Audiobooks by Hollywood 360

Classic Radio Spotlights: William Conrad, Vol. 1

William Conrad was a big part of the golden-age of radio. Not only did he star as US Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (five episodes in this collection), but he appeared on hundreds of radio shows during the 1940s and 50s. Here’s sixteen radio broadcasts that either star William Conrad or have him in the supporting cast. You won’t have any problem identifying his deep baritone voice! Strange Wills, 12/7/46 - “Portsmith Square”Favorite Story, 7/17/48 - “The Strange Mr. Bartleby”Rocky Jordan, 5/22/49 - “Desert Betrayal”Box, 13 6/12/49 - “The Dead Man Walks”Screen Director’s Playhouse, 7/8/49 - “The Big Clock”Richard Diamond, Private Detective, 11/12/49 - “$50,000 Heist”The Halls of Ivy, 1/20/50 - “Gangster Money”The Story of Dr. Kildare, 2/15/50 - “Colonel Beauregard, Paralysis”Night Beat, 2/20/50 - “A World All His Own”The Line-Up, 7/27/50 - “The Paradise Murder Case”Escape, 7/11/51 - “The Island”Gunsmoke, 8/9/52 - “The Kentucky Tolmans”Gunsmoke, 8/23/52 - “Shakespeare”Gunsmoke, 11/21/52 - “Fingered”Gunsmoke, 12/13/52 - “Post Martin”Gunsmoke, 12/20/52 Christmas Story

Hollywood 360 (Author), A Full Cast, William Conrad (Narrator)

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The JACK BENNY PROGRAM Vol. 1

Born in Chicago, February 14, 1894, Benjamin Kubelsky would later become known as Jack Benny. As a boy, he was encouraged by his Jewish immigrant parents from Poland to become a concert violinist. He learned to play quite well and hit the vaudeville stage, where he played popular songs and honed a suave-but-fragile personality, telling self-deprecating jokes. Benny guested on Ed Sullivan’s radio show March 19, 1932 and was an instant success. Canada Dry signed him to a contract that same year and soon Jack Benny was broadcasting each week on CBS. His career included several seasons on NBC and then a return to CBS through his final radio days. His all-star supporting cast included his wife Mary Livingstone, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Mel Blanc, Frank Nelson, and announcer Don Wilson. As Jerry Seinfeld would emulate years later on Seinfeld, Benny’s cast received the best jokes—many pointed at the show’s star. Expertly-crafted scripts constantly reminded listeners of Benny’s portrayal of himself as a lovable, vain, miser, concerned about his receding hairline and insistence that he was no older than thirty-nine. His sponsors over the years included Canada Dry, General Tire, General Foods, and the American Tobacco Company. The Jack Benny Program made a successful transition to television with his entire supporting cast in tow. Benny’s radio and television shows entertained audiences for more than three decades and is generally regarded as the high-water mark in twentieth century American comedy. 2/20/49 - “The Horn Blows at Midnight w/ Fletcher Markle and Jack Warner”9/11/49 - “Bus Tour Introduces the Cast”9/18/49 - “Edward My Son”10/16/49 - “Recovering from a Cold”10/23/49 - “Jack is Recovering from Nose Surgery”11/20/49 - “Jack Goes to Rehearsal w/ Ed Wynn”12/11/49 - “Texas Benefit w/ Frank Leahy”1/8/50 - “Drear Pooson Fluff w/ Rosalind Russell, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly”3/5/50 - “Buck Benny Rides Again w/ Sarah Churchill”3/19/50 - “The Champion”3/26/50 - “From Palm Springs w/ Bob Hope”4/2/50 - “From Palm Springs w/ Al Jolson”4/16/50 - “Jack Gets the House Pained w/ Frank Fontaine”5/7/50 - “Jack Buys a New Suit”11/26/50 - “Tries to Buy Tickets to the USC-UCLA Game”12/10/50 - “Murder at the Racket Club”

Hollywood 360 (Author), A Full Cast, Jack Benny (Narrator)

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The Burns & Allen Show, Vol. 2

George Burns and Gracie Allen were one of the biggest comedy duos the world has ever known. Enjoy sixteen of their greatest radio broadcasts! When real life husband and wife George Burns and Gracie Allen worked together in vaudeville, George was the comic and his wife Gracie had the straight lines. They switched their roles upon discovering that Gracie’s delivery got a bigger laugh than George’s punch lines. The duo became a big hit on vaudeville and in films so when radio beckoned, they delivered. Their first regular radio work were as supporting players on CBS’s The Guy Lombardo Show in the 1930s. When Lombardo switched to NBC, George and Gracie took over the show. Early on, the two did not play a married couple on the air. For a long time they continued a ‘flirtation act’ with George as Gracie’s most persistent suitor. But when the show’s ratings began to sag toward the end of the 1930s, George decided it was time their real-life marriage was written into the show. The new format included husband-and-wife characters in a situation comedy setting. George’s instincts were spot-on and The Burns & Allen Show went on to new heights, eventually making a successful transition to television. 9/9/40 - “George Owes Money to the Telephone Company”9/16/40 - “George is Looking for a Guest”10/14/40 - “What’s Wrong with Gracie?”10/21/40 - “Prof. Thorndyke Studies Gracie”10/28/40 - “Tries to Get Out of Doing the Broadcast”11/4/40 - “Tries to Impress Fifi”11/11/40 - “Gracie Writes a Musical”11/18/40 - “Thanksgiving Show”3/3/42 - “Gracie Testifies in Accident Case”3/10/42 - “The Fowlers Won’t Leave”10/3/44 - “Gracie Protects Bill Goodwin from a Gold-Digger”2/5/48 - “Hunting Rabbits for a Fur Coat”2/10/49 - “George and Sam Spade Jailed w/ guest, Howard Duff”5/12/49 - “Worried about TV w/ guest, Marie McDonald”9/28/49 - “Courting Gracie Again”2/8/50 - “Gracie’s Bent Fender”

Hollywood 360 (Author), George Burns, Gracie Allen (Narrator)

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My Favorite Husband, Vol. 2

Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman auditioned for the roles of a married couple in a radio pilot for a new comedy, My Favorite Husband, based on the novel Mr. and Mrs. Cugat by Isabel Scott Rorick. The concept was very well received and within a few weeks the weekly sitcom was established. Bowman was replaced by Richard Denning and during the first season, the Cugats were renamed the Coopers, who lived “in a little white two-story house” in the bustling, small suburb of Sheridan Falls. Sometimes forgetful, always loveable, Liz Cooper was constantly embroiled in situations that took an unexpected turn and showcased Lucille Ball’s flair for comedy and her wonderful sense of timing. Liz was the wacky wife; George Cooper was her ultra-conventional banker-husband. Character actor Gale Gordon, who would work with Ball numerous times over the decades, appeared on a regular basis as Rudolph Atterbury, George’s boss. The program’s sponsor was General Foods, makers of Jell-O. The dessert was heavily promoted during the commercial spots and, predictably, the Coopers’ maid Katy (played by actress Ruth Perrott) always enjoying making Jell-O. Jess Oppenheimer produced and directed the series and wrote most of the radio scripts. When CBS asked Lucille Ball to come up with an idea for a television show, she and Oppenheimer reworked the concept into I Love Lucy, replacing Richard Denning with the comedienne’s real-life husband, Desi Arnaz. Episodes included are: “The Portrait Artist,” “Over Budget—Beans,” “Marriage License Error,” “The Absolute Truth,” “Speech For Civic Organization,” “Valentine’s Day,” “Gum Machine—Demand Your Rights,” “Horseback Riding,” “Time Budgeting,” “Overweight,” “Liz Changes Her Mind,” “The Elves,” “Superstition,” “Is There Another Woman?,” “Liz Teaches Iris to Drive,” and “Liz and the Green Wig.”

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), Lucille Ball, Richard Denning (Narrator)

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Classic Radio's Greatest Science Fiction Shows, Vol. 2

This collection contains twelve episodes from the greatest science fiction shows ever broadcast during the golden age of radio, including a two-part Suspense episode starring Orson Welles written by Curt Siodmak, author of The Wolf Man, one of Universal Pictures' biggest hits. Other classics include stories by H. G. Wells, Robert Heinlein, Frederick Pohl, and Murray Leinster on Dimension X, Escape, and X Minus One. You'll hear radio's finest actors perform before the microphone, including Lawrence Olivier, Raymond Burr, John McIntire, Jeanette Nolan, Daws Butler, Alan Reed, June Foray, Joseph Kearns, John Dehner, Dick Beals, Betty Lou Gerson, and more. Relive twelve of the best science fiction radio shows from yesteryear and the legendary stars that made them great in this incredible collection. Included are the following shows and episodes: Suspense. "Donovan's Brain, Part 1" by Curt Siodmak (18 May 1944) Suspense. "Donovan's Brain, Part 2" by Curt Siodmak (25 May 1944) The Sealed Book. "Beware of Tomorrow" by Robert Arthur and David Kogan (29 Jul 1945) Escape. "Dream of Armageddon" by H. G. Wells (5 Sep 1948) Mysterious Traveler. "The Big Brain" by Robert Arthur and David Kogan (14 Mar 1950) Dimension X. "The Roads Must Roll" by Robert Heinlein (1 Sep 1950) Theatre Royal. "The Country of the Blind" by H. G. Wells (2 Jan 1954) Exploring Tomorrow. "First Contact" by Murray Leinster (15 Jan 1958) X Minus One. "Requiem" by Robert Heinlein (27 Oct 1955) X Minus One. "Tunnel under the World" by Frederick Pohl (14 Mar 1956) CBS Radio Workshop. "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (25 May 1956) CBS Radio Workshop. "A Pride of Carrots, or Venus Well Served" by Robert Nathan (14 Sep 1956)

Hollywood 360 (Author), A Full Cast, A Full Cast, Orson Welles, Orson Welles (Narrator)

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The Whistler, Vol. 3

The Whistler was one of radio's top mystery programs airing from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955, sponsored by the Signal Oil Company. The Whistler was an ominous narrator who opened each episode with: "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." The opening dialog was heard over the echo of footsteps and a haunting signature thirteen-note theme, whistled each week by Dorothy Roberts. The stories followed an effective formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically undone by their own missteps. The Whistler narrated the story, often commenting directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting the criminal from an omniscient perspective. One of the show's trademarks was the ironic twist endings that helped serve as a payoff for the listener. Bill Forman held the title role of host and narrator the longest. Others who portrayed the Whistler include Gale Gordon (later starring in I Love Lucy), Joseph Kearns (Mr. Wilson in television's Dennis the Menace), Marvin Miller (later starring on television as Michael Anthony in The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (The Shadow on radio from 1938 to 1943) and Everett Clarke. The twelve half-hour episodes starring Bill Forman included here with the date of broadcast, are: "Strange Sisters" (28 Jan 1946) "Panic" (4 Feb 1946) "Six Letter Word for Death" (11 Feb 1946) "Murder in Haste" (25 Feb 1946) "Terror Stricken" (8 Apr 1946) "Smart Boy" (15 Apr 1946) "Ambassador of Death" (16 Jun 1947) "Beyond Reasonable Doubt" (16 Jul 1947) "Whispered Verdict" (13 Aug 1947) "Curtain Call" (27 Aug 1947) "A Question of Murder" (4 Aug 1948) "Payment in Full" (1 Sept 1948)

Hollywood 360 (Author), Bill Forman (Narrator)

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Pat Novak, for Hire, Vol. 1

These twelve exciting episodes take you to the San Francisco waterfront as you follow Pat Novak as he solves some shady crimes. Pat Novak, for Hire began in 1946 as a regional radio show produced at KGO in San Francisco and starred Jack Webb in the title role, with scripts by Webb's friend Richard L. Breen. When Webb moved to Los Angeles in 1947, Ben Morris replaced Webb as Novak. In a later network version, Jack Webb resumed the role, along with Breen as scriptwriter. Pat Novak, for Hire lasted until 1949, when Jack Webb turned his attention to the series that would make him a star, Dragnet. The twelve episodes in this collection, with the actor in the role of Pat Novak and the date of its broadcast, are the following: "John Brown Gambling Ring" with Ben Morris (3 August 1947), "The Mysterious Set of Books" with Ben Morris (10 August 1947), "Death in Herald Square" with Ben Morris (30 November 1947), "The Jack of Clubs" with Jack Webb (20 February 1949), "Marcia Halpern" with Jack Webb (27 February 1949), "Reuben Callaway's Pictures" with Jack Webb (13 March 1949), "Rory Malone" with Jack Webb (20 March 1949), "Joe Candano" with Jack Webb (27 March 1949), "Shirt Mix-Up at the Laundry" with Jack Webb (9 April 1949), "Sam Tolliver" with Jack Webb (23 April 1949), "Rita Malloy" with Jack Webb (1 May 1949), "Geranium Plant" with Jack Webb (15 May 1949).

Hollywood 360 (Author), Ben Morris, Jack Webb (Narrator)

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Escape, Vol. 3

Escape was radio's leading anthology series of high-adventure, airing on CBS radio from 1947 to 1954. The series' well-remembered opening combined Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain with an introduction spoken by Paul Frees and William Conrad: "Tired of the everyday grind? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all? We offer you ... Escape!" Following the opening theme, a second announcer, usually Roy Rowan, would add, "Escape-designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half-hour of high adventure!" Many story premises, both originals and adaptations, involved a protagonist in dire life-or-death straits. Actors starring in the series include Victor Mature, Frank Lovejoy, Ed Begley, Parley Baer, William Conrad, Jack Webb, John Dehner, and many others. Music was supplied by Del Castillo, organist Ivan Ditmars, Cy Feuer, Wilbur Hatch, and Leith Stevens.

Hollywood 360 (Author), Full Cast, Full Cast (Narrator)

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Suspense, Vol. 3

Conceived as a potential radio vehicle for Alfred Hitchcock to direct, Suspense was a radio series of epic proportion. It aired on CBS from 1942 to 1962, and is considered by many to be the best mystery/drama series of the golden age. Often referred to as "Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills" it focused on suspenseful, thrillers starring the biggest names in Hollywood. Early in the run, the episodes were hosted by the 'Man in Black' who, from an omniscient perch, narrated stories of people thrown into dangerous or bizarre situations with plots that, at the very end, usually had an unseen twist or two. Hollywood's finest actors jumped at the chance to appear on Suspense, including: Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Alan Ladd, Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis and Orson Welles. Scripts were by John Dickson Carr, Lucille Fletcher, James Poe, Ray Bradbury and many others. Running more than twenty years, Suspense aired nearly 1,000 radio broadcasts. It made the transition to television in 1949, but it was on radio that Suspense enjoyed its glory days. "Suspense was a dramatic anthology series and one of the very best OTR programs, with many episodes still fresh and exciting to listen to today. It was produced by CBS and ran from 1942 to 1962. It drew upon the talents of many of the leading Hollywood stars of the day, such as Orson Welles, Cary Grant, Peter Lorre, and Agnes Moorehead. As the name suggests, Suspense focused mainly on thrillers, but it also offered science fiction, fantasy, and horror tales. Indeed, one of the great strengths of the series was its range of subject matter: one week, the listener would be presented with a chilling ghost story, the next, a hard-boiled detective tale. Episodes were adapted from the works of many of the greats of their respective genres, with stories by as diverse a range of writers as Edgar Allan Poe, Raymond Chandler, John Buchan, and H. P. Lovecraft."-Old Time Radio Review

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), A Full Cast, Cary Grant, Robert Young, Various, Various Narrators, Various Narrators (Narrator)

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Inner Sanctum Mysteries, Vol. 3

Every week, Inner Sanctum Mysteries told a story of ghosts, murderers, and lunatics. Taking its name from a popular series of mystery novels, Inner Sanctum Mysteries debuted over NBC radio's Blue Network in January 1941 and featured one of the most memorable and atmospheric openings in radio history as an organist hit a dissonant chord, a doorknob turned, and a creaking door slowly began to open. Inner Sanctum Mysteries was produced in New York, the cast usually consisting of veteran radio actors, with occasional guest appearances by such Hollywood stars as Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and Claude Rains. What made Inner Sanctum Mysteries unique among radio horror shows was its host, a slightly sinister sounding fellow originally known as "Raymond." The host had a droll sense of humor and an appetite for ghoulish puns, and his influence can be seen among horror hosts everywhere, from the Crypt Keeper to Elvira. Raymond Edward Johnson was the show's host until 1945; Paul McGrath took over as host until the show left the air in 1952. Producer Himan Brown would utilize the creaking door again in the 1970s, when he produced and directed The CBS Radio Mystery Theater. In this collection are the following episodes and the date they aired on radio: "Corridor of Doom" (23 Oct 45) "The Wailing Wall" (6 Nov 45) "Boomerang" (20 Nov 45) "The Dark Chamber" (11 Dec 45) "The Confession" (22 Jan 46) "Death of a Doll" (18 Oct 48) "The Devil's Fortune" (31 Jan 49) "The Unburied Dead" (16 May 49) "The Corpse without a Conscience" (20 Jun 49) "Beneficiary: Death" (17 Apr 50) "No Rest for the Dead" (13 Jul 50) "Twice Dead" (6 Nov 50)

Hollywood 360 (Author), Various, Various Narrators, Various Narrators (Narrator)

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Night Beat, Vol. 2

This radio drama stars Frank Lovejoy in twelve half-hour episodes that aired in 1950, during the golden age of radio. Among several newspaper-based dramas during radio's golden age, Night Beat was a cut above the others. It was the story of Randy Stone, a hard-nosed Chicago Star newsman, and his quest for the human-interest story behind the headlines. Frank Lovejoy starred as Randy Stone, who came to vivid life thanks to expert scripts by Russell Hughes, Larry Marcus, E. Jack Neumann, and John Michael Hayes, who would later write the Hitchcock film classics To Catch a Thief and Rear Window. Lovejoy's distinctive voice and approach to the role, combined with top performances by veteran radio actors, gave Night Beat a noir style that listeners loved. The stories ran the gamut from lighthearted to tragic, and through it all, Randy Stone, in a hard-boiled yet sensitive portrayal, would narrate the story and comment on it from beginning to end-often with a hard-edged cynicism. Night Beat aired on NBC radio from 1950 to 1952. This collection includes the following episodes: The Devil's Bible (24 Jul 50) A City at Your Fingertips (31 Jul 50) Old Blind Pop (7 Aug 50) Gunner's Last Fight (14 Aug 50) Doctor's Secret (21 Aug 50) Old Home Week (4 Sep 50) The Hunter Becomes the Hunted (11 Sep 50) Wanna Buy a Story? (18 Sep 50) A Case of Butter (25 Sep 50) The Kenny Day Amnesia Case (6 Oct 50) Einar Pierce and Family (13 Oct 50) Judge Arnold's Daughter (20 Oct 50) "Night Beat...starred Frank Lovejoy as Randy Stone, a tough and streetwise reporter...It is generally regarded as a 'quality' show, and it stands up extremely well. Frank Lovejoy (1914-1962) isn't remembered today, but he was a powerful and believable actor with a strong delivery, and his portrayal of Randy Stone as tough guy with humanity was perfect. The scripts were excellent, given that they had to cover much in a short time. There was a good supporting cast, orchestra, and sound effects."-Paul Begg, author of Jack the Ripper: The Definitive History

Hollywood 360, Nbc Radio (Author), A Full Cast, Frank Lovejoy, Various, Various Narrators, Various Narrators (Narrator)

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Classic Radio Spotlights: Jack Webb

Jack Webb (1920-1982) was a popular American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter. He started out in the entertainment industry in comedy but achieved his first success playing the title character in the radio show Pat Novak, for Hire. His greater success came from his role as Los Angeles Police Department sergeant Joe Friday in the show Dragnet, which he created based on actual LAPD criminal case files and which ran for many years on both radio and television. This classic radio collection spotlights Jack Webb in episodes from a variety of series from the golden age of radio. The Jack Webb Show: "Slim Slade, Western Bandleader" (17 Apr 46) Suspense: "Murder by an Expert" (24 Jul 47) Escape: "Ring of Thoth" (11 Aug 47) The Whistler: "Meeting on Tenth Street" ( 25 Feb 48) Jeff Regan, Investigator: "The Guy from Gower Gulch" (13 Nov 48) Pat Novak, for Hire: "Watch Wendy Morris" (8 May 49) The Whistler: "The Eager Pigeon" (28 Aug 49) Escape: "Border Town" (13 Dec 49) Escape: "Poison" (28 Jul 50) Pete Kelly's Blues: "Shy Woman" (29 Aug 51) Dragnet: "Big Jolt" (5 Oct 52) Dragnet: "Big Pill" (19 Oct 52)

CBS Radio, Hollywood 360 (Author), A Full Cast, Jack Webb, Various, Various Narrators, Various Narrators (Narrator)

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