Show #23 - The Great Gildersleeve & Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

This week, we listen to The Great Gildersleeve, one of OTR's best sitcoms, and a different take on the private detective genre, with Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.

The Great Gildersleeve was bachelor Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, Water Commissioner of the fictional burg of Summerfield, who lived with his wards, nephew Leroy, niece Marjorie, and maid Birdy.  Birdy figures prominently into the plot of this episode, as Gildy tries to stir up some romance with his latest gal, a nurse. 

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar is the story of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator, the man with the action-packed expense account", Johnny Dollar.  As a freelance insurance investigator, Dollar was called around the globe to investigate phony-looking insurance claims, always getting caught up in some mystery or intrigue (usually with a beautiful woman involved). This week, we start part 1 (of 5) of The Flight Six Matter, with parts 2-5 to follow in the coming weeks.

Show #22 - Escape & Captain Midnight

This week, we escape to the Confederate South on Escape, as Harry Bartell stars in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" based on the famous short story of the same name by Ambrose Bierce. 

Escape was an anthology program of adventure shows, and is often thought of as the somewhat lesser kin to the long-running program, Suspense.  And though it is true that Escape only ran for 7 years (versus Suspense's 20), bounced around time slots (versus Suspense's fairly standard slot), had sporadic sponsorship (versus Suspense's long-running sponsors) and limited budget and big-name stars (versus Suspense's wealth of both), Escape is still just as good as Suspense. 

Take a listen to this show, and let me know if you don't agree.

By the way, star of this Escape episode, Mr. Harry Bartell, named this particular performance the favorite of his long career.

Captain Midnight is our second program, and was a kiddie serial aimed at young boys.  It told the story of Captain Midnight, secret government agent whose identity was so secret that even his superiors did not know it. 

Like every good hero, he had a backstory.  In WWI, he was fighter pilot who was sent on a mission surely to result in his death, but he piloted his plane back into friendly territory on the stroke of midnight, having completed his mission, and earning the moniker, "Captain Midnight". 

For more on Captain Midnight, check out http://www.otr.com/.  Until then, enjoy this isolated episode from January 10, 1949.

Show #21 - "The Lux Radio Theater"

This week on the Old Time Radio Express, I take a back seat to the old time radio (just as it should be, you say).  We present The Lux Radio Theater, and its presentation of "The Miracle of the Bells", a 1948 film broadcast on Lux later that same year (May 31, 1948).

"The Miracle of the Bells" stars Frank Sinatra, Fred MacMurray and Alida Valli (or simply Valli, as she was often referred to).  It's interesting to watch old movies and see a one-named actress without lasting impact pop up in the credits...most with one name seem to have cross-generational impact.  I'm thinking of Madonna, Cher, Lassie, Sabu.  To me, Valli shone her best in "The Third Man" (probably helped to have Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten surrounding her) and then was cast in nearly the same character in subsequent films, none of which was much good.  Granted, I have not seen her Italian filmography, so maybe she was fantastic in her native tongue. 

Radio is even harder for Valli, as she loses her looks and has to rely on a language which was not her first.  (The reference site radiogoldindex.com shows her performing in only 4 radio programs in her entire career.  Compare a Fred MacMurray - who was no radio man himself - at 96).  Regardless, "The Miracle of the Bells" is a nice Easter treat.  Enjoy.