Breaking Walls

BW - EP130—009: Philip Marlowe Comes To Radio—Marlowe Leaves NBC, But CBS Picks It Up


Listen Later

In September, Bob Hope reclaimed his Tuesday night time slot and NBC’s Philip Marlowe radio adventures were over.
1947 was a good year for Van Heflin. Green Dolphin Street hit theaters in November. It co-starred Lana Turner and was that year’s biggest MGM hit. On Thanksgiving he guest-starred on an episode of Radio Reader’s Digest called “Why Keep Your Heart In Cold Storage?” It was well-received, but MGM would no longer allow Heflin to play Marlowe. He continued to appear on radio into the 1950s.
A new Hollywood agent, Ray Stark, went to work for Chandler in 1948, and in September, a revived Philip Marlowe series began a two-year run on CBS, this time starring Gerald Mohr.
Mohr played King Leopardi in the summer series’ version of “The King in Yellow.” He’d done movie work, but his face was unknown to most radio listeners. Chandler preferred his voice, which he thought packed more punch. Norman Macdonnell was in charge of the production.
Chandler made a list of suggestions for the show’s writers: Don’t always let Marlowe have the last word. Don’t make him utter knee-jerk wisecracks. Don’t let him gloat. For the most part, Mohr’s Marlowe always got the last word, added quick-one liners, and gloated.
CBS paid Chandler two-hundred fifty dollars per week, roughly 3K today. That amount was raised to four-hundred if the series found a sponsor, which it briefly did, with both Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum and Ford.
On CBS Marlowe took up the commercial slack with product-placement. Cars were Nash’s. Gas Stations pumped Mobile. Phil reached for Johnny Walker and Lifesavers candy. As he drove around L.A. he found a handy way to keep track of addresses: Their proximity to an Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Even Chandler got a plug In “The Hairpin Turn.”
On April 11th, 1950, William Conrad subbed for Gerald Mohr. Sometime around 1950, head of CBS William Paley said the network should develop a “Philip Marlowe in the Old West” – a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails frontier saga unlike any cowboy show ever heard. The show would be called Gunsmoke and debut in 1952 starring William Conrad. It was directed by Norman Macdonnell and generally considered the best radio Western of all time.
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was canceled in September of 1950, but revived the following July for a summer run. The final CBS Philip Marlowe Adventure was on September 15th, 1951.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Breaking WallsBy James Scully

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

106 ratings


More shows like Breaking Walls

View all
The History of WWII Podcast by Ray Harris Jr

The History of WWII Podcast

3,979 Listeners

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine by Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine

14,820 Listeners

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast by Starburns Audio

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

3,936 Listeners

This Day in Jack Benny by John Henderson

This Day in Jack Benny

393 Listeners

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio) by Mean Streets Podcasts

Stars on Suspense (Old Time Radio)

429 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,279 Listeners

Old Time Radio Mystery, Suspense, & Horror by Dakoda Black

Old Time Radio Mystery, Suspense, & Horror

713 Listeners

The Secret History Of Hollywood by Adam Roche

The Secret History Of Hollywood

1,011 Listeners

History That Doesn't Suck by Prof. Greg Jackson

History That Doesn't Suck

6,104 Listeners

Ridiculous History by iHeartPodcasts

Ridiculous History

4,560 Listeners

Conspirituality by Derek Beres, Matthew Remski, Julian Walker

Conspirituality

2,050 Listeners

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio by Choice Classic Radio

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

201 Listeners

History Daily by History Daily

History Daily

2,124 Listeners

American History Hit by History Hit

American History Hit

1,571 Listeners

Fun for All Ages with Frank Santopadre by Fun for All Ages

Fun for All Ages with Frank Santopadre

424 Listeners