On This Day, September 11: The Whistler and Broadway Playhouse
Also featured: The Bob Hope Show.
September 11 Update & Historical Discoveries
This report durably records the historical discoveries, technical anomalies, verified cast roles, commercial integrity audits, and contemporary newspaper logs for old-time radio broadcasts transmitted on September 11.
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis & Discovered Historical Insights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Brief Pause for Murder" | CBS (WBBM Chicago) 1946-09-11 9:30 PM CDT |
The Peter Hand Brewery Co. Meister Brau Beer ("The Master Brew") |
Bill Forman (The Whistler) Fahey Flynn (Roger) Beverly Younger (Tisha) Ken Griffin (Stevens) Dick Wells (Announcer) |
Sherman Marks (Producer & Director) Hunter Kahler (Music Conductor) Joel Malone (Writer) |
["Mystery", "Crime", "Noir", "Drama"] |
Synopsis: Smug radio announcer Roger plots to murder his unfaithful wife Tisha and blackmails ex-con engineer Stevens into cutting a transcription disc for an alibi over station WTUX at 10:00 PM while he strangles Tisha with a cord to mimic the "whip-cord strangler." A surprise radio bulletin announces the real strangler was already captured; when Roger rushes to rely on his radio broadcast alibi, the transcription disc catches on a skipping groove repeating "for your protection..." endlessly. Background: Proves the existence of WBBM Chicago's distinct regional production of The Whistler sponsored by Meister Brau Beer, featuring local Chicago radio icons Fahey Flynn and Ken Griffin, distinct from the West Coast Signal Oil broadcasts. |
| "Brief Pause for Murder" | CBS (KNX Hollywood) 1949-09-11 9:00 PM PST |
Signal Oil Company Signal "Go Farther" Gasoline & Motor Oil |
Bill Forman (The Whistler) Frank Nelson (Roger) Mary Lansing (Tisha) William Conrad (Stevens) Marvin Miller (Announcer) |
George W. Allen (Producer) Sterling Tracy (Director) Lou Huston & Bill Forman (Writers) Wilbur Hatch (Composer) |
["Mystery", "Crime", "Noir", "Drama"] |
Synopsis: Hollywood West Coast restaging of the radio murder alibi script. Roger murders his unfaithful wife Tisha to frame a serial strangler, but is foiled by a police bulletin and a skipping transcription record. Background: Features William Conrad as the blackmailed audio engineer Stevens and Frank Nelson as Roger. Includes live commercial spiels for the Signal Limerick Contest transmitted to troops overseas via AFRS. |
| "The Heiress" | WCBS / AFRS 1950-09-11 9:00 PM EDT |
AFRS Military Syndication Sustaining / Institutional ID |
Olivia de Havilland (Catherine Sloper) Louis Calhern (Dr. Austin Sloper) Van Heflin (Morris Townsend) Bill Smith (AFRS Announcer) |
William Keighley (Producer & Host) F.H. Bonette (Script Adapter) Louis Silvers (Music Director) |
["Drama", "Historical", "Romance"] |
Synopsis: In Washington Square, emotionally abused heiress Catherine Sloper is abandoned by fortune hunter Morris Townsend when her cruel father Dr. Sloper threatens disinheritance. Years later, a wealthy and hardened Catherine feigns reconciliation with Morris, only to bolt the heavy front door against his midnight pounding. Background: Preserves the complete Academy Award-winning cast recreating their landmark roles, adapted from Lux Radio Theatre for Armed Forces overseas distribution under the Broadway Playhouse banner. |
| "USO Show: Corpus Christi Naval Air Station" | NBC (WOAI/KPRC) 1945-09-11 10:00 PM EWT |
Lever Brothers Company Pepsodent Toothpaste with Irium |
Bob Hope (Host) Frances Langford (Vocalist) Jerry Colonna (Comedian) Skinnay Ennis (Bandleader) Wendell Niles (Announcer) |
Bob Hope Writers Room Skinnay Ennis Orchestra |
["Comedy", "Variety", "Music"] |
Synopsis: Live USO tour broadcast from Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in Texas immediately following the end of WWII. Hope trades blistering jokes about naval aviation cadet training, Texas humidity, and demobilization. Background: Spoken dialogue directly captures the immediate post-VJ Day transition mood among returning naval aviators, featuring Frances Langford singing to the servicemen and Hope's iconic "Thanks for the Memory." |