Blackstone, the Magic Detective

Blackstone, the Magic Detective was a 15-minute radio series which aired Sunday afternoons at 2:45pm on the Mutual Broadcasting System from October 3, 1948 until April 3, 1949.

The series, starring Ed Jerome as "the world's greatest living magician," was based on real-life magician Harry Blackstone Sr. Storylines usually opened with Blackstone (Jerome) telling his friends John (Ted Osborne) and Rhoda (Fran Carlon) about an experience from his past, and this mystery story was then dramatized in a flashback. At the end, Blackstone challenged the audience to find a solution to the magical mystery. Each show concluded with Blackstone outlining a trick that listeners could perform for the amusement of their friends.

The show usually opened with Blackstone (Ed Jerome) and his assistant Rhoda Brent (Fran Carlon) talking with a friend of theirs, either Don Hancock or Alan Kent (played by the episodes' announcers in-character as themselves) or John (Ted Osborne). A past adventure of Blackstone's would come up in conversation, and that mystery story was then dramatized as a flashback.

After the mystery's climax, the narrative returned to the three main characters as Blackstone performed a magic trick. After a commercial break handled by the announcer, Blackstone returned to explain the trick so that listeners could perform it for their friends' amusement.

Batman and the adventures of Superman

Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a fictional comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger and published by DC Comics. The character made his first appearance in Detective Comics 27 (May 1939). Batman's secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a wealthy industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist. Witnessing the murder of his parents as a child leads him to train himself to physical and intellectual perfection and don a bat-themed costume in order to fight crime. Batman operates in Gotham City, assisted by various supporting characters including his sidekick Robin and his butler Alfred Pennyworth, and fights an assortment of villains influenced by the characters' roots in film and pulp magazines. Unlike most superheroes, he does not possess any superpowers; he makes use of intellect, detective skills, science and technology, wealth, physical prowess, and intimidation in his war on crime.

The character was an attempt by National Publications to find the success that Action Comics was having with Superman, who first appeared in Action Comics No. 1 in June, 1938. Action Comics and Detective Comics were two of the companies which would eventually form DC Comics in the early 1940s. When the costumed superhero began to fade from popularity, the company rekindled interest in June 1952 by teaming Batman and Superman in Superman 76. In this issue, the two heroes discover each other's secret identities. The pairing was a financial success and would be repeated numerous times over the years in comics.

The Adventures of Superman radio show ran for 2,062 episodes between 1942 and 1951, whereas Batman only had a few scattered episodes on his own. These include the single episode of The Batman Mystery Club and Batman and Robin's Christmas Carol Caper. However, Superman on the radio needed the help of the Caped Crusader and his sidekick Robin on several occasions. To be sure, Batman was more likely to be written into the plot when Superman star Bud Collier was due for some time off, but Batman was an important part of Superman's radio world.

Batman becomes part of more than a dozen Superman story arcs, each from five to thirty five episodes long, making the Caped Crusader nearly as important to The Adventures of Superman as Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.

One element of Batman, which does not make it to The Adventures of Superman, is the Caped Crusader's Rogues Gallery. For the most part, Batman's enemies do not possess any superpowers. They are however costumed criminals with strong ties to organized crime. The most recognizable is The Joker. A fall into a vat of dangerous chemicals had bleached The Joker's skin a clown white, turned his hair permanently green, and forced his bright red lips into an eternal grin. Nick Carter, Master Detective goes up against a villain very similar to the Joker in "The Case of the Poker Murders". The bad guy is the Ace of Spades, who names his henchmen for playing cards and leaves a face card whenever he strikes.

The collection also contains the complete story lines of Adventures of Superman in which Batman or Bruce Wayne make an appearance. The collection also contains two rare recording: A Baman Christmas special and an audition program from 1950 of "Batman Mystery Club".

Sherman H. Dryer

Dryer was in the leadership of the Minnesota Daily, headed a new literary magazine, and worked at the campus radio station WLB. He was a political activist in the politically progressive Minnesota Student Alliance. He was one of the leaders of efforts to allow students to be able send mail to student mail boxes, something Dean Edward Nicholson blocked. Chase described him as “Jew. Communist. Agitator and Publicist.”

Dryer was a speechwriter for Governor Elmer A. Benson and active in the Farmer-Labor Party. He was smeared by Ray Chase in his Red- and Jew-baiting campaign against Benson in the 1938 gubernatorial race. Dryer went on to a distinguished career in radio and received a 1941 Peabody Award for the University of Chicago’s “Round Table of the Air.” He produced a number of science fiction type programs through the 1950s.

2000 Plus aired to radio audience on March 15, 1950.  The shows were written in house from original material rather than from science fiction authors or classic stories.  Most of the show was written and produced by Sherman H. Dryer with the help of Robert Weenolsen; many episodes revolved around the follies of space travel, science, and technology. 

Lon Clark

Lon Clark was born on January 12, 1912 and was a New York City radio actor.

Clark was born in Frost, Minnesota. As a young man in Minnesota, Clark studied at the MacPhail Music Center in Minneapolis. He began as a musician and actor in traveling tent shows, followed by a stint at the Cincinnati Summer Opera. After participating in radio dramas in Cincinnati, he came to New York during the 1940s and his rich baritone voice quickly led to roles on network radio.

He had the lead role in Nick Carter, Master Detective on the Mutual Broadcasting System from 1943 to 1955. Nick Carter's scripts were by Alfred Bester and others. Clark also played the district attorney on Front Page Farrell.

Clark was also a familiar voice on shows such as the weekday series Mommie and the Men, the frontier adventure series Wilderness Road, the World War II dramas Words at War (1943–45), and Soldiers of the Press (1942–45), the quiz show Quick as a Flash, the soap opera Bright Horizon, the science fiction series 2000 Plus and Exploring Tomorrow, Lights Out, The Mysterious Traveler, The Kate Smith Hour, The March of Time, The Adventures of The Thin Man and Norman Corwin presents., performing alongside artists such as Fred Allen, Art Carney, Helen Hayes and Orson Welles.

Clark returned to the stage in his later years, replacing Jason Robards in the 1956 Broadway production of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night. He returned to Broadway in the short run of Sidney Sheldon's Roman Candle with Inger Stevens and Julia Meade.

He died at St. Clare's Hospital in Manhattan on October 2, 1998. He survived by his wife, Michelle Trudeau Clark; two sons, Lon Jr. and Stephen, a brother, Gerald, and a grandson.

2000 Plus

2000 Plus was an American old-time radio series that ran on the Mutual Broadcasting System from March 15 1950 to January 2, 1952, in various 30-minute time slots. A Dryer Weenolsen production, it was the first adult science fiction series on radio, airing one month prior to the better-known Dimension X.

2000 Plus was an anthology program, using all-new material rather than adapting published stories. The series was the creation of Sherman H. Dryer (1913–1989) who scripted and produced the series with Robert Weenolsen (1900–1979).

Sherman H. Dryer directed members Lon Clark, Joseph Julian, Henry Norell, Bill Keene, Bryna Raeburn and Amzie Strickland and others. Ken Marvin was the program's announcer, and the sound effects were by Adrian Penner. Emerson Buckley conducted the music composed by Elliott Jacoby. 

The nature of the series is indicated in the titles of 1950 episodes: "The Brooklyn Brain", "The Flying Saucers", "The Robot Killer", "Rocket and the Skull", "A Veteran Comes Home", "Men from Mars", "When the Machines Went Wild", "When the Worlds Met", "The Insect", "Silent Noise", "The Green Thing", "The Giant Walks", and "Worlds Apart". There are 32 known episodes, and only some of these – up to 15 (or,more) – have survived.

The Man Called X

The Man Called X began as an eight-week series for CBS, airing from July 10 to August 28, 1944. It was picked up by the Blue Network, and ran for about six months there from September 9, 1944 through March 3, 1945. After that, The Man Called X found its final home at NBC where the series was a summer filler for the Bob Hope Show in 1945 and again in 1946. In 1947, The Man Called X finally became a regular part of the NBC lineup. It was broadcast on a variety of days and times, mostly Friday and Saturday evenings, for another seven years. The final radio show was broadcast on May 20, 1952. It was picked up as a television show in the early 1950s starring Barry Sullivan, but it did not have a long run.

The Man Called X starred British-born actor, Herbert Marshall as sophisticated Ken Thurston, undercover international troubleshooter for a mysterious American governmental agency. He is aided and abetted by that shady character Pegon Zeldschmidt played by Leon Belasco. The Man Called X was underwritten by various companies, most notably Frigidaire and General Motors as dual sponsors. The show was directed by Jack Johnstone, and Johnny Green is credited with its music.

Cliff Carpenter

Cliff Carpenter is a well-known American actor, with a career that lasted more than two decades. He was born on 2 March 1915 and raised in the United States and showed an interest in acting from a very young age. His first roles were in school plays and local theater productions, which honed his skills and put him on the path to a successful career. His natural talent, combined with hard work and dedication, propelled him to the big screen and into the hearts of film viewers around the world.

Carpenter's acting career began in the late 1990s, where he got her first role in a local theater production. From there, he went on to appear in numerous films, television shows, and commercials. His versatility as an actor allowed him to play a variety of roles, from protagonist to villain, and everything in between. Carpenter has proven his talent in a wide range of genres such as drama, action, comedy, and romance.

In 1937, Carpenter began his professional career on the radio show Terry and the Pirates. He provided the voice for the main character Terry Lee. He also played Curtis Bassett in the radio serial drama Prairie Folks.

Throughout his career, Cliff Carpenter has been recognized for his acting ability, winning numerous awards and recognitions. His performances have earned him critical acclaim and he has been a favorite among audiences around the world. Carpenter has worked with a number of notable actors and directors, and their collaborations have resulted in some of the most memorable films of our time. As an actor, he has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and has set a standard for young actors to aspire to.

In addition to his acting career, Cliff Carpenter has also been involved in philanthropic work. He has supported several charities, including those focused on children's well-being, education and the arts. Carpenter is a true inspiration, and his dedication to his craft and his community has made him one of America's most beloved celebrities.

He died on 9 January 2014 in Pawling, New York, USA.