The Creaking Door

 

 

The Creaking Door

was a popular South African old-time radio (OTR) horror/suspense anthology series from the 1960s, sponsored by State Express 555 cigarettes, known for its spooky door sound effect and tales inspired by American shows like Inner Sanctum Mysteries. It featured thrillers with supernatural and psychological twists, airing from the late 50s/early 60s into the 70s, and remains a beloved classic for OTR fans, showcasing the global reach of the genre.

 

It began with rebroadcasts of Inner Sanctum Mysteries until 1959, when South African productions started, influenced heavily by the American show's eerie atmosphere and sound cues.  The iconic creaking door sound, meant to set a chilling tone, became its famous trademark, mirroring Inner Sanctum's own doorknob/squeak effect.  The anthology offered horror, mystery, and sci-fi stories, often with moral lessons or shocking twists, broadcast by Springbok Radio.

 

Sponsored by State Express cigarettes (State Express 555), it was a significant production in South African radio, distinct from but connected to the larger OTR world.

 

Though less known internationally than its US counterparts, The Creaking Door is fondly remembered for its chilling narratives and distinctive style, with episodes still available on podcast platforms.

Ann of the Airlanes

 

 

Ann of the Airlanes was a syndicated American radio adventure drama series that aired from the 1930s to the 1950s

, created in part due to the popularity of Amelia Earhart. The show followed the adventures of Ann Burton, an aspiring airplane hostess and Secret Service agent, with pilot Jack Baker. It featured a mix of action, adventure, and mystery, and was one of the earliest broadcast dramas with a female protagonist.

 

The story focused on Ann Burton, an aspiring airplane hostess portrayed by Lynne Howard (possibly a stage name for Hollywood native Elia Braca). She also worked with the Secret Service, as did her romantic interest, Interstate Airlines pilot Jack Baker (Robert C. Bruce). Gerald Mohr portrayed Secret Service agent and co-pilot Art Morrison. Also in the cast was John Gibson who portrayed Pete. 

 

The series was created by Bob Burtt and produced by Comet Productions. It consisted of 65 episodes for a 13-week run. John E. Frank was the director. In 1955 Harry S. Goodman Productions acquired the rights to Ann of the Airlanes and three other juvenile radio shows.

 

Red Ryder

Red Ryder was an American radio western series based on the popularity of the comic strip Red Ryder by Stephen Slesinger and Fred Harman. It debuted on February 3, 1942 on the NBC Blue Network and was broadcast three days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. After the sixth episode, Langendorf Bread became its prime sponsor. The final episode was broadcast in 1951.

The comic strip was syndicated by Newspaper Enterprise Association, the strip ran from Sunday, November 6, 1938, through 1965.

In 1938, Harman met publisher, writer and comic syndicator Slesinger. At the time, Slesinger had scripted a new comic strip called Red Ryder and was seeking an outstanding Western artist with knowledge of authentic period details and who had a natural gift for drawing scenes from dramatic perspectives. Harman fit the description and was a genuine cowboy who was the ideal spokesperson for the Red Ryder Character franchise.

Red Ryder had two topper strips on the Sunday page: Little Beaver (Nov 6, 1938 - Aug 25, 1946) and Red Ryder's Corral of Western Lingo (Sept 8, 1946 - Oct 10, 1948).

The Red Ryder radio series were broadcast starting February 3, 1942, on the Blue Network. broadcast three times a week at 7:30 pm Pacific time. When the Blue also acquired The Lone Ranger from the Mutual Broadcasting System, Mutual decided to compete by airing Red Ryder in the same period. Thus, Red Ryder aired on the East Coast that year from May 20 to September 9 on Mutual. The series beat The Lone Ranger in the Hooper ratings, but the success was short-lived. Red Ryder was sold to a regional sponsor, Langendorf Bread, and after four months was no longer heard in the East.

Mutual and Langendorf continued the series on the West Coast Don Lee Network through the 1940s at 7:30 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, always with the familiar organ theme, "The Dying Cowboy" ("Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie"). Announcers on the show included Ben Alexander and Art Gilmore.

The continuing characters of the comic strip were also found in the radio series, produced by Brad Brown with writer-director Paul Franklin and writer Albert Van Antwerp. Reed Hadley portrayed Red Ryder on the radio from 1942 to 1944, followed by Carlton KaDell (1945), and Brooke Temple (1946–51). Arthur Q. Bryan had the role of Roland "Rawhide" Rolinson, and Red's sidekick Buckskin was played by Horace Murphy. Jim Mather provided Indian voices.

Numerous actors played Little Beaver, including members of the Hopi, Jicarilla Apache, Southern Ute, and Navajo Nations. One of the most notable was Robert Blake (on credits as Bobby Blake), Tommy Cook (1942 on), Frank Bresee (1942–46, alternating with Cook), Henry Blair (1944–47), Johnny McGovern (1947–50), and Sammy Ogg (1950–51). During the same mid-1940s time frame, Henry Blair also portrayed Ricky Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Billed as "America's famous fighting cowboy," Red Ryder was notable because he did not kill his enemies but instead aimed for their guns to disarm them. Such sound effects were handled by James Dick, Monty Fraser, and Bob Turnbull.

Red Ryder also appeared in a 1940 12-chapter serial, followed by a series of 27 movies on TV.

Peggy Allenby

Peggy Allenby was born on February 1, 1896 and died on March 23, 1966. She was an American stage, film, television, and radio actress.  Born Eleanor Byrne Fox in New York City, she married actors Robert Armstrong (married from 1920 to 1925) and John McGovern (married in 1932).

Allenby was born Eleanor Byrne Fox in New York City and attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart. She entered theatrical work in Nashville.

Allenby may be best known for her role as "Mattie Lane Grimsley" on the CBS-TV soap opera Edge of Night. Peggy Allenby was in the show's cast from 1956-66. She also appeared on Cosmopolitan Theater (1951), The Philco Television Playhouse (1951), First Love (1954), Studio One (1954) and The United States Steel Hour.

Between 1930 and 1950, her voice was featured in numerous broadcasts, including the radio dramas Second Husband, Young Doctor Malone, David Harum, and Road of Life. She had the lead role in Phyl Coe Radio Mysteries.

She performed on Broadway, most notably as Willy Loman's wife, Linda, in the 1949 production of Death of a Salesman, where she replaced Mildred Dunnock. She also appeared in Thornton Wilder's play The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden.

Allenby was married to actors John McGovern and Robert Armstrong. Her marriage with John McGovern produced two children, John Jr. and Eleanor. She died in 1966 in Park West Hospital after a short illness, aged 70.