Frank Race

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 CollinsTom 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 DubovPaul 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:

Paul Dubov as Race:

End of log

Log Information Courtesy of the Digital Deli

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