OT: Before the TV years - the Radio Days
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telegonus — 12 years ago(December 09, 2013 03:57 PM)
I don't have any OTR on CD, binapiraeus, but I've listened to tons of it on-line, Not lately, but years ago, I must have listened to half the
Suspense
episodes ever broadcast. I love radio
noir
:
The Whistler, Escape!, The Weird Circle, Dragnet
, some more horror than suspense, but there was a lot of crossover back then (I guess because radio wasn't visual), so there are horrifying things on crime and suspense shows, horror shows that are character studies, and everything in-between. There's an an internet radio archive out there and many other places on the web where you can just listen for free to old-time radio. It takes some hunting and some sites specialize more than others. Most allow you to download, for free as often as not. -
binapiraeus — 12 years ago(December 09, 2013 08:51 PM)
Yes, I also love this kind of radio entertainment, it can often be a LOT scarier than a movie! (Because it lets you use more of your own imagination) But I didn't know there were so many radio shows on the Internet, thanks a lot for the tip!!
Let's be realists, let's demand the impossible. -
opryphantom1 — 12 years ago(December 10, 2013 10:15 AM)
INNER SANCTUM was great. Does *anyone remember Raymond(?) the host of this show? He'd make the goofiest puns. I still remember his comment about the guy who murdered his wife and put her body in the town bell. Problem was, next morning she tolled on him. ;-
There was some really good scare stuff from LIGHTS OUT; Bill Cosby was a fan.
The MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER was a good thriller show also.
Loved the detective shows; Jeff Chandler did a marvelous first person "Mike Shayne". There was also Hammett's SAM SPADE and the FAT MAN (He's stepping on the scale)
Vincent Price and Dick Powell did the radio bit too, it was easy money, no marks too hit, no script to memorize. Oh yeah, Wm. Conrad was "Matt Dillon". -
binapiraeus — 12 years ago(December 10, 2013 01:54 PM)
Yeah, I love "Suspense" too, I've got a whole cassette collection of stories, with Vincent Price of course, Peter Lorre, Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Lucille Ball, Gregory Peck, a.s.o. - GREAT stuff!!
Let's be realists, let's demand the impossible. -
telegonus — 12 years ago(December 11, 2013 01:33 AM)
Inner Sanctum
disappointed me. It was too hokey. In theory, Raymond and the creaking door should work like a charm, but the stories were generic horror stuff, often featuring vampires, zombies and the like, as if channeling the Universal horrors, which it sort of was for radio. Other shows,
The Mysterious Traveller
, which you already mentionedstruck me as as more creative and, especially, original.
The Jeff Chandler Michael Shayne series was surprisingly strong, and Chandler was an excellent radio actor. Also good (and ofren hilarious): the Jack Webb deadpan Raymond Chandler send-up,
Pat Novak For Hire
. It's laugh out loud funny and yet it's plots are often serious. Webb actually began as a radio comedian, got into police drama almost by accident.
Dragnet
was his meal ticket, on radio and television, and yet one can see humor here and there in may episodes, in those peripheral characters, the night clerks, the flophouse bums, the ladies who sell flowers on streetcorners. -
opryphantom1 — 12 years ago(December 11, 2013 11:40 AM)
I'm a BIG fan of "Pat Novak". His verbal battles with "Lt. Hellman" (Raymond Burr) were classic oral scenes. After Hellman searches a stiff's wallet for i.d. Patsy quips, "Better wash your hands Hellman, the green still shows."
In the curt Webb style of speaking, "I had as much chance as a pound of liver at a cat show." "Trying to get the license number off the get-away car was like trying to pluck a feather off an angels wing".
p.s. Webb had a similar, short run San Francisco waterfont p.i. character, "Johnny Madero Pier 23". There are few eps around, but never heard one.
30 -
telegonus — 12 years ago(December 11, 2013 08:52 PM)
The banter with Hellman is some of the funniest stuff on
Pat Novak
. I remember an episode when Lt. Hellman was warning Novak that he was going too far, if he continued working on a particular case things could turn against him and
Novak
would wind up in the gas chamber, to which Webb's Novak responded laconically "no worse than being locked in a phone booth with you".
The image of the equally deadpan Webb and Burr stuck together in a phone booth (remember those?) had me ROTLFing
, with Webb gagging on Burr's er
, gas fumes has stayed with me ever since.
I guess I have a weird sense of humor sometimes. -
opryphantom1 — 12 years ago(December 12, 2013 11:19 AM)
Once in a while the waterfront (Embarcadero) priest would come by seeking Novak's help to find someone (remember Joe *Feldman?) Novak says, "How do I find him, look for an ankle bracelet?"
Then there's Novak's friend "Jocko", who's always helping "Patsy". Jocko was a doc who started chasing a glass of whiskey with a jigger of beer.
So long, lover! -
babel_on_5 — 12 years ago(December 30, 2013 12:48 PM)
Interesting story about William Conrad. When Gunsmoke was moved to tv in '55 Mr. Conrad was first offered the role. I'm not sure if he was tired of the character or what, but he turned it down and suggested a young, fairly unknown actor by the name of James Arness. He's still has the longest running continuous role in television history.
Btw, and maybe not necessary, but the OTRCat CDs are all mp3. I listen to mine on either the computer or the dvd player.
Don't aim for the towers. Aim for the trolls! KILL THE TROLLS!!!
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opryphantom1 — 12 years ago(December 30, 2013 01:00 PM)
Conrad didn't get the Tv show for two reasons. First, there was a scene at the Long branch where he's sitting at a table and a guy yells a challenge and goes for his gun. Dillon starts to jump up and then *the chair rose with him. Scene got a big laugh.
Conrad wasn't offered much more than the radio folks paid, so why sweat "hitting
the mark" and memorizing scripts for not that much money. So, he stayed with the radio show. At least that was the Conrad version.
p.s. It was a movie cowpoke named *Wayne who suggested Arness. -
babel_on_5 — 12 years ago(January 02, 2014 09:26 AM)
You are right; I stand corrected. I'd never heard the chair story, but it's believable. I saw him during his "Cannon" years (he was huge) but I'm not sure I've ever seen a pic from the '50s. Thanks.
Don't aim for the towers. Aim for the trolls! KILL THE TROLLS!!!
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retpo — 12 years ago(January 02, 2014 11:43 AM)
I can remember as a kid, of about 8-10 years old, listening to The Inner Sanctum and Suspense.
My father worked from 6pm to 6am so it was just me and my mother.
My bedroom was off the kitchen and my mother would be in the kitchen listening to the radio. The creaking door of Inner Sanctum or the "Tales to keep you in suspense." Of course it was late at night and I was pulling the covers up over my head. To make matters worse the house was a six family tenement and the door to my room went out to the hallway, where anybody could be lurking!
Those shows could really scare the daylight out of you.
I have no cds or tapes of old shows. However I do have 33 1/3 vinyl. And the turntable to play them.
They include: War of the Worlds, The Story of The Lone Ranger, and a couple highlight albums with too many to list.
Have to go now, paper cup and string is ringing. -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 12 years ago(March 15, 2014 09:16 PM)
I'm just listening to
A Terrible Night
now.
So far, it's very good. Thanks for recommending it on the other board!
Nice to hear a radio play set in my country.and out in the woods as well! Very spooky!
After this one, I will hear more from
The Weird Circle
series.
~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen -
telegonus — 12 years ago(March 16, 2014 01:11 AM)
Glad to hear it, MrsEQ. I found
A Terrible Night
literally haunting, even more so the second and third times around. The way the details pile up, piece by piece, and that ending!
The Weird Circle
was quite literary for the kind of show it was, and many of its better episodes take patience. I found some of their adaptations of well kknown literary works somewhat disappointing (just warnin' ya'), while some of the more obscure titles worked better for me.
Suspense
is really one of the very best of all. Its ratio of good to excellent eps is outstanding. There are some dogs (
Mortmain
is just dreadful) and eps that make something out of nothing, such as the Cary Grant-Betsy Drake starrer,
Country Road
(I think I've got that right, from circa 1949-50). I've listened to it three or four times just for the charm (for want of a better word) of the "set up". Radio horror works less well for me. The closer it is to straight horror, the less well it works; and yet there are
Suspense, Escape
and even
The Whistler
eps that can send shivers down my spine. I've yet to listen to a
Lights Out
or
Inner Sanctum
that had the same effect. -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 12 years ago(March 16, 2014 05:04 PM)
Oh yes. I've heard enough radio plays to know that there are some stinkers in the batch. Most are very well done, though.
So far, I've found the
Whistler
ones to be good, but somewhat predictable.
I listened to another one from
The Weird Circle
last night, one called
The Man Without a Country
, and although I liked the story, it wasn't mystery/horror.
~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen -
telegonus — 12 years ago(March 17, 2014 02:11 AM)
Suspense
had its share of dogs, and it changed its style when a new producer came on board. The first three or four seasons used veteran radio actors or accomplished character players from films. Later on they relied more on well known guest stars. It was still good, but it lost a bit in emphasizing actors with already well known personas. Lloyd Nolan appeared in a couple, and I generally like him, but he svcked on ice on
Suspense
. If the story is a Cornell Woolrich or Lucille Fletcher one, you almost can't go wrong.
You might want to stick with
The Whistler
. I love it. One has to get into the spirit of the thing; and that the Whistler himself is so enigmatic and All Knowing the gimmick (and it
is
a gimmick) can be off putting. OTOH, the stories are often masterfully developed. The settings are at times highly evocative (I haven't listened to it for a few years); and I remember eps set on islands, in beach houses, during snowstorns; and creaking boards, chirping birds, wind, howling dogs, train whistles, etc. The sound effects weren't overdone, either; just there, and used well. -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 12 years ago(March 17, 2014 02:41 AM)
Oh yes, I plan on sticking with those
Whistler
stories.
They do seem to be more about atmosphere than anything. Have you seen the movies (starring Richard Dix)? Some were very good, but they were a bit on the slow side.
~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen -
MsELLERYqueen2 — 12 years ago(April 02, 2014 08:53 PM)
I just finished listening to
The Furnished Floor
. It was well done, but I have to admit that it was extremely predictable. Also, Agnes Moorehead didn't do any of the voices here at all. I appreciate the recommendation.
This radio play reminded me a bit of a play which I read once, about tenants who eventually take over the house and lock the landlady in the attic. Obviously this radio play has a different ending.
Thank you again!
~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen