Listen to “The Great Detectives Present Keen and Company” on Spreaker.

The Frank and Anne Hummert radio factory had more than decade of success with Mister Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons, when their second mystery series, Mister Chameleon was played over CBS.

The series was about a college-educated man named Chameleon who came from a well-to-do family. Because he was named Chameleon, he tried to live up to that name by “taking on the color of any situation.” He eventually joined the police force and by using his powers of disguise, assumed a different identity and went undercover to solve all of his cases. The terms of the episode were the listeners would know who Mister Chameleon was but the suspects would not.

The Hummerts cast Karl Swenson in the role of Chameleon. According to some reports, the role was created for him. This would make sense as few actors in the New York radio scene could perform all the accents and dialects that would be required. While the series didn’t enjoy the long-lasting success of Mister Keen, the series ran for four and a half years and was often among radio’s highest-rated programs.

About the Star:

Karl Swenson (1908-78):  Known to families across America as Mr. Hanson on Little House on the Prairie, Swenson enjoyed a long career over radio, television, and movies primarily as a character actor.  Swenson played the lead in two golden age radio detective series, Father Brown and Mister Chameleon.  (Picture Courtesy of Digital Deli)

 

 

Episode Log:

• The Case of the Dead Woman’s Eyes (Original Air Date: July 21, 1948)
• The Brownstone Murder Case (Original Air Date: July 28, 1948)
• The Case of Death and the Dependent Husband (Original Air Date: August 4, 1948)
• The Case of the Woman Who Sensed Murder (Original Air Date: August 18, 1948)
• The Case of His Brother’s Murder (Original Air Date: August 25, 1948)
• The Blood Stained Dollar Bills (Original Air Date: September 1, 1948)
• Mr. Chameleon’s Pet Murder Case (Original Air Date: September 8, 1948)
• The Case of Murder and the Man Who Saw Too Much (Original Air Date: September 15, 1948)
• The Case of the Game of Death (Original Air Date: September 22, 1948)
• The Case of the Jewels of Death (Original Air Date: September 29, 1948)
• The May and December Murder Case (Original Air Date: October 6, 1948)**
• The Case of Murder and the House of Whispers (Original Air Date: October 13, 1948)**
• The Case of Voices from the Dead (Original Air Date: October 20, 1948)**
• The Case of Murder from Across the Sea (Original Air Date: October 27, 1948)**
• The Case of the Fatal Impersonation (Original Air Date: November 3, 1948)**
• The Dance of Death (Original Air Date: January 12, 1949)
• The Hanging Judge Murder Case (Original Air Date: September 21, 1949)
• The Friendly Divorce Murder Case (Original Air Date: September 28, 1949)
• The Perfect Maid Murder Case (Original Air Date: December 21, 1949)
• The Dusty Room Murder Case (Original Air Date: April 5, 1950)
• The Custody of the Child Murder Case (Original Air Date: April 12, 1950)
• The Insured Jewels Murder Case (Original Air Date: April 19, 1950)
• The Gold Cigarette Holder Murder Case (Original Air Date: May 3, 1950)
• The Engagement Ring Murder Case (Original Air Date: May 10, 1950)
• The Fashion World Murder Case (Original Air Date: September 6, 1950)
• The Titled Husband Murder Case (Original Air Date: September 13, 1950)
• The Dazed Girl Murder Case (Original Air Date: September 20, 1950)
• The Broken Promise Murder Case (Original Air Date: September 27, 1950)
• The Locked Room Murder Case (Original Air Date: January 17, 1951)
• The Dream House Murder Case (Original Air Date: January 31, 1951)
• Murder and the Million Dollar Smile (Original Air Date: April 24, 1953)*

 

*Originally played in 2014

** Episode Played Out of Order

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