Classic Streams: Old Time Retro Radio Dwight Allen

So, there was this show called The Adventures of Sam Spade. It started as a summer series on ABC in 1946 and quickly became a regular fall lineup on CBS. Howard Duff played the title role, and he was a San Francisco detective who was a total badass.



The show was created by William Spier, who was a bigwig in the radio world. He put together a writing team, and they came up with all sorts of crazy stories for Sam to solve. Duff had a great voice, and his narration was smooth as butter. Plus, he had a lot of experience as an actor, so he knew how to bring the character to life.



The show was a hit with listeners, and it ran for five seasons. It was one of the most popular detective shows on the radio, and it helped to define the genre. Duff became a household name, and he was even offered a movie contract.



But eventually, Duff left the show to pursue other projects. NBC replaced him with Stephen Dunne, but it wasn't the same. Dunne was a good actor, but he just didn't have the presence that Duff did. The show limped along for a while, but it was eventually canceled in 1951.



It's a shame that The Adventures of Sam Spade didn't last longer. It was a great show, and it's still fondly remembered by many old-time radio fans.


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Have Gun - Will Travel was a popular show, and it was nominated for a number of awards, including the Emmy Award for Outstanding Western Series. It won the award in 1960."Have Gun Will Travel" is a Western TV series that aired on CBS from 1957 to 1963. It follows the adventures of Paladin, a gentleman gunfighter who roams the Old West helping those in need. The show, created by Sam Rolfe and Herb Meadow and starring Richard Boone, was a critical and commercial success, known for its unique blend of action and moral complexity. It also spawned a successful radio adaptation. The title is a variation on a newspaper personal ad cliché, popularized by the show in the 1950s and 1960s. Set in an unspecified period in the Old West, Paladin, despite his gunfighter skills, is portrayed as a complex character with a strong sense of justice. The show features recurring characters like his loyal sidekick, Hey Boy. "Have Gun - Will Travel" received award nominations and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Western Series in 1960.


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The Life of Riley is an American radio situation comedy series that aired from 1944 to 1951. It was adapted into a 1949 feature film, a 1950s television series, and a 1958 comic book. The series follows the life of Chester A. Riley, a wing riveter at the fictional Cunningham Aircraft plant in California. Riley is a bumbling but lovable character who is always getting into trouble. He is married to Peg, who is the voice of reason in the family. The series also features Riley's co-worker Jim Gillis, Riley's mother-in-law, and Riley's daughter, Babs. The Life of Riley was a popular series that was praised for its humor and its realistic portrayal of working-class life. The series was also notable for its catchphrase, "What a revoltin' development this is!"

The series was created by James Thurber and Elliott Nugent, and it was produced by Fred Coe. The show was originally broadcast on NBC, and it was later syndicated. The series was a critical and commercial success, and it won several awards, including the Peabody Award and the Emmy Award. The Life of Riley was one of the most popular radio shows of the 1940s and 1950s, and it helped to popularize the situation comedy genre.


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The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas originating in 1930s pulp novels and later expanding to various media. The titular character has been featured in radio dramas, pulp magazines, comic books, television, serials, video games, and films. Initially created as a radio show narrator, The Shadow was developed into a literary character by Walter B. Gibson in 1931. The radio drama, featuring Orson Welles, premiered in 1937. The Shadow character was depicted as having the power to manipulate men's minds, making them unable to see him. The radio program's iconic introduction, voiced by Frank Readick, and accompanied by a musical theme, has become a part of American idiom. Each episode concluded with a reminder that crime does not pay and The Shadow knows.


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Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by Jack Boyle. He was originally a jewel thief and safecracker, but he became a detective in adaptations for films, radio, and television. He is known as "an enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend."

Boston Blackie is a complex and interesting character. He is a thief, but he is also a good person who helps those in need. He is always up for a challenge, and he always tries to do the right thing.

Chester Morris was the best-known actor to play Boston Blackie, starring in 14 Columbia Pictures films and a 1944 NBC radio series. The radio series was also successful, and it was revived in 1945 with Richard Kollmar in the title role.

Boston Blackie has been enjoyed by audiences for decades. He is a popular character who has been featured in many different media. He is a classic character who will continue to be enjoyed for years to come.


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"Suspense" was a radio drama series that captivated audiences from 1940 through 1962 during the Golden Age of Radio. Often subtitled "radio's outstanding theater of thrills," this program was a shining example of suspense thriller entertainment. It specialized in delivering heart-pounding stories, typically featuring some of the leading Hollywood actors of its era. With an impressive total of approximately 945 episodes aired over its lengthy run, "Suspense" remains an enduring classic, with over 900 episodes still in existence.


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