The day that radio drama died?
No. But that's the way it felt.

Listen to Craig Wichman and Dr. Joe Webb discuss this date in radio history, what it meant to classic radio collectors and fans, and what it meant to the art form.

Their discussion is just over one hour. Craig is a New York City-based actor and has been involved in radio dramas that have included recreations at the Friends of Old Time Radio Conventions, productions of the Gotham Radio Players and his own Quicksilver Radio Theater. He is an active member of the legendary Episcopal Actors' Guild of New York City where he met and worked with many of New York radio drama's most famous radio performers. Dr. Joe Webb has collected radio programs for more than 50 years, starting in high school. He was a co-chair of the Friends of Old Time Radio Convention in its early years, a publisher of classic radio newsletters Airwaves and Collectors Corner, and is a regular contributor to the hobby's online forums and social media platforms. He is now best known for his work on the Suspense radio series and collaborations with the Old Time Radio Researchers.

Listen on Soundcloud (click here) or listen on MixCloud (click here)
Listen/download from The Internet Archive FLAC or 64kps mp3 or 128kps mp3
The Internet Archive page September 30, 1962 The Day Radio Died... Or Did It? has the Suspense and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar episodes as well as links to images, documents, and other items related to the podcast.

The last day of network radio drama: Sunday, September 30, 1962

Though Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and Suspense had their last broadcasts on the same day, many listeners were likely surprised the next week when they were not there in their familiar spot. The only clue was that the closing announcements did not say "join us next week." Unlike the broad and detailed newspaper coverage when CBS discontinued radio soap operas in November 1960, very few newspapers reported that September 30, 1962 would be the final day of broadcasts. Trade magazines noted CBS' decision to discontinue the broadcasts in August 1962.

Recordings can be streamed or downloaded; click on the episode titles to hear them:

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Tip-Off Matter
Suspense: Devilstone

Both episodes were written by Jack Johnstone, but he used the monicker "Jonathan Bundy" for the Suspense episode. He had used that name many times before since his name was so strongly associated with YTJD and desired to keep his Suspense association separate and distinct. "Bundy" was a name in his wife's family.

Many CBS affiliates were unhappy with the decision. The network fed reruns to interested affiliate stations for a while, but the number of stations participating gradually declined.

Devilstone -- the last Suspense episode

The script cover shows the program was recorded just a few days before broadcast, on Thursday, September 27, 1962. In this period of the series, the recording session would be about 4 hours, including a "table read." It was followed by a "rehearsal," which would be recorded. Then there would be a final recording. It was often the case that the "rehearsal" recording would be the better of the two recordings. Segments of both would be edited and merged to create the broadcast version.

The cover sheet lacks casting for the lead roles, indicating that the star, Broadway actor Christopher Cary and radio veteran Gilbert Mack were added to the cast later than the others. Note that Ted Osborn (should be Osborne) is in the cast but is announced as "Reynold Osborn." We have no idea why he was using that name, but he used it in the last seasons of Suspense and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, and also in regional summer theater at Bucks County Playhouse (north of Philadelphia). Ted Osborne is the only actor to be in the casts of the first and the last Suspense.

Who was Frank Milano? He was a very successful animal imitator on radio and other productions.

Who made the decision?

CBS Radio was led by Arthur Hull Hayes, and was losing money for a few years. He was quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in an inteview as saying "... if people want drama, television can do it much better." (see the entire interview sourced from newspapers.com [click here])

Radio was certainly going through strong and confusing crosscurrents of economic, social, technological, and political change. The profitability of radio was proving elusive as stations and networks kept looking for a better formula to attract listeners and please advertisers. Television viewership was on a strong uptrend and had the attention of ad agencies and sponsors. Mr. Hayes believed the best response for the radio division was to add more news and keep cutting budgets.

Theater Five

ABC Radio saw an opportunity to take advantage of what they believed was a mis-step by CBS. They proposed a nighttime 5x per week hour-long adult mystery series called "Mind's Eye." The idea was refined through 1963 and early 1964, and resulted in Theater Five. The series was a big investment by ABC, moving in the opposite direction of CBS. In the span of a year, ABC produced 260 episodes of a wide genre range. The program was syndicated until 1969. Its production was top-notch, but the marketing and management of the series was unfortunately not.

A video presentation about T5 was made for the Metropolitan Washington Old Time Radio Club and explained ABC's strategy for the series and its intriguing history. T5 has been unfortunately neglected by many classic radio fans, especially by many of the hobby's pioneer collectors. Now, there is renewed interest in the series. Its story is finally being told, and many of the episodes are now available in much better sound quality. All but four of the 260 episodes have survived.

The "Theater Five Restoration Project" https://sites.google.com/view/t5-project/home
Theater Five episodes https://archive.org/details/T5project

CBS Radio Mystery Theater

Inner Sanctum legend Himan Brown was a producer and director of radio series from soap operas to dramas to kid shows through the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. He finally convinced CBS to take a chance on radio drama once more. In 1973, CBS Radio Mystery Theater came to the air. The series was generally well received, winning a Peabody award, and lasted until 1982. It continued in re-runs several times over the years. The Wikipedia page tells much of the story (click here).

Many classic radio fans had their first experience with radio drama through CBSRMT. This fan website, https://cbsrmt.com/ , is one of the best classic radio Internet destinations for the entire hobby. It has plotlines, casts, biographies, photos, and other detailed information. The site also has recordings of every CBSRMT episode. The series inspired many new classic radio fans to enjoy and explore the art.

How ironic: the very network that gave us "the day that radio died" was the one that played a pivotal role in the return of network drama to the airwaves, and did so for 1,399 episodes!

There are coordinated efforts around the US to research and restore the series. Collectors are assembling aircheck recordings from numerous home recordings from many different radio stations and other sources such as Armed Forces Radio Service transcriptions.

Zero Hour / Hollywood Radio Theater

Rod Serling was a highly regarded and well-known name in drama from the famous Twilight Zone TV series and his lead association with Night Gallery. Bringing his name to "Zero Hour" in a series of weekly 5-part serials gained much attention and credibility in the trade publications and among the listening public. The series attracted many "big names" from TV and movies, supported by some of classic radio's best voices. The serial format did not last, but the series continued in a half-hour format on Mutual.

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zero_Hour_(U.S._radio_series)
RadioGoldindex (click here)
Recordings https://archive.org/details/rod-serling-hour-zero

ad from 1973, source unknown

ad from Broadcasting magazine, July 30, 1973

Jim French Productions: Imagination Theater, Adventures of Harry Nile, and many more

Seattle-area listeners were treated to the work of one of the post-"day radio died" most important initiatives. Jim French began his local productions with Tower Playhouse in 1970 and continued through the turn of the century. He attracted many well-known names to his efforts that he always emphasized as new and not revivals. His productions are getting larger audiences than ever as they are included in the SiriusXM RadioClassics line-up and are being released to a wide audience through Radio Spirits.

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_French_(radio_host)
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagination_Theatre
The official site https://harrynile.com/
Radio Spirits sets https://store.radiospirits.com /search.php?search_query=%22jim%20French%22&section=product

Enjoy the shows even more with Stewart Wright's logs of Jim French Productions

The late Stewart Wright was a master radio researcher. He interviewed French and others involved in the productions and had access to Jim French's files and production materials. Stewart's logs were prepared with great attention to detail and include lots of background information about each series and are highly recommended.

General information http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/jimfrench_sw.log.pdf
Crisis http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/crisis_sw.log.pdf
Dameron http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/dameron_sw.log.pdf
Harry Nile http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/hrynl_sw.log.pdf
Hilary Caine Mysteries http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/hilary_sw.log.pdf
Imagination Theater http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/it_sw.log.pdf
Kerides, the Thinker http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/keri_sw.log.pdf
Raffles, the Gentleman Thief http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/raffles_sw.log.pdf
The Strange Seeker http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/ss_sw.log.pdf
Sherlock Holmes, the Classic Adventures of http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/classicsh_sw.log.pdf
Sherlock Holmes, the Further Adventures of http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/fash_sw.log.pdf
Tower Playhouse http://old-time.com/otrlogs2/tph_sw.log.pdf

Sears Radio Theater

Retailers and other marketers were always seeking ways to engage listeners in an entertaining and unique way. Sears was convinced to support a daily series with well-known hosts that offered a different genre production each day. Radio veteran Elliott Lewis was recruited by CBS to run the series with another radio veteran Fletcher Markle at his side. The series would later leave CBS Network and switch to Mutual. Among the hosts were Richard Widmark, one of Lewis' favorite go-to actors when he produced Suspense in the early 1950s, and Vincent Price. Price loved radio drama so much that in the height of his movie career in the 1950s, he insisted that his movie contracts have no limitation on his radio work. Movie studios would usually insist that they have full control of their stars appearances on television, radio, and stage when their pictures would be released. Price would always have an exemption in his contracts for radio.

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears_Radio_Theater
Recordings https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Sears_Radio_Theater_Singles
RadioGoldindex Sears Radio Theater (click here)

from Broadcasting, February 5, 1979

unknown source

Quicksilver Radio Theater

QUICKSILVER RADIO THEATER is a group of seasoned New York performing artists who are dedicated to using the classic audio drama form (full cast, layered sound effects, and musical score) to present stories worth telling, executed with both talent and heart. Quicksilver premiered on Max Schmid’s Golden Age Of Radio in 1995, and their work has since aired nationally via Public Radio Exchange, RadioWorks, and Quicksilver. They have been heard internationally on the World Wide Web.

Quicksilver has earned awards from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (Gold Reel and Silver Reel), and the National Audio Theatre (Best Script). It has performed by invitation at the Paley Center For Media'a Annual Radio Festival, and its shows are in the collection of the Museum. (The shows are also available on CD at QuicksilverRT@aol.com.)

THE BLUE CARBUNCLE (WBAI) (Listen)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (WBAI; Old Manahawkin Church, N.J./WYRS; St. Rita’s, Staten Island; Episcopal Actor's Guild Hall, at the landmark Little Church Around The Corner in NYC) (Listen)
CHRISTMAS WITH CORWIN AND O’HENRY (EAG Hall)
THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER (OpenHouseNY, Little Church/EAG)
DRACULA (EAG Hall)
FRANKENSTEIN (WBAI; EAG Hall) (Listen)
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK (OpenHouseNY, Little Church/EAG)
JULIUS CAESAR (WBAI) (Listen)
LINCOLN’S LAST DAY (Paley Center; WBAI; Galapagos Art Center, Brooklyn) (Listen)
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (WBAI)
THE SPECKLED BAND (Paley Center; WBAI) (Listen)
TWO BY O’HENRY (OpenHouseNY, Little Church/EAG)
WODEHOUSE IN THE HOUSE (OpenHouseNY, Little Church/EAG)
YOUNG MR. LINCOLN (OpenHouseNY, Little Church/EAG)

For more information: QuicksilverRT@aol.com

Listen to previous Quicksilver presentations at the Public Radio Exchange at https://exchange.prx.org/accounts/45521-wich2/pieces

Craig Wichman's "UNBROKEN Chain Of American Radio Drama For a Century"

as of September 26, 2022 - your additions and revisions welcomed at wich2@aol.com

Starting before September 30, 1962 and continuing through that date

(1924 – Present) Many CHRISTMAS CAROLs, inc. Barrymore, Colman, Rathbone, Chappell Broadcasts and LPs; also new productions with Local/Station casts
(1925 – Present) GRAND OLE OPRY (WSM)
(1931 – Present) THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
(1938 - Present) CBS WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP
(1947 – Present; now Simulcast) MEET THE PRESS (NBC)
(1929 – 1985?) C.P. MACGREGOR SYNDICATIONS
(1937 – 1990s?) CHARLES MICHELSON SYNDICATIONS (big shows, inc: FIBBER, HORNET, GUNSMOKE, etc.)
(1963?) SUSPENSE (continuing CBS Net feed to Stations, per Dr. Joe Webb)
(1944 – 1989) THE ETERNAL LIGHT (NBC) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eternal_Light
(1949 -1966?) YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR (continuing CBS Net feed to Staions, per Dr. Joe Webb)
(1950 – Present) UNSHACKLED (Syndicated) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unshackled!
(1952 - 1969?) SHERLOCK HOLMES (BBC/Hobbs & Shelley, American syndication, British Bank sponsor)
(1955 – 1975) MONITOR (NBC) Inc. short-segment FIBBER, DUFFY’S, BOB & RAY, ETHEL & ALBERT; also X MINUS ONE, Barrymore CAROL LP (possibly several times; 1965 confirmed)
(1956 – 1985) HEARTBEAT THEATRE (MacGregor/Salvation Army)

1960s

(Using many Classic Radio Era Actors, Crews, Studios, Properties)

(1961 – 1962) RADIO NOVELS, THIRTY MINUTES TO GO, THE DOCTOR’S STORY (KNBC; per SPONSOR industry magazine, July, 1962)
(1963 – 1970?) THE BLACK MASS (Pacifica, Eric Bauersfeld; also other Bauersfeld shows) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Mass and https://archive.org/details/blackmassashtree
(1962 - 1963?) GENERAL ELECTRIC STEREO DRAMA (QXR-FM) [hat tip: Jason Merrick OTRR Facebook page for pointing this one out]
(1964?) BIG SISTER, PEPPER YOUNG, THE FAT MAN, others? (NANA - North American Newspaper Association/North American Radio Alliance)
(1964) ARCH OBOLER'S PLAYS (^ Possibly part of above package?) (KHJ, Syndicated? 26 eps., Old & New?)
(1964 - 1965) THEATRE FIVE (ABC)
(!965 - ?) Stan Freberg’s spots (“Giant Cherry In Great Lakes,” etc.)
(1966?) CHICKENMAN (WCFL, Syndicated, Dick Orkin) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenman_(radio_series)
(1968 - 1969) 10 programs on LPs to stations, schools, etc. (WGBH, Boston, one-year funded project, rep group created)
*(1966 – 1968) MGM LPs: OFFICIAL ADVENTURES OF ~ The Shadow (intended for radio, unsold?); Batman and Robin, Superman, Green Hornet; Aquaman/The Green Lantern/The Flash;The Phantom/Mandrake the Magician; Prince Valiant, Flash Gordon (Radio staffs, styles, casts: Peter Fernandez, Corinne Orr, Elaine Hyman, Jackson Beck, Ronald Liss, Brett Morrison, etc. Also bootleg airings?

1970s

(PROPOSED: Fred Berney/Joseph Cotten, Mercury-style Syndicated series)
(1970?) TOOTH FAIRY (Syndicated, Orkin)
(1971 – 1972) THE DEVIL AND MR. O(boler) – Syndicated, Old & New?
(1972 – 1990s?) NPR Earplay (WHA, Madison, Wis.; Syndicated) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earplay
(1973 – 1983) THE PRICE OF FEAR (BBC, U.S. star Vincent Price, U.S. Syndication) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Price_of_Fear_(radio_serial)
(1973 – 1974) ZERO HOUR (Mutual Broadcasting System, Host Rod Serling)
(1973 – 1986) THE NATIONAL RADIO THEATER OF CHICAGO (WFMT/NPR, Yuri Rasovsky) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Radio_Theater
(1974 – 1982) CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATRE (Himan Brown; also NPR, 2000s?)
(1975 - 1976) RADIO PLAYHOUSE (Mutual/WOR/RKO radio)
(1975 - 2018?) MINDWEBS (WERN/WHA/ WMSE, Wisconsin; more Reading w/Music, than Full-cast Drama) https://archive.org/details/MindWebs_201410
(1977 – 1978) THE GENERAL MILLS RADIO ADVENTURE THEATER (CBS)
(1979 – 1981) SEARS/MUTUAL RADIO THEATER (CBS, then MBS)
(1979, and earlier?) LUM & ABNER (Syndicated, w/new Chet Lauck Openings)

1980s

(1981 – 2002) NPR PLAYHOUSE (Doc Savage, Earthsearch, Lord Of The Rings; almost Quicksilver Radio Theater before cancellation, via Programmer Andy Trudeau)
(1981, 1983, 1996) STAR WARS (NPR)
(1982 – Present) CAPE COD RADIO MYSTERY THEATER https://ccrmt.com/
(1983) SIX BY CORWIN (NPR)
(1983) SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (Syndicated, Narrator Orson Welles - his last Radio?)
(1983 - 1984) BRADBURY 13 (KBYU-FM ,NPR Playhouse, Announcer Ray Bradbury; Created by Michael McDonough) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradbury_13
(1984 – Present) CALIFORNIA ARTISTS RADIO THEATRE (KUSC, NPR, Peggy Webber) http://www.cartradio.com/
(1984) AMERICANS ALL (NPR, Hi Brown)
(1984?) OTHER REALITIES (Suzanne Hall, Syndicated)
(1984 – Present) ATLANTA RADIO THEATRE COMPANY (WGST-AM, WABE-FM, Georgia Public Broadcasting)
(1986) CAMPBELL PLAYHOUSE (Syndicated, 26 vintage eps., new Helen Hayes wraparounds/interstitials)

1990s –

(Classic Radio Vets like Arthur Anderson, Lynne Rogers, etc, still hoping: “When Radio comes back…”)

(1991 – Present?) SIMON STUDIOS PRESENTS (WBAI/NPR)
(1991 – Present) GOTHAM RADIO PLAYERS (Recreation of Lost eps., WBAI/Max Schmid, Steven M. Lewis)
(1996 – Present) JIM FRENCH Productions (KIXI, Syndicated; Imagination Theater, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Nile, etc.)
(1995 – Present) QUICKSILVER RADIO THEATER (WBAI, Syndicated, Public Radio Exchange, etc.)
(1993 - 1991) NORMAN CORWIN Specials (NPR)

(Broadcasting Shifting To Webcasting)

2000s –

(2002 – 2012) THE TWILIGHT ZONE RADIO SERIES (BBC, Syndicated) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_Zone_(radio_series)
(See Public Radio Exchange website for much more)

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