Tonight, June 11, 2023 at 8 PM EDT, our resident producers Jeff Ward and Doug Bost return with “Gunsmoke Deconstructed.” Tune in to WBAI-NY 99.5 FM, or listen to the stream at wbai.org for THE GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO, produced by Max Schmid.

(Craig Wichman suggested we do a show about Howard McNear but instead we did one about the whole Gunsmoke cast.) Everybody loves Gunsmoke, but there’s no actual Gunsmoke episode here—instead, we’re featuring the 4 Gunsmoke stars on different shows.

Chester in How Love Came To Professor Guildea
Escape, February 22, 1948, based on the short story by Robert S. Hichens. With Parley Baer as Father Murchison, Luis Van Rooten as Professor Guildea -- and Paul Frees as the parrot

Doc in The Gentle Way
The Whistler, June 23 1957. Starring Howard McNear and Willard Waterman.

Kitty in I Saw Myself Running
Escape, February 22, 1953. Written and directed by Antony Ellis, with Georgia Ellis as Susan and Sammy Hill as Sue, with John Stevenson and Edgar Barrier.

Matt Dillon in The Waxwork
Suspense, May 1, 1956. Written by AM Burridge, starring William Conrad and ONLY William Conrad.

ESCAPE from CBS on Feb 28, 1948 (West Coast version) #29 "How Love Came To Professor Guildea." An invisible creature...that can kiss from the inside! Excellent organ bridges and stabs, superb radio horror, an excellent production. The program was heard on the East coast February 22, 1948. With Luis Van Rooten as Prof Guildea, Parley Baer as Father Mercheson, Paul Frees as the parrot, Harry Bartell, written by Robert Hichens, adapted by Les Crutchfield, produced by William N. Robson, directed by Norman Macdonnell, music conceived by Cy Feuer, organist Richard Aurandt.

THE WHISTLER from CBS Pacific net on June 23, 1947 #266 “The Gentle Way" for Signal Oil. A man poisons his co-worker's mind in order to kill a rival and to do his dirty work for him. Howard McNear, Willard Waterman, Marvin Miller, written by John Hastey, produced by George W. Allen, music by Wilbur Hatch.

ESCAPE from CBS on Feb 22, 1953 #171 "I Saw Myself Running." An interesting visit to a world of dreams. A woman meets herself in her dreams...and she sees herself running! Starring Georgia Ellis, with Sammie Hill as Sue, John Stephenson, Edgar Barrier, William Conrad, editorial supervisor John Meston, music by Leith Stevens, written and directed by Antony Ellis, announcer Roy Rowan.

SUSPENSE from CBS on May 1, 1956 #648 “The Waxwork.” A reporter spends the night in an eerie wax museum. All voices are by William Conrad, who plays three roles and narrates the story. Written by A. M. Burrage, adapted by Mel Dinelli, music composed by Lucien Moraweck, conducted by Wilbur Hatch, produced and directed by Antony Ellis, announcer Larry Thor.