Radio Retropolis

An elderly diamond salesman is beaten and robbed of $100,000 in unset diamonds.  Commentary on writer John Robinson, who goes by a more familiar name in real life, as well as look into the early life of Jack Webb.

Jimmy and Clark are still trapped in the cabin as Pug gives Kent the opportunity he needed to become Superman to free everyone.  In the meantime Pug was last seen clinging to the side of the ship sure to fall into the dark sea if Superman doesn't get him in time.  Commentary on a new superpower Superman has discovered that will become his trademark power from this point forward.

A small time megalomaniac has grand delusions of ruling the city by more primal means resulting in fear and murder.  Commentary of the poorly timed and mischaracterized humor in this script and the quest to make the the series lighter under new producer William Tuttle.

Pug is following the old lady, who is really one of our foreign saboteurs in disguise, as she leads him to her cabin where they are holding Kent, Jimmy and ship passenger Mrs. Barrington hostage until they can blow up the ship at midnight.  Commentary on the foreign accents used that closely resembled German and why that was as such.

Two armed men hold up a restaurant in the city in which the elderly owner is severely beaten and his diamond signet ring taken.  Commentary on the 1952 Republican and Democratic National Conventions which preempted Dragnet for the last two weeks.

Clark, Jimmy and ship passenger Mrs Barrington are the captives of the two foreign saboteurs who are planning to sink this ship along with the cargo and everyone aboard tonight at midnight.  Will Clark risk revealing himself as Superman?  Or will he find another way to stop them from blowing up the ship?

Jimmy over hears a Morse code transmission from the next cabin from one of the passengers on the ship who seems to know quite a bit about where the ship will be at midnight.  Commentary on the importance, past and present, of the Morse code.

A racket king disappears and is thought dead. His business partner is suspected by Lamont Cranston who investigates a funeral home as The Shadow.  We seem to be obessed with death in our titles lately with the last podcast had Conversation with Death, the one before was Can The Dead Talk?  This episode seems like the answer to that question.  Commentary on the success of Blue Coal sales because of...

When we last checked in, Jimmy and Pug decided to sneak below and check out this mystery cargo which collapsed over Pug suffocating him.  Commentary on Clark's patriotism as well as Superman always needing to save Jimmy from certain death.  Plus, a warning about nitrates in our every day life.

A young man found hiding in a freight car in a deserted train yard who is holding the dead body of a woman refuses to talk. Commentary on the well executed one way dialogue given by Jack Webb in Act 1.  Plus, we look at the sadness of the episode and the real life connection in the death of actor Kristoff St. John.

With the saga of the treasure map officially over, Clark, Jimmy and Pug embark om a new ship headed for Metropolis.  But before they board, Clark has been given a stern warning that he should get off this ship for his own good.  Commentary  on Gallop Poll on this day regarding Americans position on war in Europe.

One man's hatred of another man whom he believes stole his woman becomes a torturous reality for the second man in a most hideous death ever planned. Commentary on how executions of being buried alive were carried out.  Plus we talk about Agnes Moorehead not being quite done yet with The Shadow.

As Jimmy and Pug climb aboard Carlos' fishing boat to steal back the treasure map, the boys find that time ran out for them as the boat disembarks for the island. Will they get the map and escape a horrible fate?  Will they just stay lost at sea?  Or will Superman save the day?

This special episode tells three tales of life and death in the city of Los Angeles one Fourth of July weekend.  Commentary on Webb pal Harry Bartell and an examination of why one crucial scene, in which Friday did not deliver, but Bartell's character did.  Also, why Stacy Harris, known for his aggressive roles, excels here as the father of the boy who was at the center of one story's tragedy.

Pug had grand illusions to steal the map from Kent as a gag.  But unbeknownst to him, others are planning to do the same thing at the same time which puts Pug's life in dire straits. Commentary on the derogatory term half breed used against the villain.

Lamont Cranston dies so that The Shadow can go undercover to battle a super-villain who has discovered his secret identity. Commentary on how the science fiction of yesterday became the science fact today as we learn a new power of the Shadow.  Plus,a look at the 1939 ratings and which show was number one.  We end with a salute to Agnes Moorehead in her final episode as Margo Lane.

Clark, Jimmy and young Pug prepare to head back to Metropolis by ship after their harrowing experience with the Clara M and the treasure map. But they are once again in serious danger when two nefarious fellows learn Kent has a valuable treasure map in his possession and make plans to steal it.  Pug also has plans which puts him in great danger.

An unidentified man is abducted from a downtown street where blood stains are found on the sidewalk. The abductors escaped in a gray sedan which turns up later also containing matching blood stains.  Commentary on Jack Webb's working style and the sci-fi icon who launched his career adapting real police stories into Dragnet scripts.

A vicious convict is released from jail and goes after the man who put him behind bars -- The Shadow.  Commentary on North and South Brother Islands in the East River by the Bronx as the source locations most likely used for this episode.   Plus we look at the raw brutality of the lead villain which we see more in this season as well as Agnes Moorehead not being available for this episode.

An impatient wife who has had enough of her invalid husband who just won't die on his own decides to murder him .  JR speaks on the controversial life of star Joan Fontaine.

Someone killed Claudia's first husband…and then her second.  When she picks up a mysterious hitchhiker on the side of the road who seems to know all about her, she is convinced she's the next to die unless she can secure the police to nab him before he tries to murder her.  Commentary on tonight's stars Everett Sloane and Wendy Barrie.

Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane overhear a shortwave radio message of an international spy who is planning to steal a new warplane. Commentary on how Hollywood represented zombies and how this episode takes real voodoo legend to explain their existence here. Plus, we pay tribute to the one of the episode's co-writers who went on to create one of the most popular fictional detectives in modern lite...

A man who is in desperate need of money discovers his elderly aunt has a heart condition so fragile that any sudden shock could kill her.  JR speaks on the unusual life and career of star James Mason and his wife and co-star of this episode Pamela Bellino.  Plus, Mason's discovery that saved Buster Keaton's Hollywood legacy.

A small time poker player is in the game of his life in which the loser must commit suicide.  Commentary on the Twilight Zone feel of the episode.  Plus actor Larry Haines and episode writer Emile C. Tepperman.

A woman is reported murdered, but the only clue seems to be a statue made of wax.  Commentary on the continued love/hate relationship of Lamont Cranston and Commissioner Weston.  Plus, a true conflicted conclusion for The Shadow.