One of the longest running old radio shows, The Whistler anthology enjoyed 13 years of airtime beginning on May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955; and was sponsored by Signal Oil Company. Sadly, from a total of 692 episodes, over 200 of them have been lost to us. In the golden age of radio, The Whistler was popularized as a mystery drama that dealt with man’s encounters with the horrors lurking in the dark. In fact, during the program’s early years, writer-producer J. Donald Wilson set the tone for the series using tales of the macabre and absurd in a tried and tested formula that captured and held America’s attention. The directors who followed in his wake used the same plot devices wherein the antagonist would fall prey to his own stupidity, and the hero would usually meet a good ending arising from an ironic twist of fate. Bill Forman was the most notable narrator among the radio hosts that portrayed The Whistler. The classic line: "I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak," is one that will forever be remembered in the annals of old time radio.
Embark on an epic adventure and enjoy the strange tales of The Whistler!
| Air Date |
Title |
Synopsis |
| 1949-05-01 |
E364 Solid Citizen |
CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "Solid Citizen". A storekeeper in a fishing village uses murder to get rid of a competitor for his girlfriend, because no one would suspect such a "solid citizen." See cat. #76143 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. The "Whistler" program of July 1, 1946 (cat. #76550) has the same title, but was a different story. Leona Shirley (writer), Joseph Kearns, Sarah Selby, Ross Forrester, Marvin Miller (announcer), Wilbur Hatch (music), George W. Allen (producer, director). |
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| 1949-05-08 |
E365 Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. A man walking along the street is picked up by a beautiful, rich woman...and finds murder! This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #16759. The script was used previously on "The Whistler" on March 5, 1945 (see cat. #79407) and subsequently on July 29, 1951 (see cat. #93298). Wilbur Hatch (music), George W. Allen (producer, director), Marvin Miller (announcer), Jack Webb, Joan Banks, Hazel Leitel (writer), John Dunkel (writer).
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde". A man walking along the street is picked up by a beautiful, rich woman and finds...murder! See cat. #76091 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. The script was previously used on "The Whistler" on March 5, 1945 (see cat. #79407) and subsequently on July 29, 1951 (see cat. #93298). Jack Webb, Joan Banks, Hazel Leitel (writer), John Dunkel (writer), Marvin Miller (announcer), George W. Allen (producer, director), Wilbur Hatch (music). |
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| 1949-05-15 |
E366 Golden Opportunity |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Golden Opportunity". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. A man kills his wife...with predictable results. Willard Waterman, Monty Margetts, Lois Moran, Wally Maher, Wilbur Hatch (music), Marvin Miller (announcer), Harrison Negley (writer). |
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| 1949-05-22 |
E367 Fatal Fraud |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Fatal Fraud". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. An excellent voice impersonator in Hong Kong joins a scheme to redirect an airplane carrying $250,000. A delightful script for radio. This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #16747. Joel Malone (writer), Adrian Gendot (writer), Paul Frees, Cathy Lewis, Gerald Mohr, George W. Allen (producer, director), Wilbur Hatch (music), Marvin Miller (announcer).
+ CBS net origination, rebroadcast on WRVR-FM, New York. "Fatal Fraud". Participating sponsors. An excellent voice impersonator in Hong Kong joins a scheme to redirect an airplane with $250,000. Syndicated rebroadcast date: January 13, 1975. See cat. #76087 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. Joel Malone (writer), Adrian Gendot (writer), Paul Frees, Cathy Lewis, Gerald Mohr, George W. Allen (producer, director), Wilbur Hatch (music), Marvin Miller (announcer). |
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| 1949-05-29 |
E368 Deal With Death |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Deal With Death". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. Who has tried to murder a reporter? It's the one who's also interested in his wife! Frank Lovejoy, Ted de Corsia, Marvin Miller (announcer), Bill Forman, Steve Hampton (writer), Wilbur Hatch (music), George W. Allen (producer, director). |
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| 1949-06-05 |
E369 Letter To Melanie |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Letter To Melanie". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. A partner in a mine finally meets his penpal girlfriend. She's beautiful and rich! This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #16755. Wally Maher, Edward Marr, Sarah Selby, Marvin Miller (announcer), Wilbur Hatch (music), Joel Malone (writer), Harold Swanton (writer), George W. Allen (producer, director).
+ CBS net origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "Letter To Melanie". A partner in a mine finally meets his penpal girlfriend. She's beautiful and rich! See cat. #76151 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. Joel Malone (writer), Harold Swanton (writer), Wally Maher, Edward Marr, Sarah Selby, Marvin Miller (announcer), Wilbur Hatch (music), George W. Allen (producer, director). |
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| 1949-06-12 |
E370 Perfect Alibi |
+ CBS net. "Perfect Alibi". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. An ex-private eye tries his hand at murder-and-marriage for profit. The script was subsequently used on "The Whistler" on November 2, 1952. James Cullen (writer), Virginia Gregg, Howard McNear, Frank Lovejoy, Jack Webb. |
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| 1949-06-19 |
E371 That Physical Fact |
+ CBS Pacific net. "That Physical Fact". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. A better than average story about three men and a woman who are stranded on a Pacific island. Only two of them have a chance of returning to civilization. This is a network, sponsored version of cat. #16734. Frank Lovejoy, Howard McNear, Don Harvey, James Cullen (writer), George W. Allen (producer, director), Virginia Gregg, Marvin Miller (announcer).
+ CBS net origination, rebroadcast on WRVR-FM, New York. "That Physical Fact". Sustaining. Three men and a woman are stranded on a Pacific island. Only two of them have a chance of returning to civilization. A better than average story. Syndicated rebroadcast date: October 14, 1974. See cat. #61126 for a network, sponsored version of this broadcast. Frank Lovejoy, Howard McNear, Virginia Gregg, James Cullen (writer), George W. Allen (producer, director), Marvin Miller (announcer), Don Harvey. |
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| 1949-06-26 |
E372 Fatal Decree |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Final Decree". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. A complex story of love, marriage, murder and guns...lots of guns! The date is subject to correction. Betty Lou Gerson, Joel Malone (writer), Adrian Gendot (writer), Wilbur Hatch (music), Marvin Miller (announcer), George W. Allen (producer, director), John Hoyt. |
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| 1949-07-03 |
E373 Panic On MulberryStreet |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Panic On Mulberry Street". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. Henry Pettigrew is a mild man who devices a theory of crimes being committed in alphabetical order. This gives him the opportunity to kill the brother of his beloved, but who really kills this obnoxious guy? Marvin Miller (announcer), Wilbur Hatch (music), George W. Allen (producer, director), Wilms Herbert, Sarah Selby, Hal March, Steve Hampton (writer). |
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| 1949-07-10 |
E374 Front Man |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Front Man". Sponsored by: Signal Oil. A respected attorney named Steve Conant refuses to alibi his half brother when he's charged with murder. In fact, Steve is really in the rackets with his half brother, and also in love with the gangster's girl friend! Marvin Miller (announcer), George W. Allen (producer, director), Wilbur Hatch (music), Willard Waterman, Frances Robinson, Wally Maher, Gilbert Thomas (writer). |
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| 1949-07-17 |
E375 Death In 16 Millimeter |
+ CBS Pacific net. "Death In Sixteen Millimeter". Sponsored by: Signal Oil (limerick contest). Paul Benton takes movies of his girlfriend as she murders Paul wife. A good story with several unexpected twists. Ted de Corsia, Virginia Gregg, Jack Petruzzi, Wilbur Hatch (music), Marvin Miller (announcer), George W. Allen (producer, director), Nancy Cleveland (writer). |
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