Author Charles Nicholas created The Blue Beetle, one of the earlier heroes on the comic book series, "Mystery Men" in 1939. Due to the character's popularity, it was first syndicated on print which was followed by a radio program in 1940, and ran parallel to The Blue Beetle's comic book adventures. Actor Frank Lovejoy voiced the masked character's performance for the first 13-episodes. For some reason, credit for the role remained unknown for the rest of the serialization's run. Comared to other old radio shows geared toward the younger audience, The Blue Beetle was relatively short-lived, mainly because the show's story was far simpler than other contemporaries of its time. Each episode consisted of two segments within a 13-minute schedule. As such, there was very little room to develop a more complex storyline and instead, The Blue Beetle only focused on its basic plot which was that of a young police officer instilling fear into the underworld by donning a mask and superhero costume. Through the years, the character has evolved from its original form and may not be familiar to what the comic book readers of today expect of this old time radio crime-fighter.
| Air Date |
Title |
Synopsis |
| 1940-05-15 |
DrugRing Pt 1&2 |
Program #1. Fox Features syndication. "Smashing Dope Ring". Commercials added locally. The standard opening for all episodes is: (three whistles) "The Blue Beetle! (organ music up) Leaping down upon the underworld to smash gangland, comes the friend of the unfortunate, enemy of criminals, a mysterious all-powerful character. A problem to the police, but a crusader for law; in reality Dan Garrett, a rookie patrolman. Loved by everyone, but suspected by none of being, "The Blue Beetle." As "The Blue Beetle," he hides behind a strange mask and a suit of impenetrable blue chain armor, flexible as silk but stronger than steel!" Giving The Green Hornet a run for his money, Dan Garrett's father was killed by "a gangster's bullet." Dr. Franz, an apothecary on a side street, is the only one who knows the secret identity of, "The Blue Beetle." Syndicated in 1938, "The Blue Beetle" also appeared in "Mystery Men" and "Blue Beetle" magazines. The show aired twice a week. Frank Lovejoy played the lead for the first ten episodes, the Police Commissioner sounds like Paul Ford. To make the picture complete, "The Beetle" also uses a magic ray and leaves little blue beetles behind! There is some confusion about the dates for this series. The program was heard twice a week (Wednesday and Friday according to one source). The dates may be recording session dates from the discs, or they may be the dates of first broadcast on a network or station. In fact, the dates may be incorrect and the series was originally heard in 1938. This episode: the origin story. Trying to arrest a dope peddler selling marijuana cigarettes, Dan Garrett is machine-gunned and is near death. Dr. Franz slips him some secret 2X formula and he recovers instantly. He also gains abnormal strength and superhuman vitality. Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
Program #2. Fox Features syndication. "Smashing Dope Ring". Commercials added locally. The Commissioner's daughter is kidnapped by the dope ring, and is rescued by the Blue Beetle. Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford. |
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| 1940-05-17 |
Sabotage&Liquidation Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #3. Fox Features syndication. "Sabotage and Liquidation" Part one. Commercials added locally. A new Army pursuit plane crashes, it looks like an inside job! The Blue Beetle is captured by Capt. X-13, who plans to kill him along with the daughter of the president of the plane company. Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
Program #4. Fox Features syndication. "Sabotage and Liquidation" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle sinks the sabotage ship and rescues the beautiful girl. Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
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| 1940-05-22 |
MurderForProfit Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #5. Fox Features syndication. "Murder For Profit" Part one. Commercials added locally. An industrialist has been murdered on the operating table in hopes of manipulating the stocks of his companies. The Blue Beetle uses Formula X-4 to melt the lock on a suspicious safe. Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
Program #6. Fox Features syndication. "Murder For Profit" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle is captured by the arch-fiend Cochran, who plans to maim him for life! Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
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| 1940-05-24 |
BlastingDynamiteGang Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #7. Fox Features syndication. "Blasting The Dynamite Ring" Part one. Commercials added locally. What is behind the series of explosions plaguing the city? The Octopus strikes! Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
Program #8. Fox Features syndication. "Blasting The Dynamite Ring" Part two. Commercials added locally. The mayor's son has been kidnapped, can nothing save the city from this criminal scum? The Blue Beetle is almost roasted by an electric ray gun! Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
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| 1940-05-29 |
InvisibleGhost Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #9. Fox Features syndication. "The Invisible Ghost" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle tackles a crooked slot machine gang. Dr. Franz is working on an invisibility fluid! Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford.
Program #10. Fox Features syndication. "The Invisible Ghost" Part two. Commercials added locally. An invisible Blue Beetle breaks up a racket with the help of the invisibility fluid. Frank Lovejoy, Paul Ford. |
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| 1940-05-31 |
DeathRidesOnHorseback Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #11. Fox Features syndication. "Death Rides On Horseback" Part one. Commercials added locally. A masked horseman has shot six policeman. The Blue Beetle "borrows" a horse and gives chase. A girl reporter is kidnapped, the Blue Beetle is captured and held in a subterranean cell below the city reservoir and about to be drowned.
Program #12. Fox Features syndication. "Death Rides On Horseback" Part two. Commercials added locally. The head of the gang commits suicide, the Blue Beetle frees the beautiful reporter for the Chronicle.
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| 1940-06-05 |
DeathStrikesFromEast Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #13. Fox Features syndication. "Death Strikes From The East" Part one. Commercials added locally. Tong Wars are being waged in Chinatown. The Blue Beetle looks toward the Orient to battle "The Purple Dragon." Commissioner Warren's daughter has been kidnapped.
Program #14. Fox Features syndication. "Death Strikes From The East" Part two. Commercials added locally. The "Purple Dragon" hosts a Chinese drama, with a human sacrifice for an encore! |
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| 1940-06-07 |
SeaSerpent Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #15. Fox Features syndication. "The Sea Serpent" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle wears Dr. Franz's "Poison Detector Ring" and sets out to investigate reports of a slimy mystery off shore!
Program #16. Fox Features syndication. "The Sea Serpent" Part two. Commercials added locally. Joan Mason, a reporter on The Chronicle, has been kidnapped. The secret of the serpents is revealed! |
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| 1940-06-12 |
FrameUp Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #17. Fox Features syndication. "The Frame Up" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle uses the fluid of invisibility to visit an inmate on Death Row, about to burn for a murder he didn't commit.
Program #18. Fox Features syndication. "The Frame Up" Part two. Commercials added locally. The midget portable sound recording device is used to dismantle a frame! |
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| 1940-06-14 |
SpiritsDontTalk Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #19. Fox Features syndication. "Spirits Don't Talk" Part one. Commercials added locally. A medium named Professor Windrift claims he can speak with the dead. Danny uses the "x-ray camera with the infra-red lens" to photograph a murder.
Program #20. Fox Features syndication. "Spirits Don't Talk" Part two. Commercials added locally. The boss of the spirit racket plans mayhem for the Blue Beetle, but "The Blue Beetle Knows Everything." |
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| 1940-06-19 |
ThoroughbredsAlwaysComeThrough 1&2 |
+ Program #21. Fox Features syndication. "Thoroughbreds Always Come Through" Part one. Commercials added locally. A long-shot named "White Star" wins an important race, then the jockey is arrested!
Program #22. Fox Features syndication. "Thoroughbreds Always Come Through" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle visits the track, with a little paint remover. The Beetle gathers evidence with his "portable television set" (actually a camera and transmitter combined!). |
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| 1940-06-21 |
SmashingArsonRing Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #23. Fox Features syndication. "Smashing The Arson Ring" Part one. Commercials added locally. A one-armed man is the clue to a burn-for-profit scheme.
Program #24. Fox Features syndication. "Smashing The Arson Ring" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle uses his "portable wireless telephone" and his "ray gun" to call for help from the bottom of a barge being filled with sand. |
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| 1940-06-26 |
RoundingUpPayrollBandits Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #25. Fox Features syndication. "Rounding Up The Payroll Bandits" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle kills one of the gang holding up payrolls, but he also learns the first name of the leader of the gang.
Program #26. Fox Features syndication. "Rounding Up The Payroll Bandits" Part two. Commercials added locally. The head of the gang is surprisingly revealed by the Blue Beetle. The gangster then commits suicide! |
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| 1940-07-03 |
Crime Incorporated Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #27. Fox Features syndication. "Crime Incorporated" Part one. Commercials added locally. The "Overlords Of Crime" are planning to form a syndicate. The Blue Beetle infiltrates the gang and is hired by them to imitate...the Blue Beetle!
Program #28. Fox Features syndication. "Crime Incorporated" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle is unmasked and shot, but it's only a flesh wound. The "Magic Ray" helps the Blue Beetle break up the gang. |
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| 1940-07-10 |
SavedByAHair Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #29. Fox Features syndication. "Saved By A Hair" Part one. Commercials added locally. A dead cop provides the clue to a gang victimizing parolees. The Blue Beetle is captured and arrested!
Program #30. Fox Features syndication. "Saved By A Hair" Part two. Commercials added locally. A gang threatens the parole commissioner's daughter by tying her to a log and pushing her through a buzz saw! |
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| 1940-07-17 |
FinesseInDiamonds Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #31. Fox Features syndication. "Finesse In Diamonds" Part one. Commercials added locally. A genuine costumed hero of the comics on radio. The first episode of the story in which the Beetle tackles a stolen diamond case.
Program #32. Fox Features syndication. "Finesse In Diamonds" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle recovers the Bannister diamonds, worth half a million dollars! |
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| 1940-07-24 |
Sabotage Incorporated Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #33. Fox Features syndication. "Sabotage Incorporated" Part one. Commercials added locally. The only suspect in a murder case is an anthropologist with an air pistol that fiendishly shoots a suffocating gas.
Program #34. Fox Features syndication. "Sabotage Incorporated" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle strikes another blow for law and order. |
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| 1940-07-31 |
SmashingRestaurantRacket Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #35. Fox Features syndication. "Smashing The Restaurant Racket" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle tackles a restaurant protection gang.
Program #36. Fox Features syndication. "Smashing The Restaurant Racket" Part two. Commercials added locally. An aerial chase in an airplane piloted by the mayor himself puts an end to the head of the restaurant racket. |
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| 1940-08-07 |
TwoRacketsInOne Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #37. Fox Features syndication. "Two Rackets In One" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Modern Trucker Protective Association and a poultry racket means double trouble for York City. The Blue Beetle is captured by a Mexican bandito!
Program #38. Fox Features syndication. "Two Rackets In One" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle steals a bombing plane and attacks the leader of the rackets. |
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| 1940-08-14 |
UnderworldGoesUnderground Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #39. Fox Features syndication. "The Underworld Goes Underground" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle goes underground to find out why so many accidents are plaguing a tunnel project.
Program #40. Fox Features syndication. "The Underworld Goes Underground" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle breaks out of a decompression chamber and breaks up the racket. |
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| 1940-08-21 |
DancingGhostOfRockyHill Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #41. Fox Features syndication. "The Dancing Ghosts Of Rocky Hills" Part one. Commercials added locally. A ciphered message to the Blue Beetle sends him to a haunted house to investigate.
Program #42. Fox Features syndication. "The Dancing Ghosts Of Rocky Hills" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle solves the mystery of the dancing ghosts and a counterfeiting ring too! |
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| 1940-08-28 |
WhaleOfPiratesFolly Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #43. Fox Features syndication. "The Whale Of Pirate's Folly" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle tracks down a gang of smugglers and is thrown into the harbor, tied up in a net and left unconscious.
Program #44. Fox Features syndication. "The Whale Of Pirate's Folly" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle captures a submarine disguised as a whale being used by smugglers! |
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| 1940-09-04 |
AsylumOfDoctorDrear Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #45. Fox Features syndication. "The Asylum Of Dr. Drear" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle is captured while trying to free a banker being kept imprisoned in an insane asylum.
Program #46. Fox Features syndication. "The Asylum Of Dr. Drear" Part two. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle escapes from a straight jacket and frees the banker. |
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| 1940-09-11 |
JewelMysteryOfChannel Island Pt 1&2 |
+ Program #47. Fox Features syndication. "The Jewel Mystery Of Channel Island" Part one. Commercials added locally. The Blue Beetle begins an investigation of jewel robberies on an island resort.
Program #48. Fox Features syndication. "The Jewel Mystery Of Channel Island" Part two. Commercials added locally. Recovering from a hundred foot jump into the sea, the Blue Beetle captures the jewel thief. The last show of the series. |
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