Classic Radio Theater

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Fiction
**Classic Radio Theater**

RETURN WITH US NOW TO THOSE THRILLING DAYS OF YESTERYEAR!
Listen to the greatest radio broadcasts of the 1930s, 40s and 50s absolutely free! Each week, The Bradford Exchange presents the Classic Radio Theater, hosted by nostalgia radio expert Carl Amari.
Each and every week, we’ll bring you three hours of theater-of-the-mind radio entertainment, including The Jack Benny Program, Suspense, Gunsmoke, Dragnet, The Abbott & Costello Show, Sherlock Holmes and many more!

Latest Episodes:

X Minus One Ep. #71 Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two sci-fi episodes of X Minus One w/ Wendel Holmes

A) 5/8/55 Mars is Heaven

B) 3/28/56 A Pail of Air

By 1955, television had become the dominant home-entertainment medium and no one at the NBC network, nor the country’s leading writers of science-fiction, cared much about X Minus One because it was a radio series. But the producers, directors, writers, and cast felt differently and against all the odds, their skill and commitment resulted in critical acclaim for the series. It was the longest-running adult science-fiction program on network radio. Space travel and alien life were hot topics through the 1950s and intelligent science-fiction writing was full of predictions about the future of the human race. If any network could broadcast good quality dramatizations of such thought-provoking stories on radio, it would be NBC. Van Woodward, producer of Dimension X was brought on board to repurpose the program, which would go out under a different name. By the time X Minus One came along in 1955, “television was knocking radio out of the box, particularly where advertising revenues were concerned,” Woodward recalled. The network agreed to produce the show on condition the budget remained below costs. Radio actors were paid minimum scale; scriptwriters Ernest Kinoy and George Lefferts devoted long hours to re-write without additional pay, and canned music was used instead of a live orchestra. Recycling and adapting 34 of the first 35 radio scripts from Dimension X helped to keep the budget down. After that, new stories from Galaxy Science-Fiction magazine were dramatized, under a special arrangement of $50 per story for the broadcast rights: one-fifth of the usual price. Executives at NBC never understood the popular fascination for science-fiction, believing that only juvenile listeners tuned in to hear the broadcasts -- but they were wrong. Sci-Fi fans of all ages were listening and the series enjoyed a successful radio run from 1955 until 1958.

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Ep. #70 Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free detective episodes of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar w/ Bob Bailey

A) 1/20/57 The Blooming Blossom Matter

B) 6/18/61 The Big Date Matter

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 1948 recorded pilot but withdrew from the role in favor of other projects. Charles Russell landed the part and early on Dollar’s expertise was deeply established in insurance fraud investigation. By the fall of 1949, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar came to CBS radio and chronicled the transcribed adventures of America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, "the man with the action-packed expense account.” For 12 years, it was one of the most popular detective shows on the air, lasting until the final days of network radio drama in 1962. Each story started with a phone call from an insurance executive calling on Johnny Dollar to investigate an unusual claim. The investigations usually required Dollar to travel to distant locales and often involved murder. The stories were recounted in flashback, as Dollar listed each line item from his expense account: “Item one, $3.75 cab fare to the airport.” While Dollar was always a friend of the police, he 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, the Universal Adjustment Bureau, was protected. Over the years, many actors portrayed Johnny Dollar, including John Lund and Edmond O’Brien but in 1955, Bob Bailey, took over as the series was switching to a new dynamic format of 75-minute storylines told in five, 15-minute installments Monday-thru-Friday. In 1956, CBS retooled the show, which reverted to a weekly half-hour drama, airing on late Sunday afternoons. Bob Bailey continued in the leading role until 1960. Roy Rowan was the announcer (he was also the announcer on CBS’s I Love Lucy). While other radio shows were waning in the mid 1950s, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was at its peak. By 1960, Bob Readick played the lead giving way to Mandel Kramer, who became radio’s last Johnny Dollar.

The Aldrich Family Ep. #69 Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free comedy episodes of The Aldrich Family w/ Bobby Ellis

A) 11/23/52 Thanksgiving Show

B) 12/14/52 Renting the Aldrich’s House

The Aldrich Family was the quintessential teenage sitcom, focusing on the comic exploits of Henry Aldrich as he negotiated the challenges of growing up in the modern age. Youngsters were quick to identify with Henry, a typical teenager in high school, who – along with his pal Homer Brown - faced adolescent tribulations on a weekly basis. The success of the program stemmed from its insight into the curious facets of an adolescent’s nature and perhaps that was why teenagers of the times made up the largest group of faithful listeners. Henry Aldrich was the brainchild of Clifford Goldsmith, who wrote What a Life in 1937, a stageplay in which the character of Henry Aldrich first appeared. Henry’s misadventures were broadcast as 10-minute insertions on Rudy Vallee’s program in 1937, and became a weekly feature on Kate Smith’s radio show throughout 1938. By 1939, the concept was expanded into a half-hour situation comedy series entitled The Aldrich Family. MGM’s popular Andy Hardy movies had influenced the series. Andy’s father was a judge and Henry’s father was an attorney by profession and, like Judge Hardy, the patriarch to whom family members could turn to for advice. But most of the radio adventures centered on Henry’s zany experiences. Ezra Stone was radio’s first Henry Aldrich and would have the role the longest. There were other actors to portray Henry, including Norman Tokar, Raymond Ives, Dickie Jones and Bobby Ellis. Within two years, The Aldrich Family reached the top ten. A Crossley rating of 33.4 percent of listeners meant the show rivaled Jack Benny and Bob Hope. Hoping to cash in on the Andy Hardy film success, Paramount produced 11 Aldrich Family movies. A TV series and comic books followed. The show’s popularity inspired a number of other well-meaning teenage sitcoms including: Archie Andrews, A Date With Judy, Meet Corliss Archer and That Brewster Boy.

Inner Sanctum Mystery Ep. #68 Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free horror episodes of Inner Sanctum Mystery w/ Paul McGrath

A) 5/30/49 The Corpse is Lonely

B) 4/17/50 Beneficiary, Death

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 by Himan Brown, the casts usually consisted of veteran radio actors, with occasional guest appearances by Hollywood stars including 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. Beginning in 1945, Lipton Tea sponsored the series, pairing Raymond and a cheery spokeswoman (Mary Bennett – the Lipton Tea Lady), whose sprightly pitches for Lipton Tea seemed out of place with the macabre themes of the stories. Later in the run, Bromo-Seltzer came aboard as sponsor. In 1974-82, producer, Himan Brown, would utilize the creaking door again in his masterful attempt to resurrect radio drama, The CBS Radio Mystery Theater.

Mr. & Mrs. North Ep. #67 Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free detective episodes of Mr. & Mrs. North w/ Richard Denning and Barbara Britton

A) 6/9/53 Wheel of Chance

B) 3/30/54 Touch of Death

Created by Frances and Richard Lockridge, Mr. & Mrs. North were fictional amateur detectives appearing in dozens of novels (1936-63), a Broadway play, a motion picture and several radio and television series. The Norths were not professional detectives, but simply a well-to-do New York couple who stumbled across a murder or two every week (for 12 years) and felt compelled to solve the crimes. A 1942 MGM movie starred William Post, Jr. and George Burns’ wife, Gracie Allen. That same year, the adventures of Mr. and Mrs. North debuted on radio and was soon generating top ratings with a weekly listenership of 20-million fans. By 1946, the radio series received the Edgar Award of excellence from the Mystery Writers of America (in a tie with CBS’s The Adventures of Ellery Queen). Joseph Curtin and Alice Frost originally voiced the roles of Jerry and Pam North on radio. Later, Richard Denning and Barbara Britton were cast, staying on for its successful transition to TV. The TV series was seen on CBS in 1952 and 1953 and on NBC in 1954. The characters were later resurrected, in spirit, with ABC’s Hart to Hart the 1979 through 1984 crime drama about a wealthy husband (Robert Wagner) and wife (Stefanie Powers).

Life With Luigi Ep. #66 Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free comedy episodes of Life With Luigi w/ J. Carrol Naish

A) 5/2/50 “Sootho Cough Syrup”

B) 7/4/50 “July 4th Parade"

For five years, character actor and two-time Academy Award nominee J. Carrol Naish played Luigi Basco, the hard-working Italian immigrant owner of an antique store who attended night school classes in order to become a fully-fledged American citizen. Set in Chicago’s Italian community in the postwar era, the adventures of inexperienced young Luigi were hilarious and heart-warming in equal measure. Luigi’s ‘friend’ spaghetti-restaurant owner Pasquale was constantly attempting to marry Luigi off to his overweight and dim-witted daughter Rosa. Luigi, on the other hand, was equally determined not to have Pasquale as a father-in-law. Many episodes took place in Luigi’s citizenship class where he and Schultz, a German immigrant and fellow classmate, tested the patience of kindly teacher, Miss Spaulding. Every episode opened and closed with a touching letter dictated by Luigi to his beloved Momma-Mia Basco, back home in Italy. Alan Reed (the voice of Fred Flintstone) played Pasquale, Jody Gilbert was Rosa, Hans Conried was Schultz and Mary Shipp was Miss Spaulding. The show was created by Cy Howard, who also gave us My Friend Irma. Its radio run was September 21, 1948 until March 3, 1953 (some of that time it was sponsored by Wrigley’s gum) and made a short-lived transition to television in 1952.

Escape Ep. #65 Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free mystery episodes of Escape w/ William Conrad

A) 7/11/48 She

B) 9/12/48 Evening Primrose

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 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! Like its first cousin Suspense, many of the Escape stories, both originals and adaptations, involved the protagonists in dire, life-or-death straits. For most of its seven-year run Escape did not have a sponsor, so CBS only sprung for name stars on rare occasions. Instead, Escape relied on radio’s row for lead and supporting roles, including Eleanor Audley, Parley Baer, Harry Bartell, William Conrad, Ted de Corsia, John Dehner, Sam Edwards, Virginia Gregg, Lou Merrill, Howard McNear, Jeanette Nolan, Alan Reed, Bill Johnstone, Berry Kroeger, Vic Perrin, Elliott Lewis, Peggy Webber and Will Wright. Music was supplied by Del Castillo, Ivan Ditmars, Cy Feuer, Wilbur Hatch and Leith Stevens. The announcers were Paul Frees and Roy Rowan.

Wild Bill Hickok Ep. #64 Jun 17, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free western episodes of Wild Bill Hickok w/ Guy Madison and Andy Devine

A) 6/3/51 The Missouri Kid

B) 7/29/51

James Butler Hickok, better known as “Wild Bill” Hickok was a folk hero of the American Old West known for being a lawman, gunfighter, gambler and showman. He earned a great deal of notoriety in life and in death. His life has been depicted numerous times in literature, radio, television and film. His death is also quite notable – he was shot and killed while playing five-card stud. He was holding two pairs, black aces and black eights, which has become known as “Dead Man’s Hand.” In 1951, Kellogg’s cereals brought Wild Bill Hickok to radio and television starring Guy Madison as U.S. Marshal Wild Bill Hickok and Andy Devine as his gravel-voiced comedy sidekick Jingles P. Jones. The series used a familiar western scenario enjoyed by producers of “Hopalong Cassidy” and “The Cisco Kid” in which a strong, fearless hero is accompanied by a comic sidekick. During the 1950s, several episodes of the television shows were spliced together and released as 16 feature films by Monogram Pictures.

Pat Novak, For Hire Ep. #63 Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free detective episodes of Pat Novak, For Hire w/ Jack Webb

A) 4/2/49 Father Leahy

B) 6/12/49 Georgie Lampson

Beginning in 1946, Jack Webb portrayed Pat Novak, a tough, wisecracking, and cynical amateur detective, firmly in the tradition of Philip Marlowe. Just about every one of Novak’s clients attempted to double-cross him or frame him for murder. Whether he was hired to act as a bodyguard or ride shotgun on a cross-country trip, the ever-suspicious Novak knew things would get complicated. A crime would take place, and Novak would be in the frame. Somehow, he always managed to come out on top and clear his name. The episodes were fast-moving with plenty of action. The dialogue was hardboiled, the soliloquies poetic, and cynical Novak had a never-ending stock of one-liners. For clarification, Pat Novak wasn’t really a detective. He owned a waterfront boat shop on Pier 19 in San Francisco. He rented out boats and, on occasion, accepted odd jobs when offered enough money. Police Inspector Hellman, played by Raymond Burr, was constantly trying to lock Novak up and throw away the key. After the two had traded the usual insults, Novak set off to save himself by tracking down the guilty party and bringing him or her to justice. The radio program was first heard as a regional West Coast offering. It was produced at KGO in San Francisco and featured genuine sound recordings of the city’s waterfront to add realism. From 1949, when the program moved to ABC for nationwide coverage, sound effects were created in the studio. Near the end of the run, Ben Morris replaced Jack Webb, who went to Los Angeles to work on other detective dramas including Johnny Madero, Pier 23, and Dragnet. Morris did not have the same ability as his predecessor to deliver rapid-fire dialogue and by 1949 the program (suffering from stiff competition) was cancelled.

Suspense Ep. #62 Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

Enjoy two free mystery episodes of Suspense w/ Ronald Reagan

A) 3/8/54 Circumstantial Terror

B) 4/5/55 Zero Hour

Conceived as a potential radio vehicle for Alfred Hitchcock to direct, Suspense was a radio series of epic proportion. Hitchcock directed an audition show but was unable to avail himself for its radio run on CBS (1942-1962). Considered by many to be the best mystery/drama series of the golden age, Suspense was known as “Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills” and focused on suspenseful stories starring the biggest names in Hollywood. Early in the run, the episodes were hosted by “The Man in Black” who, from an omniscient perch, narrated stories of people thrown into dangerous or bizarre situations with plots that, at the very end, usually had an unseen twist or two. Suspense had the ability to “stir your nerves and withhold solutions until the last possible moment.” Hollywood’s finest actors jumped at the chance to appear on Suspense, including Cary Grant, James Stewart, Alan Ladd, Henry Fonda, Ronald Colman, Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Ford, Robert Montgomery, Bette Davis and Orson Welles. Agnes Moorehead was dubbed “The First Lady of Suspense” for having starred in more episodes than any other actor. Music for Suspense was by Bernard Herrmann (Lucille Fletcher’s husband from 1938-1948) and scripts were by John Dickson Carr, E. Jack Neuman, Robert Tallman, Mel Dinelli, Lucille Fletcher, James Poe, Ray Bradbury and many others. Running more than 20 years, Suspense aired nearly 1,000 radio broadcasts. It made the transition to television in 1949, but it was much better suited for radio, where thetheatre of the mind could run free.

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