Originally broadcast Tuesday, September 13, 2022


Hour 1 -Counterspy starring Don Maclaughlin and Mandel Kramer, originally broadcast September 13, 1949, 76years ago, The Case of the Flatbush Fagin.  A story about juvenile delinquents who worshipped a really bad kid. Stolen loot is paid for with a wet handkerchief and hard cash.


Hour 2 - Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast September 13, 1954, 73 years ago, Dooley Surrenders.  A buffalo skinner named Emmett Dooley confesses to Marshal Dillon that he's killed a man, but Matt has a good reason for refusing to put him in jail.  Also, Claudia, originally broadcast September 13, 1948, 78 years ago, Claudia’s First Check.  It's been a fine day...a fine day!  


Hour 3 - It Pays to be Ignorant starring Tom Howard, originally broadcast September 13, 1950, 76 years ago.  In what town in Pennsylvania did Lincoln make his Gettysburg address?  Also Part 4 of a 5-part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Confidential Matter, originally broadcast September 13, 1956, 70 years ago.   A search for a dead man who intends to stay dead, and is willing to kill to do it! 

Originally broadcast on Monday, September 12, 2022

Hour 1 - Meet Miss Sherlock starring Sondra Gair as Jane Sherlock, originally broadcast September 12, 1946, 80 years ago, Wilma and the Widow. Jane Sherlock, amateur detective, and her friend, attorney Peter Blossom, try to solve another murder...with a beret!

Hour 2 - The Great Gildersleeve starring Harold Peary, originally broadcast September 12, 1943, 83 years ago, The War Bond Drive. Summerfield is going all out to sell U. S. War Bonds. Gildersleeve makes an eloquent appeal for bond purchases.  Also Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast September 12, 1954, 82 years ago,  Never End a Sentence with a Premonition.  Fibber's fortune cookie reads, "You have a rendezvous with a big man in a blue serge suit...beware!"

Hour 3 - Box Thirteen starring Alan Ladd, originally broadcast September 12, 1948, 78 years ago,  Actor’s Alibi.   Murder in a radio studio, death by electrical transcription?  Also Part 3 of a 5 part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Confidential Matter, originally broadcast September 12, 1956, 70 years ago.  $80,000 and a beaten girl...both missing! Then, one of the two is found and a bombshell explodes! 

Originally broadcast on Sunday, September 11, 2022

Hour 1 - Four Star Playhouse, originally broadcast September 11, 1949, 77 years ago, Paradise USA starring Rosalind Russell.  A comedy-romance involving an actress and an artist. Jeff Chandler appears, billed as Ira Grossel, his birth name. 

Hour 2 - Nightwatch with reporter Donn Reed, originally broadcast September 11, 1954, 72 years ago, A Traffic Accident and a Strong Arm Robbery.  The first case is about a traffic accident; a woman has been injured.  Also Dick Tracy, originally broadcast September 11, 1947, 79 years ago, The Case of the Low Hijack. Tracy and Pat are prisoners in a truck, being held by "Mori Bund."

Hour 3 - Mystery in the Air starring Peter Lorre, originally broadcast September 11, 1947, 79 years ago, The Queen of Spades by Alexander Pushkin.  A Russian officer kills to learn the secret of the playing cards that cannot lose.    Also Part 2 of a 5-part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Confidential Matter, originally broadcast September 11, 1956, 70 years ago.  A trail back into a man's past is faint and twisting, and at times, runs through quicksand! 

As originally broadcast on Saturday, September 10, 2022  

Hour 1 - The Adventures of Philip Marlowe starring Gerald Mohr, originally broadcast September 10, 1949, 77 years ago, The Rustin Hickory. A teacher from Ferndale, Nebraska, is in big trouble. A photo helps to end the confusion.  

Hour 2 - Mr President starring Edward Arnold, originally broadcast September 10. 1950, 76 years ago,  I Beg Your Pardon. The President is in trouble over several pardons that he’s issued. Also, Claudia, originally broadcast September 10, 1948, 78 years ago, After the Play Ends. Claudia plans to wear her costume home.  

Hour 3 - The Whistler, originally broadcast September 10, 1945, 81 years ago,  Phone Call from Death. A woman's best friend is murdered while she's on the phone with the woman...or was she? Also Part 1 of a 5-part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Confidential Matter, originally broadcast September 10, 1956, 70 years ago. Ed Morgan, one of Johnny's best pals, seems to have embezzled $80,000 before his death.

Thanks for enjoying these best-of shows while I take a little vacation!

Originally broadcast Friday, September 9, 2022

Hour 1 - Fort Laramie starring Raymond Burr, originally broadcast September 9, 1956, 66 years ago, Buffalo Hunters.  Captain Quince is trailing those who are slaughtering buffalo on Indian land. 

Hour 2 -   The Sealed Book, originally broadcast September 9, 1945, You Only Die Once.  A scheming husband and wife team try to get a millionaire's money by murdering him.  Also Claudia, originally broadcast September 9, 1948. Bobby’s First Cold.  Little Bobby is having his first cold and fever. 

Hour 3 - Screen Director’s Playhouse, originally broadcast September 9, 1949, The Human Comedy starring Mickey Rooney.   A telegram delivery boy finds out a little of what life is all about. Also, Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast September 9, 1954, The Shirt Off His Back.  Fibber tries to exchange a sports shirt. 

Originally broadcast Thursday, September 8, 2022

Hour 1 -  Counterspy starring Don Maclaughlin and Mandel Kramer, originally broadcast September 8, 1949, 73 years ago, The Case of the Courageous Come-on.   A girl is "good at being bad" until she sees a blind spot. Is the sword mightier than the pen? After the drama, Vice President Barkley speaks about hiring disabled veterans. 

Hour 2 -  X-Minus One, originally broadcast September 8, 1955, The Martian Death March.   The story of man's inhumanity to Martians. An allegory of westward expansion and the mistreatment of the native Americans.  Also, Claudia, originally broadcast September 8, 1948, Mr Tucker Takes Center-Stage.  In Claudia's dressing room after the show.

Hour 3 - The Stan Freberg Show, originally broadcast September 8, 1957,  Revisiting the Abominable Snowman.   A revisit to the Abominable Snowman, a visit to George Washington, a radio show from the Moon similar to Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" called "The Honeyearthers."  Also, Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast September 8, 1954, Antiques Road Race.  Molly has purchased a valuable antique. It's a pair of bookends that Fibber has sold as junk. 

Origionally broadcast Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Hour 1 - Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast September 7, 1954, 68 years ago, Ghosts Don’t Die in Bed. A strange house on a stormy night, and a corpse in the library. The corpse is from an eighty year old murder! Last show of the season.

Hour 2 -  Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey, originally broadcast September 7, 1957, The Charmona Matter.  A sunken yacht and a missing captain are both heavily insured. The grieving wife isn't exactly heartbroken about the loss of either!   Also Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast September 7, 1936, Judge McGee of the Court of Domestic Relations.   Meet the judge at the Wistful Vista "Court of Human Relations." Guess who?

Hour 3 -  The Lives of Harry Lime starring Orson Welles, originally broadcast September 7, 1951, The Bohemian Star. A diamond as big as a duck's egg? In 1938 London, Harry learns about the crown jewels of Bockanovia.  Also Part 5 of a 5 part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Curse of Kamashek Matter, originally broadcast September 7, 1956.  The secret of the bones.

Originally broadcast Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Hour 1 -Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast September 6, 1951, 71 years ago, The Big 17.   A teen-age riot in a movie theater leads to the discovery of a marijuana and goof-ball ring. The seventeen-year-old "pusher" is about to start distributing much stronger narcotics. 

Hour 2 - The Life of Riley starring William Bendix, originally broadcast September 6, 1947, Riley goes to College?   Riley enrolls at a phony engineering school: "P.I.T.", "The Pacific Institute Of Technology."  Also Claudia, originally broadcast September 6, 1948, Opening Night Jitters. 

Hour 3 - Suspense, originally broadcast September 6, 1955, Strange for a Killer starring John Dehner.   A killer trapped by the cops is holding a man's wife and son hostage in their apartment.  Also Part 4 of a 5 part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Curse of Kamashek Matter, originally broadcast September 6, 1956.  The curse strikes...twice!

Originally broadcast Monday, September 5, 2022

Hour 1 - Tailspin Tommy, originally broadcast September 5, 1941, 81 years ago, The first show of the series.  The gang flies over a downed airplane.  Upon investigating, it appears to be tied into the theft of a tungsten mine!

Hour 2 - The Great Gildersleeve starring Willard Waterman, originally broadcast September 5, 1951, Leroy Buys a Car.  The first show of the season. It's finally time to teach Leroy how to drive.  Also Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast September 5, 1954, Boast to Boast.  The McGees are back from a brief visit to Twin Rock Falls, but nobody wants to hear about it.

Hour 3 - The Fat Man starring J Scott Smart, originally broadcast September 5, 1951.  An ex-major, hated by everyone, is shot in the woods of suburban Washington, D.C. Whodunnit? Everyone has a motive! Also Part 3 of a 5 part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Curse of Kamashek Matter, originally broadcast September 5, 1956.  A wealthy man isn't, Donald is secretly off to Egypt.

Originally Broadcast Sunday, September 4, 2022

Hour 1 - Inner Sanctum Mysteries, originally broadcast September 4, 1945, 77 years ago, The Murder Profits starring Wendy Barrie.  During a dark and stormy night, Claudia Dale picks up a hitchhiker on a road beside a cemetery. He seems to know all about her, where she's coming from, and the fact that her husband has just been murdered.

Hour 2 - Father Knows Best starring Robert Young, originally broadcast September 4, 1952, Engagement Ring.  A member of the Anderson Family just got an engagement ring, but it’s not who you’d expect, and it causes havoc in the household.  Also, Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police, Episode 36, originally broadcast September 4,  1937, Speed is lost in the tunnel.  

Hour 3 - Mystery in the Air starring Peter Lorre, originally broadcast September 4, 1947,  The Mask of Medussa.   An excellent horror story about forty seven murderers frozen solid. They still possess active and seething minds, even though they remain in kept in a "wax" museum.  Also Part 2 of a 5 part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Curse of Kamashek Matter, originally broadcast September 4, 1956.   Looks like Johnny's off on an expedition.