Podcasts about William Gargan

Fibber McGee and Molly. October 11, 1937. Red net. Sponsored by: Johnson's Wax. Chicago origination. A fun visit to the Wistful Vista auto show. Possibly Harold Peary's first appearance on the program. Jim Jordan, Marian Jordan, Harlow Wilcox (announcer), Ted Weems and His Orchestra, Elmo Tanner (whistler), Perry Como (vocal), Bill Thompson, Harold Peary, Hugh Studebaker.  The Columbia Workshop. May 04, 1941. CBS net. "Radio Primer". Sustaining. A funny look at the radio industry from A to Z. The first program of "Twenty-Six By Corwin.". Norman Corwin (writer), Everett Sloane, Frank Gallop.Mr. and Mrs. Blandings. May 13, 1951. NBC net. Sponsored by: Trans World Airlines. Mr. Blandings tries so hard not to forget his anniversary, that he remembers it a week too soon. Part of one of the commercials has been deleted. Cary Grant, Betsy Drake (performer, writer as "M. Winkle"), Warren Lewis (director), Don Stanley (announcer), Alan Reed, Eric Hodgins (creator).Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. October 17, 1951. NBC net. "The Judge and The Champ". Sustaining. Al White, a crusading columnist, is murdered after threatening to expose a fixed fight and political corruption. William Gargan, Santos Ortega, Don Pardo (announcer), Frank Kane (writer), Edward King (director). The Black Museum. 1952. Program #6. Syndicated, WRVR-FM, New York aircheck. "The Blue .22". Sponsored by: Participating sponsors. Vivian is a woman scorned, and she has a little blue pistol. The date is approximate. Syndicated rebroadcast date: October 23, 1974. Harry Alan Towers (producer), Orson Welles (narrator), Ira Marion (writer), Sidney Torch (composer, conductor). 2000 Plus. October 10, 1951. Mutual net. "The Rocket and The Skull". Sustaining. The most important man in the country's race to the Moon is wounded in a plane crash...and starts to hear strange messages to Mars! This program has also been dated September 6, 1950. Arnold Robertson, Emerson Buckley and His Orchestra, William Griffis, Sherman H. Dreyer (creator, producer), Robert Weenolsen (producer), Gregory Morton, Nat Polen, Merril E. Joels, Elliot Jacoby (composer), Walt Shaver (sound), Adrian Penner (sound), Bob Albright (engineer), Ken Marvin (announcer). TOTAL TIME: 2:52:41.832SOURCES: Wikipedia and The RadioGoldindex.com

A Criminal SundayFirst a look at this day in History.Then Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast February 16, 1954, 71 years ago, The Big Sucker.   A con-man uses real diamonds to cheat unsuspecting victims, selling them cut glass after they've taken the bait. Followed by The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe starring Sydney Greenstreet, originally broadcast February 16, 1951, 74 years ago, The Case of the Party for Death. Archie attends a cocktail party at which Nero Wolfe expects the guest of honor to be murdered!Then The FBI in Peace and War, originally broadcast February 16, 1955, 70 years ago,  Strictly Business. A swindler tries to run a racket around real estate, with a side dish of romance.Followed by Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast February 16, 1955, 70 years ago, the Moving Target.  A high-flying globe trotter finds that sheer elbow room is no insurance for survival when a felonious blonde makes a passionate effort to bring him down to earth...really deep down, that is. Finally Superman,  originally broadcast February 16, 1942, 83 years ago, The Ghost Car.  Clark Kent tries to spring a trap, but only gets himself, Lois Lane and Jenks (the real estate agent) trapped in the mine!Thanks to Sean for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamFind the Family Fallout Shelter Booklet Here: https://www.survivorlibrary.com/library/the_family_fallout_shelter_1959.pdfhttps://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.htmlAnd more about the Survive-all Fallout Sheltershttps://conelrad.blogspot.com/2010/09/mad-men-meet-mad-survive-all-shelter.html

A Dramatic ThursdayFirst a look at this day in History.Then Under Arrest starring Joe Desantis, originally broadcast February 6, 1949, 76 years ago, The Sam Carver Case.  Did Sam Carver commit suicide or was he murdered? Ask the spiritualist...she knows a ghost that can kill!Followed by Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast February 6, 1952, 73 years ago, Diary of Death.  Murder counts to a bloody tree as two pieces of a treasure map which could lead to a great fortune only leads to greater misfortune.Then Suspense, originally broadcast February 6, 1947, 78 years ago,  End Of The Road starring Glenn Ford. Speed is a fast talking car salesman who falls for a wealthy man's wife, runs away with her, and then finds out that she's not what she seems to be! Followed by The Strange Dr. Weird, originally broadcast February 6, 1945, 80 years ago, The Dark Wings of Death.  A married couple decides to kill an eccentric uncle for his money, but his pet raven poses a problem. Next Chandu The Magician, originally broadcast February 6, 1933, 92 years ago.  Chandu suggest Betty and Dorothy leave Algeria before "The Brothers Of Jeopardy" cause more trouble. Has Dimitri left for Montevania? Ismael is seen with a knife!Finally Superman, originally broadcast February 6, 1942, 83 years ago, Lita The Leopard Woman.  The Leopard Woman and Brower steal a seaplane to escape from Metropolis. They plan to rendezvous with a Nazi sub. Superman pursues and ends the adventure of The Leopard Woman.Thanks to Sean for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamFind the Family Fallout Shelter Booklet Here: https://www.survivorlibrary.com/library/the_family_fallout_shelter_1959.pdfhttps://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.htmlAnd more about the Survive-all Fallout Sheltershttps://conelrad.blogspot.com/2010/09/mad-men-meet-mad-survive-all-shelter.html

A Dramatic ThursdayFirst a look at the events of the dayThen Dr Christian starring Jean Hersholdt, originally broadcast December 5, 1937, 87 years ago, The Blind boy.  The story of a blind boy and an attempted suicide. Followed by Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast December 5, 1951, 73 years ago, The Paper Bullets. Mrs. Cora Talbot wants help in finding her husband. A publisher named Hillary Grayson, ran a $50,000 contest for novelists, the prize-winning manuscript was been stolen. Which case will Barrie take? The one that pays $2000!Then This Is Your FBI, originally broadcast December 5, 1952, 72 years ago, Mama's Boy.  A smuggler and fence has to clear his work with Mama before he does anything.  Followed by Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast December 5, 1955, 69 years ago, The Mysterious Letter. A strange letter arrives at 79 Wistful Vista. It's addressed to Miss Mary Strongheart, care of Fibber McGee and Molly.Then Jonathan Thomas and His Christmas On The Moon, originally broadcast December 5, 1938, 86 years ago, Dragon With The Thirteen Tails. While in The Forest Of Nightmares," Jonathan and his friends are menaced by a fire-breathing dragon, who fortunately is sensitive to pepper.Finally, Superman, originally broadcast December 5, 1941, 83 years ago.  The Pan-American Highway.  Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane are sentenced to death and are to be escorted to The Valley Of The Shadows.Thanks to Honeywell for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamIf you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old time radio shows 24 hours a day

A Dramatic ThursdayFirst a look at the events of the dayThen Let George Do It starring Bob Bailey and Virginia Gregg, originally broadcast November 7, 1952,  72 years ago, Portrait of a Suicide. Mary Blair tries to commit suicide, but is saved by the milkman. She tries it a second time, and this time succeeds. What's going on at the Clearview Rest Home?Then Dr. Christian starring Jean Hersholdt, originally broadcast November 7, 1937, 87 years ago, Operation in a Shack.   The first show of the series. Dr. Christian is forced to operate in a shack. We follow that with Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast November 7, 1951, 73 years ago, The Case of the Borrowed Knife.  A corpse with a knife in his back follows a damsel in distress into Craig's office.  Then Under Arrest starring Joe DeSantis, originally broadcast November 7, 1948, 76 years ago.  Joe Barker, a small time crook, is reported missing by his wife Madge. Joe is found shot dead. He was a crook and a swindler, but whodunit?Finally, Superman, originally broadcast November 7, 1941, 83 years ago, The Silver Arrow.  Jimmy Olsen finds another silver arrowhead with another puzzling poem on it, and another arrowhead in a cave filled with buffalo bones. Thanks to Honeywell for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamIf you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old time radio shows 24 hours a day

A Sunday of CrimeFirst a look at the events of the dayThen Counterspy starring Don Maclaughlin and Mandel Kramer, originally broadcast November 3, 1950, 74 years ago, The Case of the Carbon Consul.    The Counterspys are investigating a series of anti-American demonstrations in a small African countries. Then Calling All Cars, originally broadcast November 3, 1938, 86 years ago, The Portuguese Crooner.   A Portuguese immigrant has been murdered. The trail of the murderer leads to Newark, New Jersey. A melodic voice leads to violence. We follow that with Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast November 3, 1953, 71 years ago, The Lonely Corner.  Murderers must have a lot of trouble keeping their books balanced. For one thing, they can't always be sure when they're going to make their next killing, and for another, so many of their assets are buried.Then Suspense, originally broadcast November 3, 1952, 72 years ago, Frankenstein starring Herbert Marshall. The Mary Shelley story about a scientist who creates a man, then is pursued by his creation. Finally, Superman, originally broadcast November 3, 1941, 83 years ago, The Silver Arrow. A landslide traps Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen in the cave. After Clark moves a few boulders, they find a mine shaft, empty sacks and finally Tumbleweed; gagged and tied.Thanks to Honeywell for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamIf you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old time radio shows 24 hours a day

Detective Barrie Craig, portrayed by the charismatic William Gargan, stood apart from the archetypal hard-boiled detectives of his era. Instead of operating from a dimly lit office in a bustling city, Craig conducted his investigations from the comfort of his cozy abode on Madison Lane. Unlike his contemporary counterparts, such as the trench coat-clad Sam Spade and the enigmatic Philip Marlowe, Craig exuded an air of relaxed confidence and unconventional methods that challenged the prevailing detective stereotypes. The cast assembled for this production was a testament to the quality of the storytelling. Ralph Bell, a versatile actor known for his ability to immerse himself in diverse roles, brought depth and nuance to his portrayal. Elspeth Eric, with her expressive eyes and emotive presence, added layers of complexity to her character, evoking empathy and understanding from the audience. Parker Fennelly's comedic timing and impeccable delivery elicited both laughter and thoughtful contemplation, showcasing his mastery of the craft. Santos Ortega, with his magnetic presence and intense portrayal, captivated viewers, while Arnold Moss's commanding voice and commanding stage presence left an unforgettable mark. Parley Baer, Virginia Gregg, and Betty Lou Gerson each brought their unique talents to the ensemble, creating a diverse and memorable cast. Don Pardo's distinctive voice served as the announcer, lending an air of authority and gravitas to the proceedings. His rich baritone introduced each episode, setting the tone for the compelling narratives that unfolded. Together, the cast and crew worked in harmony to deliver an exceptional viewing experience that showcased Craig's distinctive approach to detective work. Through his relaxed demeanor and unconventional methods, Craig challenged the notion of what it meant to be a detective, proving that even within the gritty world of crime and danger, there was room for empathy, humor, and a touch of humanity. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dwight-allen0/support

On this week's episode of "Tuesday Night Detectives" on Vintage Classic Radio, we delve into the intriguing world of private eye investigators with two classic radio mysteries. First, we revisit "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator" in the episode titled “The Paper Bullets” from December 5, 1951. William Gargan stars as the intelligent and composed New York private eye Barrie Craig, whose office is strategically located on Madison Avenue. Ralph Bell portrays his associate, Lt. Travis Rogers. In this episode, Craig and Rogers tackle a complex conspiracy involving forged documents that threaten to dismantle a corporate empire. Their navigation through intricate subterfuge to uncover the truth behind the paper bullets showcases Craig's methodical and fearless approach to detective work, making him a standout in the genre. Following that, we shift to September 25, 1948, for "Jeff Regan, Investigator" in the episode “The Lady With No Name.” Featuring Jack Webb as Jeff Regan, the sharp and resilient detective, and Wilms Herbert as his boss, Anthony J. Lyon. This gripping episode explores the mystery of a woman with amnesia, with Regan navigating the darker corners of Los Angeles to piece together her identity. Known as "the Lion's Eye," Regan's role in this short-lived series helped transition Webb into his later, more famous role as Joe Friday in "Dragnet." His portrayal of Regan showcased his burgeoning talent for embodying crime-busting characters, setting the stage for his celebrated career. Both series hold a special place in the annals of radio detective shows, each bringing unique flavors and storytelling styles that resonated with audiences of their time. "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator" enjoyed distinctive airings from both coasts, changing its name and style slightly over its run, while "Jeff Regan, Investigator" served as a pivotal step for Webb's transition into television. These episodes exemplify the golden age of radio mystery, where narrative complexity and charismatic detectives captured the listeners' imaginations. Tune in for a night of mystery and intrigue with "Tuesday Night Detectives," where the past comes alive through the voices of legendary characters.

2 hours of Crime and ClaudiaFirst a look at what happened on this date in history.. Then Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast August 31, 1954, 70 years ago, Hay is for Homicide.   While on vacation in Maine, Barrie comes upon a corpse in a mound of hay. Then Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast August 31, 1954, 70 years ago, The Big Office.  Friday and Smith spend the night working in the police business office. Followed by Crime and Peter Chambers starring Dane Clark, originally broadcast August 31, 1954, 70 years ago.   Johnny Silver, a well-known band leader, has been murdered at "The Hot Spot," a swank nightclub. BONUS: Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast August 31, 1954, 70 years ago, Fishing Boat Sinks.  Robinson Crusoe McGee and his friends remain stranded on an island in the middle of the lake. Then Suspense, originally broadcast August 31, 1958, 66 years ago, The Whole Town is Sleeping starring Agnes Moorehead.  The Ray Bradbury story about the lonely spinster walking across a dark ravine at night...with a killer on the loose. Finally Claudia, originally broadcast August 31, 1948, 76 years ago. There's no rehearsal this morning.Visit our webpage at classicradio.stream. 

As we head into the home stretch of summer, here are four seasonal radio mysteries. Frank Lovejoy stars as the owner of a summer resort in dire financial straits who may have turned to murder to keep the lights on in "Last Night" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (originally aired on NBC on February 22, 1946), and in a syndicated mystery, Boston Blackie finds a marriage racket when he heads to a dude ranch for vacation. A man spends a hot night trying to get rid of a surprise corpse in "Summer Night" from Murder By Experts (originally aired on Mutual on June 13, 1949), and William Gargan discovers strange affairs afoot at a resort in "Midsummer Lunacy" from Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (originally aired on NBC on August 17, 1954).

2+ Hours of  CrimeFirst a look at this day in History.Then Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast July 13, 1954, 70 years ago, Murder By Error. The husband of a beautiful woman is being blackmailed for $10,000 by a strange looking midget. The case soon leads to diamond smuggling and murder! Followed by Nick Carter Master Detective starring Lon Clark, originally broadcast July 13, 1947, 77 years ago, The Case of the Missing Piano Player.  Nick and Patsy visit a crooked gambling ship to find out who shot the piano player. Then Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Edmond O'Brien, originally broadcast July 13, 1950, 74 years ago, The Calgary Matter. Johnny tries to track down the gang who has stolen $300,000. Someone's willing to talk, but only for immunity and protection. Followed by Yours Truly Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey, originally broadcast July 13, 1958, 66 years ago, The Mojave Red Matter. A sunken boat and murder in the desert.Finally Claudia, originally broadcast July 11, 1948, 76 years ago, The True Story of “The Jarvis Bay”.Thanks to Robert for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamIf you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old time radio shows 24 hours a day. 

2+ Hours of DramaFirst a look at this day in History.Then Call the Police, originally broadcast July 6, 1948, 76 years ago,  Suntower Mystery Mansion.  Mrs. Potter is found strangled to death. Since she was a believer in occultism, was her killer from the beyond? After the second murder, the evidence points to the world of the living!Followed by Freedom USA starring Tyrone Power, originally broadcast July 6, 1952, 72 years ago, Cody's Monster.  An controversial experimental airplane pushed by Senator Edwards has crashed, causing resistance to continued funding for the military aircraft.Then Suspense, originally broadcast July 6, 1954, 70 years ago, The Tip starring Lurene Tuttle. A man bent on revenge holds a woman captive in her own home while they wait for her husband's return...so he can kill him! Followed by Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast July 6, 1954, 70 years ago, The Tough Guy.  Barrie joins in the search for a missing $30,000 in stolen loot. Finally Claudia, originally broadcast July 6, 1948, 76 years ago, First Look at the New Heir.  Thanks to Richard for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamCivil defense info mentioned on the show can be found here: http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/docs.html

2+ Hours of DramaFirst a look at this day in History.Then Crime Classics, originally broadcast June 9, 1954, 70 years ago, The Assassination Of Leon Trotsky.  The Mexican murder of the Russian revolutionary. Followed by Broadway is my Beat starring Larry Thor, originally broadcast June 9, 1951, 73 years ago, The Earl Lawson Murder Case.  A wealthy man named Earl Lawson has been murdered in Times Square by a man with only a month to live. Then Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast June 9, 1955, 69 years ago, Sucker Bait.  A top ranked basketball team suddenly loses two straight games to horrible teams.  The Dean wants to know if someone's fixing the games.Followed by Suspense, originally broadcast June 9, 1952, 72 years ago, Concerto for Killer and Eyewitnesses starring producer/director Elliot Lewis.  An escaped killer swears revenge...and nearly succeeds in getting it.Finally Superman, originally broadcast June 9, 1941, 83 years ago, Dr Deutch and the Radium Mine.   Superman prevents a ship from hitting the reef. Dr. Deutch is determined to get his twelve ounces of radium and rule the world!Thanks to Robert for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamIf you like what we do here, visit our friend Jay at http://radio.macinmind.com for great old time radio shows 24 hours a day. 

Director:  Leo McCarey Producer:  Leo McCarey Screenplay:  Dudley Nichols Photography:  George Barnes Music:  Robert Emmett Dolan Cast:  Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Henry Travers, William Gargan, Ruth Donnelly Rotten Tomatoes:  Critics: 85%/Audience: 77%

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite installments of Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. William Gargan sleuths with a sardonic smile in these radio mysteries, beginning with "The Lost Lady" (originally aired on NBC on June 14, 1953). A client behind bars hires Craig in "For Love of Murder" (originally aired on NBC on August 3, 1954), and Craig helps an old colleague close one last case in "Blood Money" (originally aired on NBC on August 24, 1954). A vacation is a new setting for murder in "Hay is for Homicide" (originally aired on NBC on August 31, 1954), and a visit to see a friend turns into a night at a haunted house in "Ghosts Don't Die in Bed" (originally aired on NBC on September 7, 1954).

Two + hours of CrimeFirst a look at this day in History.Then Rocky Fortune starring Frank Sinatra, originally broadcast March 9, 1954, 70 years ago, Incident In a Bar. The vice-president of an insurance company confesses to an inebriated Rocky that he has strangled his blonde girlfriend.Followed by Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast March 9, 1955, 69 years ago, Corpse on the Town. A dishonest Broadway producer is saved by marrying his main investor. The new Mrs. Stanton Bishop is found dead almost immediately thereafter...with a broken neck!Then Frontier Gentleman starring John Dehner, originally broadcast March 9, 1958, 66 years ago, The Claim Jumpers. A widow has only a week to get a claim-jumper off her property, or she'll lose it all. The claim-jumper has problems of his own!Followed by Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast March 9, 1958, 66 years ago, Laughing Gas. The Marsh Boys break up a laughing gas show when one of them is made a fool of. Finally Lum and Abner, originally broadcast March 9, 1942, 82 years ago, Wearing Diogenes Clothes. Lum is wearing Diogenes' suit. Cedric wants a new bicycle...he seems to have a lot of money!Thanks to Doug for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.stream

Two + hours of CrimeFirst a look at this day in History.Then Suspense, originally broadcast March 1, 1955, 69 years ago, The Screaming Woman by Ray Bradbury and starring Sherry Jackson. A couple of kids hear a screaming woman, who is buried alive! Followed by Dragnet starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast March 1, 1953, 71 years ago, The Big Want. The search for a "George Richmond" leads to a killer of cops who always takes cabs.Then following a brief look at the headlines of the day, Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, also originally broadcast March 1, 1953, 71 years ago, Behold a Corpse. There's a familiar saying which goes...give a rogue enough rope and he'll hang himself. The theory holds fine except in one instance, what if the chap doling out the rope happens to be the hangman?Followed by Quiet Please starring Ernest Chappell, originally broadcast March 1, 1948, 76 years ago, Sketch for a Screenplay. A movie about the war, and all too real!Finally Captain Midnight, originally broadcast March 1, 1940, 84 years ago, Secret Airfield. Ivan Shark's plan becomes clear...but first a telegram to Capt. Midnight! Steve is played by Stacy Harris this episode. This is an episode that was syndicated by WGN in Chicago before it went national. Thanks to Doug for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.stream

Three hours of CrimeFirst a look at this day in History.Then Dangerous Assignment starring Brian Donlevy, originally broadcast February 6, 1950, 74 years old, Missing Japanese Weapons. The first show of the season. Steve Mitchell flies to Panama to recover missing Japanese weapons and solve the murder of his friend, Bill Thorne. Followed by Under Arrest starring Joe Desantis, originally broadcast February 6, 1949, 75 years ago, The Sam Carver Case. Did Sam Carver commit suicide or was he murdered? Ask the spiritualist...she knows a ghost that can kill!Then The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes starring Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud, originally broadcast February 6, 1955, 69 years ago, The Bruce Partington Plans. A body found by the side of a railroad track provides the clue to the missing secret plans. Followed by Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast February 6, 1952, 72 years ago, The Diary of Death. Murder counts to a bloody tree as two pieces of a treasure map which could lead to a great fortune only leads to greater misfortune. Then Inner Sanctum Mysteries, originally broadcast February 6, 1945, 79 years ago, Death in the Depths. A deep-sea diver thinks more than he should while he's at work. When the time is nine bells, the diver meets some old friends down in a shipwreck!And One out of Seven starring Jack Webb, originally broadcast February 6, 1946, 78 years ago, Senator Theodore Bilbo. A true story of a very racist senator. Finally Lum and Abner, originally broadcast February 6, 1942, 82 years ago. Diogenes plans to use the store's feed room for his printing press. The town has changed, even Squire Skimp has paid his old debts to Lum and Abner!Thanks to Sean for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamCivil defense info mention on the show can be found here: http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/docs.html

EPISODE 21 - “Love Is In The Air” - 02/05/2024 Let's face it, Valentine's Day can be a mixed bag. Either you're blissfully in love and the day is a romantic dream, or, you are not in love and part of you wants to stomp all the roses and put the chocolate bon-bons in a sling shot and pummel Cupid. Whatever your head space this Valentine's Day, Steve and Nan have a movie for you. Listen in as they share some of their favorite romantic movies to get you in the mood, or give you something to aspire to next year. These movies have a perky female plumber, WWII vets returning from war, and even a wealthy dying woman aboard an ocean liner — something for everyone! SHOW NOTES:  Sources: The Great Romantic Films (1974), by Lawrence J. Quick; Halliwell's Film and Video Guide (1987), by Leslie Halliwell; The MGM Story (1982), by John Douglas Eames; The Warner Brothers Story (1980), by Clive Hirschhorn; They Dreamed of Home (1943), by Niven Busch; “Till The End of Time: The Post World War II Drama That Deserves More Recognition,” July 30, 2022, by Patrick Fogerty, www.collider.com;  IMDBPro.com; Wikipedia.com; Movies Mentioned:  'Til We Meet Again (1940), starring Merle Oberon, George Brent, Pat O'Brine, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Bonnie Barnes, and George Reeves;  Cluny Brown (1946), starring Jennifer Jones, Charles Boyer, Helen Walker, Peter Lawford, Una O'Connor, Richard Haydn, Reginald Gardiner, Reginald Own, Margaret Bannerman, Sara Allgood, C. Aubrey Smith, Florence Bates, and Ernest Cossart; The Clock (1945), starring Judy Garland, Robert Walker, James Gleason, Lucile Gleason, Keenan Wynn, Ruth Brady, and Marshall Thompson; Enchantment (1948), starring David Niven, Teresa Wright, Evelyn Keyes, Farley Granger, Jayne Meadows, Leo G. Carroll, Phillip Friend, Henry Stevenson, Shepperd Strudwick and Gigi Perreau; Till The End Of Time (1945), starring Guy Madison, Dorothy McGuire, Robert Mitchum, Bill Williams, Tom Tully, Ruth Nelson, Jean Porter, William Gargan, Selena Royale, and Johnny Sands; Brief Encounter (1945), starring Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Noël Coward, Joyce Carey, Cyril Raymond, Stanley Holloway, Margaret Barton, Henrietta Vincent, and Everly Gregg; --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three hours of CrimeFirst a look at this day in History.Then Inner Sanctum Mysteries, originally broadcast January 30, 1950, 74 years ago, Skeleton Bay. A mystery writer witnesses a murder. The killer sees the witness, who surprisingly offers to help him to dispose of the body! Martin Gabel stars.Followed by This is Your FBI, originally broadcast January 30, 1953, 71 years ago, The Red Headed Blackmailer. A blackmailer finds his operation disrupted violently by another person who removes him permanently and doubles the ante. Last show of the series.Then Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast January 30, 1952, 72 years ago, A Very Odd Job. Barrie is hired to deliver a puppet, watch a girl sink, discover a vintage murder and realize that the only thing that's as black as it's painted, is a coffin.Followed by The Shadow starring Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead, originally broadcast January 30, 1938, 86 years ago, The Poison Death. A madman threatens to poison the entire city...and signs his threat...The Shadow!Then Dark Fantasy, originally broadcast January 30, 1942, 82 years ago, Death is a Savage Diety. A tale of witchcraft and black magic, based on the novel by Scott Bishop. Finally Lum and Abner, originally broadcast January 30, 1942, 82 years ago, Ventriloquists. While Lum tries to balance the store's books, Cedric and Mousie have become ventriloquists. Thanks to Sean for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.streamCivil defense info mentioned on the show can be found here: http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/docs.html

Two hours of DramaFirst a look at this day in History.Then Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast January 16, 1952, 72 years ago, Fatal Appointment. A beautiful girl dies in a hotel room, a man gives all for love and an appointment for romance winds up in a rendezvous with death.Followed by Dr Christian starring Gene Hersholdt, originally broadcast January 16, 1938, 86 years ago, The Flood. Doctor Christian is needed during a flood.Then The Shadow starring Orson Welles and Agnes Moorehead, originally broadcast January 16, 1938, Sabotage. A small tube of nitroglycerine helps the Shadow to break up a spy ring run by the strange Dr. Arnheim. Followed by Dark Fantasy, originally broadcast January 16, 1942, 82 years ago, Debt of the past. A strange and weird adventure, laid in modern America with the flavor of the nineteenth century. The story of a businessman who was almost too honest, who found a method of paying a long-standing debt of honor, although thirty years in his grave.Finally Lum and Abner, originally broadcast January 16, 1942, 82 years ago, Lum Fakes a Nervous Breakdown. Lum decides to have a nervous breakdown to gain Abner's sympathy. Thanks to Eric for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at http://classicradio.stream

Two hours of CrimeFirst a look at this day in History.Then Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast January 5, 1955, 69 years ago, The Angel of Death. Craig fishes a man out of the river following a car crash. Then Craig's hired to keep an eye on him for a month.Followed by Mr Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons starring Bennett Kilpack, originally broadcast January 5, 1950, 73 years ago, The Case Of The Rushville Murder. A madwoman has escaped from the asylum and committed murder, but what about her sane sister?Then Rocky Fortune starring Frank Sinatra, originally broadcast January 5, 1954, 70 years ago, On the Trail of a Killer. Frank's good friend Ellie is, "fat, forty and frustrated." She marries a no-goodnik and is soon murdered. Rocky takes out in hot pursuit and nearly rides the rails...with his ticket punched with a bullet, "from here to eternity."Followed by Broadway Is My Beat starring Larry Thor, originally broadcast January 5, 1952, 72 years ago, The John Dobson Murder Case. John Dobson is found poisoned, the second husband of Mrs. Dobson to die within two years!Finally Lum and Abner, originally broadcast January 5, 1942, 81 years ago, Marketing Lucky Loaf Bread. Mousie is planning to fight Iron Ike again, to get Lum's money back. He knocks out Ike just for practice. Thanks to Eric for supporting our podcast by using the Buy Me a Coffee function at classicradio.stream

With Halloween only a few days away, the sleuthing turns spooky with old time radio mysteries involving mummies. First, The Green Hornet discovers a murder in a museum, a missing ruby, and a sarcophagus crime scene in "Revenge for Melakim" (originally aired on ABC on June 15, 1944). Next, a fresh body is found in the place of a mummy in "Murder Makes a Mummy" from Crime Club (originally aired on ABC on May 29, 1947), and then William Gargan gets a mummy delivered to his office - along with a visit from an Egyptian princess - in "Never Murder a Mummy" from Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (originally aired on NBC on March 30, 1955).

Obsession - Murdered Deferred From-1950 Vincent Price, Jane Wyatt, William Gargan, Barton Yarborough, Tim Conway & Philip Terry Norton Roberts, a wealthy investment executive, becomes obsessed when his benefactor rejects his proposal of marriage.

Get ready for a captivating evening with "Tuesday Night Detectives" on Vintage Classic Radio! We're taking you back to the golden age of radio mysteries, starting with "The Adventures of Sam Spade" episode titled "Bouncing Betty Caper," originally broadcasted on December 12th, 1948. Join the charismatic Howard Duff as Sam Spade, the quick-witted private investigator, as he embarks on a pulse-pounding journey. In this episode, Spade's routine day takes a turn when a mysterious woman named Betty enters his office with a request to locate her missing brother. However, Spade soon discovers that this seemingly simple case is anything but. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a trail of espionage, double-crossing agents, and deadly secrets. Racing against the clock, Spade must untangle a complex web of lies to find Betty's brother and unmask the true culprits behind the chaos. With its signature blend of suspense, humor, and intrigue, "Bouncing Betty Caper" showcases the masterful storytelling that made "The Adventures of Sam Spade" a timeless classic. But that's not all! Following the Spade adventure, we present "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator" starring William Gargan in the episode "Death of a Private Eye," originally aired on January 2nd, 1952. Step into the gritty world of Barrie Craig, a no-nonsense private eye with an uncanny ability to unravel the most perplexing cases. In this episode, Craig's world is turned upside down when he receives a distress call from a fellow investigator named Markham. The call abruptly ends, leaving Craig with a gnawing sense of unease. As he delves into the circumstances surrounding Markham's supposed suicide, Craig stumbles upon a labyrinth of deceptions and hidden motives. From shadowy nightclubs to upscale penthouses, he navigates a dangerous landscape of betrayal and vengeance. As the layers of the mystery peel away, Craig's determination to uncover the truth intensifies, leading to a shocking revelation that will keep you riveted until the very end. Join us for an evening of suspense and intrigue as "Tuesday Night Detectives" transports you to a world of enigmatic cases, cunning adversaries, and unforgettable protagonists. In these two gripping episodes, "The Adventures of Sam Spade" and "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator," you'll experience the thrill of classic radio mysteries brought to life by legendary actors and impeccable storytelling.

While this brings our look at the life of William Gargan to a close, we'll be staying in this time period for the next episode of Breaking Walls. Next time on Breaking Walls, it's the fall of 1957 and the world is in transition. Both the Civil Rights movement and the space race are underway. We'll begin a four-month arc, covering all things through the lens of radio for the month of September.

After Barrie Craig went off the air, Gargan continued to occasionally host Family Theater. He also made films Miracle in The Rain and The Rawhide Years. He starred on the west-coast stage in a version of The Desperate Hours for Randy Hale and went to Europe to film thirty-nine episodes of The New Adventures of Martin Kane for Ziv Productions. In 1960 Hale was set to cast Gargan on stage in The Best Man, but a bout with Laryngitis forced Gargan to get some tests on his throat done. It was throat cancer. Doctors were forced to remove his larynx On November 10th, 1960. A breathing stoma was cut into the bottom of his throat. A man whose voice made him famous no longer had one. For a time he was depressed. Friends Bing Crosby, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Alice Faye, and many others came by. It helped. Gargan couldn't bear the thought of not speaking again. He made his first vocal lesson through The American Cancer Society in January of 1961. It took him more than a year, but by the following February he was making progress. The ACS was looking for a Southern California Vice Chairman for their 1962 drive. Gargan agreed to serve. In 1963, he met President Kennedy. He had a meeting set with the President for November 23rd. It was one that President Kennedy never made it to. By then his brother Ed was ill with diabetes and emphysema. He passed away in 1964. That year, Gargan was hired by the ACS for their full-time national staff. Within three years, Gargan mastered esophageal speech. He wouldn't use a vocal amplifier and worked tirelessly to be able to speak in both low and high tones. Bill thanked his wife Mary for refusing to let him give up and for his faith that kept him asking why. That's what he titled his autobiography, Why Me? By then he knew the answer. Bill Gargan spent the next two decades raising money, awareness, and the spirits of fellow cancer patients around the country. On February 16th, 1979 while on a flight between New York City and San Diego following a tour lecturing for the ACS, Gargan suffered a fatal heart attack. He was seventy-three. William Dennis Gargan is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego, California.

In September of 1954 as the last new episode of The Lone Ranger was broadcast, Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator took to the air on Tuesday September 7th at 8:30PM eastern time with an episode called “Ghosts Don't Die in Bed.” Betty Lou Gerson played Ruth Adams. Virginia Gregg played Mrs. Dunn. The series announced its cancellation at the end of this episode, but a month later it was back on the air in a twenty-five minute format for another thirty-nine episodes recorded in Hollywood. The last Barrie Craig episode aired on September 30th, 1955, replaced thereafter with the science fiction series X-Minus One, produced in New York. One-hundred-ninety-two episodes were broadcast.

On Tuesday August 31st, 1954 as President Eisenhower addressed the American Legion, it had been a busy ten days for American aviation. On Sunday, August 22nd, Braniff Airways' Douglas C-47-DL Skytrain crashed during a flight from Waterloo, to Mason City, Iowa. Twelve of the nineteen aboard died. The next day, A U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules flew its first flight at Burbank, California. And on August 25th, U.S. Air Force Captain Joseph C. McConnell, the top-scoring American jet ace in history, died in a crash when his F-86H Sabre fighter-bomber malfunctioned during a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Meanwhile, Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator took to the air with a play called “Hay is For Homicide.” Parley Baer played Jake. Also heard in the cast was Jack Moyles, Vivi Janiss, and Joyce McClusky. Arthur Jacobson directed the production. Airing opposite Barrie Craig at 8:30PM eastern time was High Adventure over WOR-Mutual, Stop The Music over CBS, and Watkins Committee Testimonies concerning Senator Joseph McCarthy on ABC. McCarthy would be censured by the senate in December. Senator McCarthy and the Red Scare has been covered extensively on episodes 123 through 128 of Breaking Walls on the first six months of 1954.

After eleven orders of thirteen Barrie Craig installments, production of the show moved from New York to Hollywood with the July 6th, 1954 episode. The August 24th episode was called “Blood Money.” The west coast broadcasts were supported by people like Joan Banks, Olan Soule, Parley Baer, Howard McNear, Herb Vigran, Virgina Gregg, Betty Lou Gerson, and Lawrence Dobkin.

By 1954 ninety-eight percent of homes had a radio set. There were still nineteen million U.S. houses that could only be reached by radio. Procter & Gamble led the way with over fourteen million dollars spent, and forty companies, including General Foods, Colgate-Palmolive, Liggett & Myers, Campbell's Soups, S.C. Johnson, and Coca-Cola spent at least one million dollars on radio advertising. However, the four national networks continued a five-year downward trend in radio ad sales. Network radio gross revenue peaked in 1948 at just under two-hundred million dollars. In 1953, it was down to one-hundred sixty million. While TV hadn't fully supplanted radio's total reach, it had decimated its prime-time audience share. On CBS-TV I Love Lucy led all shows with a rating of 58.8. It was seen in over fifteen million homes. Radio's top show, The Lux Radio Theater, was heard in just under three million. The networks reduced ad sale charges for the sixth consecutive year, hoping to offset TVs broadening market share. It didn't work. For the first time in sixteen years revenue fell. The only category to see an increase in sales was local advertising, and even that rose less than one percent. Shows canceled in the first half of 1954 included The Quiz Kids, Dr. Christian, Front Page Farrell, Bulldog Drummond, Rocky Fortune, Ozzie and Harriet, and The Six Shooter. West-coast actors, like Herb Vigran and Herb Ellis were moving into TV, but television was already going through budgetary changes. Radio's top show, People Are Funny had a rating of 8.4. Along with oncoming transistor sets, nearly thirty million cars now had radios, but there was still no system to measure this audience. The next year it was estimated that out-of-home listening added an additional forty percent to at-home audiences. People Are Funny's actual rating was closer to twelve. But these incidentals didn't matter to the industry's character actors. Network production habits were changing. More and more documentaries and news were airing from New York, more and more drama was airing from Los Angeles. That summer, NBC shifted the production of Barrie Craig to hollywood.

When Bill Gargan was fired from Martin Kane he planned to star in a Broadway rendition of Doctor Knock. In late September of 1951, Gargan signed a one-million-dollar contract that made him the exclusive property of NBC for the next five years. The deal required him to participate in a minimum of four guest spots on radio and TV each year. At the same time, Gargan was invited by Frank Folsom of RCA to accompany him to Rome to meet the Pope. Along the way, Gargan went to Paris to appear in the October 7th, 1951 episode of The Big Show. He participated in a sketch involving a poker game with George Sanders, Fernand Gravey, and Meredith Willson. Two weeks after his Big Show appearance, William Gargan was starring in a new series for NBC. Launched as part of NBC's year-long Silver Jubilee, Barrie Crane, Confidential Investigator, first aired over NBC from New York on Wednesday October 3rd, 1951 at 10PM eastern time. Bill Gargan debuted as the detective opposite Mr. President on ABC, Frank Edwards on Mutual, and boxing on CBS. The show was directed by the just-heard Himan Brown. By 1952 Brown had been involved in radio for decades. The Barrie was inspired by the nickname of William Gargan's oldest son, then twenty-two. The title of the show was soon changed to Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. Episode three was called “The Judge and The Champ.” In conjunction with NBC's twenty-fifth anniversary, the network launched a series of both Radio and TV offerings highlighting the growth of NBC's technology, talent, infrastructure and advertising success. Block-sharing advertising was in full-effect. The network sold commercial time spots, rather than full shows and called it “Operation Tandem.” Gargan was back on The Big Show the next March 16th, 1952 to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Tallulah Bankhead and good friend and fellow Catholic, Fred Allen. Now with transcription wide-spread, Barrie Craig could be heard on different days each week, based on the region. Listeners would also hear different commercials, depending on what local affiliate they were tuning into. These could also be a mix of local and national ad spots. Blocked-sharing was being used by the other networks. ABC touted theirs as 'The Pyramid Plan,' CBS as The Power Plan, and Mutual called their's MBS Plus. In a further refinement of MBS Plus, Mutual introduced an exclusive package of MGM programming for 1952. Both The Adventures of Harry Lime, and The Black Museum aired as part of this deal. For more information, tune into Breaking Walls episode 141. Launched with their tandem plan, NBC provided a "pay as you sell" opportunity for local affiliates. Local sponsors could pick from one-hundred-nineteen one-minute spots. The goal was to accommodate sponsors without a long contract. Craig occupied an office on the third floor of the Mercantile Building on Manhattan's Madison Avenue. Barrie Craig's writers included Frank Kane, Louis Vittes, John Roeburt, and Ernest Kinoy. William Gargan was supported by some of the finest east coast voice talents of the era. This included Santos Ortega, Elspeth Eric, Arlene Blackburn, Barbara Weeks, Joan Alexander, Parker Fennelly, Arnold Moss, Luis Van Rooten, and Herb Ellis. NBC announcers included Don Pardo and Ed King with John Daly as spokesperson for 1952 Pontiac spots and Carl Caruso for Bromo-Seltzer spots.

In 1949 Bill Gargan appeared in Dynamite for Paramount Pictures. It would be his last film until 1956. On March 3rd he appeared on Guest Star. That year he was in New York City when he phoned acquaintance Frank Folsom of RCA. Folsom invited Gargan for lunch. He went to the fifty-third floor of 30 Rockefeller Center. Inside were executives from BBD&O, The New York Stock Exchange, and others. During lunch Gargan mentioned that he was looking for a job in TV. Folsom phoned Norm Blackburn, VP of TV and Radio at NBC and a good friend of Gargan's. Gargan was asked if he'd be interested in playing a pipe-smoking detective, sponsored by the U.S. Tobacco Company. The show became Martin Kane, Private Eye. It would be shot for TV and separately done for radio as well. Mutual Broadcasting carried the radio series. It debuted on Sunday August 7th, 1949 at 4:30PM eastern time. Meanwhile, the TV version aired on NBC Thursdays at 10PM. It was live, and the first detective series on network TV with an enormous following. Gargan realized early on that there was only so much you could do with a plot in a half-hour, so he made the series a showcase for himself. He developed a tongue-in-cheek style. Kane's 37.8 TV rating for the 1950-51 season was twelfth overall. Gargan later said “This was TV's early era, but a few people tried to make the casual intimacy of TV a sexual intimacy. The sight of pretty women, a touch of deep cleavage, a show of thigh became—to these producers—more important than the content of the show. The result was we often had pretty, empty headed girls blowing their lines all over the lot. “In Desperation, I began to mug for the camera more and the script writers began to write more blatantly. You get into a terrible rut this way. Everybody works harder to undo the damage, and the result is more screeching, overacting, and overwriting. It drives the viewers away, and to get them back you come up with more and more desperate gimmickry. “What was worse, to me, was the embarrassment. I'm no prude. Probably the best part I ever did on film was that of Joe in The Knew What They Wanted, a wife-stealer. But this was just sleazy.” The next season the show's rating fell out of the top thirty. By then, Gargan was friends with New York's Cardinal Spellman. A friend of Gargan's mentioned that the Cardinal watched the show. Gargan went to the studio execs and told them to write better scripts or get another star. They got another star — Lloyd Nolan. After eighty-five weeks, Bill Gargan was no longer Martin Kane. Shortly after, Gargan signed a deal with Sonny Werblin, then of MCA, to do a new private eye show for NBC. The show would eventually be called Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator.

During the War, Bill Gargan led a USO group that featured Paulette Goddard, Keenan Wynn, and accordionist Andy Arcari. They toured China-Burma-India. He spent four months overseas in some of the poorest and worst conditions of the War, putting on shows and flying in various prop planes despite a lingering ear infection, drinking whatever alcohol he could to help keep sane. When Bill finally got home his ear was so swollen wife Mary jokingly called him Dumbo. Under contract at MGM, he borrowed an apartment in New York and went on stage. His first night he got word that friend Leslie Howard had been killed in a plane crash. The War marked a dividing line in Bill's life. He went back to Hollywood and made Swing Fever, She Gets Her Man, and finally in 1945, he starred with Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, and Martha Sleeper as Joe Gallagher in The Bells of St. Mary's. Television sets began to show up in homes as Bill and his agent Ken Dolan conceived a half-hour mystery radio show called Murder Will Out for ABC. It failed to find a long-term sponsor and was canceled. Gargan next starred in I Deal In Crime, beginning on January 21st, 1946 on ABC. He played private investigator Ross Dolan for the next twenty months. During that time, Gargan also guest-starred on Family Theater, hosting the second episode on February 20th, 1947. Family Theater was created by Patrick Peyton of the Holy Cross Fathers. Mutual Broadcasting donated time under four conditions: The show had to be a drama of top quality; strictly nonsectarian; feature a film star; and Father Peyton had to pay the production costs. Peyton met Loretta Young, who advised him on how to approach A-listers. She became the “first lady” of Family Theater. Between 1947 and 1956, there were four-hundred eighty-two dramas broadcast. Few used religion of any kind in the plot. Bill continued to make guest-appearances on radio, like on the October 13th, 1948 episode of Bing Crosby's Philco Radio Time on ABC. It would be in 1949 that William Gargan took on his most famous role, and in the process became one of the first television drama detectives in broadcasting.

William Gargan appeared in more than fifty films in the 1930s. In between, he and Mary's second son, Leslie, was born on June 28th, 1933. The Gargans bought the late Jean Harlow's house at 512 North Palm Drive for twenty-seven thousand dollars. They'd live there for the next quarter century. Bill's parents passed away in the middle of the decade. Gargan soon signed a Warner Bros. two-year contract that paid him one-hundred-thousand dollars, turning down the role of Duke Mantee in Robert Sherwood's The Petrified Forest on Broadway to sign. The role went to friend Humphrey Bogart. For more info on Bogie, tune into Breaking Walls episode 140. Bill made his Lux Radio Theater debut on March 6th, 1939 in an adaptation of One Way Passage. Gargan hated working for Warner Bros. He likened it to sleeping on a bed of nails. The press labeled him “Bill Gargan, King of the B movies.” He later broke his contract. Perhaps his most famous role was as Joe in the 1940 RKO film, They Knew What They Wanted. Gargan received third billing behind Carole Lombard and Charles Laughton and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The plot is: while visiting San Francisco, Tony Patucci — played by Laughton — an aging illiterate winegrower from the Napa Valley, sees waitress Amy Peters — played by Lombard — and falls in love. Tony gets his foreman Joe, a womanizer, to write her a letter in Tony's name. Tony's courtship culminates with a proposal. When she requests a picture of him, one of Joe is sent. Amy goes to Napa to be married, only to find that Joe isn't her husband-to-be. She decides to go through with the marriage. However, while Tony is in bed after an accident, Amy and Joe have an affair. Two months later Amy discovers she's pregnant. Upon learning of the infidelity, Tony pummels Joe, but forgives Amy, insisting they still be married. Unable to forgive herself, she leaves with the priest. Meanwhile, Gargan did more radio. He appeared on the January 4th, 1940 episode of The Good News with his former co-star Ann Sothern. Good News aired Thursdays at 9PM eastern time over NBC's Red Network. Its 16.9 rating was twelfth overall. Good News was the first major collaboration of a movie studio and a broadcasting system for a commercial sponsor.” The idea was, simply put, to “dazzle 'em with glitter.” MGM produced. Every star except Garbo was available. There would be songs, stories, comedy, and drama. In short, it promised an intimate glimpse of Hollywood with its hair down. The result cost Maxwell House $25,000 a week. Gargan was back on the program the following week in a one-act play opposite Lurene Tuttle. Bill was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar, won by good friend Walter Brennan for The Westerner. He later joked that Brennan spent ninety minutes spitting and Gargan lost to a spittoon. The joking was short-lived. Gargan would soon begin work on another film with the appropriate title, I Wake Up Screaming.

William Dennis Gargan was born to an irish-american Catholic family in Brooklyn, New York on July 17th, 1905. His parents—Bill and Irene—had seven children, but only Bill and his brother Ed survived infancy. Ed was four years older than Bill. The pair were close. Bill's mother had been a teacher, but his father was a book maker and a gambler, which didn't sit well with Irene's parents. Gargan's dad made book in the copy room at the New York World and in Room 9 of City Hall. The four-story brownstone they lived in at 427 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights was won in a poker game. Today P.S. 29 stands on the site. Bill got his first silent movie job at seven for Vitagraph Studios. He was paid Three dollars and eighty-five cents. That's roughly one-hundred twenty dollars today. It portended things to come. By ten, Bill was hanging out at his father's bar in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Gargan later said that his mother was more straight-laced, a bit of a prude on the surface, but in reality, she ran with dad all her life and his.” Both parents had good senses of humor. He grew up going to Sea Gate in the summer and fighting for the Irish kids from Bay Ridge against the Italian kids in empty lots. He played baseball and basketball for St. Francis Xavier grade school and St. James High. He ditched school in the spring to scale the Ebbets Field wall to watch the Dodgers and their stars of the 1910s. When he was fourteen and working as an ice brusher at the Prospect Park skating rink, Gargan met a girl named Mary Elizabeth Kenny. He was so taken that he used his broom to knock her down! Gargan recalled that “She got up, her eyes spitting fire and her mouth not doing badly either. I knew I was in love.” Gargan loved the theater. By high school he was playing in school productions of Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. However, a teacher who'd been out to get Bill for his comedic behavior made life so miserable during Bill's senior year that he dropped out. Gargan became a message runner for a Broad Street brokerage firm, then a cop for a clothing store, then one for a Wall Street agency until he was fired for losing a tail. He sold Wesson Oil to grocers, sneaking away to watch plays. One day the lights went up and Gargan noticed his boss was sitting next to him. “Good show,” Gargan said, “you're fired,” said his boss. Bill's brother Ed was an actor. While having lunch with Ed one day at the Lamb's Club a man named Le Roy Clemens mentioned to Bill that a play he'd written was having tryouts. Bill read a line and was hired, beginning his career in Aloma of the South Seas. They opened in Baltimore in 1924. Gargan was a quick study, learning everyone's parts as well as the stage manager's. Within a year he was directing the Philadelphia production of the play. Aloma of the South Seas ran for forty weeks. Gargan spent the next years playing all over the country with people like George Jessel and Richard Bennett. Jessel would be godfather to Bill's first son Bill Jr, affectionately known as Barrie. Barrie was born on February 25th, 1929. After the stock market crashed, Bill got a short-term job on stage in New York where he met William Bendix. Soon a casting director at Paramount called and after that Leslie Howard cast Bill in a play. Bill later said that Leslie helped make him a star. That same year, on January 12, 1932 Gargan opened at the Broadhurst theater in New York with Leslie Howard in Philip Barry's The Animal Kingdom. It was a smash hit. His success led MGM to call. They offered him the part of Sergeant O'Hara in the 1932 feature Rain, starring Joan Crawford and Walter Huston. He'd be paid fifteen-hundred dollars per week. That's over thirty-three grand today. Bill bought out his contract with The Animal Kingdom, playing on May 2nd for the last time. The next morning, Bill, Mary, and young Barrie left for Hollywood. Rain was shot on Catalina Island.

Hey everybody James Scully here, the host, producer, and director of Breaking Walls. If you've been enjoying Breaking Walls please consider giving the show a rating or review on whatever platform you listen. The most listened-to platforms are iTunes, Spotify, and Youtube. For those who don't know, the series is available on Youtube. And for those who didn't know, the series is also available anywhere you could get a podcast (and at https://www.thewallbreakers.com/breaking-walls) if you've been watching on Youtube. If you like the show, consider donating $1 per month at https://www.patreon.com/TheWallBreakers Breaking Walls Episode 142 will be on William Gargan and Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. This will be out in full on August 1st, 2023 at the Patreon and in parts throughout the month of August in the main show feed. After that, we'll begin a mini series on radio and world news in September and October of 1957. So, once again, if you appreciate the show, these are monthly four-hour documentaries that I produce in my own time. I'd very much love if you would subscribe on Patreon for $1 (or more) a month. Or, if you really like the show and can't, the next best thing I could ask for besides a review is to please tell people. Word of mouth is the best way this show can grow effectively. A lot of podcast marketing isn't nearly as good as you, the listener who enjoys this, telling someone you know, "hey check this out." If you have any questions, please reach me at my email — James@TheWallBreakers.com. Thanks! I'll catch you on the flip side.

It seems fitting that the way in which Orson Welles described Alexander Woollcott is the same way many who knew Welles would have described him. That's going to bring our look at Orson Welles' radio career to a close. We've now covered Mr. Welles in long form three times — in episodes 79, 104, and now 141. We also covered his time as The Shadow in depth in episode 131. Is this the last time we focus on Orson Welles? That remains to be seen, but next month on Breaking Walls we'll move to NBC where we'll focus on one of the more underrated detective shows of the mid-1950s. That show? Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. The reading material used in today's episode was: • A Book by Desi Arnaz • Citizen Welles by Frank Brady • This is Orson Welles by Welles and Peter Bogdanovich • On the Air — By John Dunning • Discovering Orson Welles by Jonathan Rosenbaum • Orson Welles on the Air, at OrsonWelles.Indiana.edu • Wellesnet.com. As well as articles from: • Broadcasting Magazine •Life Magazine On the interview front: •Orson Welles was with BBC's Monitor, Peter Bogdonavich, Dick Cavett, Michael Parkinson, and Dinah Shore. • Harry Alan Towers spoke with Sheridan Morley and the BBC. • Joseph Cotton was with Chuck Schaden. Hear the full chat at SpeakingofRadio.com. • Jeanette Nolan was with SPERDVAC, the Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety, and Comedy. For more information, please go to SPERDVAC.com •Lurene Tuttle spoke with Same Time, Same Station in 1972. Selected music featured in today's episode was: • Wilderness Trail — By Walter Scharf for National Geographic • Irish & Celtic Waltz — By The Irish & Celtic Folk Wanderers • The Colorado Trail, Op. 28 Fantaisie for Harp — By Elizabeth Hainen • Seance on a Wet Afternoon — By John Barry Breaking Walls Episode 142 will spotlight William Gargan and Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. This episode will be available beginning August 1st, 2023 everywhere you get your podcasts, and at TheWallBreakers.com. In the meantime, give Breaking Walls a quick rating on whatever platform you listen, especially itunes. You can also join The Breaking Walls Facebook group at Facebook.com/Groups/TheWallBreakers. And support this show for as little as a buck a month at Patreon.com/TheWallBreakers.

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast June 14, 1953, 70 years ago, The Lost Lady. "Buying yourself a murder can run into pretty big money, but after that, you've got nothing to worry about. The only charge for the chair (that) you're invited to sit in, is electrical."I'm done fighting with my doctors. A variety of health issues have led me to a decision that I hoped I wouldn't have to make for a couple of more years.Classic Radio Theater will end June 30, 2023.I want to thank everyone who made this show possible over the years. I know it's only about three weeks for stations to make alternate programming arrangements, but it's a choice that I had to make. I'm nearing 70 years of age, and the grind of producing these shows is just too much.It has been my honor and pleasure to serve you these past eight years.#Classic-Radio #Old-Time-Radio #Crime #William-Gargan #Barrie-Craig-Confidential-Investigator

My Friend Irma starring Marie Wilson, originally broadcast April 5, 1948, Irma's Inheritance. Irma has inherited $50,000, or has she? Al isn't too happy about her windfall. Also The Living God, originally broadcast April 5, 1942, Chapter 5. A roving radio interviewer (William Gargan) decides to interview Jesus Christ! Through the magic of radio, the reporter is taken back 1900 years to the city of Jerusalem in 33 BC.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!

Philo Vance starring Jackson Beck, originally broadcast April 4, 1950, The Mimic Murder Case. A gangster kidnaps Vance and hires a nightclub mimic to imitate his voice. The crook uses this scheme to get the criminal charges against him dropped. Also The Living God, originally broadcast April 4, 1942, Chapter 4. A roving radio interviewer (William Gargan) decides to interview Jesus Christ! Through the magic of radio, the reporter is taken back 1900 years to the city of Jerusalem in 33 BC.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!

Gunsmoke starring William Conrad, originally broadcast April 3, 1954, Mr. And Mrs. Amber. After Neil Amber is caught stealing seeds from the General Store, Pete Fletcher (a wealthy rancher), accuses Amber's wife of stealing one of his calves. Also The Living God, originally broadcast April 3, 1942, Chapter 3. A roving radio interviewer (William Gargan) decides to interview Jesus Christ! Through the magic of radio, the reporter is taken back 1900 years to the city of Jerusalem in 33 BC. 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 Great Gildersleeve starring Willard Waterman, originally broadcast April 2, 1952, Colorful Past. Is Gildersleeve really William Cosgrove? Cosgrove's wife is in town, and she insists that Gildersleeve is her husband! Also The Living God, originally broadcast April 2, 1942, Chapter 2. A roving radio interviewer (William Gargan) decides to interview Jesus Christ! Through the magic of radio, the reporter is taken back 1900 years to the city of Jerusalem in 33 BC.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!

Fibber McGee and Molly, originally broadcast April 1, 1947, Safe Driving Campaign Fibber the safe driver. Also The Living God, Chapter 1, originally broadcast April 1, 1942. A roving radio interviewer (William Gargan) decides to interview Jesus Christ! He asks people in the street, "Who is Jesus of Nazareth?" Through the magic of radio, the reporter is taken back 1900 years to the city of Jerusalem in 33 BC. He watches the scene as Jesus drives the money-changers from the Temple and then interviews Jesus!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!

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast March 2, 1955, 68 years ago, Sweet Larceny. "Exercise can be beneficial or it can kill you. One guy I know walked himself to death, but still it figured, seeing as the walk he took was 'the last mile'."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!

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast February 16, 1955, The Moving Target. A high-flying globe trotter finds that sheer elbow room is no insurance for survival when a felonious blonde makes a passionate effort to bring him down to earth...realy deep down, that is. Also Part 4 of the Five Part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story The Qui Bono Matter, originally broadcast February 16, 1956. A tense interview, a sudden attack by a dangerous opponent, and a complete surrender.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!

Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator starring William Gargan, originally broadcast January 16, 1952, The Fatal Appointment. A beautiful girl dies in a hotel room, a man gives all for love and an appointment for romance winds up in a rendezvous with death. Also Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, originally broadcast January 16, 1956. Part 1 of a five part story - The Ricardo Amerigo Matter. Music and mystery and danger! 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!

**Note: No intro today - not sure if I caught something new or if it's the same thing wearing out its welcome, but hopefully back to normal next week! The contents of museums can solve mysteries of the past, but the halls of artifacts and treasures can also provide great backdrops for whodunits today. We'll hear three radio private eyes on cases that take them through the corridors of museums, beginning with Lon Clark as Nick Carter in "The Museum Tragedy" (originally aired on Mutual on May 27, 1945). Then, Jackson Beck is Philo Vance in the syndicated mystery "The Idol Murder Case." And finally, William Gargan stars in "Murder in Wax" from Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (originally aired on NBC on November 21, 1951).

Agents Scott and Cam brave the Russian Revolution with Leslie Howard on a vital diplomatic mission in the 1934 espionage thriller British Agent. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Starring Leslie Howard, Kay Francis, William Gargan, Phillip Reed, Irving Pichel, Ivan F. Simpson, Halliwell Hobbes, J. Carrol Naish, Walter Byron and Cesar Romero. Become a SpyHards Patron and gain access to top secret "Agents in the Field" bonus episodes, movie commentaries and more! Pick up exclusive SpyHards merch, including the "What Does Vargas Do?" t-shirt by @shaylayy, available only at Redbubble Social media: @spyhards View the NOC List and the Disavowed List at Letterboxd.com/spyhards Podcast artwork by Hannah Hughes.

By April 1954, Himan Brown had been involved in radio for more than two decades. He'd directed, produced, or created shows like Inner Sanctum Mysteries, The Adventures of the Thin Man, Grand Central Station, Bulldog Drummond, Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, and Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. William Gargan was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 17th, 1905. His father was a detective, and his mother a teacher. Gargan became a bootleg whiskey salesman, and later a private eye. His brother Edward was an actor. One day while visiting him at rehearsal, Gargan was offered a stage job. He began his career in Aloma of the South Seas. Gargan's first film was Rain. Later, he played in Misleading Lady and starred in three Ellery Queens. In 1940, he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Joe in They Knew What They Wanted. And in 1945, he starred with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman in The Bells of St. Mary's. He was perhaps most famous for his role as Martin Kane, Private Eye. It was conceived as one of TV's earliest detective shows, and ran concurrently on radio. Gargan played the lead on both mediums, until the TV show became—as he alleged in his autobiography, “a vehicle for the flesh parade.” He balked when actresses were hired more for cleavage than ability. Gargan's last performance as Kane occured in June of 1951. That October 3rd, he began playing Barrie Craig in a similar sounding series. Craig worked alone from a Madison Avenue office, and had good relationships with the cops. NBC produced the show in New York until the Summer of 1954. Himan Brown directed. Production of Barrie Craig moved to Hollywood in the summer. It ran until June 30th, 1955. Gargan's acting career came to an end in 1958 when he developed throat cancer. Doctors were forced to remove his larynx. Speaking through an artificial voice box, he became an activist and spokesman for the American Cancer Society. No longer able to act, he formed William Gargan Productions, making film and tv shows in Hollywood.