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"Carnival of Death," an episode of The Shadow radio program, aired on November 10, 1940. Here's a breakdown of what you might want to know:1. The Story:Lamont Cranston, secretly the crime-fighting Shadow, and his companion, Margot Lane, visit a carnival.They enter a wax museum exhibiting historical death scenes.They discover that actual corpses have been substituted for the wax figures.The Shadow investigates, uncovering a sinister plot involving the carnival and its owner.The Shadow must expose the killer and bring them to justice. 2. Key Elements of the Radio Episode:Starring Bill Johnstone: Bill Johnstone played the role of Lamont Cranston/The Shadow.Marjorie Anderson as Margot Lane: Marjorie Anderson played Margot Lane, the Shadow's companion.Written by Jerry Devine: Jerry Devine wrote the script for the episode.Focus on Mystery and Suspense: The episode centers around the mystery of the corpses and the suspense of the Shadow's investigation.Eerie Atmosphere: The carnival setting, particularly the wax museum, creates an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere. 3. Significance and Legacy:The Shadow's Popularity: The Shadow was a highly popular radio show, known for its suspenseful plots and the iconic character of the Shadow.Old Time Radio: "Carnival of Death" is a classic example of "old time radio" and its ability to engage audiences through audio storytelling.Preservation: Many episodes of The Shadow, including "Carnival of Death", have been preserved and are available for listening today.The story unfolds in an amusement park where a series of mysterious events lead to a murder investigation at a wax museum. The narrative explores the dark history of the park, the chilling discovery of bodies, and the secrets hidden within the subway tunnels. As the characters delve deeper, they uncover a connection between the amusement park's owner and the tragic past of a former motorman, leading to a suspenseful climax.TakeawaysThe amusement park has a hidden history of tragedy.Murder mysteries can unfold in unexpected places.The wax museum serves as a chilling backdrop for crime.Subway tunnels can hide dark secrets.Characters often have intertwined fates in suspense stories.The past can haunt individuals in profound ways.Detectives must navigate both physical and emotional landscapes.The concept of amusement can mask deeper horrors.Victims can become part of the narrative in unexpected ways.Understanding a character's backstory is crucial to the plot.amusement park, wax museum, murder mystery, subway tunnel, ghost stories, detective, John Norcross, crime scene, horror, suspense
Superstitious omens foretell the tragedy of death. A mysterious explosion has killed the reverend Colby, and ten others. Lamonte Cranston is on the scene with Margot Lane to investigate a…
Superstitious omens foretell the tragedy of death. A mysterious explosion has killed the reverend Colby, and ten others. Lamonte Cranston is on the scene with Margot Lane to investigate a…
A citizens committee is organized to clean up crime, and corruption. Margot Lane is enthusiastic at being part of it, and drags her boss, Lamonte Cranston along to the meeting.…
A citizens committee is organized to clean up crime, and corruption. Margot Lane is enthusiastic at being part of it, and drags her boss, Lamonte Cranston along to the meeting.…
A courtroom decision puts a man behind bars, but Lamonte Cranston and Margot Lane think it's a case for the Shadow to be involved with. The sentenced man leaves a…
A courtroom decision puts a man behind bars, but Lamonte Cranston and Margot Lane think it’s a case for the Shadow to be involved with. The sentenced man leaves a…
This Friday on "Friday Night Noir," Vintage Classic Radio takes you back to the golden age of radio with a special Easter-themed presentation that promises suspense and mystery. Our first show of the evening is "The Crime Club," featuring the episode "Death at 7:10," which originally aired on July 3, 1947. In this gripping tale, listeners are taken on a thrilling journey when a seemingly ordinary evening turns deadly at precisely 7:10. The plot thickens with every twist and turn, leading to an unexpected climax that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The cast includes Raymond Edward Johnson, who brilliantly narrates the story, along with a talented ensemble featuring Helen Choate, Barry Hopkins, and Roger DeKoven among others, who bring this chilling mystery to life with their exceptional performances.Following "The Crime Club," we continue our noir night with "The Shadow" radio series, presenting the episode "Death and the Easter Bonnet," originally broadcasted on March 28, 1948. This episode takes a sinister turn when an Easter bonnet, a symbol of joy and renewal, becomes the centerpiece of a dark and deadly mystery. The legendary Orson Welles stars as the enigmatic Shadow, with Agnes Moorehead as his loyal companion, Margot Lane. Together, they navigate through shadows and danger to unveil the truth, demonstrating the timeless appeal of good versus evil. The episode is a masterful blend of suspense and intrigue, showcasing the exceptional writing and production quality that made "The Shadow" a staple of classic radio drama.Join us this Friday for an Easter-themed presentation that pays homage to the dark and mysterious world of noir, featuring two iconic shows that continue to captivate audiences with their timeless tales of mystery and suspense. Don't miss this opportunity to step back in time with Vintage Classic Radio's "Friday Night Noir."
Margot Lane joins the Citizens Committee to help clean up crooked politics, but during one of their soapbox speeches an execution is occurring at the local penitentiary, however, the executioner is electrocuted instead of the convict due to a rewired chair. Original Air Date: January 07, 1940Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Shadow Stars:• Bill Johnstone (Lamont […]
Welcome back to Dear (In)Fertility! In this episode, join Rescripted Co-Founder Kristyn Hodgdon for a discussion with NBC News White House Correspondent & "Weekend Today" anchor Kristen Welker about her experience navigating infertility, balancing her high-stakes job at the White House with IVF, grieving her ability to carry a pregnancy, and ultimately becoming a parent to her daughter, Margot Lane, via surrogacy. Brought to you by Kindbody. To learn more and to join Rescripted's free fertility support community, head to Rescripted.com.
Lamonte Cranston and Margot Lane help Joey and his poor family every year. Joey aspires to be a detective, and observes Lamonte in action on a case. When things don't…
Lamonte Cranston and Margot Lane help Joey and his poor family every year. Joey aspires to be a detective, and observes Lamonte in action on a case. When things don’t…
A car crash draws the attention of lawyer, Lamonte Cranston, and his secretary, Margot Lane. The petty burglar who died in the wreck is found with a valuable ruby that…
A car crash draws the attention of lawyer, Lamonte Cranston, and his secretary, Margot Lane. The petty burglar who died in the wreck is found with a valuable ruby that…
The Shadow starring William Johnstone and Marjorie Anderson, originally broadcast October 15, 1939, 83 years ago, The Village of Doom. While on a picnic with Margot Lane, Lamont Cranston is unable to open a jar of olives! He says, "It's the toughest case I've ever had." The citizens of "Old Mill" are being killed by a strange disease. The cause? It's an "old hag" using her pet jackdaw as a flying killer!Visit my web page - http://www.classicradio.streamWe receive no revenue from YouTube. If you enjoy our shows, listen via the links on our web page or if you're so inclined, Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wyattcoxelAHeard on almost 100 radio stations from coast to coast. Classic Radio Theater features great radio programs that warmed the hearts of millions for the better part of the 20th century. Host Wyatt Cox brings the best of radio classics back to life with both the passion of a long-time (as in more than half a century) fan and the heart of a forty-year newsman. But more than just “playing the hits”, Wyatt supplements the first hour of each day's show with historical information on the day and date in history including audio that takes you back to World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. FDR, Eisenhower, JFK, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, LBJ. It's a true slice of life from not just radio's past, but America's past.Wyatt produces 21 hours a week of freshly minted Classic Radio Theater presentations each week, and each day's broadcast is timely and entertaining!
The success of The Shadow was shared by Blue Coal. Billboard reported that twelve months after the premiere their sales were up nearly eleven percent. Blue Coal was selling for as much as two dollars per ton more than their competitors. In February of 1938 Orson Welles opined that “radio's future big-wigs will be college graduates.” By then more than ninety colleges offered courses in radio speech, while radio writing was taught at fifty-seven colleges, and fifty-three colleges were teaching radio acting. Both radio music and radio law were also becoming class offerings. The last episode of The Shadow's autumn run aired on March 20th, 1938. Although everyone knew who played Lamont, for the first time on air, Orson Welles was given credit for his role. Welles was contracted to produce twenty-six more episodes for a syndicated summer run. They co-starred Margot Stevenson as Margot Lane. Ironically, the character was named for Miss Stevenson who was originally supposed to play the role that fall. Goodrich Tires would sponsor the summer run, with Blue Coal immediately signing on for another season in the fall. Agnes Moorehead would again play Margot, but Welles would be leaving for CBS that summer and taking the Mercury Theater troupe with him. Welles was contracted to produce twenty-six more episodes for a syndicated summer run. They co-starred Margot Stevenson as Margot Lane. Ironically, the character was named for Miss Stevenson who was originally supposed to play the role that fall. Goodrich Tires would sponsor the summer run, with Blue Coal immediately signing on for another season in the fall. Agnes Moorehead would again play Margot, but Welles would be leaving for CBS that summer and taking the Mercury Theater troupe with him.
In the fall of 1937, Orson Welles was busy readying for a Mercury Theater broadway production of Julius Caesar. The agency Ruthrauff and Ryan approached Welles about the possibility of starring in a weekly radio series. His signing was announced in The New York Times on August 29th, 1937. Welles' contract allowed him to miss rehearsals and readings. He was paid seventy-five dollars per week, or roughly fifteen hundred today, for one-half hour of weekly work. On Sunday September 26th, at 5:30PM the new version of The Shadow debuted. The program's announcer was Ken Roberts. Opposite Welles as Margot Lane was Agnes Moorhead, along with many of the Mercury Theater players. The Shadow was Lamont Cranston, a wealthy man about town. He had the ability to cloak himself with invisibility and to read minds. They were tools of Mesmer, learned through years of study in the orient and India. Walter Gibson's involvement in the radio series was minimal. Clark Andrews directed the first few broadcasts with Martin Gabel becoming the de facto director thereafter.
The Shadow aired on Mutual Radio October 31, 1937 Episode 92 The Three Ghosts stars Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead as Margot Lane. The Shadow, mysterious character who aids the forces of law and order is, in reality, Lamont Cranston. Years ago in India, Cranston learned many strange secrets from a Yogi priest, keeper of the the Temple of the Cobras at Delhi. He taught him the power to "cloud men's minds" so they cannot see him. He is never seen only heard. A recently married woman is brought to madness while living in her husband's creepy manor. He is really a criminal who has altered her Last Will and Testament for his benefit and is now trying to scare the new bride to death in order to gain the woman's estate.
New month -- new episode of The Shadow, titled Circle of Death. Starring: Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead. This episode aired November 28, 1937. Plot: Several bomb explosions are caused by a man who hates crowds. The police are unable to make any progress and the town becomes more scared. When Margot Lane claims that The Shadow can catch the criminal, Commissioner Weston scoffs at the idea and challenges The Shadow to try and uncover new evidence that the police may have overlooked. : : : : : My other podcast channels include: MYSTERY x SUSPENSE -- DRAMA X THEATER -- SCI FI x HORROR -- COMEDY x FUNNY HA HA -- VARIETY X ARMED FORCES. Subscribing is free and you'll receive new post notifications. Also, if you have a moment, please give a 4-5 star rating and/or write a 1-2 sentence positive review on your preferred service -- that would help me a lot. Thank you for your support. https://otr.duane.media/ (https://otr.duane.media) | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/duane.otr/ (@duane.otr)
Episode 87 September 26, 1937 Mutual Radio. A man who's looking for a job mistakenly becomes involved with a bank robbery. He is later sentenced to death for a cop killing he didn't commit. The Shadow investigates and locates a missed piece of evidence, which helps free the wrongly accused man. Orson Welles as The Shadow (Lamont Cranston) (1st radio origin). Agnes Moorehead as Margot Lane (1st appearance).
Welcome and enjoy The Three Ghosts from The Shadow. Cast is Orson as The Shadow (Lamont Cranston) and Agnes Moorehead as Margot Lane. This episode aired October 31, 1937. Plot: A recently married woman is brought to madness while living in her husband's creepy manor. He is really a crook who has altered her Last Will and Testament for his benefit and is now trying to scare the new bride to death in order to gain the woman's estate. : : : : : My other podcast channels include: MYSTERY x SUSPENSE -- DRAMA X THEATER -- SCI FI x HORROR -- COMEDY x FUNNY HA HA -- VARIETY X ARMED FORCES. Subscribing is free and you'll receive new post notifications. Also, if you have a moment, please give a 4-5 star rating and/or write a 1-2 sentence positive review on your preferred service -- that would help me a lot. Thank you for your support. https://otr.duane.media/ (https://otr.duane.media) | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/duane.otr/ (@duane.otr)
A mad artist paints his model as she's drowning! He then decides that Margot Lane draped in seaweed would make a pretty picture! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iloveoldtimeradio/message
Most likely the wrong date, probably from 1949 instead. Lamonte Cranston and Margot Lane are on a scavenger hunt on a foggy, creepy night. A scream from a warehouse has…
Most likely the wrong date, probably from 1949 instead. Lamonte Cranston and Margot Lane are on a scavenger hunt on a foggy, creepy night. A scream from a warehouse has…
When Madison steps into the shoes of Margot Lane as The Shadow's gal pal, she is not expecting a manhunt for a giant cat who is murdering night watchmen! Madison and Lamont will need to race against time to get to the bottom of this killer cat before it kills again. But what will Madison do when Lamont disappears? Like, actually disappears, not clouding-men's-minds disappears. Does she have what it takes to stop the cat AND become The Shadow? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When Madison steps into the shoes of Margot Lane as The Shadow's gal pal, she is not expecting a manhunt for a giant cat who is murdering night watchmen! Madison and Lamont will need to race against time to get to the bottom of this killer cat before it kills again. But what will Madison do when Lamont disappears? Like, actually disappears, not clouding-men's-minds disappears. Does she have what it takes to stop the cat AND become The Shadow? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane watch a play where a woman poisons herself after she is arrested for murder. After the show, Lamont and Margo go to a local saloon with the playwright, and soon after, are involved in a case where murders, like the ones scripted on the stage, begin to take place. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iloveoldtimeradio/message
When Madison steps into the shoes of Margot Lane as The Shadow’s gal pal, she is not expecting a manhunt for a giant cat who is murdering night watchmen! Madison and Lamont will need to race against time to get to the bottom of this killer cat before it kills again. But what will Madison do when Lamont disappears? Like, actually disappears, not clouding-men’s-minds disappears. Does she have what it takes to stop the cat AND become The Shadow? TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: MadisonOnTheAir.com
FULL EPISODE AVAILABLE NOW! When Madison steps into the shoes of Margot Lane as The Shadow’s gal pal, she is not expecting a manhunt for a giant cat who is murdering night watchmen! Madison and Lamont will need to race against time to get to the bottom of this killer cat before it kills again. But what will Madison do when Lamont disappears? Like, actually disappears, not clouding-men’s-minds disappears. Does she have what it takes to stop the cat AND become The Shadow?
In this episode my guest Margot Lane is a musician and composer. She talks to us about music and the brain. How does music effect us? Our energy our mind and spirit. Margot breaks down different genres and why we are drawn to them what it does to us. Music is my favorite go to for all spiritual everything. Grab your fave drink and lets step into The Narrow Room.
On the tropical island of Port St. Luce, two people are sacrificed each year during "the night that eats people." It's the turn of Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane on the rim of the volcano. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iloveoldtimeradio/message
COVID-19 has brought the entertainment industry to its knees and artists of all stripes are struggling just like the rest of us . Join us for our series An Artist's Tale as we talk to creatives of every stripe about their lives and work during the pandemic. Hauk has a tradition for defying convention and limitation. His songs are too country for metal, too heavy for country, too punk for folk, too folk for punk, and always in your face. Hauk has released 10 solo albums, two albums with Black Hat Society, an album with The Pirates Charles. He has also produced bands like No Convention, Margot Lane and the Greybirds, Post Relic, and more. He has also scored two feature films and many short filmsincluding the award winning “Pirate Captain Toledano.” Join our hosts River Scholl and Emily Metcalfe as they talk with Hauk in a wide ranging interview about his experiences as an artist during the COVID-19 pandemic. And some disclaimer stuff: No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast or website. The content here is for informational and entertainment purposes. Views and opinions expressed in the podcast and website are our own and do not represent that of our work places. However, we do welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors. This website or podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever.
A mad scientist in the snowy Adirondack Mountains dresses like a werewolf, hypnotizes Margot Lane, who needs the Shadow to rescue her. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iloveoldtimeradio/message
The Shadow starring William Johnstone, originally broadcast October 15, 1939, 81 years ago, The Village of Doom. While on a picnic with Margot Lane, Lamont Cranston is unable to open a jar of olives! He says, "It's the toughest case I've ever had." The citizens of "Old Mill" are being killed by a strange disease. The cause? It's an "old hag" using her pet jackdaw as a flying killer!
Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane intend to spend a quiet Christmas holiday together, but instead find themselves wrapped up in an old-fashioned whodunit revolving around a large inheritance. Commentary after the episode on the makings of a great whodunit and why series such as Perry Mason was not.
Someone is killing off fellow actors and actresses in unusual ways. But when Lamont begins investigating, Margot Lane is soon found to be next on the killer's list. Commentary on the role of Shreve. Plus the top movies of 1946 and the #1 song for December 15, 1946.
Happy New Year!!!The Man Who Murdered Time (Radio Show)Originally Aired: January 1, 1939A mad scientist, who is dying from an incurable heart disease, builds a time machine. He then relives December 31 over and over again so that he can repeatedly kill his cousin who has wronged him. Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane are the only two conscious enough to realize the repetition of New Year's Eve, and together they successfully change the course of events to prevent the villain's evil deed.Full CastFeatured Characters:Bill Johnstone as The Shadow (Lamont Cranston)Agnes Moorehead as Margot LaneVillains:Dr. Willard (a mad scientist; dies)Other Characters:Hughes (Willard's cousin)John (Willard's butler)Stewart (Cobalt Club member)Fred (Margo Lane's doorman)
At a family gathering, death makes an appearance. With Lamonte Cranston and Margot Lane on hand, they do their best to capture a killer. Is it the butler who did it? Is there any hope for saving the holiday celebration? Clues emerge, but doubt remains in who the killer might be in the tale of greed and blackmail. An age old grudge plays into the picture, and turns the list of suspects around. The real story behind an inheritance comes out, but its going to take a little interference from the Shadow to set things right.Read More →
We're listening to the very first episode of The Shadow to celebrate our 125th tale of crime, suspense, and horror! “The Death House Rescue” stars Orson Welles and features the first appearance of Margot Lane! An innocent man get swept up with a robbery that puts him on death row, but the Shadow intends to […]
The Shadow rescues Margot Lane who's been kidnapped by pyromaniacs. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/iloveoldtimeradio/message
In this week's ball-clouding episode, Magnus is forced to change the subject for reasons that will become clear later. For right now, this is a show that's been planned since the very beginning of Trentus Magnus Punches Reality. It's been delayed for various reasons on too many occasions to count but this week offered the perfect opportunity to do a show about The Shadow Strikes #01, written by Gerard Jones and illustrated by Eduardo Barreto. The Shadow unexpectedly reconnects with an old flame from the old world. Meanwhile, the lovely Margot Lane becomes embroiled in a mysterious cult led by a nigh-mythic figure from the early 20th century. Fact and fiction collide in this, the first issue of an epic comic book series. Who can say where fact ends and fiction begins? Or which is which? Once that's all over, Magnus takes the occasion to yammer on about 'Dead Again', a Superman storyline from 1994 which the hosts of From Crisis to Crisis have been covering for a while now. And, in typical Magnus fashion, your wise leader delivers an angle to Dead Again that you've never heard before and will never hear anywhere else! For those determined to ruin the Internet for everyone else by perpetuating click-bait on Facebook, "You'll feel like you've been kicked in the balls when you hear how Magnus ties Reign of the Supermen, Dead Again and the Death of Clark Kent together!" Due to the avalanche of ass-kickery, unfortunately there was just no time for listener feedback this week. Something will need to be done about the backlog of feedback. But don't worry, loyal subjects, your leader has a few ideas. So don't let the lack of feedback this time get you down! You can still offer your feeble effort at tribute! You humble serfs are always welcome to kiss your benevolent leader's ring. Corrupt DiManzocorp interns are ready, willing, able and eager to accept your bribe to present your meager missives to your wise emperor. The email address to use is trentusmagnus@gmail.com as the other seems to be having technical problems. In an another sublime act of truly unprecedented charity, the leader permits you lowly rabble to suggest topics for a future episode. Thus, petitions may be sent to trentusmagnus@gmail.com for DiManzocorp interns to review, whereupon your leader might consider thinking about the possibility of potentially discussing whatever you have in mind some day. And that's a promise!
In this week's ball-clouding episode, Magnus is forced to change the subject for reasons that will become clear later. For right now, this is a show that's been planned since the very beginning of Trentus Magnus Punches Reality. It's been delayed for various reasons on too many occasions to count but this week offered the perfect opportunity to do a show about The Shadow Strikes #01, written by Gerard Jones and illustrated by Eduardo Barreto. The Shadow unexpectedly reconnects with an old flame from the old world. Meanwhile, the lovely Margot Lane becomes embroiled in a mysterious cult led by a nigh-mythic figure from the early 20th century. Fact and fiction collide in this, the first issue of an epic comic book series. Who can say where fact ends and fiction begins? Or which is which? Once that's all over, Magnus takes the occasion to yammer on about 'Dead Again', a Superman storyline from 1994 which the hosts of From Crisis to Crisis have been covering for a while now. And, in typical Magnus fashion, your wise leader delivers an angle to Dead Again that you've never heard before and will never hear anywhere else! For those determined to ruin the Internet for everyone else by perpetuating click-bait on Facebook, "You'll feel like you've been kicked in the balls when you hear how Magnus ties Reign of the Supermen, Dead Again and the Death of Clark Kent together!" Due to the avalanche of ass-kickery, unfortunately there was just no time for listener feedback this week. Something will need to be done about the backlog of feedback. But don't worry, loyal subjects, your leader has a few ideas. So don't let the lack of feedback this time get you down! You can still offer your feeble effort at tribute! You humble serfs are always welcome to kiss your benevolent leader's ring. Corrupt DiManzocorp interns are ready, willing, able and eager to accept your bribe to present your meager missives to your wise emperor. The email address to use is trentusmagnus@gmail.com as the other seems to be having technical problems. In an another sublime act of truly unprecedented charity, the leader permits you lowly rabble to suggest topics for a future episode. Thus, petitions may be sent to trentusmagnus@gmail.com for DiManzocorp interns to review, whereupon your leader might consider thinking about the possibility of potentially discussing whatever you have in mind some day. And that's a promise!
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clickhere Visit the Radio America Store web site.Buy your 50 mp3 for &5.00 Superman on Radio Superman on Radio The Adventures of Superman "Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!" "Look! Up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a plane!" "It's Superman!" "Yes, it's Superman - strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman - defender of law and order. champion of equal rights, valiant, courageous fighter against the forces of hate and prejudice, who disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way." The above signature was heard in many variations over the airwaves, and has become as much a part of the public's perception of Superman as his blue, red and yellow costume. What most people don't know, is that this widely recognised opening did not originate from the 4-color pages of Superman comics, but rather on the long-running adventures serial that was one of the hallmarks of the Golden Age of Radio. We all know that Superman first appeared in 1938 within the pages of Action Comics #1, but much of the mythology associated with Superman and many of the supporting cast of characters originated in his radio adventures. Daily Planet characters such as Perry White and Jimmy Olsen, along with Inspector Bill Henderson, were originally created for the radio series. Superman first discovered his greatest weakness, Kryptonite, in his radio adventures long before it appeared within the pages of the Superman comics. He also regularly teamed up with Batman and Robin on radio before the trio joined forces in the comic books. The radio series' influence also extended to the big screen. The Fleischer Superman movie-cartoons were nominated for Academy Awards, and featured voices from the cast of the radio series, while the screenplays of Columbia's 1948 and 1950 Superman movie serials were adapted from the radio program rather than from the stories within the comic books. Up, Up and Away! Superman first flew onto the radio airwaves on Monday, 12 February, 1940 as a transcribed series for Hecker's H-O Oats. DC's press agent Allen Ducovny and former pulp fiction author Robert Joffe Maxwell developed the new series. The two were quick to realise that Superman's popularity could be boosted by the vast radio audiences. In 1939, Maxwell and Ducovny prepared several sample audition disks to sell the idea to prospective sponsors, co-writing the first version of Superman's famous opening signature: "Faster than an airplane, more powerful than a locomotive, impervious to bullets. 'Up in the sky - look!' 'It's a giant bird.' 'It's a plane.' 'It's SUPERMAN!' And now, Superman - A being no larger than an ordinary man but possessed of powers and abilities never before realised on Earth: able to leap into the air an eigth of a mile at a single bound, hurtle a 20-story building with ease, race a high-powered bullet to its target, lift tremendous weights and rend solid steel in his bare hands as though it were paper. Superman - a strange visitor from a distant planet: champion of the oppressed, physical marvel extraordinary who has sworn to devote his existence on Earth to helping those in need." "We had a lot of fun writing that opening," Ducovny once said. "It was a typical radio action piece that fully utilized sound effects." The new show was purchased by Hecker's H-O Oats, who tried to buy time on the networks but were turned down. Nevertheless, Hecker's bought airtime on ten stations and distributed the prerecorded series on 16-inch "electrical transcription" disks. Superman achieved a Crossley rating of 5.6 ten weeks after its debut, the highest rating of any thrice-weekly juvenile program on the air. Frank Chase produced the early episodes of Superman, George Ludlum scripted, and a repertory of the finest actors in New York radio was assembled. Ned Wever (CBS's Bulldog Drummond) and Agnes Moorehead (The Shadow's "lovely Margot Lane") portrayed Jor-L and Lara, Superman's Kryptonian parents in the premier broadcast, with Jay Josten (Mr. District Attorney) as Rozan. Other early episodes featured the versatile Santos Ortega (Nero Wolfe) and future movie star Frank Lovejoy (radio's Blue Beetle). The success or failure of the series would largely rest upon the actor chosen to portray the dual leads. Bob Maxwell was afraid he might have to hire an actor to play both of Superman's personalities, unless he could obtain the services of a particular who initially wanted nothing to do with Superman.
The Shadow rescues Margot Lane who's been kidnapped by pyromaniacs.