M Radio - Best of Old Time Radio and The Spoken Word
Click on this bar to be transported to the humor side of M Radio - We can be funny ... really ... honest ... There once was a girl from Nantucket ...
RADIOMENSA.NET

Scumdog Millionaires 1-5

Scumdog Millionaires
Written by Mike Walker
Directed by Eoin O'Callaghan

Broadcast Monday 14 to Friday 18 December 2009 (Woman's Hour Drama)

160/44; 79 MB total; sound quality excellent

In Mike Walker's financial thriller, a fraud investigator is exploring the possibility that a rogue banking institute might be about to send the financial world into a spiral ... if it exists. 

When the Financial Service Authority's principal fraud investigator, Angela Chapman, decides she will use whatever means necessary to reveal this potential black hole, she targets Tim Ng, one of the sharpest minds in hedging and derivatives. 

Chapman offers Tim a straight deal. Though she has something on him, she agrees that she'll dump the charges, if he agrees to work for her. 

Part 1 - When disgraced City trader Tim Ng is offered immunity from prosecution by the FSA, he is alarmed to discover what it is they want in return.

Played: 18 | Download | Duration: 00:14:03

Scarifyers- Devil of Denge Marsh 2-3

Scarifyers- Devil of Denge Marsh 2-3

Played: 18 | Download | Duration: 00:28:17

Nick Carter, Master Detective

450311_Webs of Murder

Played: 4 | Download | Duration: 00:28:21


Pat Novak

490507 Shirt Mixup at the Laundry

Played: 16 | Download | Duration: 00:27:30

Pat Novak

490430 Wendy Morris

Played: 16 | Download | Duration: 00:30:15

Whistler, The

430709 Eye For An Eye

Played: 12 | Download | Duration: 00:29:02


CBS Radio Workshop

560811 (29) Only Johnny Knows

Played: 16 | Download | Duration: 00:29:43

Scarifyers- Devil of Denge Marsh 1-3

7th Dimension - Scarifyers- Devil of Denge Marsh 1-3

Played: 142 | Download | Duration: 00:29:07

Gunsmoke

560325 e207 Hanging Man

Played: 97 | Download | Duration: 00:24:23

Murder In The Cathedral

Murder In The Cathedral by TS Eliot, BBC World Service, 1981
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special thanks to friend of the blogcast "PR" we have some background to the story.  (I could not find a thing)

Comment:

This drama concerns a historical account that centers on the assassination of Archbishop Thomas in Canterbury Cathedral, England, 1170. 

As the story goes, King Henry II, was overheard to say words to the affect that he wanted to be rid of Archbishop Becket. This is peculiar because both men were great drinking buddies in their younger years, and Henry thought that by putting his friend in this high church position, he’d have no trouble out of the church when he bent the rules to have his way on the throne. Of course, he never considered that Becket might actually ‘get religion’ and take his post seriously. 

Four knights were thought to have overheard the comment uttered by Henry and took it upon themselves to carry out the King’s wishes. 

We know about this crime because there was an eyewitness (Edward Grim), who stayed with the archbishop and tried to prevent one of the sword blows from striking Becket. He suffered gravely for it. Grim’s account is given online and easy to locate although not pleasant to read. 

Those of you who had to read THE CANTERBURY TALES in high school and college will remember that the pilgrims were on their way to Canterbury to the tomb of St. Thomas Becket to ask for healing.

After Becket’s death there were said to have been many miracles performed at his burial site.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Williams
Margaret Robinson
Jenny Lee
Catherine Parr
Gladys Spenser
Edward Seckerson
Michael Harbour
Dennis Graham
David Horowitz
John Forbes-Robinson
Christopher Benjamin
Neville Jason
David Bradshaw

Organ music composed and played by Mike Steer

Recorded on location in St Giles Church Cripplegate

Produced by Dickon Reed
-----------------------------
Next Sundays Play will be:
John Ford  -  'Tis a Pity She's a Whore
2 hours 18 minutes

Played: 180 | Download | Duration: 01:27:05

Screen Directors Playhouse #19


Originally aired May 15, 1949

Hold Back the Dawn is a 1941 romantic film in which a Romanian gigolo marries an American woman in Mexico in order to gain entry to the United States, but winds up falling in love with her. It stars Charles Boyer, Olivia de Havilland, Paulette Goddard, Victor Francen, Walter Abel, Curt Bois and Rosemary DeCamp.

The movie was adapted by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder from the book by Ketti Frings. It was directed by Mitchell Leisen.

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Olivia de Havilland), Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic Picture, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay. 

Played: 81 | Download | Duration: 00:30:06

I Was A Communist For The FBI

520917 e22 Rat Race

Played: 71 | Download | Duration: 00:26:18

Arch Oboler's Plays

641114_07 Big Ben.

Played: 83 | Download | Duration: 00:25:41

The Thrice Tolled Bell

The Thrice Tolled Bell
Written by Julie Hoverson
An homage to the classic Hammer Horror films!
Cast List

Dracula - Bryan Hendrickson
Van Helsing - Rick Lewis
Wallace - Gene Thorkildsen
Dr. Pettigrew - Michael Faigenblum
Miranda Locksley - Femnomena
Dr. Trevalian - Mathias Rebne Morgan
Mrs. Farge - Molly Tollefson
Gorvi - Joel Harvey
Britt - Julie Hoverson
Nurse - Krystal Baker

MUSIC
     All works composed by Harlan Glotzer (© 2008) [BMI] {harglo@gmail.com}

 Concertina - Harlan Glotzer
 Violoncello - Rachael Beaver & Tracy Hagen
 Toy Piano - Dana Wen & Roger Nelson
 Clavichord - Dana Wen
Toy-Box Trio
(http://www.myspace.cpm/toyboxtrio)
toyboxtrio@gmail.com

Voices recorded with the assistance of Ryan Hirst of Neohoodoo Studio
Editing and Sound:   Julie Hoverson
Assistant Director:  Reynaud LeBoeuf
19 Nocturne Theme Music:  Kevin MacLeod     (Incompetech.com)
Cover Photos:  Front:  Vickie Mathews
                     Back:  Craig Jewell
             (courtesy of Stock Xchange.com)

"What kind of a place is it? Why it's an Edwardian insane asylum, can't you tell?"

Send mail to 19nocturne@live.com with questions or comments

http://www.19nocturneboulevard.net/

Played: 244 | Download | Duration: 00:34:46

Afterlives E1


Afterlives - Deadly Comedy, Deadly Drama, Deadly Fun

You know what happens after you die?

You go somewhere else.

There are infinite Afterlives out there and a small group of souls travelling between them soon discover that danger and adventure don’t end with death – they start with it.

Now complete in three series, Afterlives is a comedy-drama with a deathly twist. Listen or download direct to your PC from the site and iTunes. Come and join the worldwide audience already following the adventures of the Cloud Crew!

http://www.afterlives.net

1 - Death Aint What it Used to Be

"You ever had one of those days?"

Matthew Wakeman wakes up in a cell - lost, without his memory and very, very dead. Shortly after he is put to work as part of an eternal workforce by the myterious Supervisors, he is sprung free by a fellow worker - who happens to be an angel. Along with three other escapees, they make a break for heaven. Unfortunately, they have to make a stop in hell on the way ...

Cast / Crew

Matthew - Mark McKinley 

Kyra - Laura Gordon 

Sal / Administrator - Katrina Harrison

Dave - Alan McDonald

Tor /Barry - Daniel Cumming

Girl - Natalie Connell

Composed by Michael McCue

Written and Directed by Alan H McDonald

Played: 171 | Download | Duration: 00:32:18

Mallets Aforethought

From the ruined garage on Discordia Street come audio explorations of life on earth.

These are memories of the future, received projects for the past.

Union Signal plays are written and produced by Jeff Ward and Doug Bost, except where noted.

--------------------

Mallets Aforethought

A pair of aging croquet champions finally meet their match at a high-stakes tournament on the Maine coast.  Written by Doug Bost.

starring Madge Bost and James Bost

(picture used under a creative commoms license.
Taken by Sparktography
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparktography/])

Played: 148 | Download | Duration: 00:18:09

Documentary

Behind the Velvet Rope Studio 54 Revisited
Saturday 12 July 2008 - 1904-2000

As part of BBC Radio 2's Dance Season, Boy George looks back on the most decadent disco in history: Studio 54.

The New York nightclub became symbolic of the disco era - and the world's first super club. Its hedonistic excesses were the stuff of legend, yet within three years it was gone.

Featuring interviews with Carmen D'Alessio, Nile Rodgers, and roller-skating drag queen Rollerena,
as well as bartenders, dancers and a rare interview with the gatekeeper of cool himself, Mark Benecke.

PLEASE NOTE: This programme recalls the hedonistic days of seminal New York disco 'Studio 54' and contains material that some listeners may find offensive.

Played: 105 | Download | Duration: 00:56:29

Front Row

Front Row - Peter Tinniswood's obituary (2002-01-09)

Played: 162 | Download | Duration: 00:08:41

The Maltese Falcon

BBC - Dashiell Hammetts - The Maltese Falcon

2009-08-31 The Maltese Falcon

When his partner is murdered in 1928 San Francisco,
sleuth Sam Spade is drawn into a statuette riddle.

Stars - Tom Wilkinson

Broadcast on:
BBC Radio 7, 1:00am Monday 31st August 2009
Duration: 120 minutes - 92.7 mb
 
3:02am Monday 7th September 2009
Categories: Drama, Crime, Thriller

Played: 245 | Download | Duration: 01:55:45

Gunsmoke

560318 e206 Man Who Would Be Marshall
----------------------------------------------------------
Did I mention that "radio at war" has moved?

Radio At War is so much more than old war stories.

Check it out at
http://radioatwar.net

The first 5 entries are the Woman's Hour Drama "D-Day Minus n"

Five stories that will move you, so have some tissue ready.

Played: 183 | Download | Duration: 00:24:08

Arch Oboler's Plays

451011 e26 This Living Book

Played: 146 | Download | Duration: 00:29:34

Two Pipe Problems (Part 02)

The Afternoon Play - BBC Radio 4 - Tuesday 28 April 2009

Two Pipe Problems (Part 02)

Michael Chaplin's drama returns to The Old Beeches retirement home for elderly thespians and the company of William and Sandy, two actors who still nurse a certain affectionate animosity towards one another since they starred as Holmes and Watson in a 1960s TV series.

Sandy appears in the Honours List, but a trip to Buckingham Palace to collect his award provides another mystery for the veteran sleuths to solve.

Sandy Boyle ...... Stanley Baxter
William Parnes ...... Richard Briers
Karen ...... Tracy Wiles
Postman ...... David Shaw-Parker
Charles, Equerry to HRH ...... Julian Rhind-Tutt
Doctor Mortimer ...... Geoffrey Whitehead
Marvin ...... Stephen Critchlow
Elsie ...... Linda Broughton

Directed by Marilyn Imrie

A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.

Played: 319 | Download | Duration: 00:44:11

Screen Directors Playhouse

490508 e018 It's A Wonderful Life

Played: 150 | Download | Duration: 00:30:02

I Was A Communist For The F.B.I.

520910 e21 Violence Preferred

Played: 106 | Download | Duration: 00:26:58

Villette 10 of 10

WH 10 LAST Finis  20090814   Dramatisation of the classic romantic novel by Charlotte Bronte.
There are more revelations to unfold after a night-time carnival and a host of secrets, but will Lucy's new love desert her?
Lucy Snowe....Anna Maxwell Martin
Monsieur Paul....Sam Dale
Mrs Beck....Joan Walker
Ginevra....Lizzy Watts
Directed by Tracey Neale.
Will Lucy's new love desert her?

Played: 164 | Download | Duration: 00:13:56

The Whistler

430702 The Avengers

Played: 140 | Download | Duration: 00:29:19

CBS Radio Workshop

560803 (28) Subways are for Sleeping

Played: 126 | Download | Duration: 00:30:09

Two Pipe Problems (Part 01)

The Afternoon Play - BBC Radio 4 - Monday 27 April 2009

Two Pipe Problems (Part 01)

Michael Chaplin's drama returns to The Old Beeches retirement home for elderly thespians and the company of William and Sandy, two actors who still nurse a certain affectionate animosity towards one another since they starred as Holmes and Watson in a 1960s TV series.

The pair become embroiled in making sure that the course of true love does run smooth. It begins with a proposal of marriage, but they are once again pressed into service to solve a mystery. Just why does the bridegroom suddenly call the wedding off?

Sandy Boyle ...... Stanley Baxter
William Parnes ...... Richard Briers
Dolores Sweet ...... Julia McKenzie
Sir Trelawney Hope ...... John Rowe
Godfrey ...... Joseph Mydell
Mary Winter ...... Jillie Meers
Isadora Klein ...... Susan Wooldridge
Hugo ...... Stephen Critchlow

Directed by Marilyn Imrie

A Catherine Bailey production for BBC Radio 4.

Played: 329 | Download | Duration: 00:44:23

Pat Novak For Hire

490423 pats boat is missing

Played: 111 | Download | Duration: 00:29:49

Villette 9 of 10

Woman's Hour Drama
WH 09 Cloud  20090813   Dramatisation of the classic romantic novel by Charlotte Bronte.
Lucy and Monsieur Paul grow close, but forces are at work to keep them apart.
Lucy Snowe....Anna Maxwell Martin
Monsieur Paul/Monsieur de Bassompierre/Pere Silas....Sam Dale
Paulina....Lizzy Watts
Mme Walravens/Mme Beck....Joan Walker
Directed by Tracey Neale.

Played: 150 | Download | Duration: 00:13:32

Candy Matson

490707 Cable Car Case

Played: 144 | Download | Duration: 00:30:29

Scarifyers 4-4

Scarifyers 20071227 - For King and Country 4-4

There is a little story behind the posting of the Scarifyers series.

Great friend of the blogcast Pat suggested the Scarifyers and it was going to be posted in a few of weeks.
A flood of Agatha Christie material was on the schedule.
At the last minute, while going to post the Agatha Christie material, much to my suprise, it's crap!  (highly technical term)

Most of the material was basterdized!
Five part shows with only four parts.
Complete plays chopped into many parts.
A good majority of the plays were totaly screwed. (another highly technical term)

Right as I was discovering the Agatha Christie mess, Pat writes me a letter asking about the Scarifyers series.
Talk about timing!  Planing more than a week in advance?  Not here.

Just wanted to share this little tale with you.  Criticisms, suggestions, comments, requests etc. are always welcome.  I may not take any actions on your input, but I do listen to you.  You can be anonymous, I don't care.  I will never ever spam you in any way, size, shape or form.

Agatha Christie will be back on the schedule soon, but not right now.

Ralph

Played: 277 | Download | Duration: 00:26:47

Sherlock Holmes

451022 Great Gandolf (Rathbone & Bruce)

Played: 148 | Download | Duration: 00:28:57

Villette p8

WH 08 Friendship  20090812
Monsieur Paul and Lucy's friendship grows, but will they see the ghostly apparition again and what does her presence signify?
Lucy Snowe....Anna Maxwell Martin
Monsieur Paul/Pere Silas....Sam Dale
Paulina....Lizzy Watts
Mme Beck/Mme Walravens....Joan Walker
Directed by Tracey Neale
woman's hour drama

Played: 160 | Download | Duration: 00:13:45

Alien Worlds

e18 - 790805 Deathsong
----------------------------------

M Radio Schedule

Played: 237 | Download | Duration: 00:27:56

The FBI In Peace and War

501228 e276 The Fixer

Played: 130 | Download | Duration: 00:25:14

You Are There

480118 e14 Signing Of The Magna Carter

Played: 115 | Download | Duration: 00:29:28

You Are There

480111 e13 Burr - Hamilton Duel

Played: 185 | Download | Duration: 00:14:59

Alien Worlds

e17 - 790729 Time Clash

Played: 257 | Download | Duration: 00:23:31

Scarifyers 3-4

Scarifyers 20070908 - For King and Country 3-4

Played: 296 | Download | Duration: 00:25:00

The FBI In Peace and War

540929 e470 Executive Type

Played: 119 | Download | Duration: 00:23:44

Sherlock Holmes

451015 Manor House Case (Rathbone & Bruce)

Played: 183 | Download | Duration: 00:29:07

Villette p7 of 10

WH 07 Monsieur Paul  20090811   Dramatisation of the classic romantic novel by Charlotte Bronte.
After burying her treasured letters from Dr John and concealing her broken heart, Lucy finds friendship from an unexpected quarter.
Lucy Snowe....Anna Maxwell Martin
Monsieur Paul....Sam Dale
Rosine....Lizzy Watts
Directed by Tracey Neale.
Lucy finds friendship from an unexpected quarter.

Played: 231 | Download | Duration: 00:13:46

Pat Novak For Hire

490416 Go Away Dixie Gillian

Played: 151 | Download | Duration: 00:29:43

The Whistler

430626 The Blank Wall

Played: 159 | Download | Duration: 00:29:25

Scarifyers

Scarifyers 20070901 - For King and Country 2-4

Played: 275 | Download | Duration: 00:26:15

CBS Radio Workshop

560727 (27) Star Boy

Played: 162 | Download | Duration: 00:30:08

Villette p6 of 10

WH 06 A Burial  20090810   Dramatisation of the classic romantic novel by Charlotte Bronte.
Lucy aches to stay with her dear friends and is dreading her return to Madame Beck's smooth indifference and Monsieur Paul's fiery scorn.
Lucy Snowe....Anna Maxwell Martin
Dr John....Benjamin Askew
Monsieur Paul....Sam Dale
Paulina/Ginevra....Lizzy Watts
Directed by Tracey Neale

Played: 171 | Download | Duration: 00:13:43

Candy Matson

490404 Donna Dunham Case

Candy investigates a plane crash and is asked to certify the safety of an airport. Bill Brownell (sound effects), Dudley Manlove (announcer), Eloise Rowan (organist), Harry Bechtel, Henry Leff, Jack Cahill, Jay Rendon (sound effects), Lou Tobin, Monte Masters (writer, producer), Natalie Masters

"San Francisco is a mad city, inhabited for the most part, by perfectly insane people, whose women are of remarkable beauty."
- Runyard Kipling, 1895

Kipling's observations of the Bay City, written about a half century before the debut of this radio lady detective, certainly describes her well. But although Candy Matson was very attractive, this private eye-full relied more upon her brains, hard work, and good instincts to solve her cases.

"Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8209" began on NBC in June 1949, but its origin goes back much farther. Its creator, Monty Mohn, and star, Natalie Parks, both had roles in "Hawthorne House," which resembled "One Man's Family." But the former show, despite a 10 year run, was always just a regional broadcast.

Monty changed his surname to "Masters" and later did the same to Natalie by marrying her. In the summer of 1947, he created a radio comedy series for them, "Those Mad Masters." It lasted only three months, and listening to the two surviving copies will tell you why. The show was routine, fairly predictable, and not that funny.
Two years later, Monty created another show, this time an adventure show with a detective named Candy Matson in the lead. He had planned to play the lead himself, but his mother-in-law convinced him to change the gender of his P.I. so Natalie got the role.

The audition show, recorded in April 1949, was somewhat different from what the series would become. The title was "Candy Matson, EXbrook 2-9994." This audition episode, "Donna Durham's Death," emphasized the sassy and sexy qualities of this lady detective. Her boy friend, Lee Mallard, a police officer, was helpful but lethargic. Candy's sidekick, Rembrandt Watson, was a drunken photographer. Despite its shortcomings, NBC was impressed enough with Monty's crisp dialogue and authentic Bay area references to green-light the project.

By the time the series debuted on June 29, 1949, several improvements had been made. Mallard, the voice of Henry Leff, was more decisive and got a new first name, Ray. The character of Watson, portrayed by Jack Thomas, was sobered up and made into an expert in many arcane topics.
The cast and crew Masters assembled remained nearly the same for the two and one half years this series was on network radio. Most of them had known each other in San Francisco for many years. Leff, in addition to acting, ran the radio production course at San Francisco City College. Lou Tobin, a regular on the show, had worked with Monty and Natalie years prior on "Hawthorne House."
Other minor cast members, used almost as a Candy Matson "rep company", included: Helen Kleeb, John Grober, Mary Milford and Hal Burdick. Monty and "Nat" (as the cast called her) shared in the casting decisions. Occasionally Monty would cast a local personality; in the episode titled "Devil in the Deep Freeze" (Nov 10, 1949), a San Francisco opera star, Dorothy Warenskjold, portrayed herself.

The announcer on the series was Dudley Manlove and the organist was Eloise Rowan. The engineer, Clarence Stevens, recorded every episode as the show was transcribed and aired later. Monty was a stickler for air checks and he had hopes of syndicating the series to other markets. There were usually two sound effects men, Bill Brownell and his assistant, Julian "Jay" Rendon, who had first been hired at NBC (on guest relations staff) in 1944 when he was 19 years old. He may be the only surviving member of that cast and crew. Recently he wrote me from San Francisco, "(In 1946) the soundman's spot was offered, and though it wasn't the sought-after announcer's job, it did raise my pay by $40 a month, from $195 to $235. Wow!"

Brownell and/or Rendon worked every Candy Matson show. In addition to the standard items on a soundman's truck, they had devices to imitate a cable car, fog horn, buoys, and various pier sounds. The two soundmen worked many shows, including some for ABC, which shared the building with NBC. While their network pay wasn't great, they got paid extra for doing special commercials. Rendon recalled that his two-days on a Gallo Wine commercial got him the equivalent of a month's pay.

Candy Matson, as one of the few remaining NBC and ABC dramatic shows, was produced in the Radio City Building at the corner of O'Farrell and Taylor Streets in downtown San Francisco. This magnificent structure was built by NBC... by mistake! In 1940 NBC authorized the construction of this new edifice to replace its old facility on Sutter Street. At that time, NBC planned equal staffing in their two West Coast offices, Hollywood and San Francisco.

But by April 1942, when the new building was formally dedicated, NBC had transferred most of their Bay personnel to Hollywood. Virtually all of NBC's network programming on the West Coast was now concentrated in Hollywood, with a much smaller crew in San Francisco. So this beautiful building, with its three-story mosaic mural designed by C.J. Fitzgerald, was San Francisco's last gasp as a radio center. But, at least through the 1940s, despite smaller markets, the building was still busy with full day time programming, most of its studios were regularly in use, and both NBC and ABC employed full orchestras.

When Masters brought his production crew into Radio City in 1949, there were seven studios of various sizes on the second floor, shared by the two networks. Studio A was the largest and could accommodate a few hundred audience members on folding chairs. As Candy Matson increased in popularity, and more people came to watch the production, it was moved from Studio B or Studio C over to Studio A.

"...Name any prominent Bay City feature and chances are very likely it was featured in at least one episode..."

The series had several distinctive qualities that made it a superb half-hour. Monty Masters turned out one excellent script after another, each one peppered with real San Francisco streets, landmarks, and geographical sites. Name any prominent Bay City feature and chances are very likely it was featured in at least one episode.

Radio references were sprinkled throughout each program, most written in the script, but a few ad-libs were also contributed. In the episode "Jack Frost" (12-19-49) we hear the following:
Client: "I want you to find a man named Jordan."
Candy: "He's on another network."
Client: "I beg your pardon?"
Candy: "Never mind; please continue."

In other episodes, one character might ask another, "Who writes your dialogue?" in such a manner the radio listener can't be sure this was in the script or a quick ad-lib. The show balanced its treatment of serious crimes, usually homicide, with friendly banter among the leads. Mallard was often trying to get Candy to see a "Tex Acuff" movie, but she hated westerns. Rembrandt was usually broke and humorously got Candy to pay his expenses.

The story-lines, while varied in terms of crime and motive, did have a certain structure its fans enjoyed. Candy usually began the plot line with a contact from a new client. She would later consult with Mallard, who would criticize her choices. Later she and Rembrandt would have a brush with some danger, which Candy would resolve. Mallard would "solve" the case, but usually after Candy did.

Within a year of its debut, “Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8209” had accumulated a large and loyal audience. On June 19, 1950, Dwight Newton, the radio critic for The Examiner in San Francisco, came to the studio prior to the show and presented Monty and Natalie Masters with The Examiners’ Award for the “Favorite Local Radio Show.” His presentation, and their acceptance, was recorded as the beginning of the episode titled: “Symphony of Death.”

However, despite its popular acceptance, the series never found a sponsor, and it was a sustaining show for the entire time it was on the air. Obviously by 1950, dramatic radio was being reduced as advertising dollars gravitated toward the new medium of television. Radio personnel from San Francisco were lured to Los Angeles, where they sought work in movies and television.

While Monty Masters did not use any of the NBC orchestra on “Candy Matson” (the sole musician was organist Eloise Rowan) the pranksters in the orchestra did not ignore him. One day, while Monty was otherwise engaged, they lifted his Volkswagen from its parking place, and carried it through the wide front doors of the Radio City building, and left it in the lobby. They topped it off with a “For Sale” sign and then they disappeared, to enjoy their mischief.

Despite the scrupulous accuracy that Monty employed in writing his scripts, including use of real names for all buildings, streets, and other locations, this did not apply to including all of the major groups in San Francisco’s population
.
“San Francisco parents are advised to look closer to their daughters, for they know not the many dangers to which they are exposed.....and to counsel their sons, for when upon the streets of this gay city, they are wandering among many temptations...” -- B.E. Lloyd, historian (1876)

Of course, “gay city” did not mean the same thing in the 1800s, but by the end of WW II, San Francisco had the largest gay population of any city in the US. While network radio in the late 40s and early 50s would certainly not permit an openly gay character to appear on the air, Masters did manage to “suggest” that Rembrandt Watson was gay. Candy’s sidekick was single, middle-aged, fashion photographer who loved opera. If these clues were not enough, Jack Thomas added a slightly feminine flavor to his presentation. Whether many people in Candy’s large radio audience caught on is very unlikely. But, if he was gay, Watson was the only radio character that ever appeared on this series.

The other significant minority in San Francisco that received scarce, if any, exposure on “Candy Matson” was the Asian community. In 1950 the Bay City had more Chinese residents than any other city in the world, outside of Asia. One would think that therefore, Asian characters would appear often on a radio show based in San Francisco. But this was not the case. Not one Asian, identified by name or accent, appears in any role in the 14 surviving audio episodes of that series. (In addition to these, 81 scripts from the series are archived at Thousand Oaks Library in Los Angeles, CA but I haven’t had a chance to read them yet.)

...writing was superb, mixing taut excitement with generous humor...
But these omissions were but minor flaws in a series that had so many strengths. The writing was superb, mixing taut excitement with generous humor. Every episode included specific, and accurate, descriptions of Bay area geography. The sounds effects, by Bill Brownell and Jay Rendon, were true and timed perfectly, which advanced, but never interrupted, the plot. And the leads on the program were supported by a strong cast of players who boasted an unusual assortment of accents.

By the spring of 1951, the decision was made to terminate the series. Monty wrote the final episode, “Candy’s Last Case” which aired on May 21, 1951. This show, which had the independent Candy Matson, gushing like a soap opera ingénue over Mallard’s marriage proposal, was not a fitting climax to this otherwise remarkable series.

Many of the cast and crew re-located to Los Angeles, there to seek dwindling radio jobs or find occasional employment in television or film. Monty and Natalie did a little of both. She can be heard selling a Christmas tree to Fibber McGee and she was in a few TV westerns, some with her son, Tom. Jack Webb, who never forgot his San Francisco pals, put her in a few episodes of “Dragnet.”

Soundman Bill Brownell tried to make a living at NBC Hollywood, but there was too little work for too many soundmen. He left the industry to go into law enforcement with a sheriff’s department in a neighboring county. His buddy, Jay Rendon, stayed in San Francisco, left show-biz and spent the rest of his working life in the retail business. He is now retired in the Bay area.

Henry Leff had some success in the film industry, with good roles in “Take the Money and Run” and “One is a Lonely Number.” Lou Tobin, also the beneficiary of Jack Webb’s influence, got a role in his film, “The D.I.” [NOTE: Tobin spelled his first name, “Lu”, although it seldom appears that way in OTR sources.] Of all the cast members of the radio series, the most successful after moving to Hollywood, was Helen Kleeb. She got roles on one TV show after another, including “Golden Girls”, “Lou Grant Show”, “Bonanza”, “Get Smart”, “The Fugitive”, and “Dennis the Menace.”
The whereabouts of the radio program’s announcer, Dudley Manlove, is not known. His wife, Patty Pritchard, a pretty singer, used to portray “Jane” in a local, daily kid’s radio show, “Jolly Bill and Jane” in the 1950s. Her voice can still be heard today in San Francisco, on a local car dealer’s commercial.

Monty Masters died in 1969; possibly his alcohol consumption contributed to his early death at age 57. Natalie outlived him by seventeen years, passing away at age 70, in February 1986, survived by her son, Tom. Of the rest of their cast, not much is known, although Harold “Hal” Burdick died in June 1978, at the age of 84.

(forgot where I leeched this)

Played: 194 | Download | Duration: 00:26:50

Arch Oboler's Plays

451004 e25 Mr Miller

Did you know that M Radio has three other totaly free blogcasts?

http://cr.radiomensa.net/
Radio At War
A look at the never ending human conflict of war through radio broadcasts.
(dramatic audio plays also)

http://special.radiomensa.net/
Specials and Requests for the greatest listeners on the planet!

http://humor.radiomensa.net/
The M Radio Humor Blogcast
Featuring Classic Comedy and Humor broadcasts from several generations.

Played: 186 | Download | Duration: 00:29:56

Blog Software