Boxcars711 Old Time Radio

Latest Episodes:

Speed Gibson - 4 Episodes (1-02-37)(1-09-37)(1-16-37)(1-23-37) Feb 11, 2008

Show notes

Speed Gibson of the International Secret PoliceTODAY'S SHOW: (4 Episodes)"The Octopus Gang Active" (1-02-37) " Secret Police" (1-09-37) "Hong Kong" (1-16-37) "A Shooting Attempt" (1-23-37)The thrilling adventures of Speed Gibson follows the exploits of another flying âaceâ. This popular character held the listeners attention with his tracking down of international crime operatives. Speed and his pals are on the trail of a super-gang and its dreaded leader "The Octopus." The enemy of society had his tentacles in crime everywhere, and without the International Secret Police, the world would be his oyster. The fifteen-minute episode is action-packed! Strangely, the boy who played Speed is not known, says the authoritative "On the Air, The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio," Speed's pal is Barney Dunlap, acted by John Gibson. Barney's OK, but no match for the cunning of the Octopus and his gang.

Pat Novak For Hire "Death In Harold Square" (11-30-47) - Boxcars711 Sunday Matinee Three Feb 11, 2008

Show notes

Pat Novak, For Hire â 1949-1950 Pat Novak, played by Jack Webb, was a private detective working out of Pier 19, a waterfront office in San Francisco. The stories were always very similar: Someone would hire him, (if not a beautiful woman, the job would lead to a beautiful woman) someone would get murdered, he would investigate the case, get beaten up by the thugs, and then the case would be solved and end with glorious violence. The closing was always the same; the listener would be told who had done what, to whom and why they had done it.

Barry Craig - Judge & The Champ (10-17-51) - Boxcars711 Sunday Matinee Two Feb 10, 2008

Show notes

Barry Craig (AKA Barry Crane" and then "Barrie Craig)Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator is one of the few detective radio series that had separate versions of it broadcast from both coasts. Even the spelling changed over the years. It was first "Barry Crane" and then "Barrie Craig". NBC produced it in New York from 1951 to 1954 and then moved it to Hollywood where it aired from 1954 to 1955. It attracted only occasional sponsors so it was usually a sustainer. William Gargan, who also played the better known television (and radio) detective Martin Kane, was the voice of New York eye BARRY CRAIG while Ralph Bell portrayed his associate, Lt. Travis Rogers. Craig's office was on Madison Avenue and his adventures were fairly standard PI fare. He worked alone, solved cases efficiently, and feared no man. As the promos went, he was "your man when you can't go to the cops. Confidentiality a speciality." Like Sam Spade, Craig narrated his stories, in addition to being the leading character in this 30 minute show. Nearly sixty episodes are in trading circulation today.

The Abbott & Costello Show "Gust Star Charles Laughton" (2-10-44) - Boxcars711 Sunday Matinee One Feb 10, 2008

Show notes

Abbott & Costello were one of the greatest comedy teams in the history of show business. They mastered the straightman/clown relationship, creating a magical chemistry that would take them from the burlesque stage to radio, to broadway, to film...and finally, to television.THIS EPISODEFebruary 10, 1944. NBC network, KFI, Los Angeles aircheck. Sponsored by: Camels, Prince Albert Pipe Tobacco. The opening routine is about St. Valentine's Day and abbreviations. Guest Charles Laughton joins the cast in, "The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe." Ted R. Gamble (of the Treasury Department), speaks from Washington, D. C. about the Fourth War Loan. Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Freddie Rich and His Orchestra, Connie Haines, Ken Niles, Elvia Allman, Charles Laughton, Mel Blanc, Ted R. Gamble. 29:38.Charles Laughton His extravagant, bravura style of acting, which made his portrayals of Nero, Henry VIII and Captain Bligh so memorable, was perfectly suited for Charles Laughton's two famous horror roles--that of the evil, whip-cracking Dr. Moreau in Island of Lost Souls (Erle C. Kenton, 1932) and the pathetic Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (William Dieterle, 1939).

Bulldog Drummond "Murder In The Death House" (9-10-45) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 10, 2008

Show notes

Bulldog Drummond has come to wreak havoc on unsuspecting killers, counterfeiters, and underworld characters. The opening of the show starts with a the sounds of footsteps, foghorn, then two shots ring out, followed by three blows of a police officer's whistle. Bulldog, who's really name is Hugh (played by George Coulouris), was a methodical crime-solving sleuth who let nothing get in his way of his goal, which was to put a stop to crime! Bulldog believed in uncomplicated and decisive means of getting his way with the lords of the underworld. This usually led to their swift capture, and the easing of the city's burden brought about by these ruthless thugs.THIS EPISODE:September 10, 1945. Mutual network. "Murder In The Death House". Sustaining. A convicted killer is knifed to death in his cell, while awaiting execution. The only two suspects have airtight alibis. . 29:07.

The Price Of Fear "Is Anybody There" (7-04-74) - Boxcars711 Saturday Matinee Three Feb 10, 2008

Show notes

For the 1970âs late-night horror show, The Price of Fear, the BBC dramatized the most chilling stories they could find, drawing on talented new writers as well as the established master of terror who narrated tale, re-written as though Price actually experienced each chilling adventure himself. The show was enormously successful in the UK and abroad, and a number of series were made during 1973, 1975 and 1982.

Let George10 Do It "Surprise Surprise" (2-04-52) - Boxcars711 Saturday Matinee Two Feb 09, 2008

Show notes

Bob Bailey played George Valentine as a detective handy man, who got his jobs from responses to a newspaper ad. Part-time detective and writer Dan Holiday in Box 13 also used the premise. It pays to advertise! The shows follow the usual formats of crime caper shows, with toughs, mysterious rendezvous and people who aren't who they say they are. Francis Robinson first played Brooksie, then Virginia Gregg took the role through its best years. Both ladies played Brooksie smart and sassy. Brooksie took every occasion to make it clear to George that the case he was the most off base on was the "Case of the Missing Engagement Ring." In the late '40's, an organist was used for the scene transitions, and sound effects were fairly minimal, as the show was loaded with snappy patter. In the 1950's, the music turns orchestral, and the production values are a little more thorough.

The CBS Radio Workshop "Cops And Robbers" (3-16-56) - Boxcars711 Saturday Matinee One Feb 09, 2008

Show notes

The CBS Radio Workshop aired from January 27, 1956 through September 22, 1957 and was a revival of the prestigious Columbia Workshop from the 1930s and 1940s. Creator William Froug launched the series with this powerhouse two-part adaptation of "Brave New World" and booked author Aldous Huxley to narrate his famous novel. "Weâll never get a sponsor anyway," CBS vice president Howard Barnes explained to Time, "so we might as well try anything." The CBS Workshop regularly featured the works of the worldâs greatest writers. including Ray Bradbury, Archibald MacLeish, William Saroyan, Lord Dunsany and Ambrose Bierce.

Exploring Tomorrow "The Convict" (1-08-58) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 09, 2008

Show notes

Starting as a replacement show for Gangbusters and Counterspy, the series premiered December 11, 1957 and it ran until June 13, 1958. Quoting from Astounding Magazine, "Exploring Tomorrow is the first science fiction radio show of science-fictioneers, by science- fictioneers, and for science-fictioneers" The shows were narrated by the editor of Astounding Magazine, John W. Campbell, Jr., with scripts written by Gordon Dickson, Robert Silverberg and many other notable science fiction writers. THIS EPISODE:The Convict - Poul Anderson (author), John Campbell Jr. (host), Guy Wallace (announcer). 20 minutes.

Inner Sanctum Mysteries "Wish To Kill" (11-14-49) - Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod Feb 09, 2008

Show notes

Taking its name from a popular series of mystery novels, Inner Sanctum Mysteries debuted over NBCâs Blue Network in January 1941. Inner Sanctum Mysteries featured one of the most memorable and atmospheric openings in radio history: an organist hit a dissonant chord, a doorknob turned and the famous âcreaking doorâ slowly began to open. Every week, Inner Sanctum Mysteries told stories of ghosts, murderers and lunatics. Produced in New York, the cast usually consisted of veteran radio actors, with occasional guest appearances by such Hollywood stars Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Claude Rains.What made Inner Sanctum Mysteries unique among radio horror shows was its host, a slightly-sinister sounding man originally known as âRaymond.â The host had a droll sense of humor and an appetite for ghoulish puns, and his influence can be seen among horror hosts everywhere, from the Crypt-Keeper to Elvira. Raymond Edward Johnson was the showâs host until 1945; Paul McGrath took over the role until the show left the air in 1952. Producer Hiram Brown would utilize the creaking door again in the 1970s, when he produced and directed The CBS Radio Mystery Theater.Inner Sanctum Mysteries was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected