Classic Radio Theater

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My Favorite Husband Ep. #105 Jan 27, 2023

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Enjoy two comedy episodes of My Favorite Husband A) 11/6/48 Liz and Katie Switch Identities w/ Lucille Ball B) 4/1/49 April Fool’s Day w/ Lucille Ball My Favorite Husband began on CBS Radio July 23, 1948, starring Lucille Ball and Richard Denning as Liz and George Cugat. Midway into the first season, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Liz and George Cooper. The cheerful couple lived at 321 Bundy Drive in the fictitious city of Sheridan Falls and were billed as "two people who live together and like it." George was a banker and Liz was his happily married housewife. Sponsored by Jell-O, the series transitioned to television in 1953 starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson while Lucille Ball (and husband Desi Arnaz) starred in the mega-TV hit I Love Lucy.

Have Gun-Will Travel Ep. #103 Jan 27, 2023

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Enjoy two western episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel A) 7/5/59 Comanche w/ John Dehner B) 7/12/59 Young Man w/ John Dehner Have Gun, Will Travel followed the adventures of Paladin, a soldier of fortune-turned-hired gunfighter, played by John Dehner. Paladin preferred to settle problems without violence, yet, when forced to fight, excelled. He lived at the swanky Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, where he dressed in formal wear, ate gourmet food, attended the opera and enjoyed the company of beautiful women. When working as a gun-for-hire, he dressed in all black, used calling cards and wore a holster, decorated by a characteristic chess knight emblem. The knight symbol was in reference to his name and his occupation as a champion-for-hire. One of radio’s best-loved westerns, Have Gun, Will Travel lasted on radio until 1960 and was televised from 1957 through 1963.

Inner Sanctum Mystery Ep. #104 Jan 27, 2023

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Enjoy two horror episodes of Inner Sanctum Mystery A) 10/2/45 Shadow of Death w/ Richard Widmark B) 1/31/49 The Devil’s Fortune w/ Karl Swenson Taking its name from a popular series of mystery novels, Inner Sanctum Mystery debuted over NBC’s Blue Network in January 1941. Inner Sanctum Mystery featured one of the most memorable and atmospheric openings in radio history: an organist hit a dissonant chord, a doorknob turned and the famous “creaking door” slowly began to open. Every week, Inner Sanctum Mystery 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 Mystery unique among radio horror shows was its host, a slightly sinister sounding fellow originally known as “Raymond.” 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 show’s host until 1945; Paul McGrath took over as host until the show left the air in 1952. Producer Himan Brown would utilize the creaking door again in the 1970s, when he produced and directed The CBS Radio Mystery Theater.

Dragnet Ep. #102 Jan 19, 2023

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Fibber McGee & Molly Ep. #101 Jan 19, 2023

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Escape Ep. #100 Jan 19, 2023

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Enjoy two high-adventure episodes of Escape A) 8/18/47 The Fourth Man w/ Paul Frees B) 2/1/47 The Vanishing Lady w/ Joan Banks Escape was radio's leading anthology series of high-adventure, airing on CBS from July 7, 1947 until September 25, 1954. The series' well-remembered opening combined Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain with this introduction, as intoned by Paul Frees and/or William Conrad: Tired of the everyday grind? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all? We offer you... Escape! Following the opening theme, a second announcer (usually Roy Rowan) would add: Escape! Designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half-hour of high adventure! Many story premises, both originals and adaptations, involved a protagonist in dire life-or-death straits. Actors on the series included: Eleanor Audley, Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, William Conrad, Ted deCorsia, John Dehner, Sam Edwards, Virginia Gregg, Lou Merrill, Howard McNear, Jeanette Nolan, Alan Reed, Bill Johnstone, Marvin Miller, Frank Lovejoy, Berry Kroeger, Vic Perrin, Elliott Lewis, Jack Webb, Peggy Webber and Will Wright. Music was supplied by Del Castillo, organist Ivan Ditmars, Cy Feuer, Wilbur Hatch and Leith Stevens. The announcers were Paul Frees and Roy Rowan.

X Minus One Ep. #99 Jan 09, 2023

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Enjoy two sci-fi adventures of X Minus One A) 5/1/56 Sea Legs w/ William Redfield B) 8/1/57 End as a World w/ Peter Fernandez X Minus One was a half-hour science fiction radio series broadcast from April 24, 1955 until January 9, 1958 over NBC. Initially a revival of NBC's Dimension X (1950-51), X Minus One is widely considered among the finest science fiction dramas ever produced for radio. The first 15 episodes were new versions of Dimension X episodes, but the remainder were adaptations by NBC staff writers, including Ernest Kinoy and George Lefferts, of newly published science fiction stories by leading writers in the field. New York’s finest radio actors are heard in the supporting casts, including Bob Hastings, Jan Miner, Luis Van Rooten, Teri Kean and Les Damon.

Our Miss Brooks Ep. #98 Jan 09, 2023

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Enjoy two comedy episodes of Our Miss Brooks A) 10/30/49 Halloween Pary w/ Eve Arden B) 3/25/51 Buying a Parcel of Land w/ Eve Arden Our Miss Brooks was a situation comedy show heard on radio and seen on television and films. It starred Hollywood film and New York stage veteran Eve Arden, who had specialized in playing the wisecracking friend to the heroine. She often did it better than anyone else, receiving an Oscar nomination for 1945’s “Mildred Pierce.” Arden’s skill with the wicked one-liner and acid aside was beginning to lead to typecasting so, to find a new image, Arden signed on for the lead in radio’s Our Miss Brooks. The series centered on Connie Brooks, a smart, sharp-witted, lovable English teacher at fictional Madison High School. Between gentle wisecracks, Miss Brooks doted on nerdish student Walter Denton (Richard Crenna) and frequently locked horns with crusty, cranky Principal Osgood Conklin (Gale Gordon). Many plot lines revolved around Miss Brooks’ longing for Philip Boynton (Jeff Chandler), the school’s bashful biology teacher. Our Miss Brooks made a successful transition to TV in 1952 while the radio series lasted until 1957.

The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective Ep. #97 Jan 05, 2023

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Enjoy two detective episodes of Sam Spade A) 6/20/48 The Deathbed Caper w/ Howard Duff B) 9/12/48 The Lazarus Caper w/ Howard Duff The detective character, Sam Spade, was created by Dashiell Hammett for his crime novel “The Maltese Falcon.” Spade was a hard-boiled detective with cold detachment, a keen eye for detail and unflinching determination to achieve his own justice. The character is most closely associated with Humphrey Bogart who played Sam Spade in the third and most famous film version of “The Maltese Falcon.” In 1946, one of radio’s top producers (William Spier) brought Sam Spade to CBS radio starring newcomer Howard Duff with Lurene Tuttle (and occasionally Sandra Gould) as Spade’s secretary, Effie Perrine and sponsored by Wildroot Cream Oil. Duff took a considerably more tongue-in-cheek approach to the character than the novel or movies. Dashiell Hammett lent his name to the radio series but had little involvement. In 1947, scriptwriters Jason James and Bob Tallman received an Edgar Award for Best Radio Drama from the Mystery Writers of America. Howard Duff starred as Spade until November of 1950 when Steve Dunne took the role.

Miracle On 34th Street - THE SCREEN DIRECTOR’S PLAYHOUSE Dec 15, 2022

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THE SCREEN DIRECTOR’S PLAYHOUSE 12/23/49 “Miracle On 34th Street” starring Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood. A half-hour radio dramatization of the famous holiday movie.

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