Boxcars711 Old Time Radio

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Bold Venture "Ghost Ship" (1951) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 16, 2008

Show notes

The Hollywood husband and wife team of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall set sail for adventure in the Bold Venture radio series in early 1951. There were well over 400 stations that aired the program. Since thiswas syndicated * the starting date varied from station to station but Mar 26, 1951 was the official date of the first show. Humphrey Bogart portrayed Slate Shannon, owner of a rundown Havana hotel, Shannon's Place. The action took place on land as well aboard Slate's boat, The Bold Venture, thus the title of the series. Lauren Bacall was his ward Sailor Duval, a stubborn and flirtatious young woman whose late father had willed her to Slate for her protection. Together the duo found adventure, intrigue, mystery and romance in the sultry settings of tropical Havana and the mysterious islands of the Caribbean.

Dark Fantasy "The Thing From the Sea" (Episode3-1941) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 16, 2008

Show notes

Dark Fantasy was an series dedicated to dealings with the unknown. Originating from radio station WKY, Oklahoma City, it was written by Scott Bishop (of Mysterious Traveler and The Sealed Book fame) and was heard Fridays over stations. Keith Paynton served as announcer. The shows covered horror, science fiction and murder mysteries. Although a short series, the shows are excellent with some stories way ahead of their time.

The Haunting Hour "If The Shoe Fits" (10-25-74) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 15, 2008

Show notes

THE HAUNTING HOUR:The shows are classic chills from the old school, with creepy organ, overwrought women and over the top men. Perhaps not the highest of melodrama, but obsessively workmanlike. After all, they might have known they were a skeleton staff toiling relentlessly without a ghost of a chance of fame. Thanks to transcription, these unknowns are still with us. John Dunning, succinctly states in "On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio," "There were no credits, so casts and production crews are unknown."THIS EPISODE:Program #6. NBC syndication, WRVR-FM, New York aircheck. "If The Shoe Fits". Sustaining. Syndicated rebroadcast date: October 25, 1974. . 28:00.

The Red Skelton Show "Telephones" (2-26-46) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Podf Feb 15, 2008

Show notes

The Red Skelton Show, which premiered on 30 September 1951, was not only one of the longest running variety series on television, but also one of the first variety shows to make the successful transition from radio to television. Despite his popularity as an entertainer in nightclubs, vaudeville, radio and 26 feature films, Skelton was unsure of the new medium. Consequently, he continued his weekly radio broadcasts while simultaneously working on the first two season of his television show. The series originally aired in a half-hour format on NBC. Despite an outstanding first year in which his show was ranked fourth in the Nielsens and won two Emmy awards, the series' ratings toppled in its second season. When NBC canceled the show, it was immediately picked up by CBS, and The Red Skelton Show became a Tuesday night staple from 1954 to 1970.

Suspense "The Bride Vanishes" (12-01-42) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 15, 2008

Show notes

Suspense was one of the premier programs of the Golden Age of Radio (aka old-time radio), and advertised itself as "radio's outstanding theater of thrills." It was heard in one form or another from 1942 through 1962. There were approximately 945 episodes broadcast during its long run, over 900 of which are extant in mostly high-quality recordings. Suspense went through several major phases, characterized by different hosts, sponsors and director/producers. There were a few rules which were followed for all but a handful of episodes: Protagonists were usually a normal person suddenly dropped into a threatening or bizarre situation. Evildoers must be punished in the end.

Broadway Is My Beat "John Gales Case" (1-21-50) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 15, 2008

Show notes

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."THIS EPISODE:January 21, 1950. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. John Gail is found dead in a flower shop...with the burglar alarm still ringing. Possibly also dated May 8, 1949. Larry Thor, Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), Irene Tedrow, Howard McNear, Jack Kruschen, Edgar Barrier, Herb Vigran, Alexander Courage (composer), Wilbur Hatch (conductor), Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Charles Calvert, Jerry Hausner. 1/2 hour.

X Minus One "Double Feature" (11-28-56) and (7-25-57) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 14, 2008

Show notes

DOUBLE FEATURE: Castaways (11-28-56)Haunted Corpse (7-25-57)X MINUS ONE was an NBC science fiction series that was an extension, or revival, of NBC's earlier science fiction series, DIMENSION X. which ran from Apr. 8, 1950 through Sept. 29, 1951. Both are remembered for bringing really first rate science fiction to the air. The first X MINUS ONE shows used scripts from DIMENSION X, but soon created new shows from storied from the pages of Galaxy Magazine. A total of 125 programs were broadcast, some repeats or remakes, until the last show of Jan. 9, 1958. There was a one-program revival attempt in 1973, shown at the end of the log.

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater "The Meteorite" (4-11-77) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 14, 2008

Show notes

The CBS Radio Mystery Theater (or CBSRMT) was an ambitious and sustained attempt to revive the great drama of old-time radio in the 1970s. Created by Himan Brown (who had by then become a radio legend due to his work on Inner Sanctum Mysteries and other shows dating back to the 1930s), and aired on affiliate stations across the CBS Radio network, the series began its long run on January 6, 1974. The final episode ran on December 31, 1982.THIS EPISODE:The Meteorite - April 11, 1977. Program #631. CBS network. Sponsored by: G-E CB Radios, Buick, Allied Van Lines, Ballantine Books. E. G. Marshall (host), Roy Winsor (writer), John Beal, Marian Seldes, Joe Silver, Evie Juster, Russell Horton. 52 minutes.

The Whistler "Legacy Of Death" (2-14-43) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 14, 2008

Show notes

The show first broadcast its fantastic thirty-minute crime mystery series in May 1942 and did not finish until September 1948. There were more than 450 shows of murder and intrigue in all. Although it ran for 6 years it was broadcast for only one year on a national network. The show opened to the sound of footsteps and an eerie whistle, which went on throughout the introductory music. The Whistler always began the show with the opening lines; I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak??

The Halls Of Ivy "Snowman" (2-10-50) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 14, 2008

Show notes

Ronald Colman and his wife Benita Hume starred in the Halls of Ivy, a very well-written, superbly acted radio program that was full of warmth and wit. The show aired from 1950 to 1952 on NBC and is not often mentioned when old-time radio programs are the topic of conversation, but it is one of my favorites. The combination of Mr. & Mrs. Colman's acting and Don Quinn's writing made for an enjoyable half-hour's worth of entertainment. The show was created by Don Quinn who for many, many years put words in the mouths of Fibber McGee and Molly. Quinn wrote jokes that made you think. On the McGee program there was a fast and furious onslaught of crazy puns, mangled cliches, and double-meanings. Sometimes all at once -- when delivered by the superb timing of the talented Jim Jordan as Fibber.

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