Golden Age of Radio

March 29, 1976 FEATURE ACTRESSES GET BREAK IN "MYSTERY THEATER" ADAPTIONS OF SEVEN SHAKESPEARE PLAYS William Shakespeare 's plays don't have many good parts for women, but dramatist Ian Martin, who has adapted seven of the Bard's works for consecutive daily presentation on CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER , starting Monday, April 19, has made certain that female actors appearing in the series won't feel alighted. "Although I've had to compress these long plays into much shorter lengths," says Martin, “I’ve tried very very hard to retain as much of the women’s roles as possible. Things are a lot different now.” In  Shakespeare 's day, Martin points out, there were no respectable women in the theater. “Their roles,” he says, “were taken by young boys whose voices hadn’t broken.  Shakespeare, I’m sure, would have liked to have written major parts for women, but in those days they couldn’t appear on the stage. Any who did were consid

Here's some of my favorites "best" episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater. The Resident 1-15-74 Honeymoon With Death 1-11-74 Three Women 1-28-74 Time And Again 1-27-74 I Warn You Three Times 1-12-74 Return of the Moresbys 1-7-74 The Girl Who Found Things 1-19-74 Death Rides A Stallion 1-14-74 The Man Who Asked For Yesterday 1-31-74 The Lost Dog 1-9-74 Cold Storage 1-13-74 The Old Ones Are Hard To Kill 1-6-74 Deadly Honeymoon 1-24-74 Speak of the Devil 1-25-74 The Man Who Heard Voices 1-29-74 And Nothing But The Truth 1-23-74 You Can Die Again 1-17-74 A Very Old Man 1-22-74 The Ring of Truth 1-26-74 Mother Love 1-30-74 Dead For A Dollar 1-21-74 Accounts Receivable 1-16-74 The Chinaman Button 1-20-74 The Bullet 1-8-74 Ring, Ring of Roses 1-18-74 No Hiding Place 1-10-74

Old Time Radio listeners and fans of Gerald Mohr may be amused to learn: watching the new Captain America movie serial from 1940, Gerald Mohr starred as the uncredited "Golden Scorpion."

As a nine-year old child, one of my favorite Saturday radio program was The  Adventures of Frank Merriwell , a student at Yale University in the horse-drawn days of the last century, who excelled at everything ... sports, debates, student theater, science and math classes, etc. . . . and was caught up in some dastardly plot or other in every episode.  Frank Merriwell  was criminology student a Yale, in that time period. his adventures would enable him to use his studies to investigate and solve crimes.  I listened every Saturday; the show has a great use of sound effects! A couple of  the actors who made brief appearances in the series were Tony Randall and  the early talkies film star Sir C. Aubrey Smith. From the time I heard that  program I wanted to be just like Frank, and I was determined to go to Yale  for college; the best I could manage was getting a music scholarship. And there was not one student  on that campus who resembled the Frank Merriwell of my imagination.

Absence of proof open cell door.  (Charlie Chan in Panama) Accidents can happen, if planned that way.  (Dark Alibi) Action speak louder than French.  (Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo) Admitting failure like drinking bitter tea.  (Charlie Chan in Egypt) A fool and his money never become old acquaintances.  (Charlie Chan's Chance) After dinner is over, who cares about spoon?  (Docks of New Orleans) After wedding bells, prefer no phone bells.  (Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise) Alas, mouse cannot cast shadow like elephant.  (The Black Camel) Alibi have habit of disappearing like hole in water.  (The Black Camel) All cards should repose on table when personal liberty at stake.  (Docks of New Orleans) All forgotten, like last year's bird's nest.  (Charlie Chan at the Race Track) All foxes come at last to fur store.  (The Black Camel) All play and no work make Charlie Chan very dull policeman.  (Charlie Chan at the Olympics) Always danger where men are ev

One Mans Family  is dedicated to the Mothers and Fathers of the Younger Generation and to their Bewildering Offspring. Tonight we bring you Chapter One, Book One, entitled "Introducing the Barbour Family." America's first family was inspired from John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga. Carlton E. Morse 's attempt to create a real-life American family with real emotions and problems started on April 24, 1932 as a 13 week trial on local West Coast stations and quickly moved Coast to Coast lasting 27 years. Morse considered his creation a family drama instead of a Soap Opera . Winner of the Peabody award for radio excellence,  One Mans Family , heard primetime weekly on NBC, brought out subtle character development and conflict that made the show addictive. To regular listeners, the Barbours became real people and part of their family. Listeners named their babies after the characters (especially Cliff and Claudia), wrote Christmas cards, get well

Henry Barbour Played throughout the run by J. Anthony Smythe a bachelor in real life. Father Henry Barbour, stockbroker, is old-fashioned, is conservative, is bullheaded, and is overbearing. He believes that the foundation of the nation is the family, the bigger the better. He opposes anything revolutionary and has a deep foreboding for the future of the world. When things go wrong he sulks and broods and has a deep distrust for strangers. Still, he comes off as a lovable warm character. His expression "yes, yes," in a deep sigh becomes the shows catch phrase. In retirement his great joy is his garden. Fanny Barbour Minetta Ellen Played Mother Barbour for 23years. Mother Fanny Barbour epitomizes traditional virtues. She is a housewife who is very loyal to her husband. She is tolerant, loving, and untiring as the peacemaker. She is the glue that keeps the family together and the cushion between Henry and the children, interpreting each to the o

Bakersfield Californian August 18, 1988 Reality on radio: 'One Man's Family' first to bring human drama on the air. A cast of nine veteran radio actors, an announcer, a sound man, and Carlton E. Morse gathered on a late afternoon in Studio B of the National Broadcasting Co.'s West Coast offices. They came for the first reading rehearsal of "Chapter One, Book One" of "One Man's Family." This was the first attempt on radio to create a real-life American family with down-to-earth human relations between parents and children, wrote creator Morse. He said the reading got mixed reactions from the cast, but the head of the West Coast production department turned thumbs down. Both the program manager and production director told him, quite frankly, "No. Morse, this 'One Man's Family' tripe is pure tripe! Everybody lives a family life, day in, day out! Who wants to turn on his radio and listen to more family life?" As i

ANNOUNCER: One Man's Family is dedicated to the Mothers and Fathers of the Younger Generation and to their Bewildering Offspring. Tonight we bring you Chapter Ten, Book Twenty-Three, entitled "Two Million Dollars At Stake." Clifford and Ann are walking on air. Father and Mother Barbour have given them a round-trip ticket from San Francisco to Hong Kong on the China Clipper for their honeymoon! This happened last night at the engagement shower for the couple... and now the family is at breakfast.... FANNY: (Coming to Mike) Now Clifford, eat your breakfast like a normal human being.... CLIFF: But Mom, Dad says the Clipper Ship crosses the Equator on the way to Hong Kong, and it doesn't at all. HENRY: Certainly you cross the Equator.... CLIFF: No Dad- FANNY: Are you going to eat your bacon and eggs? CLAUDIA: What's bacon and eggs in Cliffs young life? FANNY: Well if I'd known what a goose he was going to be, I'd have put my foot down when you

Adventure (1951-1952)  Harry Lime, played by Orson Welles , started out as a minor character in the movie, The Third Man written by Graham Greene. Intrigued by the character, Orson Welles starred as Harry Lime on the radio show The Adventures of Harry Lime. Though the character was killed in the movie Welles and producer Harry Alan Towers brought Lime back in what is believed to be the first prequel.. The radio show, The Adventures of Harry Lime was produced and distributed by Harry Alan Towers through the Towers of London production company Towers owned with his mother. Often, the show is erroneously attributed to the British Broadcasting, but they only purchased 16 shows. The Adventures of Harry Lime was on the radio from August 1951 to July 1952 with 51 episodes.

Orson Welles was a Hollywood boy genius. He had a long and prolific career in radio, movies, theater, and television as an actor, writer, producer, and director yet he was also considered a bad boy. Welles and Hollywood had a love/hate relationship. Considered an innovative and artistic director, actor, and writer, his relationships with the studios and studio heads was contentious at best. They didn’t understand the way he made movies, his innovations, or his artistic vision. Welles was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin to a wealthy family. After his parents separated and moved to Chicago. His mother died when he was nine and his father died when he was 15. He was taken in first by Dudley Crafts Watson of the Chicago Art Institute after his mother died. Later he became the ward of Dr. Maurice Bernstein and attended the Todd School for Boys. While at the Todd School, he was influenced by Roger Hill. Hill allowed Welles to study whatever interested him in school. It was at school where

The show began with the haunting The Third Man Theme . The music stops abruptly with a gunshot. Then you hear Orson Welles voice: "That was the shot that killed Harry Lime. He died in a sewer beneath Vienna, as those of you know who saw the movie The Third Man. Yes, that was the end of Harry Lime ... but it was not the beginning. Harry Lime had many lives ... and I can recount all of them. How do I know? Very simple. Because my name is Harry Lime." When Harry Lime was on the radio, the airwaves were filled with detectives, comedians, space-farers, and drama. Harry Lime was an admitted blackguard and made no apologies for it. Instead of using a gun, Lime lived by his wits to get what he wanted, staying one step ahead of the law with someone else usually taking the fall for his misdeeds. The thing that is confusing about the character is his popularity. Welles played a bit of Lime’s ruthlessness in the radio show as evidenced by letting other people pay for his crimes.

Harry Lime, played by Orson Welles, began as a minor character in the film The Third Man. In the film, Harry Lime is the definition of a slimy criminal. The film begins with the death of Harry Lime though he shows up later in the film. During the course of the film you find out that Lime is truly a despicable character. The film was a critical and commercial success for everyone involved including Welles who was considered a Hollywood pariah and was enjoying a self-imposed exile in London. The musical theme from the movie was also very successful plus there were rumors of a sequel to the movie. The big question was how to take advantage of the movie’s success. Welles, who was working with a programmer and distributer Harry Alan Towers of Towers of London, thought of creating a prequel. The radio show was about Lime’s life before the events in the movie. Lime’s character was very dark in the move and did some very bad things and Welles didn’t think a character that dark would

The Elusive Vermeer - May 1952 Harry meets with Horace Sinjin Wndermere, a classy burglar with a taste for big burglaries. While having a drink with Windermere, he proposes that Harry join him in a business venture in England. There are several nice bits and bobs to “acquire” including a Vermeer. This is where Harry comes into the picture. Windermere hopes that Harry might help him dispose of the Vermeer in the United States for $100,000 since it is very recognizable in England and on the Continent. Harry has a few contacts though disposing of old masters is not his speciality. Harry meets an oil millionaire, Joseph J. Hoffman from Omaha. Hoffman agrees to purchase the Vermeer for $150,000 even though it is a triffle...warm. Hoffman wants that picture so that his wife won’t be jealous of the Rembrandt his partner bought. Harry heads out to pick up the Vermeer, deciding to forget the extra $50,000. When Harry goes to the pre-arranged meeting place, he finds out the Windermere die

Harry Lime is a character who admits to being a confidence man and a smuggler. What exactly does this “anti-hero” get into? Love Affair - September 1951 The story begins with Harry in Saudi Arabia and the story of Harry’s marriage...his only marriage. As he is strolling the streets, he meets a fortune teller who is very insistent. The fortune teller sees many women and many fortunes but only one wife which, according to Harry, is one wife too many. Harry meets with a Mr. Schweig for whom he is working negotiating an oil contract for the man’s country. The man gives him a small check but as he cashes the check, a man approaches who seems to know what Harry has planned for the day. The unnamed man wants Harry to get the oil contracts for his country. The man has Harry’s number and knows that Harry’s services really go to the highest bidder. In the hotel bar, he meets George Harris, a tour guide who warns his tourists away from Harry Lime. As they both go to the restaurant, Harry

1930's Radio  Soap Operas Radio emerged as a vehicle for mass communication and entertainment during the 1920s but did not begin to dominate and influence American culture until the 1930s. During this decade America's radio programming, advertising and influence over the American public flourished since ownership of radios increased dramatically. While once considered an avenue for public service, radio programming of the 1930s sought to satisfy Americans' needs for  Escape  , community and connection to others all the while selling American products. This phenomenon was best illustrated through  Soap Operas  . Denounced by critics as low-culture, neurotic, crude and irrational, daytime  Serials  were a medium for advertising a myriad of products aimed at female consumers, often acknowledged by researchers as the primary purchaser of household goods. "Soaps" were largely written and produced by women for women and focused on realistic storylines that illustrate