Theatre 5 MP3 Cover Art
Theatre Five (Theatre 5) Radio Program
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Dee-Scription: |
Home >> D D Too Home >> Radio Logs >> Theatre 5 |
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The American Broadcasting Company never really established itself as Drama powerhouse, with the possible exception of it's daytime Television soap operas. Indeed ABC Radio never really developed a truly memorable drama anthology of its own.
It certainly wasn't for lack of talent. ABC Radio and its founding Blue Network produced some wonderful genre dramas over the years, but it never really mounted a dramatic series of the breadth and scope of Theatre Five. This prologue simply serves to underscore what a remarkable series this was for its time.
And yes, Theatre Five probably came a bit late in ABC's Radio History to really contribute to the body of Golden Age Radio drama, but better late than never. Some have implied that Theatre Five was a rather lightweight attempt to recapture the wonderful Radio Heritage of The Golden Age of Radio. I suppose this should be considered a Golden Age Revival series in that respect. But in all fairness to ABC Radio, this was never a half-hearted attempt by any means.
The production values, polish, direction, sound engineering, and acting were all top notch. Indeed many of the finest voice talents from The Golden Age of Radio are present throughout its run. The variety of dramatic genre represented with its 260 production broadcasts also run the gamut of the rich variety of drama presented during the height of The Golden Age of Radio. Indeed very little is missing from this remarkable production run.
But timing is everything. ABC Radio missed the sweet spot of Radio Drama History by about 20 years. Nevertheless, this series competes well with the Golden Age Radio revival attempts that post-dated it, and, for a 30-minute drama, it certainly hits its target. Now that the Golden Age of Radio has come and gone, there's all the more reason to give this wonderful dramatic anthology another listen. Moreso, given its compact, but thoroughly developed 30-minute format.
And let's not forget the chance to listen to wonderful Fred Foy's remarkable voice hosting the series. That's reason enough to give this series another listen.
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Series Derivatives:
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None |
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Genre: |
Anthology of Golden Age Radio Dramas (predominately Science Fiction, Psychological, Social and Supernatural dramas). |
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Network(s): |
American Broadcasting Company |
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Audition Date(s) and Title(s): |
None |
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Premiere Date(s) and Title(s): |
64-08-03 001 Hit and Run |
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Run Dates(s)/ Time(s): |
64-08-03 to 65-07-28
Monday through Friday episodes from 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm |
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Syndication: |
American Broadcasting Company, originating from New York City, New York.
Address:
Theatre 5
New York 23,
New York |
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Sponsors: |
Local ABC affiliate sponsors. |
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Director(s): |
Ted Bell, Warren Sommerville, Harry Nelson and others |
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Principal Actors: |
George Petrie, Brett Morrison, Jackson Beck, Robert Dryden, Elliott Reid, Court Benson, Cliff Carpenter, Bryna Raeburn and many others. |
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Recurring Character(s): |
No recurring cast members. |
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Protagonist(s): |
Varied from episode to episode. |
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Author(s): |
Adaptations and original scripts from numerous authors. |
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Writer(s) |
Lillian Andrews, Richard McCracken, Sherman Dryer, Saul Panitz, Lawrence Weinberg, Frank Thomas, Robert Senadella, Robert Newman, William N. Robson. |
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Music Direction: |
Abraham 'Glenn' Osser |
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Musical Theme(s): |
Original theme music by Alexander Vlas-Daczenco |
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Announcer(s): |
Fred Foy |
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Estimated Scripts or
Broadcasts: |
260 |
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Episodes in Circulation: |
260 |
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Total Episodes in Collection: |
256 |
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Provenances: |
RadioGOLDINdex (David Goldin), Jay Hickerson Guide, New York Times, Terry Salomonson and Dick Judge.
Notes on Provenances:
As more verifiable provenances surface, we'll continue to update the following series log, as appropriate.
All rights reserved by their respective sources.
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Theatre Five (Theatre 5) Series Log
|
| Date |
Episode |
Title |
Avail. |
Notes |
| 64-08-03 |
1
|
Hit and Run |
Y
|
[Premiere Episode] |
| 64-08-04 |
2
|
A House of Cards |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-05 |
3
|
Terror from Beyond |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-06 |
4
|
Homecoming |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-07 |
5
|
The 245,000 Smile |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-10 |
6
|
Rebellion Next Week |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-11 |
7
|
The Big Dog |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-12 |
8
|
Jump, Jump |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-13 |
9
|
Melodrama |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-14 |
10
|
The Stranger |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-17 |
11
|
The Fun Party |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-18 |
12
|
The New Order |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-19 |
13
|
Ring of Evil |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-20 |
14
|
Your Time Is Up |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-21 |
15
|
Molecule Masquerade |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-24 |
16
|
A Caller at Midnight |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-25 |
17
|
Dream of Death |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-26 |
18
|
The Late Matthew Dillard |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-27 |
19
|
My Other Self |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-28 |
20
|
Incident at Apogee |
Y
|
|
| 64-08-31 |
21
|
The Scream |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-01 |
22
|
Outside Time |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-02 |
23
|
The Fix |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-03 |
24
|
The Trouble with Alphie |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-04 |
25
|
Cry in the Night |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-07 |
26
|
Sorry to Let You Go |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-08 |
27
|
Incident at Shadow Valley |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-09 |
28
|
The Decoration |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-10 |
29
|
First Encounter |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-11 |
30
|
To Whom It May Concern |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-14 |
31
|
The Noon Stars |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-15 |
32
|
My Brother's Keeper |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-16 |
33
|
The Big Freeze |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-17 |
34
|
The Understudy |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-18 |
35
|
The Group |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-21 |
36
|
The Kiss Off |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-22 |
37
|
The Odyssey of Number Fourteen |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-23 |
38
|
We Are All Alone |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-24 |
39
|
The Evel That Men Do |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-25 |
40
|
A Genuine Grenotte |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-28 |
41
|
Look Who's Talking |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-29 |
42
|
The Wrong Arm of Justice |
Y
|
|
| 64-09-30 |
43
|
A Very Private Phone Call |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-01 |
44
|
John Hansen, Hermit |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-02 |
45
|
Subject Number 428A |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-05 |
46
|
The Arithimetic of Honor |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-06 |
47
|
The Last Land Rush |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-07 |
48
|
Echo of Madness |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-08 |
49
|
Justice Is an Uncertain Thing |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-09 |
50
|
I'm Sorry, Mom |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-12 |
51
|
All the Bright Young Ones |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-13 |
52
|
The Autocrat |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-14 |
53
|
The Dog Killer |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-15 |
54
|
The Good Samaritians |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-16 |
55
|
The Captive Heart |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-19 |
56
|
An Honorable Way |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-20 |
57
|
The Man Who Loved Jellyroll |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-21 |
58
|
Captain Gamble's Uniform |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-22 |
59
|
Including Murder |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-23 |
60
|
The Sacrifice |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-26 |
61
|
Sirens in the Night |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-27 |
62
|
The Prodigal Son |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-28 |
63
|
Odds on the Tower |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-29 |
64
|
A Nightmare |
Y
|
|
| 64-10-30 |
65
|
The Second Chance |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-02 |
66
|
June 17th, Where Are You |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-03 |
67
|
Why Can't Life Be More Like in the Movies |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-04 |
68
|
Body Without the Crime |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-05 |
69
|
20 Minutes in the Life of Melinda Madison |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-06 |
70
|
Living Credit |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-09 |
71
|
The Nameless Day |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-10 |
72
|
World Enough and Time |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-11 |
73
|
The Gift |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-12 |
74
|
A Brand New Life |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-13 |
75
|
Deedle Deedle Dumpling My Son X-1 |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-16 |
76
|
The City Manager |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-17 |
77
|
The Contract Maker |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-18 |
78
|
A Little Piece of Candle |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-19 |
79
|
To Be or Not to Be Maybe! |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-20 |
80
|
A Nothin' Place |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-23 |
81
|
Dark Appointment |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-24 |
82
|
The Talkers |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-25 |
83
|
A Little Knowledge |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-26 |
84
|
The Neighbor |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-27 |
85
|
The Lesson |
Y
|
|
| 64-11-30 |
86
|
To Helen with Love |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-01 |
87
|
Finders Can Be Losers |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-02 |
88
|
Found Money |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-03 |
89
|
Fog |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-04 |
90
|
Sound Track of a Happy Family |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-07 |
91
|
Bug Off |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-08 |
92
|
Congratulations, Mr Mayor |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-09 |
93
|
The Weapons at Hand |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-10 |
94
|
I Love You |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-11 |
95
|
Bang Bang You're Dead |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-14 |
96
|
Now Listen to the Tiger |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-15 |
97
|
The Victim |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-16 |
98
|
An Average American Family |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-17 |
99
|
Just Call Me Lucky |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-18 |
100
|
Nuptial Flight |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-21 |
101
|
Six-Foot Flower Box |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-22 |
102
|
Finders Keepers |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-23 |
103
|
The Flea Circus |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-24 |
104
|
The Wish Fulfillment Machine |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-25 |
105
|
Look at My Record |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-28 |
106
|
Five Strangers |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-29 |
107
|
Charlie, the Beautiful Machine |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-30 |
108
|
The Blue Eyed People |
Y
|
|
| 64-12-31 |
109
|
Presence of Mind |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-01 |
110
|
Discotheque |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-04 |
111
|
The Blank Check |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-05 |
112
|
Devil Dust |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-06 |
113
|
The Corporation |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-07 |
114
|
Don't Call Me, I'll Call You |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-08 |
115
|
The Deliquents |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-11 |
116
|
The Button Stealers |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-12 |
117
|
Bravo, Bravo |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-13 |
118
|
Man on the Canyon Wall |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-14 |
119
|
The Wandering Spaceman |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-15 |
120
|
The Trophy |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-18 |
121
|
The Wheel |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-19 |
122
|
Across the River from Grandma's House |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-20 |
123
|
A Dream of a Scheme |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-21 |
124
|
The Imposters |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-22 |
125
|
The First Weekend |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-25 |
126
|
Where Art Thou, Romeo |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-26 |
127
|
Mr Horn's Holiday |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-27 |
128
|
Tomorrow 6-1212 |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-28 |
129
|
The Hostage |
Y
|
|
| 65-01-29 |
130
|
I've Got Your Number |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-01 |
131
|
The Boy |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-02 |
132
|
The Time, the Place, and the Death |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-03 |
133
|
The Hunters |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-04 |
134
|
Greater Love Hath No Man |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-05 |
135
|
The Underveloped Nation |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-08 |
136
|
Cold Storage |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-09 |
137
|
The Eye of the Storm |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-10 |
138
|
Lovely Boy |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-11 |
139
|
The Sybil of Sycamore Lane |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-12 |
140
|
The Chain |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-15 |
141
|
The Forgotten |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-16 |
142
|
A Little Game on Saturday Mornings |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-17 |
143
|
Post Time |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-18 |
144
|
It's a Work of Art |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-19 |
145
|
Listen, Mother |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-22 |
146
|
A Tale for the Nursery |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-23 |
147
|
The Elevator |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-24 |
148
|
The Man Who Heard Everything |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-25 |
149
|
Toby's Wonderful Egg |
Y
|
|
| 65-02-26 |
150
|
Little Girl, Little Girl |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-01 |
151
|
You Bet Your Life |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-02 |
152
|
French Quarter |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-03 |
153
|
Annie Is Watching |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-04 |
154
|
The Land of Milk and Honey |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-05 |
155
|
April Snowfall |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-08 |
156
|
Last Ride on the Merry-Go-Round |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-09 |
157
|
Just for Kicks |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-10 |
158
|
Broken Image |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-11 |
159
|
Publish or Perish |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-12 |
160
|
The Janitor |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-15 |
161
|
Divorce American Style |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-16 |
162
|
Any Port in the Storm |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-17 |
163
|
Across the River from Grandma's House |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-18 |
164
|
If the Spirit Moves You |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-19 |
165
|
They Call Me Howie |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-22 |
166
|
Bad News for Mrs Bristol |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-23 |
167
|
The Hazelton Story |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-24 |
168
|
Point of Impact |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-25 |
169
|
There's One Born Every Minute |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-26 |
170
|
The Widow |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-29 |
171
|
The Avenger |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-30 |
172
|
Bright House, New House |
Y
|
|
| 65-03-31 |
173
|
Eye of Kali |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-01 |
174
|
Three On A Death |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-02 |
175
|
Get Away with Murder |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-05 |
176
|
The Welcome Lady |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-06 |
177
|
Till Death Do Us |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-07 |
178
|
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-08 |
179
|
A Million Miles to Nowhere |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-09 |
180
|
It's My Funeral |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-12 |
181
|
A Matter of Pride |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-13 |
182
|
The Lion Who Wasn't There |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-14 |
183
|
Come Home Daughter, All Is Forbidden |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-15 |
184
|
Panic |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-16 |
185
|
He Was a Good Boy |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-19 |
186
|
Incident in Ceylon |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-20 |
187
|
You Gotta Cry Sometime |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-21 |
188
|
The Wonderful Stamps from El Dorado |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-22 |
189
|
Said the Spider |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-23 |
190
|
Poor Little Greek Girl |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-26 |
191
|
Greener Pastures |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-27 |
192
|
Lorna Is a Strange Child |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-28 |
193
|
The Beneficiary |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-29 |
194
|
Junior |
Y
|
|
| 65-04-30 |
195
|
Make My Name Clean |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-03 |
196
|
Driver's Seat |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-04 |
197
|
Incident on Us 1 |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-05 |
198
|
The Name Game |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-06 |
199
|
Reunion |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-07 |
200
|
The Ten-Year-Old Car |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-10 |
201
|
Lift to Beyond |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-11 |
202
|
Nightmare at 26,000 Feet |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-12 |
203
|
Around the Corner from Nowhere |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-13 |
204
|
Wrong Turning |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-14 |
205
|
A Birthday Present |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-17 |
206
|
The Gandy Walker |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-18 |
207
|
Will Integrity Ruin Clint Marble |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-19 |
208
|
Blind Man's Bluff |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-20 |
209
|
Death of an Old Flame |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-21 |
210
|
Two Birds, One Stone |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-24 |
211
|
Rocky Loves Julie |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-25 |
212
|
Dance Hall, The |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-26 |
213
|
Incident at Phong Trang |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-27 |
214
|
Barefoot in Athens |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-28 |
215
|
The Protective Circle |
Y
|
|
| 65-05-31 |
216
|
Lake Toplitz |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-01 |
217
|
Mama's Girl |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-02 |
218
|
Noose of Pearls |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-03 |
219
|
And Dream No More |
Y
|
[Not in Collection] |
| 65-06-04 |
220
|
Untrue Confession |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-07 |
221
|
Two Came Back |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-08 |
222
|
Skeletons |
Y
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| 65-06-09 |
223
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The Big Lonely |
Y
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[Not in Collection] |
| 65-06-10 |
224
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The Wishing Stone |
Y
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|
| 65-06-11 |
225
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The Bottom of The Bottle |
Y
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[Not in Collection] |
| 65-06-14 |
226
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The Manor House |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-15 |
227
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A Bad Day's Work |
Y
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|
| 65-06-16 |
228
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Incident at Simba-Rundi |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-17 |
229
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Country Boy |
Y
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| 65-06-18 |
230
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The Banana Ball |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-21 |
231
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The Roper |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-22 |
232
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The Pigeon |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-23 |
233
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Goodbye Matt |
Y
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|
| 65-06-24 |
234
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A Cup of Snow for Lt. Vogel |
Y
|
[Not in Collection] |
| 65-06-25 |
235
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Ride with Death |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-28 |
236
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Custody of the Mother |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-29 |
237
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You Can't Fight City Hall |
Y
|
|
| 65-06-30 |
238
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Method in the Madness |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-01 |
239
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Teacher, Teacher |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-02 |
240
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Children of Death |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-05 |
241
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Devotion |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-06 |
242
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Jailbreak |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-07 |
243
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Don't Hesitate to Call |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-08 |
244
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A Matter of Appearances |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-09 |
245
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Ed's War |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-12 |
246
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Casuality of a Small War |
Y
|
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| 65-07-13 |
247
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The Marked Man |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-14 |
248
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The Walls of Poison Ivy |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-15 |
249
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The Big Waves |
Y
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|
| 65-07-16 |
250
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Flies with Honey |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-19 |
251
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Summer's End |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-20 |
252
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Flights of Angels |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-21 |
253
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In Time of Trouble |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-22 |
254
|
Jazz Festival |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-23 |
255
|
Whatever Happened to the 5 -25 |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-26 |
256
|
In Absence of All Intelligent Life |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-27 |
257
|
I Spy Sister Sarri |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-28 |
258
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Death Watch |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-29 |
259
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Big Deal on Sutton East |
Y
|
|
| 65-07-30 |
260
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Joey |
Y
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[Last Episode of Program Run] |
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Theatre Five (Theatre 5) Biographies
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Frederick William 'Fred' Foy
(Host/Announcer)
(March 27, 1921 - )
Birthplace:
Detroit, Michigan
Curriculum Vitae:
1939
WBMC, Detroit
1942
WXYZ, Detroit
1942-1946
United States Army
14th Special Services Unit
1960
American Broadcasting Company
Radiography:
1939
Father Coughlin
1942-1946 (U.S. Army)
Egyptian State Broadcasting
'American Newsletter'
'Headline News of the Day'
'Up To Scratch'
'Shows On Parade'
1945
The Lone Ranger
1947
The Challenge of The Yukon
1963
The Kennedy Assassination
1964
Theatre Five
1967
Voices In The Headlines
1970
Return To Studio 1A
1976
Radio's Golden Age
1979
Sears Radio Theatre
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Fred Foy during the ABC Years
Foy's Autobiography
'Fred Foy From XZY to ABC'
Promotional Poster from
Fred Foy's Book Tour
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Fred Foy's voice is one of those unmistakable, visceral sounds that will forever be associated with The Golden Age of Radio Era. Few radio voice talents have left the impression upon the listener as has Fred Foy.
Fred began his career in Radio, part-time at WBMC, Detroit. His voice was first heard on the Father Coughlin radio program in 1939. By 1942 Mr. Foy had obtained a position with Detroit's legendary WXYZ, home to Fran Striker and the wonderfully emblematic series' 'The Lone Ranger', 'The Green Hornet', and 'The Challenge of The Yukon'.
By 1945, Fred Foy was regularly being heard as the booming announcer for 'The Lone Ranger', indeed serving as Brace Beemer's understudy for a time.
During World War II, Fred Foy served as Sergeant Foy, Technician 4th Grade, with the Army's 14th Special Services Unit, in Cairo, Egypt and throughout the Middle East, distinguishing himself as one of the most well-recognized American voices in the Middle East.
After his discharge from The Army, Mr. Foy returned to WXYZ to become the full-time announcer for 'The Lone Ranger' for the remainder of it's run. He also voiced the equally stirring introduction to the television run of 'The Lone Ranger'.
Mr. Foy joined the ABC Network in 1960, serving as a staff announcer with ABC for the following twenty years. It was during his time with ABC that he became the voice of 'Theatre Five'.
Foy recounted his amazing career spanning the WXYZ years through the ABC years in his autobiography appropriately entitled, 'Fred Foy from XYZ to ABC'.
Fred Foy was inducted into The Radio Hall of Fame in March, 2000. He was awarded The Motion Picture and Television Fund's 'Golden Boot Award' in August, 2004.
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Abraham 'Glenn' Osser
(Music Director)
(1914- )
Birthplace:
Munising, MI
A.K.A's
Arthur Meisel, Bob Marvel, Maurice Pierre, and others.
Radiography:
1946
Forever Tops
1946
Paul Whiteman Show
1947
The Clock
1948
Mr. President
1956
High Moment
1957
Disaster
1960
The Revlon Revue
1964-65
Theatre 5 (Five)
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Glenn Osser (left) with 'Slam' Stewart and Bob Haggert c.1982
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The son of Jewish-Russian immigrants, Abe 'Glenn' Osser took up the piano, violin, saxophone and clarinet during his high school years, then attended The University of Michigan, studying Music Education and Music Theory and graduating in 1935.
After performing in college bands for a year, he moved to New York City, where he was mentored by music publisher Charles Warren.
Under Warren's guidance, Osser began composing arrangements for Bob Crosby, Vincent Lopez, Al Donahue, Charlie Barnet, Bunny Berigan, and Ben Bernie. He also began perfoming with Les Brown and Benny Goodman, playing saxophone and clarinet.
During World War II, Abe Osser joined the United States Marine Corps in 1944, serving as an arranger for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. After his discharge he followed Paul Whiteman to ABC's The Blue Network where he served rehearsing and conducting The Paul Whiteman Orchestra. When Whiteman became the Music Director for ABC Television, he took 'Glenn' Osser with him as a staff arranger where he stayed from 1947-1969, the period during which he was Music Director for 'Theatre Five'.
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William N. Robson
(Writer)
(1906-1995)
Writer, Producer, Director of Radio and Television, College Lecturer
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
Education:
B.A., Philosphy, Yale University
Curriculum Vitae:
Lecturer, New York University
Lecturer, UCLA
Consultant, U.S. Information Agency
Director, The Voice of America
Radiography:
1934 Calling All Cars
1936 Columbia Workshop
1936 Then and Now
1938 American School Of the Air
1939 Americans All-Immigrants
1939 What Price America
1940 Big Town
1942 The Twenty Second Letter
1943 The Man Behind the Gun
1943 One World
1944 Four For the Fifth
1945 Request Perforance
1946 Stars In the Afternoon
1946 Hawk Larabee
1947 Escape
1947 Doorway To Life
1947 Hollywood Fights Back
1947 Shorty Bell, Cub Reporter
1948 Suspense
1948 The Whistler
1950 T-Man
1950 The Adventures Of Christopher London
1950 Beyond Tomorrow
1955 Girl From Paradise
1955 Romance
1956 Fort Laramie
1956 CBS Radio Workshop
1958 Luke Slaughter Of Tombstone
1959 The Heart Of America
1960 Have Gun, Will Travel
1964 Theatre Five |
William N. Robson, with sons, ca. 1959
William Robson, Director, ca. 1954
Robson, seen here behind Frank Lovejoy, directing the Peabody Award winning series, Man Behind The Gun, for CBS, ca 1943
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William N. Robson was yet another of the hundreds of prominent victims of the infamous "Red Channels" promoted blacklisting of professionals in the Performing Arts. His 'sins' in the cowardly, notorious and despicable "Red Channels" pamphlet that named him?:
- Acting as one of the Sponsors of an Artists Front to Win the War meeting he helped organize at Carnegie Hall in 1942.
- A December 1946 speech he gave on the encroachments being made against free speech.
- Being a signator to a 1948 full page 'We Are for Wallace' ad in the New York Times.
- A masthead listing him as an Associate for the Hollywood Quarterly, a scholarly journal of Film, Radio and Television history.
That's apparently all the extreme Right Wing needed during those shameful post-War years to destroy any great professional's career--through whispers and innuendo. Robson had been one of CBS's premiere Radio and Television talents, but their withering support of Robson, fueled by the spurious comments in Red Channels eventually pressured CBS into discharging Robson. The long-festering Right Wing backlash from F.D.R.'s famous Four Freedoms Speech had traversed full-circle. And so it evolved that anyone speaking out for the protection of those very freedoms was targeted for ostracization.
But despite the attempts to destroy his reputation, Robson's career in Radio and Television and in service to his country still stands as one of the finest records of acheivement of the Golden Age of Radio. Indeed, it was Edward R. Murrow himself, under the administration of John F. Kennedy that gained an appointment for Robson as a Director for The Voice of America. His security clearance for that highly sensitive position was expedited without a hitch.
William Robson had every expectation of having a storied career. He showed early promise at Yale, began his writing career with Paramount Pictures, then in 1936, entered Radio while still in his twenties. He was a staff writer and director for CBS for almost 20 years. So instrumental was his role in early CBS Radio dramas that his name was rountinely attached to the promotional efforts for the programs he wrote, directed or produced for CBS--and rightly so. By the mid-1940s Robson had already received two prestigious George Foster Peabody awards for CBS--for 1943's Man Behind the Gun and the documentary, Open Letter on Race Hatred.
Robson's Philosophy degree served him well throughout his career, and its influence on his Radio and Television productions is readily apparent throughout his body of work. Always sensitive to the eternal conflicts between morality and amorality, many of Robson's pet projects strove to shine a light onto the murkier aspects of American society. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons that the first half of his career attracted the prurient interests of the extreme Right Wing during the infamous HUAC era.
And indeed, despite all extreme Conservative attempts to squelch his 'voice' in the Media, he could not be restrained for long. Robson may well have argued himself, that the second half of his career was even more productive and influential on the World Stage than his years in American Radio and Television.
William N. Robson capped an outstanding career in Communications with a highly influential position producing Pro-Democracy documentaries as Chief Documentary Writer, Producer and Director for the Voice of America. Indeed, he won four more Peabody Awards for his work at The Voice of America. How fittingly ironic.
And though his work with The Voice of America may well have eclipsed his work during The Golden Age of Radio, his personal influence in shaping and giving a conscience to those Golden Years stands head and shoulders above his peers.
William Robson died of Alzheimer's disease at his home in Alexandria, Va in April of 1995, survived by his wife, Shirley, and three sons, Christopher, Anthony and Michael.
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