Radio Retropolis

A young man is about to inherit his parents estate until his evil uncle gets involved by placing a hypnotic spell on him which could mean his death. Commentary on why this episode was a misfire for the series.

Two sisters find their lives unraveling inside a lonely seaside mansion when one of the sisters decides to buy a casket for someone who will die in three weeks.  But which one?  JR speaks on star Rosalind Russell's combative career against the studios.

After it is revealed that Clark Kent has "replaced" Superman in the cell, Zaram places Jimmy in with him while he bugs the cell hoping that Kent will tip his hand.  JR speaks on the popularity of Superman through the decades.

Liz fakes an illness in order to get George to buy her a mink coat.  George is on to her and brings in a real doctor to give her fake diagnosis that Liz thinks is very real.  Commentary on the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy fakes an Illness" from which this script was adapted.

A seven week old baby has been abandoned in the bus depot waiting area and the mother is nowhere in sight with no leads as to where she could be. Commentary on this controversial episode and how the Code of Practices for Television Broadcasters in 1952 affected the story.

Superman, who still cannot move due to heavy pull of gravity from Utopia, has one final and seemingly dangerous trick that could change things forever.  JR speaks on ratings for the series and the changes made to increase listenership.

After forty years, a headless skeleton and a bog oak necklace that turns out to be a woman's murdered sister who was to marry the man the first sister vowed to have. Commentary on the controversial life and career of tonight's guest star Miriam Hopkins.

A mad musician threatens the city with his, "Symphony of Silence in E-flat" in which hidden bombs explode at a loud noise.  Commentary on the brilliant last few minutes of the episode plus the significance of E Flat in heavy metal music.

Regarded as the best mystery story of all time by the Mystery Writers of America, tonight's episode features a police sergeant, a newspaper reporter and an elusive serial killer who seems to elude both men.  JR speaks on the twist that alarmed audiences at that time.  Plus stars Claude Rains and Vincent Price.

Superman finally arrives safely on Utopia to rescue Jimmy but is faced with a heavy gravitational pull from the planet that renders him unable to move.  JR speaks on the two major pop culture genres that emerged in the postwar 1940s.

Liz goes on the radio quiz show, "Everybody Wins," and wins a check for $500, but she only gets to keep it if she can cash it within 25 minutes, and the banks are closed. Commentary on the continuity of the plot line.  Also we celebrate the gentle humor of guest actor Wally Maher who shines in this episode.  Plus , we look back at a classic scene between Lucille Ball and Wally Maher in the episode Vacation Time in which Lucy flubs her line which evokes a huge audience laugh and breaks up Maher.

A man is shot and critically wounded in the street of a residential neighborhood. His assailant is unknown and nowhere to be found. Commentary on Barney Phillips as Ed Jacobs taking glee in Friday missing dinner at the diner.  Plus, the California State Juvenile Officers Association which is mentioned in tonight's episode.  Finally, guest stars Jack Kruschen and Helen Kleeb.

Superman, now on Utopia, to save Jimmy from execution finds himself unable to move from the heavy gravitational pull of the planet rendering him completely helpless.  JR speaks on how Perry White's blustery disbelief in others related to the children listening which JR compares to a very special episode of The Andy Griffith Show called "Mr. McBeevee". 

Peter Frame was killed in a knife attack leaving another man still alive who vows vengeance on his killer. The only clue is a certain watch charm that belonged to the dead man. Commentary on star Les Tremayne.

A madman kills a scientist who has developed a secret serum for restoring youth. Commentary on the connection in this plot to the real life Nazi genetic experiment called Lebensborn or the Fountain of Life.

A young girl believes she hears a woman screaming for help deep underground in the empty lot next door yet no one believes her.  JR speaks on star Margaret O'Brien, her lost Oscar, and the controversy that almost resulted in her death on the set of Meet Me in St. Louis.

Perry White, Kent and Poco finally meet as Kent tries to understand what this strange rhyming fellow means  on this other planet called Utopia with Jimmy there in danger for his life.  JR speaks on Superman special guest Rear Admiral Reginald Belknap retired who awards the Superman radio series as The Best Children's program.  Plus, what being in space really meant in early 1947 and what was about to come forth later that summer.

Liz tries to play matchmaker for Peggy Martin with one of George's clients, but both the client and George think that Liz is going after the guy for herself. The audio is a little challenging but it's a funny episode that survives in the My Favorite Husband library. Commentary on the risque' storyline for 1950 that involves negligees and extra-marital affairs and how these storylines were soon abandoned due to the new moral codes that were adopted for television in 1954.

A mother with four children disappears which leaves her sister to care for the children left behind. However, there's evidence of foul play. Commentary on the precise sound effects in Dragnet and how it gives us tremendous insight into what the visual could be. Interestingly, there was also a sound misdirection with Barney Phillips.  Finally, the location of Mulholland Drive which figures into this plot.

Poco decides to rocket back to earth to track down Kent or Perry White with the last-ditch effort to find Superman.  JR speaks on the fascination with darker stories and horror in the WWII era.

rA reluctant deep-sea diver who murdered two men believes his next deep dive will end with his death. Commentary, on the meaning of "Eight Bells". Plus, a significant WWII event of this date, the #1 song and movie in America.

A doctor experimenting with chemicals in his lab "accidentally" blinds his assistant in a plot to use him to undermine the institution for its stock. Commentary on who Blue Coal's John Barclay really is.  Plus , the origin of the Shadow theme song.

Agnes Moorehead makes her fourth appearance on Suspense in the most famous radio play ever written about a bedridden woman who overhears a telephone conversation plotting somebody's murder...hers!  JR speaks on Moorehead, the film version of this script and why this is considered a masterpiece in suspense.

Jimmy and Anthar are imprisoned by Zaram awaiting trial while Kent investigates where Utopia is if it even exists.  JR speaks on the lack of popularoty of the rhyming Poco character.

When George forgets Liz's birthday, Liz sends an anonymous reminder through Mr. Atterbury,  only for George  to think it's his mother's birthday instead. Commentary on exceptional audio quality of the episode, guest actress GeGe Pearson, and the tremendous comedic pacing of this very funny script.

Two convicts escape from San Quentin.  They're armed and begin a crime wave of hold-ups. The trail leads to Mexico via San Diego as they vow never to be taken alive.  Commentary on San Diego Chief of Police Adam E Jansen who is credited as a contributor to this story line. Plus commentary on guest star Whitfield Connor.

Jimmy is in trouble on Utopia and Kent is finally figuring it out back on earth.  JR speaks on George Reeves quitting The Adventures of Superman after season 2.

A macabre tale of an artist whose insane love for his soon to be ex-wife turns into the most vicious hate when he asks her to pose for his sculpture of her bust. Commentary on star Lee Bowman. Plus , Lipton Tea lady Mary Bennett promoting Lipton Chicken Soup as the meal of the week!

A man who embezzled $2 million from his bank fakes his death and hides out on a secluded island off the coast of Nova Scotia.  The Shadow has figured out the scam and heads out to find him.Commentary on the Wellesian approach to this episode and Johnstone's approach to this Welles inspired script, the formula of writing comic book villains, and the real threat in Europe in 1938.

A man accepts an easy job answering phones for a horse betting operation from a woman he met in a bar only to find the woman dead the next day and he is the prime suspect!  JR speaks on stars Edmond O'Brien and Ann Blyth and O'Brien's real life brush with the mob world on one of his films. 

Jimmy goes along with what he thought was a joke until he finds himself in a round rocket ship hurtling through space to the planet Utopia.  JR speaks on who in the Bible Superman was really based on.

After listening to Liz explain how she balances her checkbook, George sends her to night school to learn arithmetic.  Commentary on why George, a banker, would let his mathematically challenged wife continue to mishandle their bank book. Plus we look at Liz' creative math and compare it to a similar routine by Abbott and Costello. Also, we discuss the Curly and Shemp Howard connection as well as tonight's guest star who was blacklisted as a purported communist.

The owner of an apartment building signs leases for the apartments then he threatens to kill the tenants if they move in.  Commentary on how arson was legally received back in 1952 and whether an individual could legally burn his own building down.

What may sound like a joke to Jimmy is serious business with Anthar which only means Jimmy is in for a big, unsettling surprise.  JR speaks on the rise of old time radio enthusiasts thanks to...podcasts.

This episode takes a little bit of active listening due to its less than ideal quality, but I hope you enjoy this next episode about two guys driving across the desert pick up three hitch-hikers who turn out to be escaped Nazi prisoners. Commentary on the Nazi's last attempt to overtake the Allies with the Battle of the Bulge, plus Hitler begins to mentally lose it causing some dissension in ranks.

A criminal lawyer clears his clients only to force them into a series of robberies. Commentary on great voice actors of the day and the art form of being a radio actor at that time. Plus, we discuss the logic of The Shadow as to how mass hypnosis would work if he really existed.

John Garfield stars as a man in the criminal underworld who is given a literal "death sentence" by a mob boss. He is told he has exactly one week to live.  JR speaks on Garfield's tragic career and his controversial death at age 39.

Jimmy Olsen encounters a strange man named Anthar who claims to be from a "lost planet" called Utopia and warns of an invasion of Earth.  Commentary on this serial which is an exact remake of the "lost" serial Planet Utopia from 1944.

When Liz gets a traffic ticket on the day George is "Safety Week" chairman, George decides to lock the car in the to garage and hide the key.  Commentary on why Lucille Ball allowed her character Liz to be naive and prone to deceitful tactics which are normally not admirable, sympathetic characteristics.  Also discussed are real driving statistics based on gender that may surprise you.

A narcotics dealer has been badly beaten and claims his assailant was a young police officer.  Extended commentary on an email we received based on the concerns of a listener from a previous podcast commentary.