Listen to “The Great Detectives Present Frank Race” on Spreaker.

World War II changed the lives of many Americans. People moved from civilian careers to often radically different lives in the military. The Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) was one of the most storied with its top secret intelligence operations.

Most O.S.S. Agents returned to their normal lives, but for some it wasn’t that easy. For Frank Race, the war changed his life and he became a freelance troubleshooter and insurance investigator.

That’s the premise for 1949’s Series by Broadcaster’s Program Syndicate.  The series initially starred Tom Collins as Race and half way through the series run, Paul Dubov took over.  Throughout the run, veteran radio character actor Tony Barrett played Race’s sidekick cabbie Mark Donovan.

The hallmarks of the series included its wide variety of exciting plots and its stirring dramatic theme music.  It was a type of show that resonated with post-war America who tuned in to hear these exciting adventures.

Cast notes:

Tom Collins (1913-73):  Born in Chicago, Collins was a well-known radio and film actor known for his appearances in the Dr. Kilder movie series.  Over radio, he played Chandu the Magician. He was a favorite of Carlton Morse and  played Reggie Yorke in I Love Adventure and Nick Lacey in One Man’s Family. Beyond his starring roles, Collins was known as a solid character actor capable of playing a wide variety of roles and dialects.

Paul Dubov (1918-79): Dubov was a long-time character actor. He’s reported to have made 3700 appearances. He continued to be active with the coming of television appearing in shows as diverse as Burke’s Law, That Girl, Bonanza, and 77 Sunset Strip.  He also began to write for television in the 1960s, writing several years of Burke’s Law, Honey West, and Mod Squad. In 1979, he was nominated for an Emmy for his writing on Backstairs at the White House. 

 

Episode Log:

Tom Collins as Race:

• The Adventure of the Hackensack Victory (Audition Recorded: February 1949)
• The Adventure of the Darling Debutante (Original Air Date: March 12, 1949)
• The Instanbul Adventure (Original Air Date: March 19, 1949)
• The Adventure of Seventeen Black (Original Air Date: March 26, 1949)
• The Enoch Arden Adventure (Original Air Date: April 2, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Vanishing President (Original Air Date: April 9, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Baradian Letters (Original Air Date: April 16, 1949)
• The Airborne Adventure (Original Air Date: April 23, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Shanghai Incident (Original Air Date: April 30, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Juvenile Passenger (Original Air Date:  May 7, 1949)
• The Reckless Daughter (Original Air Date: May 14, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Silent Heart (Original Air Date: May 21, 1949)
• The Garrulous Bartender (Original Air Date: May 28, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Vanishing Favorite (Original Air Date: June 4, 1949)
• The Embittered Secretary (Original Air Date: June 11, 1949)
• Adventure of the Talking Bullet (Original Air Date: June 18, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Fat Man’s Loot (Original Air Date: June 25, 1949)
• The Adventure of the General’s Lady (Original Air Date: July 2, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Violent Virtuouso (Original Air Date: July 9, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Fourth Round Knockout (Original Air Date: July 16, 1949)
• Three on a Match (Original Air Date: July 23, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Roughneck’s Will (Original Air Date: July 30, 1949)

Paul Dubov as Race:

• The Adventure of the Green Doubloon (Original Air Date: August 6, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Sobbing Bodyguard (Original Air Date: August 13, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Diver’s Treasure (Original Air Date: August 20, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Mormon Country (Original Air Date: August 27, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Brooklyn Accent (Original Air Date: September 3, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Six Week Cure (Original Air Date: September 10, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Fairway Beauty (Original Air Date: September 17, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Runway Queen (Original Air Date: September 24, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Lady in the Dark (Original Air Date: October 1, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Silent Tongue (Original Air Date: October 8, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Candy Killing (Original Air Date: October 15, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Undecided Bride (Original Air Date: October 22, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Gold Worshiper (Original Air Date: October 29, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Pharaoh’s Staff (Original Air Date: November 5, 1949)
• The Adventure of the House Divided (Original Air Date: November 12, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Count Trefano Chest (Original Air Date: November 19, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Night Crawler (Original Air Date: November 26, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Kettle Drum (Original Air Date: December 3, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Lovable Character (Original Air Date: December 10, 1949)
• The Adventure of Black Friar’s Bridge (Original Air Date: December 17, 1949)
• The Adventure of the Big Top (Original Air Date: December 24, 1949)

End of log

Log Information Courtesy of the Digital Deli