Almost Human (Aired May 13, 1950)
Dimension X was a very effective demonstration of what could be done with science fiction on the air. It came so late that nobody cared, but some of the stories stand as classics of the medium. Bradbury's "Mars Is Heaven" is as gripping today as when first heard. His "Martian Chronicles" was one of the series' most impressive offerings. Dimension X played heavily on an "adventures in time and space, told in future tense" theme. Actors who worked regularly on the show included Joe Di Santis, Wendell Holmes, Santos Ortega, Joseph Julian, Jan Miner, Roger De Koven, John Gibson, Ralph Bell, John Larkin, Les Damon, and Mason Adams. It was directed by Fred Weihe and Edward King. The deep-voiced narrator was Norman Rose. The series played heavily on the "X" factor in the title, as did X-Minus One a few years later. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: May 13, 1950. NBC network. "Almost Human". Sustaining. A large, powerful robot trained for killing, develops a sense of good and evil. The script was subsequently used on "X Minus One" on August 11, 1955. The program was rebroadcast on "Monitor" during August, 1974. Santos Ortega, Rita Lynn, Jack Grimes, Robert Block (author), George Lefferts (adaptor), Van Woodward (producer), Norman Rose (host), Edward King (director), Bob Warren (announcer). 28:30. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Operation Murder (Aired June 21, 1946)
That strange publishing firm owned by Dan and Barbara Glenn - where each new novel is acted out by the Mystery House staff, before it is accepted for publication. Mystery House was a program in the 1950’s, but not your run of the mill type program. Actually it was more of a proving ground for novels. Dan and Barbara Glenn owned a publishing company named “Mystery House” located at 70 Park Avenue, New York City. Dan and Barbara decided to test some of their novels on a real listening audience. Each episode was taken from a novel they were planning on publishing. The entire staff at Mystery House was involved, everyone doing their part, whether it was rewriting to adapt it to radio, playing the parts or doing sound effects, everyone joined in. Sadly, not a lot is known about this series. Only 15 are known to exist. THIS EPISODE: June 21, 1946. Program #45. Mutual network, WGN, Chicago origination, Harry S. Goodman syndication. "Time To Kill". Commercials added locally. Nanette Sargent, Forrest Lewis, Rye Billsbury (announcer). 25:53. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

A French-English Dictionary (Aired May 6, 1952)
Opening in 1875, the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard is the oldest museum in the world purely for recording crime. The name Black Museum was coined in 1877 by a reporter from The Observer, a London newspaper, although the museum is still referred to as the Crime Museum. The idea of a crime museum was conceived by Inspector Neame who had already collected together a number of items, with the intention of giving police officers practical instruction on how to detect and prevent burglary. It is this museum that inspired the Black Musuem radio series. The museum is not open to members of the public but is now used as a lecture theatre for the curator to lecture police and like bodies in subjects such as Forensic Science, Pathology, Law and Investigative Techniques. THIS EPISODE: May 6, 1952. Towers Of London syndication, WDC-FM, Glen Ellyn Illinois aircheck. "A French-English Dictionary". Commercials deleted. A British pub owner has been poisoned. Could it have been his wife and her French-speaking lover? The date is approximate. Orson Welles (narrator), Harry Alan Towers (producer), Ira Marion (writer), Sidney Torch (producer, director). 25:32. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Mystery Of The Iron Door (Aired May 22, 1948)
The Frank Merriwell comic strip began in 1928, continuing until 1936. Daily strips from 1934 provided illustrations for the 1937 Big Little Book. The Adventures of Frank Merriwell first ran on NBC radio from March 26 to June 22, 1934 as a 15-minute serial airing three times a week at 5:30pm. Sponsored by Dr. West's Toothpaste, this program starred Donald Briggs in the title role. Harlow Wilcox was the announcer. After a 12-year gap, the series returned October 5, 1946 as a 30-minute Saturday morning show on NBC, continuing until June 4, 1949. Lawson Zerbe starred as Merriwell, Jean Gillespie and Elaine Rostas as Inza Burrage, Harold Studer as Bart Hodge and Patricia Hosley as Elsie Belwood. Announcers were Mel Brandt and Harlow Wilcox, and the Paul Taubman Orchestra supplied the background music. A film serial entitled The Adventures of Frank Merriwell was created by Universal Studios in 1936. THIS EPISODE: May 22, 1948. NBC network. "The Mystery Of The Iron Door". Sustaining. The boys come upon an iron door in a large cave. On the other side lies the answer to the theft of a secret bauxite formula. Lawson Zerbe, Hal Studer, Elaine Rost, Harlow Wilcox (announcer), Burt L. Standish. 29:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Ralph Chase Case (Aired May 15, 1949)
In 1945, Dick Powell portrayed Phillip Marlowe in the movie "Murder My Sweet" based on Raymond Chandler's novel "Farewell My Lovely". This was a radical departure in character for Mr. Powell from a Hollywood song and dance man to a hard-boiled detective. On June 11,1945, the Lux Radio Theater brought "Murder My Sweet" to radio, again with Dick Powell in the lead. These two performances prompted his selection for the part of Richard Rogue, in Rogue’s Gallery after his role for Lux Radio Theater and Richard Diamond came four years later. Richard Diamond, Private Detective came to NBC in 1949. Diamond was a slick, sophisticated detective, with a sharp tongue for folks who needed it. Diamond enjoyed the detective life, but not as much as entertaining his girl, Helen Asher. After each show, he would croon a number to his Park Avenue sweetheart. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: May 15, 1949. "The Ralph Chase Case" - NBC network. Sustaining. Ralph Chase hires Diamond about a problem with his step-daughter, but gangster Murray Lang takes a shot at him first. Chase's two step-children both hate him. Dick Powell sings, "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm." Betty Moran, Blake Edwards (writer), David Baskerville (music director), Dick Powell, Ed Begley, Edward King (announcer), Jack Edwards, Jay Novello, Tol Avery, Virginia Gregg, William P. Rousseau (director), Wilms Herbert. 29:29. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Hiking Trip (Aired March 24, 1942)
Red Skelton was drafted in March 1944, and the popular series was discontinued June 6, 1944. Shipped overseas to serve with an Army entertainment unit as a private, Red Skelton had a nervous breakdown in Italy, spent three months in a hospital and was discharged in September, 1945. He once joked about his military career, "I was the only celebrity who went in and came out a private." On December 4, 1945, The Raleigh Cigarette Program resumed where it left off with Red Skelton introducing some new characters, including Bolivar Shagnasty and J. Newton Numbskull. Lurene Tuttle and Verna Felton appeared as Junior's mother and grandmother. David Forrester and David Rose led the orchestra, featuring vocalist Anita Ellis. The announcers were Pat McGeehan and Rod O'Connor. THIS EPISODE: March 24, 1942. "Hiking Trip" - Red network. Sponsored by: Raleigh Cigarettes, Sir Walter Raleigh Pipe Tobacco. The first tune is, "Deep In The Heart Of Texas." Red's opening monologue is about a picnic in the park. "Deadeye" starts Spring cleaning in his hideout. Clem Kadiddlehopper has just cleaned up his excursion boat. "Junior, The Mean Widdle Kid," and his mother start on Spring cleaning. Red Skelton, Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, Harriet Hilliard, Wonderful Smith, Truman Bradley (anouncer), Del King (commercial spokesman). 31:51. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

The Battle Of Hastings (Aired February 13, 1949)
Imagine if CBS radio news existed when the Bastille was stormed in 1789, or if radio reporters were stationed in Ford Theater as Lincoln was assassinated, or again at the Battle of Gettysburg? Indeed, such was the premise behind the CBS series, You Are There. Audiences witnessed history through the present-tense accounts of newsmen allegedly witnessing historical events transpiring before their eyes. Don Hollenbeck and John Daley (known for his TV game show panelist appearances) played the lead anchors, while real-life newsman provided the remote commentaries as the dramas unfolded. As show opened, an anchor would describe the present situation with "As it stands now…" and segue into commentaries, live remote feeds or analysis as the story unfurled.The show was well received, but perhaps was doomed to eventual failure in part due John Daly's emoting. Bernard DeVoto in Harper Magazine lamented: "We have heard his (Daly) voice vibrate with the real emotion, and our memory of the real simply turns the imagined to ham." THIS EPISODE: February 13, 1949. CBS network. "The Battle Of Hastings". Sustaining. The events of October 14, 1066. William, the Duke of Normandy, conquers King Harold and becomes king of England. Guy Sorel, Staats Cotsworth, Don Hollenbeck, Robert Lewis Shayon (writer, producer, director), John Daly, Michael Sklar (writer), Ken Roberts, William Podmore, Oliver Cliff, John Merlin, Peter Hobbs, Alfred de La Fuente. 28:26. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.

Hermit Of The Silver Mine (1946) *The Exact Date Is Unknown.
The Adventures of Dick Cole was a 1942 juvenile adventure radio series based on the comic book feature in Blue Bolt Comics. For Funnies, Inc., Bob Davis created the character of Dick Cole, a heroic cadet at the Farr Military Academy. The character was introduced in "Origin of Dick Cole" in the first issue of Novelty Press's Blue Bolt Comics (June 1940) In 1942, the comic book series was adapted into a 30-minute radio program which followed the adventures of Cole (Leon Janney) at the Farr Military Academy. When Cole wasn't winning football games, he tracked evildoers with an assist from his Academy pals, Simba and Ted. The announcer was Paul Luther. Lew White provided the background music. Blue Bolt continued to run stories about the young hero until 1949. Billed as "America's Number One School Star," Cole finally got his own book with eight issues of Dick Cole (Novelty Press, 1948-50), illustrated by L.B. Cole, Joe Certa, Jim Wilcox and others. L.B. Cole continued the title for two more issues at Star Publications in 1950.

Blasting The Dynamite Ring (Aired May 24, 1940) Two Parts Complete
Actor Frank Lovejoy provided the voice of the Blue Beetle for the first thirteen episodes. Later episodes were uncredited. After his father was killed by a gangster's bullet, young Dan Garrett joined the New York Police Department, but soon tired of the slow pace and red tape of police work. With the help of his friend and mentor, pharmacist and drug-store proprietor Dr. Franz, Dan acquired a costume of bullet-proof chain-mail-like cellulose material, and began a second life, fighting crime as The Blue Beetle. His calling card was a small beetle-shaped marker that he left in conspicuous places to alert criminals to his presence, using their fear of his crime fighting reputation as a weapon against them. For this purpose he also used a "Beetle Signal" flashlight. The Blue Beetle's reputation was not his only weapon -- he carried a revolver in a blue holster on his belt, and was sometimes shown wearing a multi-pouched belt after the style set by Batman. Also in the Batman vein, the Blue Beetle had a "BeetleMobile" car and a "BeetleBird" airplane. In at least one radio adventure, he carries something called a "magic ray machine". The ray machine was a sort of super-scientific cutting device. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group.

The Helen Carrol Murder Case (Aired October 13, 1950)
Danny Clover narrated the tales of the Great White Way to the accompaniment of music by Wilbur Hatch and Alexander Courage, and the recreation of Manhattan's aural tapestry required the talents of three sound effects technicians (David Light, Ralph Cummings, Ross Murray). Bill Anders was the show's announcer. The supporting cast included regulars Charles Calvert (as Sgt. Gino Tartaglia) and Jack Kruschen (as Sgt. Muggavan), with episodic roles filled by such radio actors as Irene Tedrow, Barney Phillips, Lamont Johnson, Herb Ellis, Hy Averback, Edgar Barrier, Betty Lou Gerson, Harry Bartell, Sheldon Leonard, Martha Wentworth, Lawrence Dobkin and Mary Jane Croft. Show Notes From The Old Time Radio Researcher's Group. THIS EPISODE: October 13, 1950. "The Helen Carrol Murder Case" - CBS network. Sustaining. Linda Arnold is wandering in a daze, not remembering her name, and with a blood covered letter opener in her purse. This is a network version. Larry Thor, Charles Calvert, Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), Alexander Courage (composer, conductor), Joyce McCluskey, Herb Butterfield, Peggy Webber, Lou Krugman, David Ellis, Jack Kruschen, Dan Cubberly (announcer). 29:29. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.