Radio Retropolis

A macabre tale of an artist whose insane love for his soon to be ex-wife turns into the most vicious hate when he asks her to pose for his sculpture of her bust. Commentary on star Lee Bowman. Plus , Lipton Tea lady Mary Bennett promoting Lipton Chicken Soup as the meal of the week!

A man who embezzled $2 million from his bank fakes his death and hides out on a secluded island off the coast of Nova Scotia.  The Shadow has figured out the scam and heads out to find him. Commentary on the Wellesian approach to this episode and Johnstone's approach to this Welles inspired script, the formula of writing comic book villains, and the real threat in Europe in 1938.

A man accepts an easy job answering phones for a horse betting operation from a woman he met in a bar only to find the woman dead the next day and he is the prime suspect!  JR speaks on stars Edmond O'Brien and Ann Blyth and O'Brien's real life brush with the mob world on one of his films. 

Jimmy goes along with what he thought was a joke until he finds himself in a round rocket ship hurtling through space to the planet Utopia.  JR speaks on who in the Bible Superman was really based on.

After listening to Liz explain how she balances her checkbook, George sends her to night school to learn arithmetic.  Commentary on why George, a banker, would let his mathematically challenged wife continue to mishandle their bank book. Plus we look at Liz' creative math and compare it to a similar routine by Abbott and Costello. Also, we discuss the Curly and Shemp Howard connection as well as t...

The owner of an apartment building signs leases for the apartments then he threatens to kill the tenants if they move in.  Commentary on how arson was legally received back in 1952 and whether an individual could legally burn his own building down.

What may sound like a joke to Jimmy is serious business with Anthar which only means Jimmy is in for a big, unsettling surprise.  JR speaks on the rise of old time radio enthusiasts thanks to...podcasts.

This episode takes a little bit of active listening due to its less than ideal quality, but I hope you enjoy this next episode about two guys driving across the desert pick up three hitch-hikers who turn out to be escaped Nazi prisoners. Commentary on the Nazi's last attempt to overtake the Allies with the Battle of the Bulge, plus Hitler begins to mentally lose it causing some dissension in ranks...

A criminal lawyer clears his clients only to force them into a series of robberies. Commentary on great voice actors of the day and the art form of being a radio actor at that time. Plus, we discuss the logic of The Shadow as to how mass hypnosis would work if he really existed.

John Garfield stars as  a man in the criminal underworld who is given a literal "death sentence" by a mob boss. He is told he has exactly one week to live.  JR speaks on Garfield's tragic career and his controversial death at age 39.

Jimmy Olsen encounters a strange man named Anthar who claims to be from a "lost planet" called Utopia and warns of an invasion of Earth.  Commentary on this serial which is an exact remake of the "lost" serial Planet Utopia from 1944.

When Liz gets a traffic ticket on the day George is "Safety Week" chairman, George decides to lock the car in the to garage and hide the key.  Commentary on why Lucille Ball allowed her character Liz to be naive and prone to deceitful tactics which are normally not admirable, sympathetic characteristics.  Also discussed are real driving statistics based on gender that may surprise you.

A narcotics dealer has been badly beaten and claims his assailant was a young police officer.  Extended commentary on an email we received based on the concerns of a listener from a previous podcast commentary.

Lois manages to break free of her binds and sets fire to the room hoping to attract outside attention before she and Bucky are executed.   But will they be saved before they succumb to the very flames? JR speaks on who fans believe is the best live action Superman of all time.  Will your favorite be on the list?

A chemist develops a substance that supposedly allows colorblind people to perceive colors, but it has dangerous side effects leading to madness and death. JR speaks on villains and the intent of the plot.

While Lamont and Margot are visiting a friend in Haiti, a local voodoo cult kidnaps their friend's child. With the help of The Shadow, Margot must convince the natives that she is a powerful priestess to try and save the child. We discuss the practice of voodoo in the 1930s as well as today in comparison to Christianity. Plus, this was Margo's big episode played exceptionally well by Agnes Moorehe...

William Powell stars as a criminal who escapes a prison train after a crash but remains handcuffed, leading to a frantic, isolated struggle to break free to collect the $250,000 he has stashed away.  JR speaks on actor William Powell, his connection to Jean Harlow, and his powerful performance in this episode.

As Lois and Bucky face an uncertain fate as prisoners of The Man without a Face, Kent makes the discovery that two world peace organization leaders on the hit list are to appear at a state department reception ending at midnight.  JR speaks on if James Gunn's Superman (2025) is now a financial success.

George has invited ten dinner guests on Katy's day off, and Liz is determined to prove to George's mother that she can prepare a dinner for twelve without any help.  Commentary on who Liz Cooper really is and the fact that we don't really know much about her. Also listen for a young Richard Crenna who plays a young delivery boy infatuated by Liz.

A woman disappears and her husband, Chester Abbott, becomes suspect. The man's stepson then disappears.  Commentary on similar plot lines in previous episodes.  Plus, an inside look at the producer/director side of Jack Webb and his big gamble for television.

When Superman finds the two photographs of major world leaders in the possession of the Man Without a Face, he realizes the dire situation for all involved, including the now missing Lois and Bucky.  JR speaks on the end of the movie going experience as we know it and what many will pay a fortune to see that will replace it.

A voice on the phone and a strange melody warn a woman that she will die at midnight.  Commentary on new sponsor Colgate Tooth Powder.

Pirates sink their boat on purpose in order to fool another ship to "rescue" them. The ruse works and with Cranston and Margot Lane on board, the hi-jacked ship sets sail to a small island where the pirates harbor an even deadlier purpose. Commentary of the real Pirates of the Caribbean and the eerie foreshadowing of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Lucille Ball returns to Suspense playing a con artist who preys on strange men for financial gain until one day she targets a man who happens to be a serial killer.   Commentary on Lucy's hit comedy series My Favorite Husband and the chance of luck that changed television forever.

Herbert Calkins of Scotland Yard provided a tip for Lois, but has put both Lois and Bucky in danger as the house they are staking out belongs to The Man Without a Face.  JR speaks on Kellogg's Rice Krispies as a sponsor.  Plus why villains feel they need to disclose their entire plan to their captives.