Tag: William Conrad

Lux Radio Theater: The War of the Worlds (AWR0261)

Amazing World of Radio

Today’s story:

Martians invade the Earth in the mid-1950s.

Original Air Date: February 8, 1955

Originating in Hollywood

Starring: Dana Andrews as Dr. Clayton Forrester; Pat Crowley as Sylvia Van Buren; Les Tremayne as Major General Mann; Herb Butterfield; Bill Bouchey; Parley Baer; Paul Frees; Ken Peters; Howard McNear; William Conrad; George Neise; Bob Bailey; Herb Ellis; Irene Tedrow; Don Diamond; Jack Kruschen; Frank Gerstle; George Baxter; Truda Marson; Edward Marr

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Fifteen Years Ago (EP4526s)

This week, we look back at our first week of podcasts from 2009, with Adam’s current extended thoughts on each episode and reaction to his own commentar.

Original Podcast Release Date: October 26, 2009

Dan Holiday tries to jumpstart his writing career through an ad in a newspaper. His first letter is from a woman who tells Dan she’s being blackmailed.

Original Radio Air Date: October 17, 1947

Originating in Hollywood

Starring: Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday; Sylvia Picker as Suzie

Original Podcast Release Date: October 27, 2009

 

Pat Novak is hired to frighten a man named Dixie Gillian, but when an empty gun goes off, he finds himself facing a murder charge.
“You couldn’t hold a moth with a searchlight.” – Pat Novak to Hellman
Original Air Date: November 24, 1946
Originating in San Francisco
Starring: Jack Webb as Pat Novak; Tudor Owen as Jocko Madigan
Original Podcast Release Date: October 28, 2009

On his first day as a private detective, George Valentine gets his first client – a famous writer who tells him he’s about to be murdered and then collapses on the spot. The body then vanishes, leaving George to find out what happened.

Original Audition Date: May 14, 1946

Originating in Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as George Valentine; Shirley Mitchell as Claire; Eddie Firestone, Jr. as Sonny; Joseph Kearns; Georgia Backus; Howard McNear; Horace Murphy
Original Podcast Release Date: October 30, 2009

Johnny Dollar is retained to protect a man who has threatened suicide after making a notorious gambling kingpin the beneficiary on his life insurance policy.
Original Audition Date: December 7, 1948
Starring: Dick Powell as Johnny Dollar; William Conrad; Betty Lou Gerson; Joseph Kearns
Guest: Andrew Rhynes of the OTR Westerns podcast
The Great Detectives Old Time Radio Volume 1 (Seasons 1-3): https://volume1.greatdetectives.net
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2 (Seasons 4-6) https://volume2.greatdetectives.net
The Great Detectives of Old TIme Radio Volume 3 (Seasons 7-9) https://volume3.greatdetectives.net
The Great Detectives of Old TIme Radio Detective Compilation YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDFIOdWlnzL-YP6EZpi6JI1nLn6Hm4tAI

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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.

Escape: The Red Forest (EP4496s)

Special brought to you by the request of Chief of Detectives Patreon Fats

Today’s Story:

A motorist finds himself trapped in a Western wildfire.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: August 2, 1953

Originating in Hollywood

Starring: William Conrad as Wally; Georgia Ellis as Jan; Parley Baer; John Dehner; Jay Novello; Tom Tully

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Fats, Patreon Supporter since May 2024

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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.

Lux Radio Theater: Great Expectations (AWR0246)

Amazing World of Radio

We begin a series looking at radio performances by actors who played villains in the 1960s Batman TV series. This week, we focus on Barbara Rush, who was the guest villain in the Season 3 episode “Nora Clavicle and the Ladies’ Crime Club”.

For this week’s old time radio program, we bring you the Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of Great Expectations, in which Barbara Rush plays a featured role.

An eccentric and twisted elderly woman takes an interest in an orphaned boy. When he grows up, he receives an unexpected inheritance.

Starring: Rock Hudson as Pip; Barbara Rush as Estella; William Conrad; Jeanette Nolan; Alan Reed; Peter Votrian; Susan Seaforth; Christopher Cook; Parley Baer, Vivi Janis; James McCallion; Lillian Buyeff; Norman Field; Howard McNear; Leo Britt; Edward Marr

Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 12, 1954

We then discuss the controversial “Nora Clavicle and the Ladies’ Crime Club”.

Discussed: Podcast episode: To the Batpoles: Tying Ourselves in Knots.

Buy Batman: The Complete Series on blu-ray/DVD (affiliate link)

Buy Season 3, Episode 19 on digital download. (Affiliate link)

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Hallmark Playhouse: Ben-Hur (AWR0245)

Amazing World of Radio

An adaptation of Lew Wallace’s classic novel of Judah Ben-Hur, a 1st Century Jewish man unjustly imprisoned by the decree of his ambitious best friend.

Original Radio Broadcast: April 10, 1952

Originating in Hollywood

Starring: Jeff Chandler as Ben-Hur; William Conrad; Virginia Gregg; Lurene Tuttle; Herb Butterfield; Richard Beals

Go to http://amazing.greatdetectives.net to subscribe to the podcast.

Brought to you by the support of our Patreon listeners…http://patreon.greatdetectives.net

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Dragnet: The Big Man, Part One (EP4334)

Today’s Mystery:

Friday goes undercover in a narcotics gang to get to the get a drug kingpin.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 12, 1950

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Sidney Miller; Herb Butterfield; William Conrad; Peggy Webber

Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: David, Patreon Supporter since January 2019

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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

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EP1661: Philip Marlowe: The Anniversary Gift

William Conrad

Marlowe is sent by widower in search of his late wife’s watch and finds it’s tied up in a murder case and his client may be as well.

Original Air Date: April 11, 1950

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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

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Radio’s Most Essential People Countdown #7: William Conrad

8,9, 1012-1114-1316-1518-1720-19,22-2124-2326-2528-2730-2933-3136-34,

39-37,42-4045-4348-4651-4954-5257-5560-5865-6170-66,  71-7576-80,

81-8586-9091-9596-100

7. William Conrad-

William ConradConrad’s great overarching claim to radio fame is a significant one. He played the role of Marshall Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke for its entire 9 year run. Gunsmoke began its run after radio in 1952 after television had eclipsed radio as a profit making enterprise  Nevertheless, Gunsmoke began its long run and also spawned a slew of new adult Westerns in the latter 1950s and Conrad played a large part in that. He also became a symbol of television’ shallowness when he was denied the ability to continue in the Dillon role on television due to his weight.

However, Conrad was more than just the star of this classic Western. He was also a great character actor often playing heavies or policemen in programs such as Tales of the Texas Rangers, Pat Novak for Hire, The Lux Radio Theater, I Was a Communist for the FBI, and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar among others.  His deep distinct voice also served to make him a good announcer, most notably on Escape and Mr. President.

He was a consummate team player who in radio and every other medium he appeared in, was  a true professional willing to step into any role, no matter how large or small and play it with great talent.  This made Conrad a great career in all mediums, and made his nearly two decades on radio truly phenomenal.

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