Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod

An Ideal Couple (Aired June 18, 1953)After working together for years on such shows as Suspense, and Sam Spade, Cathy and Elliot Lewis created On Stage in 1953. Two of the busiest people on the air, they were known as "Mr. and Mrs. Radio." On Stage provides a hodge podge of both classics and original stories, including mystery, drama, comedy, satire, and adventure. Although created at a time when radio was going out of style, On Stage is evidence of how good old time radio shows can be. With fewer constraints and less pressure due to the lack of financially-driven scripts, the Lewis duo let their creativity and talent explode into one of the greatest anthology shows of all time. THIS EPISODE:June 18, 1953. CBS network. "An Ideal Couple". Sustaining. The sad story of a seemingly happy marriage, told through the medium of a radio game show. Good radio writing! Cathy Lewis, Elliott Lewis, Frederick Steiner (composer, conductor), George Walsh (announcer), Ray Noble (theme composer), Tom Dickson (writer, performer

Unlucky Numbers (Aired June 15, 1950)Casey, whose first name was never revealed, was the major crime photographer at the fictional Morning Express newspaper. With the help of reporter Ann Williams, he tracked down criminals and solved numerous crimes on this popular mystery-adventure series. Often a picture snapped at a crime scene led Casey to play detective. Jackson Beck and Bernard Lenrow were heard as Captian Logan and John Gibson played Ethelbert. Sponsors included Anchor-Hocking glass, Toni home permanet, Toni Creme Shampoo and Philip Morris cigarettes.   Richard Carlyle and John Gibson portrayed the roles when the series premiered in April, 1951, but by June they were replaced by Darren McGavin and Cliff Hall. Ann Williams, a reporter on The Morning Express, was Casey’s girlfriend. During the summer of 1951 he acquired a partner in cub reporter Jack Lipman, who wrote copy to go with Casey’s pictures. This live series was set in and broadcast from, New York City. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Resea

The Derringer Society (Aired July 08, 1946)In The Casebook of Gregory Hood the spokesperson was initially the legendary and versatile Radio talent, Harry Bartell. The incorporation of a sponsor's spokesperson into the ensemble cast wasn't ground-breaking for the genre. Petri had introduced their flavor of the format with their first sponsorship of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes over MBS in October 1943 and for the three following years immediately preceding their sponsorship of The Casebook of Gregory Hood. But this wasn't the earliest product placement innovation in Radio. Burns and Allen had woven their various sponsors' products into their earliest scripts, as had Bob Hope with his sponsors, Jack Benny with his sponsors, and Fred Allen with his. The format, at least under Harry Bartell's watch, was seamlessly intertwined into each script, as well as even more complementary and entertaining for Bartell's contribution. The introductions completed, Harry Bartell would inquire as to the casebook adventure f

Most of the scripts very cleverly portrayed every right way--or wrong way--to approach a range of legal matters that might concievably affect any American. After resolving the script one way or the other, the Host, John Fitzgerald, would dissect the legal issues involved in the script, point listeners to the right source of legal information--for the State of Illinois, in any case--and suggest alternate scenarios, as time permitted, to further illustrate the larger issues behind that week's topic. As a local presentation, WMAQ's production of Case Dismissed acquitted itself very well indeed. With few exceptions, the enacted legal issues were realistically depicted, thoroughly explored, and informatively resolved. The exposition for and resolution of these programs was never preachy, overly complicated, nor left unresolved. Each story had an arc that was resolved for that particular combination of legal issues and choices. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli.THIS EPISODE:

The Lady Was Lethal (4 Episodes COMPLETE) 1950 *The Exact Date Is Unknown.Carter Brown Mysteries is an old time radio show using the characters from the prolific mystery writer Carter Brown. This great old time radio mystery series is known for it's quick pace, good screenplay, and acting. These stories were produced in Australia, and they are great. A lot of old time radio fans Carter Brown Mysteries, old time radioshy away from shows produced outside of the US. Usually it's because in some of those old time radio programs, the accents make it a little tougher listen. Not the case here though. All the stories are 4 parters, each about 13-14 miutes long. Of course great writing, but also acting and production values. A very popular and well regarded show. There has been a resurgence in pulp fiction novels, and CarterCarter Brown Mysteries, old time radio Brown Mysteries is one of the series that have become popular again. The artwork used on the cover of the books has become very popular with collectors. Now

The Eric Spalding Concert (Aired January 13, 1950)Candy Matson, in its various guises, was one of the ground-breaking lady detective anthologies from The Golden Age of Radio. Locally produced out of the KNBC studios in San Francisco, the series was produced, written and directed by Monty Masters and starred his wife, Natalie Masters, the former Natalie Park. One of only a handful of successful female-led radio noir detective dramas of the era, Candy Matson  was the eighth attempt to launch a successful distaff gumshoe series over Radio. After the fine-tuning of the audition--and the green light from NBC--Candy Matson aired as 'Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8209', with expanded characterizations for both Rembrandt and Lt. Mallard and a somewhat 'friskier' Candy herself. The combination clicked. Monty Masters' snappy dialogue, regular references to Bay Area locations, sports teams, cultural attractions and historic landmarks made for a both entertaining and familiar local production. The Jack Webb influence was unmista

Mutiny On The Bounty (Aired January 13, 1939)The Campbell Playhouse's third season was delayed for a week over some CBS/Campbell kerfuffle about the alleged fifth column theme of the proposed original script penned by John Houseman and Wyllis Cooper. Apparently the infamous, headline-grabbing Texas Representative Martin Dies and the earliest House of Representative misadventures that eventually evolved into the House Un-American Activities Committee had something to do with the season's postponement. So it was that the third season began with the second production, Air Mail to Red Riding Hood, on November 29, 1940, starring Miriam Hopkins and Humphrey Bogart. The remaining programs were heavily promoted up through Program 25, after which Campbell's detailed spot ads tailed off and few if any of the subsequent programs were announced by either title or stars. THIS EPISODE: January 13, 1939. CBS network. "Mutiny On The Bounty". Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup. The story of Captain Bligh and the men of "The Bounty

Detectives Are Not Always Right (Aired December 11, 1955)This is an Australian radio production of the classic MGM science fiction movie, Forbidden Planet. The production uses all the original electronic music and effects from the film. Length: 55 Min. What can I say? Years before Starfleet officers donned uniforms in Star Trek, it was done in Forbidden Planet. Long before Han Solo held a blaster, the guys in Forbidden Planet did it. Long before Star Trek's android Data and shortly before Lost in Space's Robby, a mechanical being played a major role in Forbidden Planet. Long before big special effects films ruled movie theaters, Forbidden Planet was packed with great effects, including astounding matte paintings. Long before electronically-created music became common, Forbidden Planet featured an all-synthesizer soundtrack that gave a futuristic and creepy feeling. Long before Leslie Nielson said, "Don't call me Shirley," he wore a spacesuit and wielded a ray gun.

Six Shots At Midnight (Aired November 6, 1934)Calling All Cars was one of radio’s earliest cop shows, dramatizing stories and introduced by officers from the Los Angeles and other police departments. The narrator of the program was speech professor Charles Frederick Lindsley, and the only other regular voice heard on the program week after week belonged to that of Sergeant Jesse Rosenquist of the L.A.P.D., whose name and voice were so unusually distinctive that he was retained for the show’s entire run. None of the actors on the show ever received on-air credit, but among the talent OTR fans can hear the likes of Elvia Allman, Jackson Beck, Charles Bickford, John Gibson, Richard LeGrand and Hanley Stafford, just to name a few. THIS EPISODE: November 6, 1934. Program #50. CBS Pacific network (Don Lee network). "Six Shots At Midnight". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil. A murder has been committed on Riverside Drive. The system cue has been deleted. William N. Robson (writer, producer), Charles Frederick Lindsley (n

Burns and Allen were an American comedy duo consisting of George Burns and his wife, Gracie Allen.Burns wrote most of the material, and played the straight man. Allen played a silly, addleheaded woman. Both attributed their success to the other, to the ends of their lives. Early on, the team had played the opposite roles until they noticed that the audience was laughing at Gracie's straight lines, so they made the change. Burns and Allen developed their popular routine over more than three decades of stage, radio, film, and television. Historians of popular culture have often stated that Allen was a brilliant comedian, whose entire career consisted of engaging in dialogues of "illogical logic" that left her verbal opponents dazed and confused, and her audiences in stitches. During a typical 23-minute episode of the Burns and Allen show, the vast majority of the dialogue and speaking parts were written for Allen, who was credited with having the genius to deliver her lengthy diatribes in a fashion that made it

Bonco Squad - The Case Of The Bookworm (04-15-50)"The Case Of The Bookworm" (Aired April 20, 1950)The Bunco Squad were from authentic cases drawn from the police files of the nation, featuring the Bunco artist, the swindler, the con man who came in a thousand disguises, had a million tricks and could make a sucker out of anyone. The program aired in 1950 and was devoted to debunking bunco schemes and warning the American public on these nefarious doings. Show Notes From My Old RadioTHIS EPISODE: April 20, 1950. "The Case Of The Bookworm" - CBS network. Sustaining. A con-artist in St. Louis poses as a scientist. He plans to swindle his mark out of $15,000 by "publishing" his book. The date is approximate. Frank Trumbull (host), Ralph Rose (producer, director), Del Castillo (composer, conductor), Merrick Goldman (writer), Troy Leonard (writer), Joe Walters (announcer). 29:29. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Help Wanted (Aired August 13, 1945)The Bulldog Drummond stories followed Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond, D.S.O., M.C., a wealthy former WWI officer of the fictional Loamshire Regiment, who, after the war, spends his new-found leisure time as a private detective. Drummond is a proto-James Bond figure and a version of the imperial adventurers depicted by the likes of John Buchan. In terms of the detective genre, the first Bulldog Drummond novel was published after the Sherlock Holmes stories, the Nayland Smith/Fu Manchu novels and Richard Hannay's first three adventures including The Thirty-Nine Steps. The character first appeared in the novel Bulldog Drummond (1920), and this was followed by a lengthy series of books and adaptations for films, radio and television. THIS EPISODE:August 13, 1945. Mutual network. "Help Wanted". Music fill for local commercial insert. Captain Drummond is away doing war work, so his valet Denny hires his own valet and solves a murder by himself. 28:49. Episode Notes From The Radio

The Charles Crandall Murder Case (Aired May 12, 1951)Broadway Is My Beat, a radio crime drama, ran on CBS from February 27, 1949 to August 1, 1954. With music by Robert Stringer, the show originated from New York during its first three months on the air, with Anthony Ross portraying Times Square Detective Danny Clover. John Dietz directed for producer Lester Gottlieb. Beginning with the July 7, 1949 episode, the series was broadcast from Hollywood with producer Elliott Lewis directing a new cast in scripts by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. The opening theme of "I'll Take Manhattan" introduced Detective Danny Clover (now played by Larry Thor), a hardened New York City cop who worked homicide "from Times Square to Columbus Circle -- the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world." Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: May 12, 1951. "The Charles Crandall Murder Case" - CBS network. Sustaining. Charles Crandall is found murdered in an alley. He has no wallet, but

INTRO: Bob Camardella Remembers Nat & Natalie Cole "Unforgetable" (1991) The Philanthropist (Aired January 30, 1949)Alan Ladd's early portrayals of Dan Holiday did tend to be a bit pat, somewhat sparse in depth, and even wooden in the beginning. Ladd hired some excellent voice talent for his project, and these superb, veteran Radio professionals set a pretty high bar for Ladd, himself. Box 13 is highly expositional, as are most programs of the genre, and Ladd's grovelly, gritty voice lends itself well to the production. But by Episode #6 it seems apparent that Alan Ladd was beginning to hit his stride in the role. What seems to get in the way for many reviewers of this program is its somewhat implausible premise. Dan Holiday was purportedly a successful fiction writer for the Star-Times news magazine who becomes disenchanted with the utter, mind-numbing routine of it. Dan Holiday opts out. He posts an ad reading "Go anywhere, Do anything, Write Box 13". THIS EPISODE:Ref# 8327. Box Thirteen. January 30, 19

Death Wish (Aired October 1, 1947)While investigating mysteries, Blackie invaribly encountered harebrained Police Inspector Farraday (Maurice Tarplin) and always solved the mystery to Farraday's amazement. Initially, friction surfaced in the relationship between Blackie and Farraday, but as the series continued, Farraday recognized Blackie's talents and requested assistance. Blackie dated Mary Wesley (Jan Miner), and for the first half of the series, his best pal Shorty was always on hand. The humorless Farraday was on the receiving end of Blackie's bad puns and word play. Kent Taylor starred in the half-hour TV series, The Adventures of Boston Blackie. Syndicated in 1951, it ran for 58 episodes, continuing in repeats over the following decade. THIS EPISODE: October 1, 1947. Program #129. "Death Wish" - Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. Commercials added locally. Jim Wells seems to have a death wish; he doesn't care about the killers threatening him! Blackie's girlfriend has been kidnapped! Richard Kol

Deadly Merchandise (Aired March 26, 1951)Bold Venture is a 1951-1952 syndicated radio series starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Morton Fine and David Friedkin scripted the taped series for Bogart's Santana Productions. Salty seadog Slate Shannon (Bogart) owns a Cuban hotel sheltering an assortment of treasure hunters, revolutionaries and other shady characters. With his sidekick and ward, the sultry Sailor Duval (Bacall), tagging along, he encounters modern-day pirates and other tough situations while navigating the waters around Havana. Aboard his boat, the Bold Venture, Slate and Sailor experience "adventure, intrigue, mystery and romance in the sultry settings of tropical Havana and the mysterious islands of the Caribbean.THIS EPISODE: Ref#-837. Bold Venture. March 26, 1951. Program #1. ZIV Syndication. "Deadly Merchandise". Sponsored by: Commercials added locally. Bogart plays Slate Shannon who owns a hotel in Havana and gets involved in intrigue with his beautiful sidekick "Sailor." Shannon and

Filling Out Income Tax With Guest Jane Russell (Aired March 4, 1953)After five years on the Vaudeville circuit, by his own account Hope was surprised and humbled when he and his partner Grace Louise Troxell failed a 1930 screen test for Pathé at Culver City, California. (Hope had been on the screen in small parts, 1927's The Sidewalks of New York and 1928's Smiles. Hope returned to New York City and subsequently appeared in several Broadway musicals including Roberta, Say When, the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies, and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman. His performances were generally well-received and critics noted his keen sense of comedic timing. He changed his name from "Leslie" to "Bob", reportedly because people in the US were calling him "Hopelessly", although in the 1920s he sometimes used the name "Lester Hope".THIS EPISODE:March 4, 1953. "Filling Out Income Tax With Guest Jane Russell" - NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. Bob tries to fill out his income tax form and then tries to convince guest Jan

The Blue Beetle - "Dancing Ghosts Of Rocky Hill 2 Pts. COMPLETE" (08-21-41)The exploits of Dan Garrett, a rookie patrolman who, by wearing bullet-proof blue chain mail, transformed himself into the mysterious Blue Beetle, a daring crusader for justice. The Blue Beetle was created by Charles Nicholas. The character made his first appearance in August of 1939 in the comic book Mystery Men #1, published by Fox Features Syndicate. The Blue Beetle radio serial aired from 05-15-40 to 09-13-40 as a CBS 30 minutes, syndicated series. Actor Frank Lovejoy provided the voice of the Blue Beetle for the first thirteen episodes. Later episodes were uncredited. After his father was killed by a gangster's bullet, young Dan Garrett joined the New York Police Department, but soon tired of the slow pace and red tape of police work. With the help of his friend and mentor, pharmacist and drug-store proprietor Dr. Franz, Dan acquired a costume of bullet-proof chain-mail-like cellulose material, and began a second life, fighting cr

"Mrs. Aldrich' s Antique Chairs" (Aired January 17, 1949)The Aldrich Family was launched in its own series as a summer replacement program for Jack Benny in NBC's Sunday night lineup, July 2, 1939, and it stayed there until October 1, 1939, when it moved to Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., sponsored by General Foods's popular gelatin dessert Jell-O, which also sponsored Jack Benny at the time. The Aldriches ran in that slot from October 10, 1939 until May 28, 1940, moving to Thursdays, from July 4, 1940 until July 20, 1944. After a brief hiatus, the show moved to CBS, running on Fridays from September 1, 1944 until August 30, 1946 with sponsors Grape Nuts and Jell-O before moving back to NBC from September 5, 1946 to June 28, 1951 on Thursdays and, then, as a Sustaining program in its final run of September 21, 1952 to April 19, 1953 on Sundays. THIS EPISODE:January 17, 1949. "Mrs. Aldrich' s Antique Chairs" - NBC network. Sponsored by: Jell-O (Meredith Willson and His Talking People). Mrs. Aldrich has bought five a

The cast of characters is fairly large, but they are easy to keep separate, since each of them is quite distinctive. This is an especially important feature in a murder mystery that depends on keeping track of who is whom! The acting seems slightly over-the-top at first: my initial reaction was that everyone was overacting. However, this style is maintained throughout the whole film, and it doesn't take long at all before it seems perfectly in keeping with the light tone of the movie, as well as being very appropriate to the characters themselves, including a film star, producers, a gossip columnist, a playboy, and (last but not least) a very vain detective.