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Original Murder Is My Hobby header art

The Murder Is My Hobby Radio Program
Dee-Scription: Home >> D D Too Home >> Radio Logs >> Murder Is My Hobby

Background

From the September 24, 1947 Abilene Reporter News: 

THESE DAYS
   Murder for Children

By GEORGE E. SOKOLSKY

 
   The National Broadcasting Company has reached the conclusion that a heavy diet of murder for children is not particularly beneficial to them, their parents or the country in which they live.  They will postpone murder until 9:30 p. m. Eastern Standard Time, after January 1.  Children interested in murder may have theri fill of it until the new schedule goes into effect, although it is difficult to understand why if murder on the radio for children becomes carbolic acid on Jan 1, it is not carbolic acid today.
   Meanwhile, it seems that Columbia, Mutual and American disagree with the N.B.C.  They, it would appear, believe that murder is good for children at any time of the day or night, along with chewing gum, breakfast foods, and exterminators of body odors.  That is why so many children put up their forefinger and make a noise like a machine gun.  How often have I listened to the most enlightening conversations, lofty in tone and mood, on the relative merits of "The Green Hornet" and "the Falcon," or whether "Gang Busters" is more exciting than "Murder Is My Hobby."  And murder has become a hobby if a small boy does it to prove that he's not a sissy.
 . . .
 A HOT DEBATE
    The networks will undoubtedly debate the educational value of murder during the next few months and maybe another vice-president will lose his job, but it would be preferable if this subject were seriously discussed by parents, educators and clergymen who have a direct concern with the morals of their charges and who know that the radio cannot be suppressed in the home without creating such a rumpus as many parents seek to dodge.  If wickedness is to be kept from the child until it has, at any rate, passed out of puberty and to the verge of discretion--murder, fuld, brutal murder, often related in a nonchalant, calm manner, as though to the manner born--such recitals of murder must be kept from the home at the source of supply.
   One of the officials of a radio network--does it matter which?--asked why soap operas are not kept from the ears of children?  I ask you, why not?  That was a very good qustion, probably spoken from the heart.
   If one listened only to the radio, say for a week, he could easily convince himself that in the United States murder is a usual occurrence, happening at half-hour intervals, that most marriages are utter failures, that while crime does not pay, it nevertheless is extremely interesting, that there is always a third wheel to every chariot--meaning each family--that the greatest concern of wise women is to help young ladies out of scrapes with married men.
 . . .
 CRIME ON SUNDAY
    On a Sunday afternoon, during the winter, crime comes on early on the assumption, I suppose, tht no one goes to church any more, certainly not to vespers.  What a beautiful family picture:  mother is reading a 25-cent book on murder; father is listening to one murder on a network and John and Jane to another.  Thus, the Sabbath is devoted to holy thoughts and polite doings, particularly when some rauccous, eerie laugh comes into the room.
   In the long run, the N.B.C. will be proved right, for parents have been discussing this question for a long time, particularly at 2:00 a. m. when they are awakened by a screaming child, who has just been dreaming that "they're gonna get me."  I once threatened to solve this problem in my own home by throwing every radio out of the window.  But a child told me that "the law would get me cold for that."  I realized that was a quarter of a century too late.

(Copyright 1947.  King Fea. Synd., Inc.)

The National Association of Broadcasters' (N.A.B.) imposed curfew is the topic of the above article. Clearly, though the curfew was voluntary, it's unclear as of the article date whether all four major networks were dedicated to observer the curfew.

Series Derivatives:

 Mystery Is My Hobby; AFRS 'Mystery Is My Hobby'
Genre: Anthology of Golden Age Radio Mystery Dramas
Network(s): MBS; NBC
Audition Date(s) and Title(s):
Premiere Date(s) and Title(s):
Run Dates(s)/ Time(s):
Syndication: Lawrence Productions
Sponsors: Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, Omaha.; B & M Mattress, Co.; The Knox Company; Walker Insurance Company
Director(s):
Principal Actors: Glenn Langan, Norman Field, Ken Christy, John McIntire, Betty Lou Gerson, Junius Matthews, Willard Waterman, Jack Edwards Jr.
Recurring Character(s): Barton Drake [Glenn Langan];
Protagonist(s): None
Author(s): None
Writer(s)
Music Direction:
Musical Theme(s):
Announcer(s):
Estimated Scripts or
Broadcasts:		 78
Episodes in Circulation:
Total Episodes in Collection:
Provenances:

Lawrence Productions created 78 episodes of Mystery Is My Hobby as a transcribed feature
Lawrence Productions created 78 episodes of Mystery Is My Hobby as a transcribed feature
 RadioGOLDINdex and newspaper listings.

Notes on Provenances:

All above cited provenances are in error in one form or another. The most helpful provenances were the logs of the RadioGOLDINdex and newspaper listings.

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Murder Is My Hobby Radio Program Log
Date Episode Title Avail. Notes
45-10-14
1
 Forty-Eight Hours To Live
N
 45-10-14 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): mystery writer in new series of clashes with underworld; premiere, "Forty-Eight Hours to Live."
45-10-21
2
 The Case of the Egyptian Mummy
N
 45-10-20 Janesville Daily Gazette
Glenn Langan and Norman Fields play the leading roles on "Murder Is My Hobby" heard Sundays at 3 p.m. This Sunday, the title of the drama is "The Case of the Egyptian Mummy."

45-10-21 New York Times
4:00-WOR--Murder Is My Hobby
45-10-28
3
 The Invisible Murderer
N
 45-10-27 Janesville Daily Gazette
KNOX CO. SPONSORS HOUR PERIOD SUNDAYS--Sunday, WCLO will present "Murder Is My Hobby" heard at 3 p.m. and "The Nebbs" at 3:30 p.m., sponsored by the Knox Co. making a full hour's sponsorship by that company. Glenn Langan plays the role of Barton Drake, writer-detective and for this Sunday's show it's "The Invisible Murderer."
45-11-04
4
 Dead, Open and Shut
N
 45-11-04 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Dead Open and Shut."
45-11-11
5
 Title Unknown
N
 45-11-11 Wisconsin State Journal
3:00 Murder Is My Hobby--WGN
45-11-18
6
 Daylight Murder
N
 45-11-18 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Daylight Murder."
45-11-25
7
 The Poison Murder Case
N
 45-11-25 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Poison Murder Case."
45-12-02
8
 Murder As Suicide Point
N
 45-12-02 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Murder As Suicide Point."
45-12-09
9
 The Case Of the Unclaimed Fortune
N
 45-12-09 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Case of the Unclaimed Fortune."
45-12-16
10
 Suspicion Of Murder
N
 45-12-16 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Suspicion of Murder."
45-12-23
11
 No Murder Is Better Than One
N
 45-12-23 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "No Murder Is Better Than One."
45-12-30
12
 The Case Of the Lonely Old Lady
N
 45-12-30 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Case of the Lonely Old Lady."
46-01-06
13
 Murder In the Desert
N
 46-01-06 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): "Murder in the Desert."
46-01-13
14
 Murder In the Carnival
N
 46-01-13 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): "Murder in the Carnival."
46-01-20
15
 Murder Has A Proud Name
N
 46-01-20 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Murder Has a Proud Name."
46-01-27
16
 Time Element
N
 46-01-27 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Time Element."
46-02-03
17
 Murder Has A Proud Name
N
 46-02-03 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "Murder Has a Proud Name."
46-02-10
18
 The Black Widow Spider
N
 46-02-10 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Black Widow Spider."
46-02-17
19
 Title Unknown
N
 46-02-17 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-02-24
20
 Title Unknown
N
 46-02-24 New York Times
4:00-WOR--Murder Is My Hobby
46-03-03
21
 Title Unknown
N
 46-03-03 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-03-10
22
 Title Unknown
N
 46-03-10 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-03-17
23
 Title Unknown
N
 46-03-17 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-03-24
24
 Title Unknown
N
 46-03-24 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-03-31
25
 The Case Of the Mink Coat
N
 46-03-31 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Case of the Mink Coat."
46-04-07
26
 Title Unknown
N
 46-04-07 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-04-14
27
 Title Unknown
N
 46-04-14 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-04-21
28
 Title Unknown
N
 46-04-21 Wisconsin State Journal
3 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-04-28
29
 Title Unknown
N
 46-04-28 Wisconsin State Journal - 2:00 Murder Is My Hobby--WGN
46-05-05
30
 The Farmer Takes A Murderer
N
 46-05-05 Wisconsin State Journal
2 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Farmer Takes a Murderer."
46-05-12
31
 The Case Of My Client Ernie
N
 46-05-12 Wisconsin State Journal
2 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Case of My Client Ernie."
46-05-19
32
 The Case Of the Misspelled Name
N
 46-05-19 Wisconsin State Journal
2 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Case of the Misspelled Name."
46-05-26
33
 The Case Of the Country Doctor
N
 46-05-26 Wisconsin State Journal
2 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Case of the Country Doctor."
46-06-02
34
 Title Unknown
N
 46-06-02 Wisconsin State Journal
2 p.m.--Murder Is My Hobby (WGN):
46-06-09
35
 Title Unknown 46-06-09 Wisconsin State Journal
2:00 Mystery Is My Hobby--WGN

46-06-15 Billboard
Life & Death Matter
HOLLYWOOD, June 8

When a national sponsor latches onto a web sustainer for a commercial run, program format, story line, and title usually emerge intact in seque from free to paid airing. Exception is recent package sale of Murder Is My Hobby which preemed from Hollywood over Mutual June 14, 7 p.m., P.S.T. Program was bought intact with one exception--title was changed to Mystery Is My Hobby. Wags laff off switch from "murder" to "mystery," saying original title would have been funnier--if not more profitable to sponsor. Sponsor, however, doesn't agree--and for good reason--seg is bankrolled by Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, Omaha.
46-06-16
36
 Title Unknown 46-06-16 Wisconsin State Journal
2:00 Mystery Is My Hobby--WGN
46-06-23
37
 The Mysterious Phone Call 46-06-23 Wisconsin State Journal
2 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Mysterious Phone Call."
46-06-30
38
 Title Unknown 46-06-30 Laredo Times
2 Mystery Is My Hobby.
46-07-07
39
 Title Unknown 46-07-07 Wisconsin State Journal
2:00 Mystery Is My Hobby--WGN
46-07-14
40
 Title Unknown 46-07-14 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): new time for mystery program starring Glenn Langan.
46-07-21
41
 Case History 66 - Short Distance To Murder
Y
 46-07-21 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): "Short Distance to Murder."
46-07-28
42
 Case History 67 - Murder Bound
Y
 46-07-28 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): "Murder Bound."
46-08-04
43
 Case History 68 - Blackmail
Y
 46-08-04 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): "Blackmail."
46-08-11
44
 Murder Takes A Walk 46-08-11Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGH, WIBU): "Murder Takes A Walk."
46-08-18
45
 Title Unknown 46-08-18 Wisconsin State Journal
8:00 Mystery Is My Hobby--WGN
46-08-25
46
 Title Unknown 46-08-25 Wisconsin State Journal
8:00 Mystery Is My Hobby--WGN
46-09-01
47
 Case History 72 - Engaged To Death
Y
 46-09-01 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): an approaching marriage turns into tragedy in "Engaged to Death."
46-09-08
48
 Case History 73 - The Case of the Walking Corpse
Y
 46-09-08 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Walking Corpse."
46-09-15
49
 The Man Who Couldn't Die 46-09-15 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN): "The Man Who Couldn't Die."
46-09-22
50
 Title Unknown 46-09-22 Wisconsin State Journal
8 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN): murder of a man who finances young artists.
46-09-29
51
 The Death That Boomeranged
Y
 46-09-29 Wisconsin State Journal
9 p.m.--Mystery Is My Hobby (WGN, WIBU): "The Death That Boomeranged."
46-10-06
52
 Title Unknown 46-10-06 Wisconsin State Journal
9:00 Mystery Is My Hobby WGN

46-10-05 Cumberland Evening Times
MBS 10 Mystery Is My Hobby finale.
46-10-13 46-10-13 Wisconsin State Journal
9:00 Heatter WIBU WGN
47-03-12 47-03-12 New York Times
8-8:30--"Mystery Is My Hobby," With Glenn Langan--WHN (Premiere).

AFRS 'Mystery Is My Hobby' Radio Program Log
Date AFRS # Title Avail. Notes
Death's Name Is Mr Smith Murder Is My Hobby
The Murder Of Allan Fisher Mystery Is My Hobby
The Neal Parker Murder Case Mystery Is My Hobby
The Black Sheep Comes Home Mystery Is My Hobby
11
 Death Is A Twin Mystery Is My Hobby

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