The Clueless Crime Spree (1953) *The Exact Date Is Unknown
This show, from the early 1950s, is a good example of the true story style of delivery made popular in radio's classic crime shows Gangbusters and Mr. District Attorney. Of course, the best and most popular of the true crime shows was Dragnet -- the monotone, "just the facts" style demanded by Jack Webb in the show made two points at once: first, that the show wasn't a typical melodramatic crime show, as had been on radio since "the good old days", and more importantly, that we were along for the ride on another day at the office -- in this case, a policeman's “day at the office". Not a true crime show, as this is drama, but this show features Chuck Morgan, as played by Glen Langen, a very believable news anchor at KOP, a Los Angeles radio station. He is pals with Lieutenant Bill Miggs of the police force, who tips him off to hot crime news. Also in on the capers is Morgan's "Gal Friday", Carol Curtis, played by Adele Jurgens. The three meet all types -- mostly on the shady side of the street. In real life, Glen and Adele were husband and wife, the two marrying in 1949. They had met on the movie set of The Treasure of Monte Cristo. On the show, the repartee between the two is strictly old school and quite enjoyable. The dialogue is solid and makes the most of the plots. Unheralded and left for dead, Stand By for Crime is well worth your time. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

The Matchmaker (Aired October 24, 1948)
As the series progressed and the boys grew up, storylines involving various characters were introduced. Many of the series storylines were taken from the Nelsons' real life. When the real David and Rick got married, to June Blair and Kristin Harmon respectively, their wives joined the cast of Ozzie and Harriet, and the marriages were written into the series. (What was seldom written into the series was Ozzie's profession; mention of his lengthy and successful band-leading career was infrequent.) By the mid 1960s, America's social climate was changing, and the Nelsons' all American nuclear family epitomized the 1950s values and ideals that were quickly becoming a thing of the past. THIS EPISODE: October 24, 1948. "Matchmaker" - NBC network. Sponsored by: International Silver. While Harriet plays matchmaker, Ozzie tries to undo the damage. Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Hilliard, Verne Smith (announcer), John Brown, Janet Waldo, Henry Blair, Tommy Bernard, Lurene Tuttle, Donald Woods, Billy May (composer, conductor). 29:22. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Looking For A Quiet Place (Aired February 6, 1987)
Vanishing Point is the title of a science fiction anthology series that ran on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio from 1984 until 1986, although the show would continue under different names and formats. A descriptive intro declared that Vanishing Point. The series was produced by Bill Lane in the CBC's Toronto studios. 1984-1986 There were 69 episodes in the original series. The series continued after that under various names and formats. "The point between reality and fantasy. Where imagination holds the key to new worlds. That point of no return---The Vanishing Point." Favorably compared to Rod Sterling's classic TV series, The Twilight Zone, these finely tuned radio dramas from the CBC provide compelling excursions into the realm of mystery and fantasy. Show Notes From The Digital Deli.

The Case Of The Fatal Bath (Aired April 13, 1952)
The Whitehall 1212 series boasted that for the first time Scotland Yard opened its files and the producers promised to bring to the public authentic true stories of some of the most celebrated cases. Permission for these records came from Sir Harold Scott, Commissioner of the yard at that time. There is actually a Black Museum. This area is located on the lower ground floor of Scotland Yard and it does indeed contain articles that are closely associated with the solving of a crime. And "Whitehall 1212" was the actual emergency phone number for the yard at the time. The research for the shows was done by Percy Hoskins, chief crime reporter for the London Daily Express. For the benefit of American audiences, Wyllis Cooper of Quiet Please fame was hired as script writer. Interestingly enough both the Black Museum and Whitehall 1212 had all-British casts; both ran concurrently. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: April 13, 1952. NBC network. Sustaining. "The Case Of The Fatal Bath". A man's wife drowns in the bathtub, just as his previous wife had died, and just like his next wife is about to die! Percy Hoskins (researcher), Wyllis Cooper (writer, director), Harvey Hayes, Horace Braham, Winston Ross, Lester Fletcher, Patricia Courtleigh, Beulah Garrick. 29:51. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The House On Sycamore Road (Aired October 15, 1945)
Others who portrayed the Whistler at various times were Gale Gordon, Joseph Kearns, Marvin Miller (announcer for The Whistler and The Bickersons and later as Michael Anthony on TV's The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (who had the title role on radio's The Shadow from 1938 to 1943) and Everett Clarke. Cast members included Hans Conried, Joseph Kearns, Cathy Lewis, Elliott Lewis, Gerald Mohr, Lurene Tuttle and Jack Webb. Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson established the tone of the show during its first two years, and he was followed in 1944 by producer-director George Allen. Other directors included Sterling Tracy and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. Of the 692 episodes, over 200 no longer exist. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: October 15, 1945. CBS Pacific network. "The House On Sycamore Road". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. $50,000 is found in an old clock, but there's that man with the scar! Wilbur Hatch (music), Marvin Miller (announcer), Lesley Edgely (writer). 30:19. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Seventh Victim (Aired May 20, 1974)
Future Tense was the title given to two short series of shows that aired at various times in 1974 through 1976 on WMUK, college radio station of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. The shows were announced as being produced by WMUK Special Projects and used local actors. Professor Eli Segal updated some X Minus One and Dimension X scripts, changing place and time to local area and time, as required. The series used original X Minus One music opening, closing and scene bridges although it didn't use the X Minus One "blast off" sequence. (It did use it at least once as a sound effect). In the first series aired in May of 1974, with the shows broadcast Monday through Thursday (from a comment at the end of one show). From information found, the first series appears to have been repeated in June of 1974 and again in August of of 1976 (from corrections to "Science Fiction on Radio: A Revised Look At 1950-1975", see Log Comments). The second series is believed to have aired in July of 1976 (from the Gold Index, see Log Comments). In 1975, "Pail of Air" was awarded the Ohio State Award for "network quality radio drama". "Cold Equation" won a Peabody Award in 1978 "for championing radio drama". THIS EPISODE: May 20, 1974. WMUK-FM, Kalamazoo, Michigan. "The Seventh Victim". Sustaining. It's not easy to join the "Tens Club." After six kills, a hunter finds an unusual "victim" who presents an unsual defense. The script was used previously on "X Minus One" on March 6, 1957. Eli Segal (producer, director), Robert Sheckley (author), Tom Small, Eric Grandstaff, Peg Small, Mark Spink, Richard Atwell. 26:19. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Dead To Rights (Aired May 22, 1945)
Inner Sanctum Mysteries was a popular old-time radio program that aired from January 7, 1941 to October 5, 1952. Created by Himan Brown, the anthology series featured stories of mystery, terror and suspense. The tongue-in-cheek introductions were in sharp contrast to shows like Suspense and The Whistler. A total of 526 episodes are known to have been produced. The early 1940s programs opened with Raymond Edward Johnson introducing himself as, "Your host, Raymond," in a mocking sardonic voice. A spooky melodramatic organ score punctuated Raymond's many morbid jokes and playful puns. Raymond's closing was an elongated "Pleasant dreaaaaammmmssss!" His tongue-in-cheek style and ghoulish relish of his own tales became the standard for many such horror narrators to follow. THIS EPISODE: May 22, 1945. CBS network. "Dead To Rights". Sponsored by: Lipton Tea and Soup. An inept couple murder for profit, and then run when the net closes in on them. Santos Ortega, Elspeth Eric, Sigmund Miller (writer), Mary Bennett (commercial spokeswoman), Berry Kroeger (host). 1/2 hour. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Trying To Get A Raise(1933) *The Exact Date Is Unknown.
The Life of Riley, with William Bendix in the title role, was a popular radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film and continued as a long-running television series during the 1950s. The show began as a proposed Groucho Marx radio series, The Flotsam Family, but the sponsor balked at what would have been essentially a straight head-of-household role for the comedian. Then producer Irving Brecher saw Bendix as taxicab company owner Tim McGuerin in the movie The McGuerins from Brooklyn (1942). The Flotsam Family was reworked with Bendix cast as blundering Chester A. Riley, riveter at a California aircraft plant, and his frequent exclamation of indignation---"What a revoltin' development this is!"---became one of the most famous catch phrases of the 1940s. The radio series also benefited from the immense popularity of a supporting character, Digby "Digger" O'Dell (John Brown), "the friendly undertaker."Beginning October 4, 1949, the show was adapted for television for the DuMont Television Network, but Bendix's film contracts prevented him from appearing in the role. Instead, Jackie Gleason starred along with Rosemary DeCamp as wife Peg, Gloria Winters as daughter Barbara (Babs), Lanny Rees as son Chester Jr. (Junior), and Sid Tomack as Gillis, Riley's manipulative best buddy and next-door neighbor. John Brown returned as the morbid counseling undertaker Digby (Digger) O'Dell ("Well, I guess I'll be... shoveling off"; "Business is a little dead tonight").

Social Error (Aired May 29, 1949)
He was born Alfred Damon Runyan in Manhattan, Kansas, and grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, where Runyon Field and Runyon Lake are named after him. He was a third-generation newspaperman, and started in the trade under his father in Pueblo. He worked for various newspapers in the Rocky Mountain area; at one of those, the spelling of his last name was changed from "Runyan" to "Runyon", a change he let stand. After a notable failure in trying to organize a Colorado minor baseball league, Runyon moved to New York City in 1910. For the next ten years he covered the New York Giants and professional boxing for the New York American. In his first New York byline, the American editor dropped the "Alfred", and the name "Damon Runyon" appeared for the first time. Broadcast from January to December 1949, "The Damon Runyon Theatre" dramatized 52 of Runyon's short stories for radio. THIS EPISODE: May 29, 1949. Program #35. Mayfair syndication. "Social Error". Commercials added locally. One does not plug other folk at parties in the best of circles. Damon Runyon (author), Jeff Chandler, John Brown, Richard Sanville (director), Russell Hughes (adaptor), Vern Carstensen (production supervisor), Frank Gallop (announcer). 28:42. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Spawn Of The Sub Human (Aired February 27, 1942)
The following is a news promo promoting the show: "In the late hours of Friday nights these shivery, shocking stories go out over NBC - right straight from Oklahoma City, which you might not have thought of as headquarters for haunts. Station WKY is the home of the Dark Fantasy plays, and the writer is Scott Bishop, who lives in the midst of mystery and the supernatural, represented by the innurnerable volumes of thriller fiction, fantasy lore and all kinds of horror literature that fill his home andhis office. Bishop has long contributed to network broadcasting and to magazines. He says, 'Give the listener enough material to let his imagination go to work, and he'll supply his own goose-pimples.' Dark Fantasy has been furnishing plenty of such material since last November. And judging from enthusiastic comment, the horror fans are responding with goose-pimples galore! Tune in every Friday on Station WKY Oklahoma City." Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: February 27, 1942. Program #15. NBC network, WKY, Oklahoma City origination. "Spawn Of The Subhuman". Sustaining. "The nation's favorite soprano makes an airplane flight to an incredible destiny that awaits her at the hands of a strange and mysterious madman." Scott Bishop (writer), Tom Paxton (announcer), Ben Morris, Eleanor Naylor Corin, Garland Moss, Muir Hite (as the gorilla). 24:29. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.