Up in this podcast, a look at the inverted detective story, thanks from a tip by Cameron Estep. Unfortunately, there isn’t a really good example on radio of one, but a close contender is a play from the Molle Mystery Theater via the AFRS Mystery Theater called “Witness for the Prosecution” based on a play and short story by Dame Agatha Christie.
Based on the wonderful film of the same name, it fits the bill though without a detective. Enjoy this not often heard radio play.
A request to air a “western” detective series leads to Tales of the Texas Rangers. In reality it was a westernized police procedural created by Stacy Keach Sr. It takes place in modern times, many of the stories coming from actual events (like Dragnet – only the names have been changed…) usually from the late forties, but takes place in the Texas plains often requiring the use of horses as well as vehicles.
Music under is Baldi Olier playing Suenos De Amor
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I want to briefly examine Bob Bailey and Mandel Kramer in their roles as Johnny Dollar. Bailey left the show when it moved to New York due to his being turned down for a television version of the character. Jack Johnstone who successfully led Bailey to his star run as the character is also discussed with comments from Bailey’s daughter Roberta Goodwin. We’ll also hear from Mandel Kramer on radio acting.
Thanks to John Dunning for his interview with Roberta Goodwin and Dick Bertel and the Golden Age of Radio interview of Mandel Kramer.
Music under is Jason Peri performing his piece Drastic Measures.
A look at how suspense is built dramatically as described by Mitchell Wilson, novelist and critic, in 1947. This podcast will use Agatha Christie’s short story, “Philomel Cottage,” and compare it to Hitchcock’s Suspicion and Rebecca in how the initially weak protagonist reaches a level of fear in which the reader/listener empathizes before either becoming strong by the experience and completing the cycle. This version is from Suspense and stars Geraldine Fitzgerald (right) from 1943.
Music under is the incomparable Diane Reeves singing “In My Solitude.”
From the Dorothy L. Sayers collection of short stories – Hangman’s Holiday – this adapted version of “The Fountain Plays” on the Suspense radio program from August 1943. Adapted by Robert L. Richards, well respected radio scripter of horror pieces such as “The House in Cypress Canyon,” comes this fair translation of the Sayers’ story starring Edmund Gwen as Mr. Spiller.
Music under is called “Old Folks” performed by Ron Helman.
Finally getting back to posting a new podcast after nearly a 6 month hiatus. This one takes a look at the sub-genre of detective fiction – the “locked room” mystery, of which one writer (radio and fiction) – John Dickson Carr – was the master. However, there are many other that usually get categorized after the fact even if the writer hadn’t really intentionally created one.
This podcast will feature a later Sherlock Holmes which is in fact called the “Mystery of the Locked Room” and while not part of the canon, it does fit in well since it was written by Anthony Boucher and Denis Green.
A return look at the creator of the Boston Blackie character. Little is known about Jack Boyle, who at one time probably faced obscurity were it not for the publication of a collection of his stories in 1919. You’ll hear a rarer radio version starring Chester Morris and Richard Lane. Most radio collectors know Richard Kollmar as the radio Blackie.
Music under is Blue Moon played by Ben Webster.
From the book by Nicholas Blake, aka Cecil Day-Lewis (father of actor Daniel Day-Lewis), The Beast Must Die is considered one of the author’s best works of fiction featuring his detective, Nigel Strangeways. This adaptation for Suspense excludes the detective, but adheres to some of the story as best it can within a one-half hour production. Starring Herbert Marshall as Frank Cairnes, aka Felix Lane, this suspense-filled play is a good one. I would highly recommend the book too, if you can find it.
Music under is Over the Rhine’s “Born”
Another look at Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe, but this time with a Canadian bent. Just where did the name Nero Wolfe come from and how does this Canadian production compare? This version stars Mavor Moore and Don Francks (l-r).