Boxcars711 Old Time Radio

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2000 Plus "Brooklyn Brain (6-21-50) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 13, 2008

Show notes

2000 AD (2000 Plus) is known as the first of the network science fiction shows, although it ran on Mutual just a month prior to the introduction of the landmark series, Dimension X. It was a half hour of science fiction wonder in an exciting package. The stories have a charm that is always present in science fiction of the future that is written in the past. "When The Worlds Met" takes place "at the giant space port in Washington, temporary capitol of the federated world government as in April 21, 2000 Plus 20 (2020) crowds throng as audio and televox networks cover a space ship carrying in its space hold the first load of uranium taken from the pits of Luna, satellite of Earth.

Danger With Grainger "Sheila Randolph Is Sane" (1957) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 13, 2008

Show notes

Danger With Granger arrived too late in the Golden Age of Radio to have any real impact on the listening public. Mutual aired this show, starting in 1956, on Monday nights at 8:30 pm. It was a half hour show that featured a private eye in New York City, STEVE GRANGER. His two primary companions were Cal Hendrix, a reporter who served as an all-purpose source of criminal info, and Jake Rankin, a police detective with whom he had a grudging rivalry. The writing on the show seemed to incorporate most of the standard cliche's of the P.I. world. Granger, who was both the star and the first-person narrator of the show (not an uncommon practice with radio gumshoes), never saw a woman, instead "he gave the doll the once-over." He didn't kick with his foot, he "lifted a size 10." Instead of paying cash, he "forked over numbered lettuce." The mysteries he solved were fairly reasonable, and while he was a tough guy who roughed up lesser mortals, he seemed to get knocked unconscious at least once in every program. A total of 28 episodes survived and are in trading currency.

The Adventures Of The Abbotts "The Yellow Chip" (1-23-55) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 13, 2008

Show notes

Abbott Mysteries was a comedy-mystery radio program adapted from the novels of Frances Crane (1896-1981). Initially a summer replacement for Quick As a Flash, the series was heard on Mutual and NBC between the years 1945 and 1955. The Mutual series, sponsored by Helbros Watches, debuted June 10, 1945, airing Sundays at 6pm. Scripts were by Howard Merrill and Ed Adamson in the lighthearted tradition of Mr. and Mrs. North. Julie Stevens and Charles Webster starred as Jean and Pat Abbott, a San Francisco married couple who solved murder mysteries. In the supporting cast were Jean Ellyn, Sydney Slon and Luis Van Rooten. Moving to 5:30pm in 1946, Les Tremayne and Alice Reinheart took over the roles until the end of the series on August 31, 1947. Seven years later, the characters returned October 3, 1954, on NBC in The Adventures of the Abbotts, broadcast on NBC Sunday evenings at 8:30pm. The Abbotts were portrayed by Claudia Morgan and Les Damon. The NBC series ran until June 12, 1955.THIS EPISODE:January 23, 1955. Program #1. NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Royal Purple Scooter". Not auditioned. Les Damon, Claudia Morgan, Ann Corio, Mandel Kramer, Frances Crane (creator), David Pfeffer, Howard Merrill (writer), Dewey Bergman (composer, conductor), Bernard L. Schubert (producer), Ted Lloyd (producer), Harry Frazee (director, recordist), Roger Tuttle (announcer). 28:38.

ABC Mystery Time "The Overcoat" (1958) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 13, 2008

Show notes

ABC Mystery Time was hosted by Don Dowd and starred Sir Laurence Olivier. Great special effects will grab your attention, accented by creepy organ rips. Stories are offered such as death gathered round a card table at a local chapter of The Suicide Club, or a man who desperately tries to hire a 24 hour bodyguard all the while trying to make himself the victim of a murder, and other baffling peculiar tales of yore. Also known as Mystery Time and Mystery Time Classics, this one is sure to excite and mystify.

Duffy's Tavern "Archie's Old Teacher Visits (12-14-51)" - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 12, 2008

Show notes

Duffy's Tavern, an American radio situation comedy (CBS, 1941-1942; NBC-Blue Network, 1942-1944; NBC, 1944-1952), often featured top-name stage and film guest stars but always hooked those around the misadventures, get-rich-quick-scheming, and romantic missteps of the title establishment's malaprop-prone, metaphor-mixing manager, Archie, played by the writer/actor who created the show, Ed Gardner.THIS EPISODE:Duffy's Tavern. December 14, 1951. NBC net origination, Nostalgia Broadcasting Corporation syndication. Commercials added locally. Archie's old teacher from P. S. 4 ("Turkey Neck Tompkins") is visiting the Tavern and joins in a Round Table Discussion! "Fats" plays and sings, "Sweet Lorraine." Ed Gardner, Ed Pinchon, Charlie Cantor. 29:28.

Our Miss Brooks "Double Feature (11-15-53) (4-24-55)" - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 12, 2008

Show notes

Our Miss Brooks, an American situation comedy, began as a radio hit in 1948 and migrated to television in 1952, becoming one of the earlier hits of the so-called Golden Age of Television, and making a star out of Eve Arden (1908-1990) as comely, wisecracking, but humane high school English teacher Connie Brooks. The show hooked around Connie's daily relationships with Madison High School students, colleagues, and pompous principal Osgood Conklin (Gale Gordon), not to mention favourite student Walter Denton (future television and Rambo co-star Richard Crenna, who fashioned a higher-pitched voice to play the role) and biology teacher Philip Boynton ( Jeff Chandler), the latter Connie's all-but-unrequited love interest, who saw science everywhere and little else anywhere.

All Gas & Gaiters "The Bishop Rides Again" (1-05-71) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 12, 2008

Show notes

All Gas and Gaiters is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1966 to 1971. It was written by Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps, a husband-and-wife team. They used the pseudonym John Wraith when writing the pilot. David Climie and Austin Steele co-wrote the 1968 special. All Gas and Gaiters re-ran on radio from 1971 to 1972. All Gas and Gaiters is set in the close of St Oggs Cathedral, and concerns the rivalries amongst the clergymen in it. The Bishop is easygoing; his friend the Archdeacon is elderly, tippling, and still with an eye for an attractive woman; and the Rev. Noote is naÃve and accident prone. Their wish to live a quiet bachelor life is ruined by the overbearing Dean, who tries to bring rule by the book to the Cathedral. The series initially aroused some controversy because of its portrayal of senior churchmen as bungling incompetents, although some churchmen quite enjoyed it, partly because it made them look human. In the opening credits, the Church of Saint Mary in Chesterfield with its twisted spire was shown as the fictional "St. Ogg's".

Gunsmoke "Trouble In Kansas" (10-16-55) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 12, 2008

Show notes

The radio show first aired on April 26, 1952 and ran until June 18, 1961 on the CBS radio network. The series starred William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon, Howard McNear as Doc Charles Adams, Georgia Ellis as Kitty Russell, and Parley Baer as Deputy Chester Proudfoot. Doc's first name and Chester's last name were changed for the television program. Gunsmoke was notable for its critically acclaimed cast and writing, and is commonly regarded as THE true adult western and one of the finest old time radio shows. Some listeners (such as old time radio expert John Dunning) have argued that the radio version of Gunsmoke was far more realistic than the television program. Episodes were aimed at adults, and featured some of the most explicit content of the day: there were violent crimes and scalpings, massacres and opium addicts. Miss Kitty's occupation as a prostitute was made far more obvious on the radio version than on television. Many episodes ended on a down-note, and villains often got away with their crimes.

The Chase "Twenty Million Dollar Bum" (9-28-52) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 11, 2008

Show notes

Dramatic Adventure AnthologyBroadcast 4/27/1952-6/28/1953 30 minutesThe Chase is an exciting Old Time Radio series in which every episode contains, well, a chase. Tales, highly melodramatic and often improbable, of people on the run. The concept of "hunter and hunted" was built into the signatures. with the lone bugle of a fox hunt, the braying of dogs, the sounds of a man running, a gunshot, and the slowing footsteps and eventual fall of the victim. It may be an adventure story, a crime story, or even science fiction, but there will always be a suspense filled chase.

Mr Keen Tracer Of Lost Persons "Quicksand Murder Case" (6-01-50) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 11, 2008

Show notes

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons was one of network radio's longest running detectives, although listening to it now would hardly explain why. This kind, elderly, boring sleuth, in company with his bumbling assistant, Mike Clancy, was on the airwaves from 1937 to 1955, logging nearly 20 years of fighting crime. The series came out of the soap opera fiction factory of Frank and Anne Hummert and encompassed most of the trite dialogue and snail plotting of daytime serials. Over the years it changed days, time slots, sponsors, and even networks (although it was usually on CBS) and it was a 30 minute weekly show for nearly all of it run, changing to the daily 15 minute show in 1952. Bennett Kilpack was the voice of Mr. Keen and Jim Kelly played Clancy. Later in the run Keen was played by Arthur Hughes and finally, Phil Clarke.

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