Dick Powell stars as Richard Diamond, Private Detective in “The Ralph Baxter Case.”  Originally broadcast on NBC on April 28th, 1950 sponsored by Rexall.  This well written, cleverly acted program features just the right mix of comedy, mystery, and drama.  The show also stars Virginia Gregg as Diamond’s girlfriend, Helen.   The script was written by Blake Edwards of “Pink Panther” fame.

Next, The CBS Radio Workshop, the second generation of excellent dramatic and experimental radio from CBS.. the first being The Columbia Workshop.

This series featured the writing of William Saroyan, Lord Nunsany, Irving Reis, Dorothy Parker, and Norman Corwin.  Actors regularly heard were: Orson Welles, William Conrad, Karl Swenson, Mary Jane Croft, Parley Baer, Stan Freberg, Eric Sevareid, Hans Conreid, Lurene Tuttle and Larry Haynes.  The announcers included Hugh Downs, Stu Metz, and Bob Pfeiffert.   Directors:  Orson Welles, Willian N Ronson, Max Wylie, Douglas Coultier, and Davidson Taylor.

The names listed above include some of the most brilliant and creative talents ever heard on radio.

The series ran from 1936 to 1947, with 1942-46 off during World War II.  In 1956 to 1957 The Columbia Workshop was revived as The CBS Radio Workshop and it is from this revival that tonight’s program comes to you.  It is an adaptation of an 1841 short story by Edgar Allan Poe entitled “Never Bet Your Head. A Moral Tale.”  

This adaptation is renamed “Never Bet The Devil Your Head” and our leading character is Toby Dammit who consistently uses the phrase, “I’ll bet the Devil my head that….” until one day, the Devil takes him up on his offer!   The show stars John Dehener (radio’s Have Gun, Will Travel  Paladin), Eleanor Audley, Dawes Butler, Howard McNeal, Hugh Douglas, Richard Beals, and Alan Botzer.  This program was originally broadcast on CBS on July 28th, 1957.  Don’t miss it… it is classic Audio Theatre at its absolute best.

Bud Abbott (substituting in this program for the ill Bud Abbott is Hanley Stafford) and Lou Costello had a wildly popular comedy variety show in the 1940′s.  Their classic routines were often heard as part of the banter at the beginning of the show… lots of “one-liners” as only Abbott and Costello could deliver them.

Tonight’s show is from March 20th, 1947 and the guest star is the actress-singer Marilyn Maxwell.  Get your smile on…  you are going to need it.

Jim and Marian Jordan are Fibber McGee and Molly and were many most standards two of the most popular comedians on radio from 1935 to 1959. You do not remain on a mass media schedule for twenty-five years unless you are not only talented, but popular.

Tonight’s fifteen minute episode is entitled “Movies are Your Best Entertainment” and was orignally broadcast on NBC on February 19, 1945.

By the way, the program was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1989.

Join host, John Lovering, for two hours of classic old time radio with anecdotal and historical information tossed in for good measure.  Heard locally at 106.1 FM or streaming online at www.wscafm.org and click on “Listen Live”

More information?  http://www.heirloomradio.com/audio_theatre_page.htm

Be Sociable, Share!

•