Radio Retropolis

Friday and Romero investigate the murder of a woman strangled in a hotel room. Commentary on the nature of the procedural drama and the brilliant every day obstacles Webb creates for his characters.

Superman looks to get to the truth in the murder of Charles Canfield while Knights of the White Carnation plot their next move. Commentary on Metropolis' one high school team.

A Mrs. Putnam calls the police and tells them she is about to be murdered. Police Detectives Jeff Hanson and Ed "Porky" Lamb trace the call to the Putnam house and pay them a visit only to find that the Mrs. Putnam died two hours before the phone call was made.

As a young woman is about to inherit her father's estate, her guardian breeds large vampire bats in order to kill the girl and gain her fortune. Commentary to follow episode.

A distraught woman, Anna, wants her friend Helen to stay with her with the news of a serial killer called The Lipstick Killer terrorizing the town. JR comments on return to the half hour format and the new sponsor-AutoLite.

Although Superman handily defeated the Clan of the Fiery Cross a while back, a new vigilante hate group emerges looking to follow in the Clan's footsteps. JR comments on the controversial past serial Clan of the Fiery Cross and how this serial is connected.

Jealous of their husbands' hobbies, Liz and Iris decide to join the boys in their favorite hobby-golf! Commentary on the LPGA which actually began shortly before this broadcast in 1950 and how the modern classic television series Everybody Loves Raymond borrowed this story line for a classic husband versus wife episode.

One of Friday's informants, desperate for money, claims to have information on several burglaries that he is eager to share at the risk of his own life. Commentary on the humor of Dragnet.

With the newspaper clipping of the latest robbery as now Superman and Batman's only clue in finding Robin, Jonesy carries Robin's unconscious body at the foot of the building as he prepares to silence him once and for all. JR comments on the end of the season and what's to come.

Boris Karloff returns in our Lights Out episode podcast as a scientist determined to bring his recently deceased wife back to life. Commentary on Karloff's connection to making the dead rise and the discussion of what many of the mad scientists, in spite of their brilliance, fail to realize when bringing the dead back to life. Finally, a an extended look at Wyllis Cooper, Arch Oboler and the entire Lights Out legacy.

A railroad signalman is visited by a mysterious figure every time a horrific train accident is about to occur. Commentary on author Charles Dickens' real life experience, including a near fatal train derailment, that led to his writing the original story. An exceptional episode.

Friday and Romero are on the hunt for a married con artist couple who has been scamming churches and committing insurance fraud for over two years and have always eluded the law at every turn. Commentary on the sadness of this episode which really changes slows the pacing for this episode. Also commentary on the polio epidemics of 1949 and 1952.

Superman and Batman feel completely helpless upon finding Spider's place completely empty with no trace of Robin whatsoever. Spider, who has no other choice, is planning to kill Robin. JR speaks on the recent controversy over the Superman franchise.

A worried mother calls the police and reports that her four year old twin girls have been missing for hours. This episode aired on February 15, 1951. Unfortunately, the audio quality of the episode suffers greatly. Since many early Dragnet television scripts were nothing more than the radio scripts, we have decided to present a special audio podcast of the television version of The Big Crime which aired September 9, 1954 as the third episode of Dragnet's 4th TV season. Commentary on the horrendous content of this episode from 1951 and 1954 and how our instant media today has desensitized our feelings towards horrific images in what has become the new normal.

Friday questions Henry Ross, a suspect in a man's disappearance, which Friday believes is actually a murder. Commentary on the unusual format of this episode which starts right at the interrogation and never lets up. Plus, we discuss the first uses of the polygraph machine.

An eight-year-old boy and his sister have been going from door to door begging for food even though they are from well to do parents. Commentary on yet another award won by Dragnet. This one was The Motion Picture Herald Association with Fame Award. Also discussed are the millions of children abused each year and why this episode may have had special meaning for star Jack Webb.

As Kent and Wayne are close to figuring out who the real Monkey Burglar is, Spider is planning one last job to pin on Robin. But this could be the end for both Robin and Billy, who is the real Monkey Burglar. JR comments on Radio Retropolis.

A cameraman and his sound man are looking to get the ultimate interview-with a ghost. Commentary on the problems with this episode making it one of the worst in the Lights Out catalogue.

Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane attend a private party given by a crazy millionaire who believes that he's an Italian Duke from the 12th century. He and his mad scientist friend plan a night of destruction to fulfill a prophecy. Can the Shadow figure it out in time to prevent the worst? Commentary to follow episode.

In Act 2, Quinn Williams is a young man who upon returning money he stole from a client finds the client dead and now has team up with a girl, Bricky, from his hometown to clear his name. But as they gather revealing clues in the dead man's apartment, a sudden sound is heard at the door. JR speaks on this being the very last of the hour episodes of Suspense. He looks at what went wrong and what's next.

In Act 1, a young man steals money from his client and has a change of heart and decides to return it before its reported missing. When he returns to the apartment, his client is found murdered. JR comments on the lightness of the act with a Thin Man approach to it.

Using the gymnastic medal, they're only clue, they found ten boys who won the award and are positive ONE will be revealed as the Monkey Burglar. The audio for this episode is very rough at best but you can still hear what's going on and follow the adventure. JR speaks on the two big issues Batman faces in this episode

Liz is a finalist in a radio script writing contest. But in order to win she, George, Iris, and Rudolph now have to perform it on the local radio station. Commentary on the musical Show Boat plus Gale Gordon's tie to another very important character referenced in this episode.

A band of dope peddlers launches a full-scale operation in Los Angeles targeting high-school children. Commentary on the recent commendation both Dragnet and Jack Webb received for the best new star of tomorrow and excellence in programming.

Just when all hope was lost in not only catching the Monkey Burglar but in finding Robin, Kent makes the discovery of a gymnastic medal they believe belongs to the real Monkey Burglar. JR comments on the continuing problem with Batman in this serial.

A British officer and his servant in India make use of their eastern mystic powers to avenge the death of the officer's brother at the hands of thugs in Chicago. Commentary on why this episode, although enjoyable, was a rare miss for Wyllis Cooper.

Lamont Cranston and Commissioner Weston witness a condemned man being hanged at the prison, but they later learn he's somehow still alive and killing off the jury members who sent him to the death house. Plus, commentary to follow.

A young man needs money soon to pay a debt or he's a dead man who devises a plan to get the insurance money off his mother's boarder who doesn't have long to live. JR speaks about stars Fay Bainter and Tony Barrett. Plus, the reason why they aired a 30 minute episode instead of their hour long program.

The trap Kent had planned using Robin as bait backfired when the Spider and Jonesy intercepted those plans and kidnapped both Robin and Jimmy Olsen. JR comments on the tribute paid to Superman by the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the problems they faced throughout the years.

Liz is concerned when George wants to check her will which turns to fear once she's convinced George wants to do her in when she finds a one way airline ticket and a receipt for some arsenic and some rope. Commentary on the behind scenes story about the I Love Lucy episode called Lucy thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her from this script as well as the rarely heard audio clip from the never aired pilot episode of I Love Lucy about Ricky's will upsetting Liz.

A pair of hold-up men known as "The Kid Bandits" are robbing and beating their victims. They're young and brutal with no pattern to their operation. But a pack of matches may be Friday and Romero's best lead. Commentary on the first scene which shows a much more informal, off duty friendship between Friday and Romero.

Clark Kent gets Henderson to agree to release Robin for 48 hours in his custody to bait a trap for the real Monkey Burglar. But someone else is wise to Kent's plan. JR comemnts on an Adventures of Superman television episode similar to this story.

Saladine and Erlich are two warlocks in the eternal battle between good and evil with Erlich using his black magic to control zombies in destroying the world. Saladine is the only one who can stop him. Commentary on the real origins of the zombie and how they were represented here as compared to those in Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later, and, of course, the television phenomenon The Walking Dead.

Two spies are gaining War Department secrets with the help of a spiritualist who reads people's minds.

In Act 2, Eric Strange is investigating the murder of his researcher friend Leland Rogers, when a speeding car tries to run him over. Who was driving? Who wants him dead? And why? JR comments on the real "blind spot. Plus, actor Edmond O'Brien.

In Act 1, Eric Strange, an author-turned-bodyguard, vows to protect his employer, a famous pollster, from someone who is trying to kill him. When the man winds up dead, the police think it's suicide. Strange believes it was murder and sets out to prove it putting himself in mortal danger. JR reviews the Act.

As Robin was identified by the victim as the Monkey Burglar including the fact that he could not provide an alibi without giving up his identity as Dick Grayson, Inspector Henderson decides to detain Robin for 48 hours while he builds a case against him. JR comments on the tribute to Superman from Radio Mirror Magazine.

In the second part of our Women's Right story, Liz and Iris have bet George and Rudolph that they can hold down a job, and the boys have bet the girls that they can take care of the housework and cooking. Commentary on the origins of the Equal Rights Amendment and its failure to ratify. Plus, a look at one of the all-time Classic I Love Lucy TV episodes from which these radio scripts were used.

Walter Harrison is on the window ledge of a downtown building, thirteen stories above the street threatening to leap to his death at exactly 2 pm just 22 minutes from now. Commentary on this great real-time episode when everything happens in 22 minutes.

Kent, Batman and especially young Robin were stunned when Inspector Henderson identified the Monkey Burglar as…Robin. Jr comments on the big faux pas in this episode.

A man who is slated for execution is out into a cell believed to be haunted A cop killer refuses to confess, so he gets put in a cell allegedly haunted by the ghost of another cop killer to see if that'll make him crack. Commentary on the brilliance of how Wyllis Cooper uses our deepest darkest fears about death to terrify us even more. Plus, we look at Cooper's follow up series called Quiet, Please.

Three airplanes flying to Argentina have disappeared, which leads The Shadow to a mad scientist in the Amazon with a serum that makes people older.

In Act 2, Sid Latch, after accidentally being responsible for the death of Hollywood movie star Roger Miles, continues to evade police with Iris-except can he trust the people who seem to want to help him? JR comments on the unacceptable animal abuse in the storyline to prove a point as well as the great twist ending.

Sid Latch, a loner living with his dog in Montana, comes across a belligerently drunk Hollywood movie star, Roger Miles, who is accidentally killed while trying to harm Sid's dog, and decides to go on the run with his girlfriend, Iris. JR speaks on the foresight of social justice in 1948 that is extremely relevant today.

A new mystery begins as Perry White frantically tells Kent there is a new kind of acrobatic criminal who appears to scale tall buildings and rob very wealthy people. JR speaks on the need for Batman in this episode.

Liz and Iris are excited about the equal rights amendment and demand equality with George and Atterbury. Commentary on United Mine Workers president John L. Lewis whose news announcement from CBS starts this episode. Plus we look back on the history of Bonbons and today's guest star who appeared in the cult classic Reefer Madness.

A man nicknamed "The Rattlesnake Bandit", who is fast and prone to attack violently, takes great pleasure in beating his victims senseless before shooting them for no reason at all. Commentary on Robert "Rattlesnake" James who most likely was the loose inspiration for this story and left a trail of inventive, horrific murders.

Superman subverts Uncle Ed's small plane carrying the dry ice that forces rain clouds to empty before hitting Freeville and commands the pilots instead to fly to Abner's cabin where, unbeknownst to Superman, Lois and Abner are about to be killed. Commentary on what makes a good serial and the one trait about villains you will always find.

A difficult rehearsal for a murder scene in a Lights Out radio episode is interrupted by an eccentric old man peddling coffins just in case someone needed one in the near future. Commentary on guest actor Charles Eggleston as the coffin salesman who may be best remembered for his one appearance on the hit sitcom The Honeymooners.

A mummy's curse seems valid when a strange death ray kills those who enter an Egyptian exhibit at a museum.