The Chronic Rift Network

On "Let George Do It," freelance detective and problem solver George Valentine is hired to prove that a spooky old house isn't haunted. But is it? Then, it's Election Day in Springfield on "The Great Gildersleeve," and Gildy switches his allegiances back and forth between the two candidates for mayor. Episodes Let George Do It August 16, 1948 "The Ghost on Bliss Terrace" 1:51 The Great Gildersleeve November 1, 1950 "Election Day" 32:34

Tonight, we present our first medical show, and it's the classic "The Story of Dr. Kildare." The stars of the popular movie series, Lew Ayres as Dr. James Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as his friend and mentor Dr. Leonard Gillespie, reprised their roles for radio. Together, they interacted with people from all walks of life who had all manner of difficulties, medical and other. Then we return to "Life With Luigi." J. Carroll Naish plays the optimistic, yet naïve, Italian immigrant trying to adapt to a new life in America. Tonight, he's hoping to use the new technology of television to drum up business.

Episodes The Story of Dr. Kildare February 9, 1951 "Anthrax Infection" 2:28 Life With Luigi January 24, 1950 "Using Television to Increase Business" 30:30

"The Judy Canova Show" was one of those radio sitcoms with a stage and radio star playing a heightened version of herself living in Hollywood hoping to made good. In this episode, Judy is eager to become the New Year's Rose Queen. That leads to dream sequence, featuring Mel Blanc handling multiple voices, with Judy in a Queen of the Klondike pageant. Then "The Quiz Kids" amaze with their general breath of knowledge and math skills. This episode includes an interview with a Kid who actually has gone to Hollywood and made good. Smylla Brind had appeared on the show a number of times, but, as we hear, she's changed her name to Vanessa Brown and is now an actress under contract to 20th Century Fox. Episodes The Judy Canova Show December 14, 1946 "Queen of the Rose Bowl" 3:46 The Quiz Kids July 21, 1946 "If a Brick Weighs One Pound Plus One Half Brick, How Much Does The Brick Weigh?" 34:50

"Many Happy Returns"

UK Airing: November 10, 1967

US Airing: July 20, 1968

The Prisoner awakens in a Village that is completely empty with all power cut off. After making sure it isn't a trick, he sets out to escape and makes his way back to London where his only ally is the woman who now lives in his home and drives his car.

John and writer Jim Beard discuss this unusual episode in detail, including a comparison with "The Chimes of Big Ben", the appeal of Georgina Cookson as Number Two and The Prisoner's Lotus Seven.

Comment on this podcast by writing us at [email protected] or by leaving your thoughts right here on the page.

We start off with the original old-time radio western, "Death Valley Days." In this episode, a female prospector goes to extraordinary lengths to prevent claim jumpers. Then on "The Jack Benny Program," Rochester is cleaning Jack's den while Jack travels to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew his driver's license.

Episodes

Death Valley Days

June 16, 1939

"Shoo Fly"

2:11

The Jack Benny Program

November 16, 1947

"Cleaning Jack's Den"

28:32

Episode 58—Geek Actors Live on Stage

Science fiction writer and editor Scott Pearson's cohost Ella Pearson puts the "geek" in "theatre geek," sharing stories of living in London and seeing various plays live on stage which featured actors we all know and love from genre movies and TV.

Segments

02:56 English Actors vs. American Actors

04:04 Scott's Adventures at the Theatre, Pt. 1

06:56 Martin Freeman in The Dumb Waiter

10:21 Scott's Adventures at the Theatre, Pt. 2

10:56 Danny Dyer in The Dumb Waiter

12:54 Rupert Graves in Victoria Station

13:51 Celebrity Distractions

15:59 Scott's Adventures at the Theatre, Pt. 3

17:20 Charlie Cox, Zawe Ashton, and Tom Hiddleston in Betrayal

23:09 Go to the Theatre

23:34 Tom Hiddleston and Shakespeare

24:56 Ella IS Frau Schmidt

25:56 Arthur Darvill in Sweet Charity (plus Hiddleston in Coriolanus)

31:40 Scott's Adventures at the Theatre, Pt. 4

33:42 Missed Plays

34:50 Halley Atwell in Rosmersholm

37:42 At the Stage Door

39:58 Favorite Performances

"The General"

UK Airing: November 3, 1967

US Airing: July 13, 1968

The Prisoner goes on a quest to find "The General", the force behind a learning method that is being adopted by the entire Village. But what is the purpose of this learning method and why does it seem more devious than it first appears?

John and writer Jim Beard discuss applied learning techniques, the music of the series, and the types of episodes one finds in this series in an episode that does not match John's memories of watching it growing up and has never been a favorite of Jim's.

Take a moment to comment on the episode here or by writing [email protected].

"The Schizoid Man"

UK Airing: October 27, 1967

US Airing: July 6, 1968

The Prisoner awakens to find himself in a new home with a new look and everyone calling him Number Twelve. And who is this Number Six who looks exactly like him?

John and writer Jim Beard discuss the appearance of actress Jane Merrow, the use of Rover, and McGoohan's performance as both The Prisoner and Number Twelve.

Take a moment to comment on the episode here or by writing [email protected].

Vincent Price returns as Simon Templar, aka "The Saint," the Robin Hood of Modern Crime, solving tricky problems for all sorts of folks. Here the case of a kidnapped heiress takes him to an exclusive finishing school where romance has led to danger. Then on "The Great Gildersleeve," a fishing expedition lands Gildy and Leroy hot water.

Episodes

The Saint

November 5, 1950

"Miss Godby's School for Girls"

2:37

The Great Gildersleeve

May 5, 1948

"Fish Fry"

32:00

We start off with the first episode of "Big Town." Edward G. Robinson creates the role of Steve Wilson, the crusading, yet sometimes muckraking, editor of a big city newspaper. There's dark humor, drama, and plenty of melodrama. Then Joan Davis, who would eventually star in the early television classic comedy "I Married Joan," begins her career in radio. She plays the proprietress of a small village store in "The Sealtest Village Store." She's prone to all the difficulties an unmarried woman in radio comedy had to face, but there's some great laughs and songs.

Episodes

Big Town

October 19, 1937

"Steve Wilson Is Shot"

3:44

The Sealtest Village Store

June 7, 1945

"Sell Bonds, Win a Screen Test"

35:05