Night Call Collect (Aired April 9, 1984)
The Stories of Ray Bradbury (ISBN 0-394-51335-5) is, as the title suggests, an anthology containing 100 short stories by American writer Ray Bradbury and was first published by Knopf in 1980. The hundred stories, written from 1943 to 1980, were selected by the author himself. Bradbury's work had previously been collected in various compilations, such as The Martian Chronicles and The October Country, but never in such a large volume (912 pages) or spanning such a long period of time. Some of the more famous stories in this collection include "The Fog Horn", "The Veldt", "The Day It Rained Forever", "The Small Assassin" and "I Sing the Body Electric!". In 2003, Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales was published, containing a further 100 stories from later in his career. Although they sound similar, the two anthologies have entirely different contents and should not be confused. THIS EPISODE: April 9, 1984. NPR network, WPKT-FM, Middlefield, Connecticut aircheck. "Night Call, Collect". Sustaining. Stranded sixty years on a desert planet, Barton established an intricate telephone system, and waited for rescue. At last, one night...the phone rang! Ray Bradbury (author, host), Paul Frees (announcer). 27:43. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Knee High To A Corpse (Aired July 9, 1951)
The Hollywood Star Playhouse , well written and performed, presented many original plays and popular Hollywood stars. Some of those who accepted roles in this great series included Jimmy Stewart, William Conrad, Deborah Kerr, Vincent Price, Harry Bartell and Betty Lou Gerson. Highlights included an episode entitled The Six Shooter and which later became it’s own series staring James Stewart. In 1952, Marilyn Monroe made her radio debut on The Hollywood Star Playhouse. This 30 minute anthology program was heard over three different networks during its three seasons. Many leading Hollywood stars appeared before the microphones for this programs original scripts. Marilyn Monroe made her radio debut on the 08/31/52 broadcast. Several programs were intended to become new series. On 04/13/52, the broadcast # 99 of The Six Shooter w/James Stewart did indeed become a new NBC series The Six Shooter in 1953, while the broadcast of 05/18/52 Safari w/Ray Milland failed to make it. There was a title change to this series. During the third network change to NBC the series picked up the sponsorship of the American Bakers and the series was called Baker’s Theater Of Stars. THIS EPISODE: July 9, 1951. CBS network. "Knee High To A Corpse". Sponsored by: Bromo Seltzer. The story of "Inch," a small crook who gets a very large revenge. Frank Lovejoy appears in a preview of next week's program. At least two commercials have been deleted. The next week's program is on ABC and the program is no longer sponsored. Herbert Rawlinson (host), Mickey Rooney, William Conrad, Sandra Gould, Shepard Menken, Paul McVey, Norman Brokenshire (announcer), Jack Johnstone (director), Jeff Alexander (composer, conductor), Muffet Peter (writer), Frank DeFelita (writer), Frank Lovejoy, Junius Matthews. 27:33.

Little Boy Red (Aired October 22, 1952)
I Was a Communist for the FBI was an American espionage thriller radio series with 78 episodes syndicated by Ziv to more than 600 stations in 1952-54. Made without FBI cooperation, the series was adapted from the book by undercover agent Matt Cvetic, who was portrayed by Dana Andrews.The series was crafted to warn people about the threat of Communist subversion of American society. The tone of the show is very jingoistic and ultra-patriotic. Communists are evil incarnate and the FBI can do no wrong. As a relic of the Joe McCarthy era, this show is a time capsule of American society during the Second Red Scare. THIS EPISODE: October 22, 1952. Program #27. ZIV Syndication. "Little Boy Red". Commercials added locally. A Russian is being forced to return home because his very Communist son has been kidnapped and brought to a camp in the country. The date is sub ject to correction. Byron Kane, Dana Andrews, Jeffrey Silver, Truman Bradley (announcer). 26:32. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Case Of The Popular Corpse (1947) The Exact Date Is Unknown.
The feel of Michael Shayne over the years most noticeably evolved over Radio. Wally Maher's portrayal of Michael Shayne was not only the first over Radio, and the longest-running over Radio, but it was also the most fully developed over Radio. Aided by Cathy Lewis in her role of feisty bright Phyllis Knight, as well as by Joe Forte as Lieutenant Farraday, the family nature of the growing radio ensemble over the years put far more flesh on the bones of Brett Halliday's character than any other characterization that succeeded it. Maher's characterization of Shayne was so successful that for the remainder of Maher's career he actively kneaded Shayne's basic attributes into virtually every other detective or crime drama genre character Maher appeared in until his untimely death in 1951. Show Notes From The Digital Deli. THIS EPISODE: 1947. Program #15. Broadcaster's Guild syndication. "The Case Of The Popular Corpse". Commercials added locally. Shayne is hired to find a rich heiress. An hour later, a mysterious man hires Shayne to find the same girl. The date is approximate. Jeff Chandler, Don W. Sharp (producer), William P. Rousseau (director, host), Brett Halliday (creator), Robert Ryf (writer), John Duffy (composer, conductor). 26:19 Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Henry's Too Tall Date (Aired April 28, 1949)
The Aldrich Family as a separate radio show was born as a summer replacement for Jack Benny in NBC's Sunday night lineup, July 2, 1939, and it stayed there until October 1, 1939, when it moved to Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., sponsored by General Foods's popular gelatin dessert Jell-O---which also sponsored Jack Benny at the time. The Aldriches ran in that slot from October 10, 1939 until May 28, 1940, moving to Thursdays, from July 4, 1940 until July 20, 1944. After a brief hiatus, the show moved to CBS, running on Fridays from September 1, 1944 until August 30, 1946 with sponsors Grape Nuts and Jell-O, before moving back to NBC from September 05, 1946 to June 28, 1951 on Thursdays and, then, its final run of September 21, 1952 to April 19, 1953 on Sundays. THIS EPISODE: April 28, 1949. "Henry's Too Tall Date" - NBC network. Sponsored by: Jell-O. Henry has a date with a girl...a very tall girl! Ezra Stone receives a plaque as, "The boy who typifies the nation's ideal teenaged donut dunker." If you listen carefully to the award as it's being read, you realize that not only is the achievement meaningless, but the giver of the award is a division of the program's sponsor (General Foods). Ezra Stone, Jackie Kelk, Dan Seymour (announcer), Clifford Goldsmith (creator), Frank Karloff (writer), Jack Miller (music), House Jameson, Katharine Raht, George Burns (teaser announcement at the end of the show), Gracie Allen (teaser announcement at the end of the show). 29:24. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Death Comes At Midnight (Aired October 18, 1942)
The Whistler was one of radio's most popular mystery dramas, with a 13-year run from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955. If it now seems to have been influenced explicitly by The Shadow, The Whistler was no less popular or credible with its listeners, the writing was first class for its genre, and it added a slightly macabre element of humor that sometimes went missing in The Shadow's longer-lived crime stories. 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. A total of 692 episodes were produced, yet despite the series' fame, over 200 episodes are lost today. In 1946, a local Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer. THIS EPISODE: October 18, 1942. CBS network. "Death Comes At Midnight". Sustaining. A man dreams that he's going to be killed in forty eight hours...and it looks like he's going to be proved correct! Wilbur Hatch (composer, conductor), Herbert Connor (writer), J. Donald Wilson (writer). 29:28.

The Mirror Of The Magistrate (Aired December 6, 1986)
Father Brown is a fictional character created by English novelist G. K. Chesterton, who stars in 52 short stories, later compiled in five books. Chesterton based the character on Father John O'Connor (1870–1952), a parish priest in Bradford who was involved in Chesterton's conversion to Catholicism in 1922. The relationship was recorded by O'Connor in his 1937 book Father Brown on Chesterton. Father Brown is a short, stumpy Catholic priest, "formerly of Cobhole in Essex, and now working in London," with shapeless clothes and a large umbrella, and uncanny insight into human evil. He makes his first appearance in the story "The Blue Cross" and continues through the five volumes of short stories, often assisted by the reformed criminal M.Hercule Flambeau. Father Brown also appears in a story "The Donnington Affair" that has a rather curious history. In the October 1914 issue of the obscure magazine The Premier, Sir Max Pemberton published the first part of the story, inviting a number of detective story writers, including Chesterton, to use their talents to solve the mystery of the murder described. Chesterton and Father Brown's solution followed in the November issue. The story was first reprinted in the Chesterton Review (Winter 1981, pp. 1–35) and in the book Thirteen Detectives. Unlike the more famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown's methods tend to be intuitive rather than deductive. He explains his method in 'The Secret of Father Brown'.

Rocket Racket (Aired March 23, 1954)
Frank Sinatra seemed very comfortable in the role of Rocco Fortunato--'Rocky Fortune'--and the scripts that George Lefferts and Ernest Kinoy wrote for Sinatra made for some fascinating adventures. The role was clearly written specifically for him, and more importantly for the more 'adult' persona his agents and publicity reps were trying to portray of him at this point in his career. He'd already done the teen and 20-something idol gig, and he had been expressing more of an interest in dramatic work. Perhaps Sinatra's managers were simply hedging their bets. Sinatra's greatest initial dramatic role in From Here To Eternity was released October 19, 1953, just weeks after Rocky Fortune began its 26-week run on NBC. As we all know now, From Here to Eternity was a box-office smash, propelling Sinatra into a whole new career in Film. Show Notes From The Digital Deli. THIS EPISODE: March 23, 1954. NBC network. "Rocket Racket". Sustaining. Rocky gets a job that pays $10,000 to ride a rocket to the moon! This is a network version. Frank Sinatra, Howard Culver, Don Diamond, George Lefferts (writer), Andrew C. Love (director), Dan Riss, Edith Terry, William Oyler. 23:46. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Special Guest Is Al Jolson (Aired April 8, 1947)
After five years on the Vaudeville circuit, by his own account Hope was surprised and humbled when he and his partner Grace Louise Troxell failed a 1930 screen test for Pathé at Culver City, California. (Hope had been on the screen in small parts, 1927's The Sidewalks of New York and 1928's Smiles. Hope returned to New York City and subsequently appeared in several Broadway musicals including Roberta, Say When, the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies, and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman. His performances were generally well-received and critics noted his keen sense of comedic timing. THIS EPISODE: April 8, 1947. "Special Guest Is Al Jolson" - NBC network. Sponsored by: Pepsodent ("Giving Away Four Chevrolets Every Seven Days" contest). 10:00 P. M. The broadcast originates from The El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood. Bob and guest Al Jolson remember how they first met in Cleveland, many years ago. Jolson sings, "California, Here I Come" and "Always." Bob Hope, Jerry Colonna, Al Jolson, Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra, Wendell Niles (announcer), Barbara Jo Allen (as "Vera Vague"), Norman Sullivan (writer), Fred Williams (writer), Larry Kline (writer), Paul Laven (writer), Ray Allen (writer), Fred Fox (writer), Roger Price (writer), Chet Castellaw (writer), Glenn Wheaton (writer), Harold Goodman (writer), Hendrix Voellaris (writer), Bob Stephenson (producer, director). 32:28. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Madonnas Of Zanzibar Alpha (Aired September 15, 1979) Part 2 of 2
The science fiction show was first syndicated by Watermark Inc. after Lee Hansen was hired as their creative director. After advancing the concept of an action-adventure dramatic radio series, Lee began developing the concept in the fall of 1978. Watermark premiered the first episode, "The Sun Stealers", on January 7, 1979. The series gained popularity thanks to its relatable characters, full symphonic soundtrack, realistic sound effects, high production values and documentary style format. Eventually over 500 US FM radio stations, along with stations in New Zealand and Australia aired the series. Between 1979 and 1980, 26 half-hour programs were broadcast at various times on weekends, where they gained favorable worldwide press acclaim. Alien Worlds was soon heard on a weekly basis by millions of fans and was eventually carried by over 1500 top-rated FM radio stations worldwide. The series' sponsor was Peter Paul, Cadbury which advertised Cadbury Caramello chocolates touting their caramel centers. Four additional episodes were produced but never aired. The show is currently available on Sirius Satellite Radio and on the Alien Worlds website. The series is being developed for 3-D animation for television and DVD release. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group and The Digital Deli.