One of the best: Damon Runyon Theater

In the late summer of 2001, just before the tragic events of 911, I fell ill with a mysterious aliment at the age of 38 - at least it was mysterious to me, for I had never felt that way before.  Things got worse and worse - eventually I was rushed to the hospital where I almost died of congestive heart failure.

It took me nearly a year to "bounce back"; I use that term loosely because I never really have recovered from it's effects.  As a matter of fact, the doctor tells me my heart is only at about 25% strength even today.

During my layoff and recuperation I went to the library and got all the Damon Runyon books they had.  Eventually, I read every one of his printed stories and enjoyed them as much as anything else I had ever read.

A few years ago, I came across the Damon Runyon Theatre on mp3.  Wow.  The stories are true to the stories in the books and done with the right amount of flair.

The Damon Runyon Theater is an anthology; while you are almost always guaranteed some humor and a teeny bit of mystery in each episode, you'll never know if the story will end up sad or in celebration.  All of the stories are set in the Roaring '20's and may be about horse racing or dancers or a Yale football game.

All are handled well.  John Brown, the elusive-yet-everywhere actor who's history has been sabotaged and visibly removed from us to see, plays the main part of Broadway, a street-wise, good-to-all fellow who peruses the streets and clubs of New York, trying to mind his own business.  But he's such a good guy and so well-liked that he winds up in everyone else's mess and is often blamed for such, when he actually had nothing to do with it.

Brown plays the character to perfection.  He reminds me of the Gillis character on The Life of Riley - except one with a lot of class.

The sound quality is very good on at least 90% of the episodes and all are incredibly enjoyable.  Definitely, one of my favorites.

March of old time/Feb. 3

55 years ago...
CBS Radio Workshop 560203  Brave New World Part 2

60 years ago...
A Man Called X 510203 Pirates off the Coast of India
Dangerous Assignment 510203 Dakar And The Nazi Fugitive

65 years ago...
Jack Benny 460203 Contest Winner
Great Gildersleeve 460203 Gildy the Diplomat  

70 years ago...
Lux Theatre 410203 Rebecca

Stuff I'd buy if I was a millionaire [#28]

Original Kodak, Red Skelton show cast including Lurene Tuttle

Stuff Pat Novak says [#11]

"I watched her as she turned and walked out the door. She was wearing a flowered print dress, and as she walked, the roses kept getting mixed up with the daisies. She walked with a nice friendly movement, like the trap door on a gallows."- 490515 The Geranium Plant, Pat Novak For Hire

Does it Live Up to the Ads? Sky Blazers

I thought I would start up a new series of articles called, "Does it Live Up to the Ads?"

I am still scouring newspapers for advertisements (I really have a lot of fun doing this) and have come across some series I haven't even seen before. After some digging, I find a few episodes of the series and share both the ads and the few episodes I have found with you - and hopefully, you will download them and enjoy for yourself.

The first one we'll tackle is a series called Sky Blazers. Sky Blazers is a series about aviation - from the early days to the early 1940's.

Download an episode here:
Sky Blazers 400106 Bill Brooks' escapes with the Sioux Indians

Review:
The acting was a bit stiff all the way around (except for the school teacher part.) This was a fun story about a young man's love for aviation and he not only saved a life of a young Indian boy but found a wife in the process.

I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say the show was exciting or thrilling (as the ads claim) but may have been called such in 1940. 

Overall, not a bad show for the juveniles. 15 minutes of fun.

So much fun, in fact, I think I will listen to a couple more (there are only four available.)  If you find yourself wanting more, give me a shout, I'll upload them for you.

One of the best: Fort Laramie

Fort Laramie was a Western in the late 1950's. It was a different kind of Western, in that it did not deal with cowboys but with the calvary in the Wyoming Territory. Fort Laramie was a real place but no one ever said these stories were based on real events.

Generally, men in the cavalry were there to get away from their hen-pecking wives or were there by choice to get away from society.  But cavalry life didn't turn out to be much better - long hours of waiting, lots of terrible sickness and an occasional fight with the Indians.

The show got it's roots from producer Norman MacDonnell, the same man who turned Gunsmoke into a gigantic radio (and television) smash hit.  The star of Fort Laramie was Raymond Burr, who did a great job as Lee Quince. Quince was second in command at Fort Laramie. Harry Bartell and Vic Perrin make up most of the rest of the regular cast as soldiers and they do an excellent job.

Fort Laramie, like all of the 1950's radio Westerns, came with huge bravado and backed it up, but only lasted a year; only 1950's Westerns Gunsmoke and Have Gun Will Travel lasted more than a year due to the rise of television.

There's more psychology at work in the scripts than there is guns a'blazing and makes for some interesting radio. While there are Indians around, the cavalry tried to placate them rather than annoy them; this often meant doing a lot of things most of the soldiers didn't want to do.  But such was (is) Army life.

Don't be surprised to hear women on the show; many show up now and then looking for their husband's body or what-not.

It was  a great show with just 40 something episodes but it's good radio with great sound quality.

If I had a five star rating, I'd rank it higher than Gunsmoke - 4 and 3/4 stars, due to the fact there are under 50 episodes and they are all very good ones.

March of old time/Feb. 2

55 years ago...
American Adventure 560202 Pioneer Call

60 years ago...
Duffy's Tavern  510202 Archie Runs For Office

65 years ago...
CBS Workshop 460202 Home Coming

70 years ago...
Shadow 410202 Nightmare At Gaelsberry Genres

Hodge-podging: Superman

If you think about it, Superman was tops.  No, he wasn't mortal and yes he's alien.  But I've got some questions that remain unanswered.

Okay, I understand Clark Kent has his Superman costume under his everyday clothes.  What is never explained is how he gets to his regular clothes after he's turned into Superman.  Does he wear layers and layers and layers of clothes (coat and tie and hat - Superman suit - Coat and tie and hat - Superman suit, etc.?

The Superman suit is indestructible.  This has been mentioned many times.  But how many does he own?  There are some in his apartment closet as well.  Does he have an endless supply - and why would one need an endless supply of indestructable Superman suits, anyway?

And where does he hide the red boots?

In 1941 (the first year of Superman on radio) a pair of pants and a matching coat would run you about $35, for an average.  As reporter for the Daily Planet, he was lucky if he made $23-$25 a week.  So where did he get all of the suits?

One of the best: I Was a Communist for the FBI

I Was a Communist for the FBI was based on a book by the same name.  Matt Cvetic was a spy/double-agent for the U.S. Government as he did his best to play both sides and throw monkey wrenches into the heart of the Communist Party in the 1940's.

Dana Andrews plays Cvetic and though he's not perfect for the part, he does a good job.

The show follows the book's storyline.  Although some of the things that happen in the radio show seem kind of far-fetched at times, I wouldn't doubt a lot of the show remains true to the book (which I have not read.)

Cvetic (in his late 20's) lives at home with his mother and brother, both who think he's a Communist.  His brother despises him for that fact while his mother does not like the fact, but loves him anyway.  His home life is tough because of the constant friction there, so he avoids his home unil he must sleep.

Cvetic is wrenched into tight situations often and the first time listening you will wonder how in the world is he going to get out this? The show is exciting and is never anti-climactic.  In the show, Reds are not just Communists, they are vicious killers and very clever ones on top of that.   Not only is he dealing with Reds, he's dealing with other double agents.  One of them will show up about every three episodes and throw your deduction of what is actually happening for a loop.

Cvetic has occasional help from the FBI but for the most part, he's all alone. This makes every episode a real adventure because you never know what will happen next.

The sound quality of the series isn't always perfect but it's better than most series that aren't Westerns.

If you haven't already, you need to get on the bus and have a listen to this show.

March of old time/Feb. 1

55 years ago... 
X Minus One 560201 Cave of Night

60 years ago... 
Father Knows Best 510201 Ranch Inheritance 
Dragnet 510201 The Big Children
Line-up 510201 The Grocery Store Matter

65 years ago...  
Duffy's Tavern 460201 Guest Peggy Lee