was smuggled into the US via some dental work in an unsuspecting patient.  Commentary on The Maltese Falcon and the new format.

Kent has no clue that Lois is in danger as she looks to expose this phony fortune teller in an inheritance racket.  Commentary on real fortune teller scams of the 1940s.

George and Rudolph get tickets to  the Homecoming football game at their alma mater and decide not to take the wives.  When Liz and Iris catch their husbands in a compromising situation at the game on their television, they go undercover to get to the truth. Commentary on the final interview given by actor Jerry Hausner and his bitterness towards Lucy and Desi on how he was treated.