The Mystery In The Air Summer 1945 Radio Program
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Mystery In the Air spot ad from August 9 1945
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Camel's 1945 summer replacement for their wildly successful Abbott and Costello program was an interesting take on the detective mysteries of the era. Mystery . . . In the Air! was a fascinating combination of military intelligence exploits mixed with a legal backdrop and conventional crime detection.
The focus of the series was an ex-M.I.S. G-2 officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stonewall 'Stoney' Scott, portrayed by Jackson Beck. Successful young Attorney Stoney Scott had been practicing law in his dad's firm before going off to war. Upon Stoney's return to civilian life--and his dad's law practice--he teams up with another ex-comrade in arms--and G-2 investigator--'Tex' Burnet, portrayed by Geoffrey Bryant. The two of them undertake thirteen mysteries with a common, underlying military theme of one type or another. Their investigations eventually involve ex-Marines, dogfaces, WACs, merchant seamen, international conspiracies, as well as a smattering of domestic crimes, murders and mayhem.
Very much a cross-over type of mystery, the plots tended to be both twisty and cleverly resolved. Indeed, Jackson Beck's portrayal of Stoney Scott unquestionably informed his following performances as Philo Vance from the summer of 1948 to the summer of 1950. Jackson Beck's stentorian voice leant the perfect gravitas to his protagonist. Offset by 'Tex' Burnet's twangy drawl, the two were well suited as detective and sidekick, and their G-2 background resurfaced again and again throughout the series. The interactions between them were more in the vein of consultative as opposed to the 'sidekick as lackey' paradigm so often heard over radio in the detective genre of the era.
In keeping with Camel's long-standing efforts to send free cigarettes to the men overseas, Jackson Beck would 'step out of character' at the end of each program to honor a particularly heroic member of the military--The Yank of The Week--and their actions. This would be followed by the Camel spokesman making an award of cartons of cigarettes to a particular branch of the service.
A New York production, the supporting cast was assembled from the very finest east coast talent then available: Jane Cowl, Frank Lovejoy, Bernard Lenrow, Edgar Stehli, Jack McBryde, Donald Randolph, Jim Boles, Arlene Francis, Luis Van Rooten, Roger De Koven, June Havoc, Santos Ortega, Owen Jordan, Parker Fennelly, Joseph Curtin, Peggy Conklin, Ed Jerome, Paul McGrath, Ted De Corsia and Margo, among them. Ken MacGregor directed the series with writing by Stewart Sterling and Robert Newman. Ernest Chappell announced the series and William Verdier, later of fame for the FEN-produced Macabre series from the AFRTS, provided the sound effects for the series.
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Series Derivatives:
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AFRS R-Series Mystery In The Air; Mystery In The Air [1947] |
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Genre: |
Anthology of Golden Age Radio Detective Dramas |
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Network(s): |
NBC |
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Audition Date(s) and Title(s): |
Unknown |
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Premiere Date(s) and Title(s): |
45-07-05 01 The Case Of the Hungry Corpse |
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Run Dates(s)/ Time(s): |
45-07-05 to 45-09-27; NBC; Thirteen, 30-Minute programs; Thursdays, 10:00 p.m. |
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Syndication: |
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Sponsors: |
Camel Cigarettes; Prince Albert pipe tobacco |
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Director(s): |
Ken MacGregor; Don Bernard [Producer]
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Principal Actors: |
Jackson Beck, Jane Cowl Geoffrey Bryant, Jack Arthur, William Janney, Frank Lovejoy, Mae Questel, Aline MacMahon, Bernard Lenrow, Edgar Stehli, Louis Sorin, Gene Leonard, Steve Courtleigh, Carol Bruce, Gregory Morton, Jack Hartley, Donald Randolph, Alan Devitt, Jack McBryde, Elissa Landi, Delmar Neutzman, Jim Boles, Gee Gee James, Regis Joyce, Paul Ford, Helen Choat, Arlene Francis, Luis Van Rooten, Donald Buka, Roger De Koven, Walter Vaughn, June Havoc, Santos Ortega, Owen Jordan, Craig McDonnell, Fred Barron, Martha Scott, Amzie Strickland, Joseph Curtin, Charles Webster, Mitzi Green, Jerry Macy, Gilbert Mack, Joe Julian, Ethel Owen, John Brewster, Chester Stratton, Flora Campbell, William Podmore, Michael Firzmaurice, John McGovern, Peggy Conklin, Ian Martin, Don Morrison, Grace Lenard, Parker Fennelly, Jimmy Van Dyk, Ted de Corsia, Paul McGrath, Clayton Collyer, Edgar Stehli, Joan Vitez, Ed Jerome, Ken Daignrau, Herbert Lannard, Margo |
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Recurring Character(s): |
Detective Stonewall Scott [Jackson Beck] |
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Protagonist(s): |
None |
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Author(s): |
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Writer(s) |
Stewart Sterling, Robert Newman |
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Music Direction: |
Ted Raph [Composer/Conductor]
William Verdier [Sound Effects]
Ray Glendon [Engineer] |
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Musical Theme(s): |
Unknown |
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Announcer(s): |
Ernest Chappell; Ted Jewett [R.J. Reynolds' spokesman] |
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Estimated Scripts or
Broadcasts: |
13 |
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Episodes in Circulation: |
0 |
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Total Episodes in Collection: |
1 |
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Provenances: |
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RadioGOLDINdex, Hickerson Guide.
Notes on Provenances:
The most helpful provenances were the log of the radioGOLDINdex and newspaper listings.
This program should not be confused with the entirely different 1947 gothic thriller genre program, Mystery In The Air from the Summer of 1947. The only thing they shared was their sponsor and the timeslot. R.J. Reynolds and its Camel Cigarettes brand also sponsored The Abbott and Costello Show, which aired under Camel sponsorship from 1942 through 1947. Camel owned both the timeslot and the program name, Mystery In The Air, utilized for both formats:
- The 1945 Mystery In The Air, summer replacement for Abbott and Costello; a detective mystery format, featuring Jackson Beck as Detective Stonewall Scott.
- The 1947 Mystery In The Air, summer replacement for Abbott and Costello; an adventure/thriller format tailored for Peter Lorre.
Camel's summer replacement for Abbott and Costello for the Summer of 1946 was a variety format, The Vaughn Monroe Summer Show.
You're welcome to compare our fully provenanced research with Mystery In The Air log from the '1,500 expert researchers' at the OTRR, which they claim to be correct according to their 'OTTER log' that they represent as the "most authoritative and accurate vintage Radio database in the world":
OTRRpedia
We've provided a screen shot of their current log for comparison, HERE, to protect our own due diligence. As the self-styled 'most authoritative and accurate vintage Radio authority in the world' one might have expected the OTRR, at a minimum, to have at least attempted an explanation of their utter absence of verifiable provenances, dates, titles and episode order. Quite simply, the OTRR and OTTER logs of Mystery In The Air are utterly inaccurate fiction. The OTRR, as usual, did no research whatsoever on Mystery In the Air--and it shows, yet again:
- With all but one script from the series in wide circulation, there's no excuse whatsoever for mischaracterizing or misinterpreting the production or its details.
- Stephen Courtleigh, while a moderately successful Television performer and writer, was never the star of Mystery . . . In the Air!. The star for all thirteen installments was Jackson Beck. The mistake in citing Stephen Courtleigh as the star apparently arose from several newspaper listings inaccurately attributing the starring role to Courtleigh instead of to Jackson Beck. Stephen Courtleigh appeared in only three episodes of Mystery . . . In The Air!: Episode #2, The Case of The Angry Ranger and Episodes 7 and 11 in minor roles.
- Episode #6, while teased as The Case Of the Frightened Friend was retitled--and announced--as The Case of The Worried WAC, and ultimately aired as such, guest-starring Margo.
- Episode #10 was The Affair of the Reluctant Lady, not The Case of The Reluctant Lady.
Each of the above inaccuracies could have been resolved very easily by either listening to the one, surviving episode, or reading any of the twelve surviving scripts in wide circulation. How any of these inaccuracies qualifes the OTRR, OTRRpedia, or the OTTER log as 'most accurate otr database in the world,' remains a mystery to us.
What you see here, is what you get. Complete transparency. We have no 'credentials' whatsoever--in any way, shape, or form--in the 'otr community'--none. But here's how we did it--for better or worse. Here's how you can build on it yourselves--hopefully for the better. Here's the breadcrumbs--just follow the trail a bit further if you wish. No hobbled downloads. No misdirection. No posturing about our 'credentials.' No misrepresentations. No strings attached. We point you in the right direction and you're free to expand on it, extend it, use it however it best advances your efforts.
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We don't pronounce our Golden Age Radio research as 'certified' anything. By the very definition, research is imperfect. We simply tell the truth. As is our continuing practice, we provide our fully provenanced research results--to the extent possible--right here on the page, for any of our peers to review--or refute--as the case may be. If you take issue with any of our findings, you're welcome to cite any better verifiable source(s) and we'll immediately review them and update our findings accordingly. As more verifiable provenances surface, we'll continue to update the following series log, as appropriate.
All rights reserved by their respective sources. Article and log copyright 2009 The Digital Deli Online--all rights reserved. Any failure to attribute the results of this copywritten work will be rigorously pursued.
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The Mystery In The Air Summer 1945 Radio Program Biographies
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Jackson Beck
(Det. Stonewall Scott)
Stage, Radio, Television and Film Actor
(1912-2004)
Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Radiography:
1936
The March of Time
1937
Other People's Lives
1939
Ideas That Came True
1941
We, The People
1942
Soldiers of The Press
1942
Superman
1942
The Columbia Workshop
1942
Hop Harrigan
1942
The Cisco Kid
1943
Todd Grant Gets the Story
1943
Lest We Forget
1943
This Is Our Enemy
1943
Words At War
1944
The Man Behind The Gun
1944
Inner Sanctum
1944
Creeps By Night
1944
Dangerously Yours
1945
The Brownstone Theatre
1945
Hercule Poirot
1945
The Adventures of The Falcon
1946
Boston Blackie
1947
The Tenth Man
1947
CBS Is There
1948
Philo Vance
. . . and literally hundreds more. |
Jackson Beck with long-standing fellow actors Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander, for WOR-Mutual's 'Superman' radio program.
Jackson Beck as 'Cisco Kid', c. 1942
Jackson Beck at the CBS Mike circa 1954
Jackson Beck, c. 2000
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I should probably have recused myself from writing this piece about Jackson Beck. He's one of my three favorite voice actors of all time--via any medium. From 'The Cisco Kid', to 'Superman', to 'Philo Vance' and on through innumerable radio, television and film roles, Jackson Beck's voice remains one of the top ten most recognized voices of the twentieth century. The irony is, I doubt that one out of ten people who've heard his voice would know who they'd just listened to. When prompted they'd simply refer to that guy with the deep, commanding voice.
Some might say the Philo Vance franchise saved it's most memorable voice of Philo Vance for last. To listen to any of the various iterations of Philo Vance on radio, television or film, it's clear that the role demanded very specific voice presence--clear, commanding, highly literate, capable of long exposition, and above all with a self-assuredness bordering on cocky or arrogant.
A New York City native from birth, Jackson Beck epitomized the stereotypical, cosmopolitan, big-city, impeccably dressed, know-it-all New Yorker of legend. But his versatility as a voice talent always showed a commanding ability to capture the complete attention and imagination of the listener, no matter the medium. During a career spanning almost 69 years Jackson Beck lent that commanding, compelling, reassuring voice to thousands of radio episodes and literally hundreds of film and television projects. Indeed, The RadiGOLDINdex site cites almost 1,400 individual entries in it's database for Jackson Beck appearances in Golden Age Radio era episodes.
Always in demand, Jackson Beck never wanted for work his entire career. Both a quick study, as well as a versatile ad-libber and expositionist, he rarely--if ever--broke character, and built a long-standing reputation as one of the rocks of the industry. From roles as fanciful as Walt Disney's 'Prince Charming', and 'Brutus' or 'Bluto' from the Popeye series', to the weightiest narrations of serious, patriotic documentaries, his delivery was always spot on, commanding, rivetting, and most of all--memorable.
I've always felt his work on Philo Vance was some of his best, especially given the sometimes overly long expositions that were part and parcel of most episodes. But that was one of his great talents, and it was perfectly applied to the Philo Vance character. But his work on Man Behind The Gun is probably universally recognized as his most critically acclaimed series of performances.
Jackson Beck was interred in Brooklyn, next to his father, Max Beck, a former silent film actor in his own right, and his grandfather, Joseph Beck, an emigre from Saxony, who founded the Joseph Beck and Sons Distillery.
He's already dearly missed, but thousands of his admirers are diligently working to ensure that his body of work will never be forgotten. |
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Ernest Chappell
(Announcer, Performer)
Radio Director, Actor, Announcer, Producer; Journalist
(1903-1983)
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, U.S.A.
Education: Syracuse University
Radiography:
1938 Campbell Playhouse
1939 Hobby Lobby
1939 Monday At 8:30
1940 Behind the Mike
1942 Reader's Digest
1942 Vox Pop
1942 Are You A Geniuis?
1942 Radio Reader's Digest
1942 The Adventures Of Ellery Queen
1943 The Chamber Music Society Of Lower Basin Street
1944 Two Men On A Raft
1944 Words At War
1944 Treasury Salute
1945 The Abbott and Costello Show
1945 Texaco Star Theater
1945 Between the Bookends
1947 Ernest Chappell (Audition)
1947 Ted Malone
1947 Quiet Please
1947 CBS Is There
1947 The Big Story
1948 Edward R. Murrow News
1950 Cavalcade Of America
1953 This I Believe |
Ernest Chappell byline circa 1925
1933 announcement of resumption of The Richfield Country Club over NBC/WJZ, with Ernest Chappell as emcee.
Ernest Chappell circa 1942
Ernest Chappell married lovely Stage Film and Radio star Claudia Morgan, daughter of Ralph Morgan and niece of Frank Morgan in 1943
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Quietly Yours . . .
6'3" Ernest Chappell, born and raised in Syracuse, New York was literally and figuratively, Syracuse's fair-haired boy. Star athlete in high school and Syracuse University, local sportscaster, graduate of Syracuse University, local D.J. and emcee, Radio Director of local Syracuse station WFBL [''First Broadcast License''], and local columnist for the Syracuse Herald with his own byline, Riding The Waves with Chap.
Universally well liked and admired, for Chappell, Radio was his oyster for 50 years throughout The Golden Age of Radio.
From the August 22, 1965 Denton Record-Chronicle:
Radio Pioneer Hopes To Begin New Career
By SANDRA NEWTON
Staff Writer
One of radio's pioneers was in Denton this week for a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Conley, 108 Forest St.
Ernest Chappell, voice of the American Tobacco Co. on radio and television for more than 20 years stopped in Denton en route home from a 10,000-mile business - vacation trip.
Accompanying him were his wife, Margie, and their two children, Susie and Jimmy.
Chappell began in radio 42 years ago, when the industry was an infant of 15 years. In the past, his fame spread to the extent that he received mail in New York City, addressed simply, "Chappy."
Now, he's preparing for semi-retirement from that field, only to embark upon new career.
Chappell said, "I'm not interested in making a pile of money now--I don't need that. But what I am interested in is doing something about this country's sense of values."
He plans, with other backers, to found a non-sectarian college in Palm Beach, Fla., and eventually to add it to a school of engineering for radio and television aspirants.
Also included in Chappell's future plans is ownership of management of a television station. He'd like to work with Dr. Tom Moody, president of the Southern Baptist Pastors Association, in founding a new method for aiding in the spiritual development of the young people of America.
The method he has outlined would begin daily telecasts in the morning with a "thought for the day." Noon programs would be designed to help viewers develop the habit of meditation. And final moments of daily telecasting time would be a presentation of a hymn by such artists as Kate Smith and "Tennessee" Ernie Ford.
But looking ahead to a new field occupies only a portion of Chappell's time--he also recalls stories about some of the big-name stars with whom he's worked during the past 42 years.
Rudy Vallee was one. And there was Orson Welles on CBS' "Hello, Americans," and David Ross and Edward R. Murrow. And a list too long to complete. And, of course, North Texas State University artist-in-residence Eugene Conley.
Conley and Chappell met "back in '35 or '36" when the future Metropolitan opera star was still singing in church choirs.
Chappell was in Boston to hear auditions for one of his radio programs. He heard Conley sing, and sent him on to New York City. They've been fast friends ever since, even though Conley and his wife eventually came to Texas and NTSU.
When Chappell became an independent contractor in 1932, he was asked to cast a program for Herbert Diamond Co. of New York. It became the Herbert Diamond Entertainers, with Vallee singing two numbers. A dance band played and guest artists appeared regularly.
"I thought the show was going along fine," Chappell recalls. "The firm was selling it's merchandise and they liked the show.
"Then one day the manager called me into his office and said, "Look here at this stack of letters."
"All of them were protesting against presenting dance music on Sunday afternoon. So the show--and Vallee--had to go.
"Later I put him in another show on Thursday nights, and that was okay. But not on Sunday, no matter how popular he was."
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