Michael Shayne (radio program)

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Michael Shayne is a generic title that can refer to any of three American old-time radio detective programs that were broadcast from 1944 to 1953. Specific titles varied with different versions of the show. They included Michael Shayne, Private Detective, The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, and The Adventures of Michael Shayne.

Shayne was the main character in each version of the program, Phyllis Knight, a combination of secretary, sidekick, and girlfriend for Shayne, was also featured in the first and third versions, but the character did not appear in The New Adventures of Michael Shayne.[1]

Michael Shayne, Private Detective[edit]

The first radio version had Wally Maher in the title role. Louise Arthur initially portrayed Knight, and Joe Forte played the police inspector.[2] Cathy Lewis replaced Arthur in the spring of 1945.[1]

For two years, this version was broadcast only in the western United States, debuting on the Don Lee Network on October 16, 1944.[2] It was on Mondays at 8:30 Pacific Time initially and then moved to Wednesdays at 7 p.m. P.T.,[1] sponsored by Union Oil Company.[3] On October 15, 1946, it moved to the nationwide Mutual network on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern Time with Hastings Piston Rings as sponsor.[1]

The New Adventures of Michael Shayne[edit]

The second version was a transcribed program with Jeff Chandler in the title role. Don W. Sharpe was the producer.[4] Knight was not a character in this version,[5] which was set in New Orleans.[6] The program was produced by Searles & Parks Inc. Bill Rousseau was the director.[7]

The Adventures of Michael Shayne[edit]

ABC radio carried The Adventures of Michael Shayne[5] from October 14, 1952, until July 10, 1953. Donald Curtis had the title role until November 1952. He was succeeded by Robert Sterling and Vinton Hayworth. Judith Parrish portrayed Knight, and Rousseau was the director. John Duffy provided the music.[5] In November 1952, the program's time slot changed from Tuesdays at 8 p.m. to Thursdays at 9:30. In February 1953, it moved to Fridays at 8 p.m.[4]

Background[edit]

Michael Shayne was created by author Brett Halliday, and the radio programs were based on Halliday's books that featured that character,[4] particularly Dividend on Death (1939).[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cox, Jim (2015). Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland. pp. 19–20. ISBN 978-1-4766-1227-0. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Dunning, John (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. pp. 413–414. ISBN 0-13-932616-2.
  3. ^ "Start Syndication On First BGI Show" (PDF). Billboard. February 21, 1948. p. 9. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Dunning, John (May 7, 1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 458. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (June 8, 2015). Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931-1972. McFarland. pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-1-4766-1223-2. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  6. ^ DeForest, Tim (February 10, 2017). Radio by the Book: Adaptations of Literature and Fiction on the Airwaves. McFarland. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-1-4766-0759-7. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Chase, Sam (December 10, 1949). "Adventures of Michael Shayne" (PDF). Billboard. p. 11. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
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