Classic Radio Theater with Wyatt Cox

Crime on a Thursday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, I was a Communist for the FBI starring Dana Andrews , originally broadcast  July 30, 1952, 74 years ago, Draw The Red Curtain.  Cvetic is assigned to help the Party take over an actor's guild. Followed by Boston Blackie starring Dick Kollmar , originally broadcast July 30, 1946, 80 years ago, Freighter Swan.  A tale of mutiny and mu...

Westerns and Drama on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Fort Laramie starring Raymond Burr, originally broadcast  July 29, 1956, 70 years ago, Nature Boy.   The Quiring family has come to the fort. The strangest trio ever to arrive on the western plains.  Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad , originally broadcast July 29, 1956, 70 years ago, Lost Rifle.   A young bo...

Crime on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Escape , originally broadcast  July 28, 1949, 77 years ago, Second Class Passenger starring Parley Baer. An adventure yarn about an ordinary tourist on a cruise ship who finds a beautiful woman, murder and flight in the back alleys of Mozambique.  Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb , originally broadcast July 28, 1949, 77 years a...

Crime and Fantasy on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Crime and Peter Chambers starring Dane Clark , originally broadcast  July 27, 1954, 72 years ago, Nursemaid To Three Beautiful Women.  Byron Thorndike hires Peter Chambers to guard the $50,000 prize money of the "Miss Universe" contest. When Thorndike is stabbed to death, one of the three beauty contest finalists must have...

Westerns and Crime on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Gunsmoke starring William Conrad , originally broadcast  July 26, 1954, 72 years ago, Matt for Murder.  Red Samples accuses Marshal Dillon of murdering his partner. Wild Bill Hickok is sent for to arrest Dillon so he can stand trial.  Followed by Have Gun Will Travel starring John Dehner , originally broadcast July 26, 19...

Crime on a Saturday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Satan’s Waitin’, originally broadcast  July 25, 1950, 76 years ago, Paintings of Death.  Satan himself tells the story about a cheating wife and her wealthy husband. He wants a divorce and offers her the house and a lot of money, if her lover will marry her within six months.  Shades of The Whistler in this summer series.  Followed b...

Variety and Crime on a Friday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Chase and Sanborn Hour , originally broadcast  July 24, 1938, 88 years ago, Guest Spencer Tracy.   Charlie McCarthy tries to sell tickets for his play, being held in a barn. Spencer Tracy and Edward Arnold appear in "Five Star Final."  Unfortunately, many parts of the show are missing.  Followed by Crime Club , origina...

Drama on a Thursday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Top Secret starring Ilona Massey ,  originally broadcast  July 23, 1950, 76 years ago, Midnight for Danger. Cloaks and daggers in neutral Switzerland. An arthritic clockmaker holds the key to "Operation Das." Followed by The Man Called X starring Herbert Marshall , originally broadcast July 23, 1946, 80 years ago, Stolen Lavaliers In...

Crime and Westerns on a Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Whistler , originally broadcast  July 22, 1951, 75 years ago, Autumn Song.   A crooked Hollywood agent signs a has-been silent film star and hopes to parlay a wild publicity stunt into a long-term contract.  Followed by Rogers of the Gazette starring Will Rogers Jr. , originally broadcast July 22, 1953, 73 years ag...

Crime and Science Fiction on a Tuesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Dragnet starring Jack Webb ,  originally broadcast  July 21, 1949, 77 years ago, City Hall Bombing.  Vernon Carney is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother isn't freed from jail by nine o'clock.  The story would be reused a year later and on the Television show.  Followed by The Big Story , or...

Crime and Westerns on a Monday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Crime and Peter Chambers starring Dane Clark, originally broadcast  July 20, 1954, 72 years ago, Donald Sloane, Embezzler.  A bank teller steals money from his accounts, but leaves $28,000 behind! Followed by Crime Classics , originally broadcast July 20, 1953, 73 years ago, The Death of a Picture Hanger. The Ford brother...

Crime and Romances on a Sunday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan,  originally broadcast  July 19, 1953, 73 years ago, Scream for Murder. A squabbling couple can always bury their differences. The question is, which of them doesn't mind an underground shelter? Marriages may be made in heaven, but they sometimes end up in the...

Drama on a Saturday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective starring Howard Duff , originally broadcast  July 18, 1948, 78 years ago, The Missing Newshawk Caper.  Spade is hired to find a reporter named Ray McCully. Spade finds him all right, stabbed to death! Followed by Presenting Charles Boyer starring Charles Boyer , originally broadcast July 18, 195...

Crime and Romances on a Friday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Shadow starring Orson Welles and Margot Stevenson ,  originally broadcast  July 17, 1938, 88 years ago, Aboard the Steamship.  A mad scientist helps an even madder millionaire believe that he's an Italian Duke from the 12th century Followed by Broadway Is My Beat starring Larry Thor , originally broadcast July 17, 1950...

Drama on a Thursday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Mr. President starring Edward Arnold , originally broadcast July 16, 1950, 76 years ago, Fairly Out, Fairly In. The President is torn about whether to dismiss members of the former president’s cabinet, thinking they’re working against him.  Meanwhile, opposition to a new tax has people up in arms.   Followed by Suspense , originally...

Drama and Westerns on a Wednesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Rogers of the Gazette starring Will Rogers Junio r,  originally broadcast  July 15, 1953, 73 years ago, Jimmy Reynolds. Jimmy Reynolds, a poor teenager, has been arrested for drunkenness. Will tries to keep Jimmy from being made an "example." Followed by The Roy Rogers Show , originally broadcast July 15, 1954, 72 years...

Drama on a Tuesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Dragnet starring Jack Webb , originally broadcast  July 14, 1949, 77 years ago, The Red Light Bandit.  A malicious robber is impersonating a police officer, usually striking when there's a red traffic light.  Followed by Escape , originally broadcast July 14, 1950, 76 years ago, Shark Bait starring William Conrad.   A good story abou...

Drama on a Monday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Suspense , originally broadcast  July 13, 1958, 68 years ago, The Long Night starring Frank Lovejoy.   A chilling story about a lost pilot and an air traffic controller. Frank Lovejoy became a licensed pilot after he first did this script on "Suspense," on November 18, 1956.   Followed by Somebody Knows , originally broadcast July 13,...

Drama on a Sunday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Adventures of Philip Marlowe starring Gerald Mohr , originally broadcast  July 12, 1950, 76 years ago, The Iron Coffin. Marlowe visits a 16th century Spanish castle (in northern California) to battle the ghost of Peter The Cruel, who lives in an eight foot iron coffin!  Followed by The Lady Esther Screen Guild Theater , originally...

Crime and Romance on a Saturday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective starring Howard Duff , originally broadcast  July 11, 1948, 78 years ago, The Wheel of Life Caper.  Sam meets a mystery woman with no memory and a corpse that's been killed by a buzz saw! Sandra Gould replaces Lurene Tuttle as Effie, Sam's secretary. Followed by Murder By Experts , or...

Comedy and Westerns on a Friday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Granby’s Green Acres starring Gale Gordon and Bea Benederet , originally broadcast  July 10, 1950, 76 years ago, Granby Plants a Crop. What to plant? Corn? Wheat? Followed by Have Gun Wlll Travel starring John Dehner , originally broadcast July 10, 1960, 66 years ago, Five Days to Yuma.  Paladin is hired to deliver a Bri...

Crime on a Thursday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Dangerous Assignment starring Brian Donlevy, originally broadcast  July 9, 1949, 77 years ago, Relief Supplies.    The first show of the series. Steve Mitchell's first assignment takes him to Sicily in search of stolen relief supplies. Steve finds himself in the mountains, battling with the bandit Lorenzo. Followed by Jeff Regan Inve...

Crime and Westerns on a Wednesday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, The Whisperer starring Carleton Young , originally broadcast  July 8, 1951, 75 years ago, First Show of the Series.  The Whisperer is a brilliant young attorney with a secret identity. He tackles the plans of Scurelli to sell marijuana to the unsuspecting youth of the city. Followed by The Roy Rogers Show , originally...

Crime on a Tuesday First,  a look at this day in History. Then, Rogues Gallery starring Dick Powell , originally broadcast  July 7, 1946, 80 years ago, The Cabin on the Lake. At a resort, Janice Cole is found dead in her room. Her body promptly disappears while Rogue sleeps through his weekly hit-on-the-head. Rogue is then accused of the crime!  Followed by Did Justice Triumph , originally broadca...

Crime on a Monday First, a look at the events of the day. Then, Dragnet starring Jack Webb , originally broadcast  July 6, 1950, 76 years ago, The Big Frame. Has Eddie Stokes been the victim of a hit-and-run driver? Followed by The FBI in Peace and War, originally broadcast July 6, 1955, 71 years ago, Thirty to One. A check forger has a problem with the horses... Then, Crime Classics , originally...