Showing results by author "Entertainment Radio" in All Categories

In the late 1940s, CBS chairman William S. Paley, a fan of the Philip Marlowe radio series, asked his programming chief, Hubell Robinson, to develop a hardboiled Western series, a show about a "Philip Marlowe of the Old West". Robinson instructed his West Coast CBS Vice President, Harry Ackerman, who had developed the Philip Marlowe series, to take on the task.Ackerman and his scriptwriters, Mort Fine and David Friedkin, created an audition script called "Mark Dillon Goes to Gouge Eye" based on one of their Michael Shayne radio scripts, "The Case of the Crooked Wheel" from the summer of 1948. ...

You're interested in more information about the Dragnet radio show – excellent choice! It was a groundbreaking program that left a significant mark on media. Here's a deeper dive into what made it so impactful:Unprecedented Realism and Procedural DetailDragnet was a pioneer in the "police procedural" genre, focusing on the meticulous, step-by-step nature of police work.1 This was a stark contrast to the often melodramatic private-detective stories prevalent on radio at the time.Based on Actual Cases: Creator Jack Webb worked closely with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Many ...

"The Adventures of Sam Spade" was a highly popular and critically acclaimed radio series based loosely on Dashiell Hammett's iconic private detective character, Sam Spade, from "The Maltese Falcon."Run and Networks: The show had several runs on different networks:ABC: 13 episodes in 1946.CBS: 157 episodes from 1946–1949.NBC: 75 episodes from 1949–1951 (with some sources listing 51 or 24 for the final runs).Cast: The most famous portrayal of Sam Spade in the series was by Howard Duff, who brought a sardonic and often humorous take to the character, contrasting with Humphrey Bogart's film ...

"The Whistler" was a popular and long-running American radio mystery drama that aired from May 16, 1942, until September 22, 1955, primarily on the west-coast regional CBS radio network. It was known for its unique format, atmospheric suspense, and often ironic twist endings.Plot Summary: Each episode of "The Whistler" was a self-contained story, typically focusing on individuals driven to crime by greed, jealousy, or desperation. Unlike traditional detective stories that focused on solving a crime, "The Whistler" often revealed the culprit early on, and the suspense came from watching the ...

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler's private eye, Philip Marlowe. Robert C. Reinehr and Jon D. Swartz, in their book, The A to Z of Old Time Radio, noted that the program differed from most others in its genre: "It was a more hard-boiled program than many of the other private detective shows of the time, containing few quips or quaint characters."The program first aired 17 June 1947 on NBC radio under the title The New Adventures of Philip Marlowe, with Van Heflin playing Marlowe. The show was a summer replacement for Bob Hope. The first episode ...

🎙️ Dick Tracy – Classic Radio SeriesDick Tracy enjoyed a long and successful run on radio, beginning in 1934 with weekday broadcasts on NBC's New England stations, and later continuing on the ABC Network in 1948.The role of Dick Tracy was first portrayed on radio by Bob Burlen in 1934. During the 1930s and 1940s, the character was also voiced by Barry Thomson, Ned Wever, and Matt Crowley, each contributing to the legacy of this iconic detective.❤️ Support & ListenSupport this podcast: https://redcircle.com/dick-tracy/donationsListen to our Old Time Radio station: https://...

CBS Radio Mystery Theater (a.k.a. Radio Mystery Theater and Mystery Theater, sometimes abbreviated as CBSRMT) was a radio drama series created by Himan Brown that was broadcast on CBS Radio Network affiliates from 1974 to 1982Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradioListen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/Podcast Service I Recommend https://redcircleinc.grsm.io/entertainmentradio7148Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not ...

"The Life of Riley" was a popular American radio situation comedy that aired from 1944 to 1951.The show centered on the everyday struggles and humorous predicaments of Chester A. Riley, a lovable but often clueless blue-collar worker (originally an aircraft plant riveter). Riley lived in Brooklyn, New York, with his sensible wife, Agnes (later Peg), and their two children, Junior and Babs.William Bendix starred in the title role of Chester A. Riley, a part he would later reprise in a successful television series. Other key cast members included Paula Winslowe as Peg Riley, John Brown (who ...

The Golden Era of Radio Drama: A Journey Through Iconic ShowsThe golden age of radio drama was a time when the airwaves were filled with compelling narratives, unforgettable characters, and top-notch performances. Some of the best shows ever produced during this era took listeners on extraordinary adventures, transported them to different eras, and explored profound human emotions. Let’s revisit some of these iconic titles that left an indelible mark on the world of radio drama.### Epic Adventures and Timeless Classics**“20000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Around the World in 80 Days”*...

"Ranger Bill" was a popular Christian radio adventure series from the 1950s and 1960s, produced by Moody Bible Institute (Moody Radio). It captivated audiences with thrilling tales of outdoor adventures, mystery, and moral lessons, all rooted in Christian values.Here's a breakdown of the series:Plot and Setting: The show is set in the fictional town of Knotty Pine, located in the Rocky Mountains. It follows the daring exploits of Ranger Bill Jefferson, a dedicated forest ranger, and his companions. Over 200 episodes were produced, detailing various situations Ranger Bill and his friends had to...

Opening in 1875, the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard is the oldest museum in the world purely for recording crime. The name “Black Museum” was coined in 1877 by a reporter from “The Observer”, a London newspaper, although the museum is still referred to as the Crime Museum. It is this museum that inspired The Black Museum radio series, produced in London by Harry Alan Towers.The Black MuseumFrom Jay Hickerson’s “The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide to All Circulating Shows”, the earliest US broadcast date was January 1, 1952. Thirty-nine shows, from the full ...

Boston Blackie. What a name for a good guy. It is an excellent name for a bad guy turned good guy. Blackie, who was created by novelist Jack Boyle, was originally a jewel thief, safe cracker, and confidence man. Blackie changed his ways and became a private investigator though the local police still suspected him of being a bad guy. Boston Blackie And of course there is always a girl and Blackie’s girl is Mary Wesley. She helped Blackie in many ways with solving cases, running interference, and being an all-around girl Friday. His good friend and chauffeur, Runt, was also a part of each ...

"The Mel Blanc Show" was a radio situation comedy that aired on the CBS Radio Network from September 3, 1946, to June 24, 1947.Mel Blanc, already famous for his myriad of voices on other radio programs and, most notably, as the voice of numerous Warner Bros. cartoon characters (like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig), starred as himself in the show. In the program, the character of Mel Blanc was the "hapless owner of a fix-it shop." He also voiced his bumbling cousin, Zookie, and many other comical supporting characters.The show featured a talented cast of old-time radio actors, including:...

Ellery Queen was a radio detective program in the United States. Several iterations of the program appeared on different networks, with the first one broadcast on CBS June 18, 1939, and the last on ABC May 27, 1948. The show featured Hugh Marlowe as Ellery Queen, Santos Ortega as his father Richard Queen, and Marian Shockley as Nikki Porter. The show's format was that a mystery would be dramatized, but then interrupted when a panel of celebrities would attempt to solve it. The panel would usually be wrong in their solutions, and the show would end with Ellery Queen revealing the correct ...

Amos 'n' Andy is an American radio and television sitcom set in Harlem, the historic center of Afro-American culture in New York City. The original radio show, which ran from 1928 to 1960, was created, written and voiced by two white actors, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, who played Amos Jones (Gosden) and Andrew Hogg Brown (Correll), as well as incidental characters.Listen to our radio station Old Time Radiohttps://link.radioking.com/otradioListen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the ...

Lux Radio Theatre, sometimes spelled Lux Radio Theater, a classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of American Broadcasting Company [ABC] in 1943–1945); CBS Radio network (Columbia Broadcasting System) (1935–54), and NBC Radio (1954–55). Initially, the series adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films. These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences. The series became the most popular dramatic anthology series on radio,...

Dick Powell starred in the Richard Diamond, Private Detective radio series as a wisecracking, former police officer turned private detective. Episodes typically open with a client visiting or calling cash-strapped Diamond's office and agreeing to his fee of $100 a day plus expenses, or Diamond taking on a case at the behest of his friend and former partner, Lt. Walter Levinson. Diamond often suffers a blow to the head in his sleuthing pursuits. Most episodes end with Diamond at the piano, singing a standard, popular song, or showtune from Powell's repertoire to his girlfriend, Helen Asher, in ...

Exploring the Legacy of 'Alien Worlds': A Pioneer of Science Fiction RadioIn the late 1970s, a groundbreaking radio show captured the imaginations of science fiction enthusiasts with its innovative approach to storytelling. 'Alien Worlds' was a syndicated radio show that brought together a blend of captivating narratives, realistic sound effects, and high production values, setting a new standard for audio drama.Created by Lee Hansen, 'Alien Worlds' aired 26 half-hour episodes from 1978 to 1980. The show was ahead of its time, utilizing a documentary style of dialogue that immersed listeners ...

"Gang Busters" was a popular old-time radio show that aired from 1936 to 1957. Created by Phillips H. Lord, it was known for its dramatic reenactments of real-life crime stories, often in collaboration with law enforcement agencies like the FBI. The show was famous for its opening, which featured loud sound effects like sirens and gunshots, setting the stage for the thrilling stories to follow.Episodes of "Gang Busters" often focused on notorious criminals and the efforts to capture them, providing listeners with a mix of suspense and action. The show was so influential that it even inspired a...

Exploring the Legacy of "Gunsmoke": The Radio Show that Redefined Westerns"Gunsmoke" is not just a name that evokes the imagery of the Wild West; it's a cultural icon that transformed the radio and television landscape. From 1952 to 1961, the "Gunsmoke" radio show galloped through the airwaves, bringing with it a new level of grit and realism that had never been heard before in the genre.Developed for radio by John Meston and Norman Macdonnell, "Gunsmoke" was broadcast by CBS and ran for nine seasons. It was a trailblazer, being the first radio series made about the Old West for adults, ...