Radio Retropolis

A call comes in on a man after suffering a heart attack had died after he had fallen and fractured his skull. However, there is someone who knows more to the story that this man's death.  Commentary on actor Sammy Ogg who co-starred in this episode.  Plus actress June Whitley.

Last time, Kent and Lewis found themselves courting danger as they investigate a car that was pushed into the water.  Little do they know that Deutch has them in his sights.  Commentary on the maturity of the characters and the actors now fully understanding their roles.

Lamont and Margo investigate a mad scientist who uses a rival scientist's mechanical robot to take revenge on those who turned down his invention.  Commentary on the origin of the word robot, how this episode and other works of art accurately depicted what our technical future would be.  We also take a look at Fritz Lang's Metropolis.

Lois Lane is in grave danger as she types her report on Deutch not knowing there's a bomb set to explode the moment she types in the word DEUTCH. Commentary on the brief return of Lois Lane.

A man who was a witness to his friend's murder in Mexico who escaped back to the border tells Friday and Smith the shaky accounts of what he remembers.  Commentary on the unusual story line not common with other Dragnet episodes.  Plus a look at the tragic life of Mario Lanza who's radio show was promoted in this broadcast.

After saving the Grayson submarine, Clark is requested back to the naval base from Commander Leeds to help catch Dr. Deutch.  But Deutch has other plans that puts someone at the Daily Planet in grave danger.  Commentary on the evolution of Perry White.

Lamont and Margo find themselves at an old castle after having car trouble.  There they meet a woman who is later threatened with being committed as mentally ill for claiming to see and hear strange things. Commentary on the comparisons between this script and the classic story Gaslight.

Deutch and Hans made their escape and now begin plans to exact their revenge. Commentary on how this serial leads into the next with Dr. Deutch.

Stolen blank business checks are being passed in supermarkets around the city by a man who died six months ago.  Commentary on real check cashing schemes of the early 50s.  Plus, a look at the colorful career of tonight's guest star Cliff Arquette who would become a fixture in our pop culture heritage.

Superman is on a massive search for the Grayson Submarine which is hours away but he has no idea in which direction and he must go to reach it in time to save Perry and Lois before Dr. Deutch torpedoes it. Commentary on the "super" abilities of Clark Kent.

In our last episode, we learned of Dr. Deutch's evil plot as both Perry White and Lois Lane find themselves in grave danger.  Commentary on the Nazis signing and breaking treaties with the most famous being the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact.  

Fingerprints of a knife thrower, who was executed eight years earlier, are found in a room and on the dead body. When the killer strikes again, the same fingerprints are found at the scene.  Commentary on why this episode is one of the strongest of the season, thanks to writer Sidney Sion, who also created another villainous character for The Shadow which was the inspiration for another iconic villain-The Joker!

Last time Clark forced the commander to release him through the escape hatch to helps save the trapped subs below. The commander unaware Kent is Superman is sure he led Kent to his death. More commentary of the innuendos used by the protagonists that identify these are Nazis without stating as such.

The body of a dead man had been beaten to death with a concrete block in a vacant lot. Commentary on the humor written between Friday and Smith.  Plus a look at guest star Gwen Delano and today's Frank Smith, Ken Patterson.

Perry gets a call that the Grayson submarine was stuck at 350 feet and that Clark is trapped on another submarine 250 feet below the surface.  Commentary on why the word Nazi could not be used in any of these dramatic programs in mid 1941.

A carnival fun house is a front for a kidnapping ring.  Commentary on writer Jerry Devine and the formulaic scripts commissioned by Tuttle for this season's episodes.

The submarine carrying Clark who is writing a story on the US Navy attempting new submarine depth record is stuck by some mysterious force under water. Commentary on submarines used by the US during WWII as well as the record breaking drive by Titanic director James Cameron.

An elderly diamond salesman is beaten and robbed of $100,000 in unset diamonds.  Commentary on writer John Robinson, who goes by a more familiar name in real life, as well as look into the early life of Jack Webb.

Jimmy and Clark are still trapped in the cabin as Pug gives Kent the opportunity he needed to become Superman to free everyone.  In the meantime Pug was last seen clinging to the side of the ship sure to fall into the dark sea if Superman doesn't get him in time.  Commentary on a new superpower Superman has discovered that will become his trademark power from this point forward.

A small time megalomaniac has grand delusions of ruling the city by more primal means resulting in fear and murder.  Commentary of the poorly timed and mischaracterized humor in this script and the quest to make the the series lighter under new producer William Tuttle.

Pug is following the old lady, who is really one of our foreign saboteurs in disguise, as she leads him to her cabin where they are holding Kent, Jimmy and ship passenger Mrs. Barrington hostage until they can blow up the ship at midnight.  Commentary on the foreign accents used that closely resembled German and why that was as such.

Two armed men hold up a restaurant in the city in which the elderly owner is severely beaten and his diamond signet ring taken.  Commentary on the 1952 Republican and Democratic National Conventions which preempted Dragnet for the last two weeks.

Clark, Jimmy and ship passenger Mrs Barrington are the captives of the two foreign saboteurs who are planning to sink this ship along with the cargo and everyone aboard tonight at midnight.  Will Clark risk revealing himself as Superman?  Or will he find another way to stop them from blowing up the ship?

Jimmy over hears a Morse code transmission from the next cabin from one of the passengers on the ship who seems to know quite a bit about where the ship will be at midnight.  Commentary on the importance, past and present, of the Morse code.

A racket king disappears and is thought dead. His business partner is suspected by Lamont Cranston who investigates a funeral home as The Shadow.  We seem to be obessed with death in our titles lately with the last podcast had Conversation with Death, the one before was Can The Dead Talk?  This episode seems like the answer to that question.  Commentary on the success of Blue Coal sales because of The Shadow as they begin a third season with the show.  Plus. we welcome Marjorie Anderson as the new Margot lane taking over for Agnes Moorehead. Anderson will remain thro...

When we last checked in, Jimmy and Pug decided to sneak below and check out this mystery cargo which collapsed over Pug suffocating him.  Commentary on Clark's patriotism as well as Superman always needing to save Jimmy from certain death.  Plus, a warning about nitrates in our every day life.

A young man found hiding in a freight car in a deserted train yard who is holding the dead body of a woman refuses to talk. Commentary on the well executed one way dialogue given by Jack Webb in Act 1.  Plus, we look at the sadness of the episode and the real life connection in the death of actor Kristoff St. John.

With the saga of the treasure map officially over, Clark, Jimmy and Pug embark om a new ship headed for Metropolis.  But before they board, Clark has been given a stern warning that he should get off this ship for his own good.  Commentary  on Gallop Poll on this day regarding Americans position on war in Europe.

One man's hatred of another man whom he believes stole his woman becomes a torturous reality for the second man in a most hideous death ever planned. Commentary on how executions of being buried alive were carried out.  Plus we talk about Agnes Moorehead not being quite done yet with The Shadow.

As Jimmy and Pug climb aboard Carlos' fishing boat to steal back the treasure map, the boys find that time ran out for them as the boat disembarks for the island. Will they get the map and escape a horrible fate?  Will they just stay lost at sea?  Or will Superman save the day?

This special episode tells three tales of life and death in the city of Los Angeles one Fourth of July weekend.  Commentary on Webb pal Harry Bartell and an examination of why one crucial scene, in which Friday did not deliver, but Bartell's character did.  Also, why Stacy Harris, known for his aggressive roles, excels here as the father of the boy who was at the center of one story's tragedy.

Pug had grand illusions to steal the map from Kent as a gag.  But unbeknownst to him, others are planning to do the same thing at the same time which puts Pug's life in dire straits. Commentary on the derogatory term half breed used against the villain.

Lamont Cranston dies so that The Shadow can go undercover to battle a super-villain who has discovered his secret identity. Commentary on how the science fiction of yesterday became the science fact today as we learn a new power of the Shadow.  Plus,a look at the 1939 ratings and which show was number one.  We end with a salute to Agnes Moorehead in her final episode as Margo Lane.

Clark, Jimmy and young Pug prepare to head back to Metropolis by ship after their harrowing experience with the Clara M and the treasure map. But they are once again in serious danger when two nefarious fellows learn Kent has a valuable treasure map in his possession and make plans to steal it.  Pug also has plans which puts him in great danger.

An unidentified man is abducted from a downtown street where blood stains are found on the sidewalk. The abductors escaped in a gray sedan which turns up later also containing matching blood stains.  Commentary on Jack Webb's working style and the sci-fi icon who launched his career adapting real police stories into Dragnet scripts.

JR wraps season 11 and shares what to expect this summer and what will be new for the start of season 12 in September!

A vicious convict is released from jail and goes after the man who put him behind bars -- The Shadow.  Commentary on North and South Brother Islands in the East River by the Bronx as the source locations most likely used for this episode.   Plus we look at the raw brutality of the lead villain which we see more in this season as well as Agnes Moorehead not being available for this episode.

An impatient wife who has had enough of her invalid husband who just won't die on his own decides to murder him.  JR speaks on the controversial life of star Joan Fontaine.

Someone killed Claudia's first husband…and then her second.  When she picks up a mysterious hitchhiker on the side of the road who seems to know all about her, she is convinced she's the next to die unless she can secure the police to nab him before he tries to murder her.  Commentary on tonight's stars Everett Sloane and Wendy Barrie.

Lamont Cranston and Margot Lane overhear a shortwave radio message of an international spy who is planning to steal a new warplane. Commentary on how Hollywood represented zombies and how this episode takes real voodoo legend to explain their existence here. Plus, we pay tribute to the one of the episode's co-writers who went on to create one of the most popular fictional detectives in modern literature.