Radio Retropolis

A jewelry salesman is slugged and robbed of 20-thousand dollars in precious stone. Friday knows who did it. He just needs to prove it. Commentary on the brilliant writing and performances and why this is a standout episode. Plus, a rare Jack Webb blooper and the long, difficult road transitioning to television.

Superman and Bucky arrive at the former concentration camp where Bucky buried his father's letter to keep the Nazis from finding it only to discover it is now gone. JR comments on his personal experience while visiting the concentration camp in Dachau.

Peter Lorre here plays an unattractive comedian in love from afar with his best friend's fiancé, and through an odd series of circumstances involving murder, with a twist, that leads him to act in a way he would never have otherwise contemplated. In this version, the man who introduces our host Raymond just happens to be Peter Lorre. Commentary on the dramatic twists upon twists in this episode.

A convict on death row asks to see The Shadow before he goes to the chair. He confesses how his crooked lawyer is planning an insurance scam. The Shadow goes after the attorney, but becomes trapped by an electric photo beam in a death chamber. Commentary on Johnstone's performance so far and the fact that this version of The Shadow tries to distance itself from the Welles' version.

Edward G. Robinson plays a man named Homer J. Hubbard who wants to solve a really, really big problem and believes the only way he can solve it is if he was...Edward G. Robinson! JR comments on the star himself and the process of recording dual roles with one actor at that time.

Bucky, who was close to being drowned, decided to stall his fate by agreeing to reveal what the man without a face wants to know. In the meantime, Superman races along the French coast upon getting his tip in Germany to where young Bucky might be. JR comments on how the US alliance with Russia was coming to an end.

Liz decides that she needs a hobby, and the proprietor of the local arts & crafts store convinces her she's a natural artistic genius when it comes to sculpting clay. Special podcast where all commercials were left in including a special recipe for Jello Mincemeat.

A woman kills herself after her fiance', a serial swindler, has disappeared with her $10,000. Commentary on this being the first broadcast in which Dragnet experienced technical difficulties. Listen for the announcement and then the show in progress. Plus, the Dragnet phenomenon from 1950-1970 and if the LAPD used the series as a propaganda tool to dispel complaints of brutality which eventually led to the Watts Riots in 1965.

Superman is led to the Russian headquarters in Germany to get more information on "the man without a face" to track down Bucky who is being held captive and tortured by this same man in France as he refuses to give up the location of the letter that exposes the group looking to destroy The World Peace Organization. JR speaks on post-World War II anxieties about fascism and global peace that inspired this serial.

A woman is a suspect in a murder case in which three men have been strangled and pushed over a cliff. Commentary on Mary Astor's wild backstory. Plus, silent superstar Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle's scandalous trial of rape and murder that cost him his career.

While an old church is being repaired, a ghostly monk begins to murder the church committee. Commentary on the character choices the writers made in the Shadow with Bill Johnstone as well as the darker tone of the series.

Suspense breaks format with two lead narratives each recounting their versions of the events leading up to murder. The story revolves around a 1929 true life story of murder-suicide that occured in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Commentary on stars Robert Young and Viginia Bruce. Plus, the disappointing ending of what started off as a gripping tale.

Phillipe was reported to be in a warehouse on the docks. Kent, as Superman, races to the location hoping to find him and Bucky Taylor. JR speaks on the streaming results of Superman 2025 and news of its upcoming 2027 sequel Man of Tomorrow.

Liz and Iris decide to teach husbands a lesson about looking like slobs, but ended up taking it a little too far. Commentary on the short final season leading to the creation of I Love Lucy. Plus commentary on the real adaptation of My Favorite Husband to television and finally we discuss this new rising star Liz and Iris are very excited about -Marlon Brando.

A woman reports her brother missing and although it's only been just two days, his disappearance was in an unusually suspicious way. Friday's investigation comes to a startling revelation. Commentary on the inflation crisis of 1951 and how the recession of 1953 was created from this inflationary period.

After Kent and Calkins place the sketch of the possible perpetrator behind the missing boy and Phillippe in the French newspaper, Kent receives a call the next night from someone who recognized the man in the sketch. JR compares the Superman films from 1978 and 2025.

A gypsy violinist warns a newly betrothed woman of a melody she must not hear as bad luck or she must hear it forever and be forced to do what the music tells her to do. Even kill. Commentary on sponsor Palmolive Soaps, gas rationing during WWII, Mussolini and Hitler, and the #1 song on this day.

The 1938 -39 season begins with the departure of the two main stars with one new star and one returning favorite. Tonight, Sanitarium patients are mysteriously dying and being drained of their blood. Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane are summoned by the head doctor. But when they arrive they find him murdered. Bill Johnstone stars as The Shadow and Agnes Moorehead returns as Margo Lane. Commentary on Bill Johnstone's history with the Shadow and winning the title role after Orson Welles'departure.

A simple hitch-hike turns into something much more sinister as a friendly game of "license plate poker" turns into a deadly life or death situation. Commentary on star Gregory Peck. Plus, why the ending betrays the basic style of drama which underlines the Suspense series.

Kent suspects that Phillipe may have left a clue elsewhere and was led by Dorio to a trunk in the cellar. Just then, an explosion was set that took out all in that room-except for the fact that Kent, as Superman, is there to thwart it. Does he do so in time? JR speaks about the adult appeal of the Superman radio series.

After embarrassing them at a local night club, the girls decide the boys should take dancing lessons. Commentary on guest star Veola Vonn.

Friday and Jacobs are in court as a suspect for robbery and murder is put on trial. But they are concerned the case has too many loose ends that may result in acquittal. Commentary on the brilliance of Dragnet with sound, realism, and showing us who represents the audience in the cast.

Kent discovered Herbert Calkins was the man bound, gagged, and semi-conscious at the French address left on that note by the murdered correspondent which means Kent is on the right track. But what brings Herbert Calkins from Scotland Yard into the mix? JR speaks about Calkins reminding Kent he's not quite convinced he's not Superman.

A homeowner fears he may have disturbed an old, cursed Indian burial ground when he uncovers a skull on his property that seems to follow him around the house. Commentary on why episodes as great as this are really special in the Inner Sanctum series. Plus a discussion of the advantage of radio over television including a rare soundbite from our host Raymond from 1972.

ORSON WELLES/MARGOT STEVENSON FINAL EPISODE! A scientist who is working on an electronic disintegration machine is murdered. After Margot Lane and Lamont Cranston discover the dead professor, they quickly locate the whereabouts of his killer. During the standoff, Margot is in danger and can only be saved if The Shadow reveals his true identity. This is the very last Orson Welles episode of all time as we wrap up the 1937/38 season. We also say goodbye to Margot Stevenson as this is her last episode as well.

A gripping tale of ambition, deception, and danger when a charming, narcissistic engineer takes a job with a shady mining operation in Mexico that smuggles gold ore across the border. JR speaks on the comntroversial life of star Burt Lancaster.

With Clark and Lois finding the hidden message left by the murdered foreign correspondent mentioning a "Phillipe" living in France as a possible lead to find Bucky Taylor, Kent, as Superman, high tails it across the ocean to begin his search for the missing boy. JR speaks about the 1940 Look article "How Superman Would End the War" ...and why he couldn't.

Professor Millmoss, a speaker at Liz's women's club, convinces Liz that the way to have a happy marriage is for her to be interested in everything that interests George. Commentary on the popularity of this episode in which it was remade twice for radio and once for television. Plus, we discuss Harpo Marx, Lucy's inspiration in physical comedy, and how ill he really was while filming the mirror gag with Lucy during his guest appearance on the television show.

Two rival gangs are planning to rumble and Friday must stop it from happening in spite of a naive mother of the gang leader who refuse to believe her kid is involved. Commentary on how gangs evolved and operated during the 1950's which wasn't much different than West Side Story. Plus guest stars Charles Smith and Eddie Firestone.

Lois and Clark headed to port to greet Bucky Taylor only to find the young boy has disappeared from the ship. Nobody on the ship knows where he could be. JR speaks about Superman 2025 not being quite the financial success as had been initially reported.

A dying woman promises her husband that she will return from the grave. She does return...several times! Commentary on iconic thriller actor Peter Lorre. Plus guest actress Judith Evelyn who was on a ship that was sunk by a German sub in WWII.

In 1692, a clergyman sentences a woman to be burned at the stake due to witchcraft. A curse is then put upon the clergy's family. Generations later, the young son of the current reverend is killed out of superstitious revenge. Margot puts herself in grave danger as she investigates and the Shadow must get to her before she is the next victim. Commentary on racism in Hollywood during the 30's and how The Shadow brilliantly turned the stereotype back onto itself by showcasing a strong, honorable African man against a weak racist white man.

A wealthy woman fakes a pregnancy and kidnaps a baby passing him off as her own while convincing her skeptical husband, who's currently in India fighting in the war, that it's really his. JR speaks on the key problems with this episode.

As Vincent Kirby is sentenced to death for his crimes behind the White Carnation, a new sinister figure emerges threatening global peace with only a young boy having the power to stop him must now be protected by Perry White, Clark and Lois. JR speaks on what he didn't love about the 2025 Superman movie.

George makes a bargain with Liz: If she'll learn to swim, they can go to the beach with the Atterburys for their vacation. Commentary on how Jess Oppenheimer frequently used old scenes from the series' earliest days simply because they were funny. We play the scene between Katy and Liz in this episode with an earlier pre-Jess Oppenheimer episode called Vacation Time from April 29, 1949.

While undercover exposing a top heroin ring, Friday may have gotten himself in too deep which could expose his cover and threaten his life. Commentary on the medicinal benefits of heroin back in the early days including treating respiratory illnesses or to reduce pain which is why pharmaceutical companies like Bayer got behind it.

While Superman races to the mountains after figuring out the carnation clues to rescue Jimmy and Jack, Kirby intensifies his plans of the Knights of the White Carnation by planning to incite the students of the high school to track down all foreign born citizens. JR speaks on this radio series input into the Superman comics.

A psychologist meets with a man on Death Row, who is about to be executed in two hours, to learn why he killed his wife. Instead, he becomes caught up in the fascination of why this man committed murder to the point where he himself is faced with those same inner demons. Commentary on the inner demons in all of us and what we would do if there were no repercussions. Boris Karloff stars.

An Oriental shop owner will kill anyone to regain a statue from the Far East, beginning with the lawyer to whom the statue was sold by mistake.

A stifled man who lives with his suffocating passive aggressive aunt turns himself into the police claiming to have killed her. JR speaks on star Van Heflin.

Jimmy's dying, motionless body lies still on the floor while Jack worries he may now be faced with the same fate. JR speaks about Superman producer Robert Maxwell.

Liz is fed up with George's messy habits around the house, so she draws a line down the middle of the living room and divides the house in two--her half and his. Commentary on how this plot line of the divided room from this episode and the subsequent I Love Lucy episode was used in dozens of top sitcoms over the years. Plus a very special Radio Retropolis exclusive interview excerpt from guest actress tonight DORIS SINGLETON that has never been heard until now!

A convict Friday put away for narcotics dealing has been released and is willing to help Friday catch the big man behind a heroin ring. In order to do so, Friday goes undercover to expose him. Commentary on why this was a standout episode for Jack Webb. Plus, Barney Phillips as new partner Ed Jacobs and why he was not long for the show.

Kent, who just found out about the story in the Planet called in by Jimmy, was astonished that Jimmy would write such a smear campaign against the players. Commentary on Kent's ability to break impossible codes.

A tramp steamer captain rescues a man lost at sea who says he abandoned the ship because they were attacked by some sea monster that turned the water to blood with the crew started disappearing one by one. Commentary on the Manhattan Project which coincided with this day in history. Plus, actor Arthur Vinton who starred.

After a professor is fired dishonorably from the faculty, he seeks revenge by planning to set off a bomb at the chapel during graduation day. The countdown to the last of the Orson Welles episodes continues with four more to go.

A worried mother has a son with a severe life-threatening fever. Because of a widespread flu epidemic, she has to face the problems alone. JR speaks on actress Martha Scott.

Kirby's smear campaign framing the two players depends upon Jimmy calling in the gambling story to the Planet. When Jimmy refuses, Kirby threatens a brutal response unless he complies. JR speaks on Candy Meyers and the infamous Stolen Costume episode from The Advetures of Superman television series.

Liz inadvertently returns a dress to a more expensive store than where she bought it, and makes money on the deal. So she decides to go into business buying dresses at one store and returning them at the other. Commentary tonight on how this episode was remade on radio and adapted for I Love Lucy. Plus a look at how Lucille Ball redefined her comedic image from the early stages of radio into the clown she became.

Two convicts escape from a nearby penitentiary. According to reports they are heading towards Los Angeles and are both armed and dangerous. In the meantime, Friday is given some shattering news. His partner of 11 years Ben Romero died that morning of a massive heart attack. As Romero's portrayer, Barton Yarborough, died in the same manner just a week before this episode, Jack Webb wanted an episode to pay tribute to his close friend.