Nick Carter, Master Detectiveis aMutualradio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detectiveNick Carterfrom Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Nick Carter first came to radio asThe Return of Nick Carter,a reference to the character's pulp origins, but the title was soon changed toNick Carter, Master Detective.A veteran radio dramatist,Ferrin Fraser,wrote many of the scripts.
Program history
editWithLon Clarkin the title role, the series commenced 11 April 1943, on Mutual, continuing in many different timeslots for well over a decade. Between October 1944 and April 1945, it was heard as a 30-minute program on Sunday afternoons at 3 pm, sponsored by Acme Paints and Lin-X, with a 15-minute serial airing four or five times a week in 1944 from April to September. In April 1945, the Sunday series moved to 6pm, continuing in that timeslot until June 1946, and it was also heard in 1946 on Tuesday from March to August.[1]
Sponsored byCudahy PackingandOld Dutch Cleanserand later Acme Products (makers of such home-improvement chemicals as Kem-Tone paints and Lin-X floor-cleaning waxes, a near-rival to the more-popular Johnson's Wax products heard on numerous NBC Radio shows at the same time), the series finally settled in on Sundays at 6:30 pm for broadcasts from August 18, 1946 to September 21, 1952. Libby Packing was the sponsor when the drama aired on Sundays at 6pm (1952–53). In the last two years of the long run (1953–55), the show was heard Sundays at 4:30 pm.
Jock MacGregor was the producer-director[2]of scripts byAlfred Bester,Milton J. Kramer, David Kogan and others. Background music was supplied by organists Hank Sylvern, Lew White and George Wright.Walter B. Gibson,co-creator/writer ofThe Shadowpulp novels, was fired when he asked for a raise in 1946, and then became head writer for the Nick Carter radio series. Oddly enough, he never liked to write scripts for the radio version of The Shadow, though both characters were published by Street & Smith.[3]
Patsy Bowen, Nick's assistant, was portrayed by Helen Choate until mid-1945; thenCharlotte Mansonstepped into the role. Nick and Patsy's friend was reporter Scubby Wilson (John Kane). Sgt. Mathison (Ed Latimer) was Nick's contact at the police department. The supporting cast includedRaymond Edward Johnson,Bill JohnstoneandBryna Raeburn.Michael Fitzmauricewas the program's announcer. The series ended on September 25, 1955.[4]
Chick Carter, Boy Detective
editChick Carter, Boy Detectivewas a serial adventure that aired weekday afternoons on Mutual. Chick Carter, the adopted son of Nick Carter, was played by Bill Lipton (1943–44) and Leon Janney (1944–45). The series aired from July 5, 1943 to July 6, 1945.
Episodes
editEpisodes included "The Case of the Brick Oven Corpse" on July 3, 1949.[5]
On film
editWalter Pidgeonplayed Nick Carter andDonald Meekplayed Bartholomew in three films produced byMGM:Nick Carter, Master Detective(1939),[6]Phantom Raiders(1940),[7]andSky Murder(1940)[8]Several films covering Carter's adventures were released during the silent era. SeeNick Carter (literary character)for more.
Listen to
editReferences
edit- ^Elliott-Upton, Deborah (2008-07-24)."In the Nick of Time".Nick Carter.Criminal Brief.
- ^"Nick Carter Story Written in 1886 to Be Dramatized Today".The Times.Louisiana, Shreveport. June 6, 1954. p. 7-F.RetrievedNovember 9,2023– viaNewspapers.
- ^Elliott-Upton, Deborah (2010-04-22)."American Idol".Nick Carter.Criminal Brief.
- ^Elliott-Upton, Deborah (2010-03-11)."Branding".Nick Carter.Criminal Brief.
- ^"'Master Detective' Has Exciting Chase Over KENT Mystery ".The Shreveport Times.July 3, 1949. p. 36.RetrievedJuly 3,2024– viaNewspapers.
- ^"Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939) – Overview".Turner Classic Movies.Retrieved2020-09-15.
- ^"Phantom Raiders (1940) – Overview".Turner Classic Movies.Retrieved2020-09-15.
- ^"Sky Murder (1940) – Overview".Turner Classic Movies.Retrieved2020-09-15.