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The Cisco Kid was a popular film, radio, television and comic book series loosely based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his short story, “The Caballero’s Way”, published in 1907 in the collection Heart of the West. “The Cisco Kid” came to radio October 2, 1942, and was followed by another Mutual series in 1946, starring Jack Mather and Harry Lang, who continued to head the cast in the syndicated radio series with more than 600 episodes from 1947 to 1956.

The character of Jack “Flashgun” Casey was first penned by former newspaper and advertising executive, George Harmon Coxe, Jr. in the March 1934 issue of Black Mask, the legendary Pulp Magazine. Casey was a cameraman who took photographs that accompanied reporter’s newspaper stories. His keen eye for detail served him well with solving the crimes he was assigned to photograph. “Flashgun Casey” was an instant success with the Black Mask readers and soon made the leap to the silver screen and to radio.

Created by Irving Brecher, the popular family sitcom The Life of Riley featured the comic misadventures of Chester A. Riley, an inept blue-collar factory worker and father of two, played by screen actor William Bendix. Riley’s wife, Peg, tried in vain to prevent her hotheaded husband’s interventions, which usually ended in an embarrassing revelation. With a tendency to try and solve nonexistent problems, Riley sought advice from his best friend, Gillis, but this only led to misunderstandings.

Created by Irving Brecher, the popular family sitcom The Life of Riley featured the comic misadventures of Chester A. Riley, an inept blue-collar factory worker and father of two, played by screen actor William Bendix. Riley's wife, Peg, tried in vain to prevent her hot-headed husband's interventions, which usually ended in an embarrassing revelation. With a tendency to try and solve non-existent problems, Riley sought advice from his best friend, Gillis, but this only led to misunderstandings.

MGM produced 10 successful Maisie movies from 1939 to 1947 starring gorgeous Ann Sothern as Mary Anastasia O'Connor, a brassy but kindhearted Brooklyn burlesque dancer who went by the stage name Maisie Ravier. Along with the Andy Hardy and Dr. Kildare films, the Maisie franchise generated big returns for MGM.

Distinguished Hollywood actor Warren William starred in Strange Wills, a mystery-drama series produced in 1946. William portrayed probate attorney Warren Francis O’Connell, and the stories were told through him as executor of the “strange wills made by strange people.” Strange Wills are stories based upon actual wills gathered from courts from all over the world. Names, places, and time have been changed so that no reflection can fall on any person or persons living or dead. Only the sins remain - deadly sins that cry out from the depths of the grave for vengeance.

Bing Crosby and Bob Hope are heard together and separately in 12 of the greatest shows from the golden age of radio! Bing Crosby and Bob Hope each had long careers in radio, the movies, and on television. They each had their own radio programs and often appeared together during the golden age of radio. Some of the supporting players on these programs include Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake, Judy Garland, Orson Welles, Virginia Bruce, Mel Blanc, Ralph Bellamy, Carole Lombard, and Cecil B. DeMille!

Jack Carson had a long radio career beginning in 1943 and ending in 1956. The Jack Carson Show also made the transition to television in 1954. On the radio and TV series, Carson played himself in a factualized version of his home life. Supported by Agnes Moorehead, Arthur Treacher, Normal Jean Nilsson, Irene Ryan, Jane Morgan, and Mel Blanc, the shows often included guest stars. Now, enjoy 16 half-hour comedy episodes of The Jack Carson Show starring Jack Carson and all his gang.

This collection contains 15 of the greatest drama shows ever broadcast during the Golden Age of Radio - including episodes of and many others. Relive the best radio drama shows from yesterday and the legendary stars that made them amazing in this incredible collection.

The Golden Age of radio had incredible mystery shows that kept Americans glued to their radio sets. Families gathered around their living room radios to hear their favorite Hollywood stars in spine-chilling radio mystery and horror. In this collection of 16 episodes, you’ll hear Lights Out! with Arch Oboler; three episodes of Suspense starring Joseph Cotten, William Powell, and Herbert Marshall; Mystery in the Air starring Peter Lorre; Studio One starring Glenn Ford and Mercedes McCambridge; and many more!

Bing Crosby and Bob Hope each had long careers in radio, the movies, and on television. They each had their own radio programs and often appeared together. This collection contains 10 radio broadcasts, some with Bing and Bob together and others with them appearing separately. Some of the supporting players include Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake, Judy Garland, Orson Welles, Virginia Bruce, Mel Blanc, Ralph Bellamy, Carole Lombard, and Cecil B. DeMille!

Like its predecessor Dragnet, Tales of the Texas Rangers adapted actual police case files for its broadcasts. Leading each week’s investigation of an actual Texas Ranger case was the same Texas Ranger, Jayce Pearson, portrayed by movie star Joel McCrea. Because the stories were set in the present day, Pearson used the latest scientific techniques to identify criminals. Unlike Joe Friday, Pearson didn’t have a regular partner, typically working with the local sheriff instead (who was usually portrayed by Parley Baer).

In 1952, radio program creator Lawrence Klee brought The Chase to NBC radio. Developed as a psychological drama, the premise was that many life situations place their subjects in a chase of one type or another. A chase for fame. A chase from peril. A chase to beat the clock. A chase to escape death. The added twist was the question of, who is the hunter or the hunted in these situations? The scripts were fast-paced, starring top New York talent. The plots focused primarily on fear-inducing pursuits of one form or another.

In 1952, radio program creator Lawrence Klee brought The Chase to NBC radio. Developed as a psychological drama, the premise was that many life situations place their subjects in a chase of one type or another. A chase for fame. A chase from peril. A chase to beat the clock. A chase to escape death. The added twist was the question of, who is the hunter or the hunted in these situations? The scripts were fast-paced, starring top New York talent. The plots focused primarily on fear-inducing pursuits of one form or another.

The Screen Director’s Playhouse came to NBC in 1949 and became one of the top drama anthologies featuring Hollywood actors reprising their screen roles a la Lux Radio Theater. The primary focus of the program was the original movie’s director, who not only served as a guest host but also participated in an interview towards the end of the broadcast. Unlike Lux, which featured Cecil B. DeMille as a regular host, The Screen Director’s Playhouse had a different director every week. Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, and Lewis Milestone were among those appearing.

Created by Blake Edwards (of Pink Panther fame), Richard Diamond, Private Detective came to NBC radio in 1949 starring film actor and crooner Dick Powell. Powell had recently played Philip Marlowe in the popular RKO film Murder, My Sweet and jumped at the chance to play a suave detective on radio. Richard Diamond was a light-hearted New York-based private eye who enjoyed ribbing the cops and singing songs to his millionairess girlfriend, Helen Asher (played by Virginia Gregg). It’s theme, “Leave it to Love,” was whistled by Powell at the top of each episode.

The Cisco Kid was a popular film, radio, television, and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his short story “The Caballero’s Way,” published in 1907 in the collection Heart of the West. The Cisco Kid came to radio October 2, 1942, with Jackson Beck in the title role and Louis Sorin as Pancho. With Vicki Vola and Bryna Raeburn in supporting roles and Michael Rye announcing, this series continued on Mutual until 1945.

In 1935, the DuPont Company chose to enhance its image by dramatizing great events in American history to an audience of millions each week on The Cavalcade of America. “Cavalcade” is a term used to describe pioneers who shaped the way America operates today. DuPont’s motto, “maker of better things for better living through chemistry,” was read at the beginning of each program, and the dramas emphasized humanitarian progress, particularly improvements in the lives of women, often through technological innovation.

On March 19, 1928, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll introduced Amos ‘n’ Andy, which went on to become one of the most popular and longest-running programs in radio history. During the height of its popularity, almost the entire country listened to the 15-minute, Monday-through-Friday adventures of Amos ‘n’ Andy. Department stores piped in the broadcasts so shoppers wouldn’t miss an episode, and movie theaters scheduled their features to end just prior to the start of Amos ‘n’ Andy so they too could pipe it in.

In 1949, NBC brought mustachioed Irish-American actor Brian Donlevy to the radio microphones as international troubleshooter Steve Mitchell in the spy series Dangerous Assignment. Mitchell worked for an unnamed US government intelligence agency whose boss, The Commissioner, dispatched him to world trouble spots. Mitchell’s assignment was to solve problems in record time and in accordance with US interests.