Boxcars711 Old Time Radio

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Boxcars711 Saturday Matinee Three - Your's Truly Johnny Dollar "The Harold Trandem Matter" (5-09-50) Dec 16, 2007

Show notes

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was a radio drama about a freelance insurance investigator "with the action-packed expense account." The show aired on CBS Radio from February 11, 1949 to September 30, 1962. There were 811 episodes in the 12-year run, and over 720 still exist today. As originally conceived, Johnny Dollar was a smart, tough, wisecracking detective who tossed silver-dollar tips to waiters and bellhops. Dick Powell starred in the audition show, recorded in 1948, but withdrew from the role in favor of other projects. The role went instead to Charles Russell. With the first three actors to play Johnny Dollar -- radio actor Russell and movie tough-guy actors Edmond O'Brien and John Lund -- there was little to distinguish Johnny Dollar from other detective series at the time (Richard Diamond, Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade). While always a friend of the police, Johnny wasn't necessarily a stickler for the strictest interpretation of the law. He was willing to let some things slide to satisfy his own sense of justice, as long as the interests of his employer were protected. After a year-long break (August 1954 to August 1955), the show changed from a 30-minute, one-episode-per-week affair to a 15-minute, five-nights-a-week serial that introduced the most successful Johnny Dollar: Bob Bailey, who had just come off another network detective series, Let George Do It. With a new lead and 75 minutes of air time (minus commercials), it became possible to develop more complex story lines with interesting characters. Bob Bailey was exceptionally good in this format, making Johnny more sensitive and thoughtful in addition to his other attributes. It is agreed by many that this single season of five-part stories constitute some of the greatest drama in vintage radio. The serial scripts were usually written by radio veterans Jack Johnstone or Les Crutchfield, and always produced and directed by Johnstone.

Boxcars711 Saturday Matinee Two - Inheritance "The Mountain Men" (4-18-54) Dec 15, 2007

Show notes

"INHERITANCE" A Dramatized look into American History. NBC Networ in cooperation with the AMERICAN LEGION Sundays 4:30 - 5:00 pm PRUDUCER/DIRECTOR: Albert McCleary ANNOUNCER: John Wald MUSIC: Robert Armbruster. THIS EPISODE"THE MOUNTAIN MEN" 2 04-18-54 :29:20 Howard Culver, Parley Baer, Robert Easton, Alice Bacus, Billy Chappin, Donald Laughton, Stanley Farrer, Gil Harmon, Mike Darrin.

Boxcars711 Saturday Matinee One - The Molle Mystery Theater "Betrayer" (4-02-48) Dec 15, 2007

Show notes

Although Molle Mystery Theatre was initially sponsored by Molle Shaving Cream, other sponsors (such as Bayer Aspirin, Ironized Yeast, Phillips Milk of Magnesia) also sponsored the program. Sometimes, when it was not sponsored by Molle, the program was called "Mystery Theater". The show was first heard on NBC, on 9/7/43. Time slot was originally Sunday nights at 9:00 PM, but was later moved to Tuesday at 9:00 PM, and Friday at 10:00 PM. In 1948, the show moved to CBS (Tues, 8:00 PM), and in 1951, it moved to ABC, where it was called "Mark Sabre", and heard on Wednesdays at either 8:00 PM or 9:30 PM.

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Hancocks Half Hour "Bill And Father Christmas" (12-25-58) Dec 15, 2007

Show notes

Hancock's Half-Hour is the yardstick against which all subsequent British sitcoms have been measured, the vast majority failing to size up to its extremely high standards. Based on his famous radio show of the same name, the TV run consolidated Tony Hancock's standing as Britain's leading comic of the day, the entertainer providing ample proof that his wonderfully flexible face could be as expressive as his dextrous radio voice. Tony Hancock was at the height of his powers during the late 1950s, squeezing every comic ounce out of his lines, pulling off perfectly judged pauses and demonstrating a sense of timing to match the great Jack Benny's. His character - Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock - was invariably a loser, whose aspirations and plans were dashed by fate, circumstance, Sid James or, more often than not, his own pomposity or unfettered ambition.

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Guilty Party "Bullet In A Bull" (1960) Dec 15, 2007

Show notes

The BBC presents "Guilty Party". A problem in Crime detection in which you are invited to match your wits with a panel of experts - John Arlott, F.R. Buckley and Robert Fabian. So began a typical episode of the long running panel show. It was devised by Tony Shryane and Edward J. Mason. The scripts were written by Mason and the series produced by Shryane. The shows started with a dramatised crime play, the panel then decided on a line of investigation and cross examined the suspects, who gave unscripted answers to their questions. This cross examination should then lead the panel to the Guilty Party! From the Second series, two regular characters were featured in the dramatisations. Private detective Joe McCready (Jon Farrell) and Police Inspector Galloway (Hamilton Dyce).

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Gangbusters "2 Episodes" (3-28-41) (7-14-44) Dec 14, 2007

Show notes

Gang Busters was an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." It premiered as G-Men, sponsored by Chevrolet, on July 20, 1935. After the title was changed to Gang Busters January 15, 1936, the show had a 21-year run through November 20, 1957. Beginning with a barrage of loud sound effects â guns firing and tires squealing â this intrusive introduction led to the popular catch phrase "came on like Gang Busters."The series dramatized FBI cases, which producer-director Phillips H. Lord arranged in close association with Bureau director J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover insisted that only closed cases would be used. The initial series was on NBC Radio from July 20 - October 12, 1935. It then aired on CBS from January 15, 1936 to June 15, 1940, sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive and Cue magazine. From October 11, 1940 to December 25, 1948, it was heard on the Blue Network, with various sponsors that included Sloan's Liniment, Waterman pens and Tide. Returning to CBS on January 8, 1949, it ran until June 25, 1955, sponsored by Grape-Nuts and Wrigley's chewing gum. The final series was on the Mutual Broadcasting System from October 5, 1955 to November 27, 1957. It was once narrated by Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr., former head of the New Jersey State Police. The radio series was adapted for DC Comics, Big Little Books and a 1942 movie serial. The 1952 Gang Busters TV series was reedited into two feature films, Gang Busters (1954) and Guns Don't Argue (1957).

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Journey Into Space "World In Peril Episode07" (Re-cast 8-02-91) Dec 14, 2007

Show notes

This 1958 BBC production from the Journey Into Space series takes us on a wild 12-part adventure to the moon. Captain "Jet" Morgan, Stephen "Mitch" Mitchell, Doc Matthews , and Lemmy Barnet are the first astronauts to reach the moon, and what they find there is truly astonishing! Airing weekly beginning March 26, 1958, the show featured Andrew Faulds, David Williams, Guy Kingsley Pointer, and Alfie Bass.

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Case Dismissed "Legal Wills" (2-06-54) Dec 14, 2007

Show notes

Thus with the pounding of the gavel, the fate of men and women have been decided by the judge. This is the story of our legal rights, the battle to preserve and protect them, and how easily they can be lost. The program shows us just how fragile liberty and justice can be. These stories of everyday events are still interesting, even after 50 years. Stories of criminal liability, legal wills, buying on installment, and leasing an apartment. Each story is well written, and the acting, though dated and a bit hokey by todayâs standards, still manages to achieve the desired effect. Not much information is available for this series, it was apparently broadcast on a limited basis, and originated on WMAQ Chicago, an NBC station. It was comprised of thirteen episodes, twelve of which are currently available, and was heard from January 30, 1954 through April 24, 1954.

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - Fibber McGee & Molly "Surprise Christmas Party" (12-23-52) Dec 13, 2007

Show notes

BOXCARS711 CHRISTMAS SHOWFibber McGee and Molly. December 23, 1952. NBC network. Sponsored by: Reynolds Aluminum. Fibber and his friends are planning a surprise Christmas party for Doc Gamble. "Teeny" sings, "Twas The Night Before Christmas" with The King's Men. Unedited tape or rehearsal. The recording ends after the song, there is no program closing. Arthur Q. Bryan, Bill Thompson, Billy Mills and His Orchestra, Harlow Wilcox, Jim Jordan, Keith Fowler (writer), Marian Jordan, Max Hutto (director), Phil Leslie (writer), Richard LeGrand, The King's Men. 29:41.

Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod - The Family Doctor "Episodes 5 and 6" (1932) Dec 13, 2007

Show notes

Episodes5 (Once To Every Boy) and Episode6 (Cupid Without Wings) 1932Dramatic Serial (1932)The Family Doctor was a story about Dr. Grant Adams, a small town doctor who doubled as the communityâs moral rectifier. He was more than just respected, he was loved by all. Each week he confronted issues from robbery to suicide, and always with common sense and gentle moral judgment. Though his old-fashioned remedies for sicknesses are outdated compared to modern medical practicing, The Family Doctor's attitude towards life's daily issues transcend time. Of the 39 intended episodes, only 12 were aired.Boxcars711 supports the efforts of the Old Time Radio Researchers Group (OTRR) whose goals include restoring, preserving and sharing the classic shows from what is commonly known as the "Golden Age of Radio" (1930-1960). Please visit and support this great organization at:http://www.otrr.org/

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