On This Day, October 6: 18 Postseason Baseball Classics and Lights Out 'What the Devil'
Also featured: The McCormack Matter.
October 6 Update & Historical Discoveries
This report records the historical discoveries, verified cast roles, sanitized titles, and contemporary radio logs across all 211 old-time radio broadcasts transmitted on October 6.
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis & Discovered Historical Insights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "1963 World Series Game 4: New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers" | NBC Radio Network 1963-10-06 1:00 PM PST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company, Chrysler Corporation | Vin Scully, By Saam (Broadcasters) Featuring Sandy Koufax, Whitey Ford, Frank Howard |
NBC Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Vin Scully and By Saam call game four at Dodger Stadium as Sandy Koufax outduels Whitey Ford to complete a historic four-game World Series review. Background: Sandy Koufax allows just one run on six hits with 8 strikeouts to capture Series MVP honors; Frank Howard crushes a mammoth 450-foot fifth-inning upper-deck home run off Whitey Ford. Newspaper listing: Los Angeles Times, Oct 6, 1963, Sports, p. D1. |
| "1960 World Series Game 2: New York Yankees at Pittsburgh Pirates (Part 2)" | NBC Radio Network 1960-10-06 1:00 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Mel Allen, Bob Prince (Broadcasters) Featuring Mickey Mantle, Bob Turley, Bill Mazeroski |
NBC Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen and Bob Prince report from Forbes Field as Mickey Mantle powers two home runs to pace a sixteen-to-three Yankees rout over Pittsburgh. Background: Mickey Mantle blasts two towering home runs (including a 478-foot blast over the right-center scoreboard), driving in five runs to tie the Series at one game apiece. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 6, 1960, Sports, p. 53. |
| "1956 World Series Game 3: Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Yankees" | MBS / Mutual Baseball Network 1956-10-06 1:00 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Mel Allen, Vin Scully (Broadcasters) Featuring Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Enos Slaughter |
Mutual Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen and Vin Scully describe Game Three from Yankee Stadium as Whitey Ford outpitches the Dodgers with backing from home runs by Mantle and Slaughter. Background: Trailing 2-0 in the series, New York rebounds behind Whitey Ford's complete game; Mickey Mantle smashes a 440-foot 2-run home run and Enos Slaughter hits a go-ahead 3-run shot. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 6, 1956, Sports, p. 14. |
| "1948 World Series Game 1: Cleveland Indians at Boston Braves" | MBS / Mutual Baseball Network 1948-10-06 1:15 PM EST |
Gillette Safety Razor Company | Mel Allen, Jim Britt (Broadcasters) Featuring Johnny Sain, Bob Feller, Phil Masi |
Mutual Sports Special Events Unit | ["Sports", "Live Event"] |
Synopsis: Mel Allen and Jim Britt broadcast from Braves Field as Johnny Sain outduels Bob Feller in a tense one-to-zero pitcher's battle decided by a controversial pickoff. Background: One of baseball history's greatest pitchers' duels: Sain tosses a 2-hit shutout, while Feller allows just 2 hits; Tommy Holmes singles home Phil Masi following umpire Bill Stewart's disputed pickoff call at second base. Newspaper listing: The Boston Globe, Oct 6, 1948, Sports, p. 1. |
| "What the Devil" | CBS Radio Network 1942-10-06 8:00 PM EST |
Ironized Yeast | Wally Maher (Joe), Gloria Blondell (Ethel) Bob Lemond (Announcer), Arch Oboler (Host) |
Arch Oboler (Writer/Director) | ["Horror", "Drama"] |
Synopsis: A couple motoring along a remote highway find themselves relentlessly pursued and terrorized by a mysterious, driverless dynamite truck. Background: Premiere episode of Arch Oboler's celebrated 1942 CBS revival series of Lights Out, featuring pioneering Foley work; later recognized as the direct thematic inspiration for Steven Spielberg's 1971 thriller Duel. Newspaper listing: Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct 6, 1942, Radio Guide, p. 20. |
| "The McCormack Matter, Part 4" | CBS Radio Network 1955-10-06 8:05 PM EST |
Sustaining | Bob Bailey (Johnny Dollar) Virginia Gregg, Parley Baer, Roy Rowan (Announcer) |
Jack Johnstone (Producer/Director), John Dawson (Writer) | ["Mystery", "Detective"] |
Synopsis: Johnny Dollar investigates conflicting financial records and interrogates evasive warehouse employees to trace misappropriated industrial machinery. Background: Part 4 of the landmark five-part serialized storyline that launched the Bob Bailey era as the definitive freelance insurance investigator with the action-packed expense account. Newspaper listing: Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct 6, 1955, Radio Programs, p. B10. |
| "Dr. Pritchard" | CBS Radio Network 1949-10-06 9:00 PM EST |
Auto-Lite Spark Plugs | Donald O'Connor (Edward Pritchard) Joseph Kearns, Cathy Lewis, Harlow Wilcox (Announcer) |
Anton M. Leader (Producer/Director), Robert L. Richards (Writer) | ["Suspense", "Drama"] |
Synopsis: A respected Victorian physician conceals his lethal poisons behind professional medical authority while methodically dispatching household relatives. Background: Remarkable dramatic radio turn by musical star Donald O'Connor as the notorious 19th-century Scottish poisoner Dr. Edward William Pritchard, featuring Bernard Herrmann's eerie score. Newspaper listing: The New York Times, Oct 6, 1949, Radio Guide, p. 58. |
| "The Best Years of Our Lives" | CBS Radio Network 1949-10-06 9:00 PM EST |
Lux Toilet Soap | Fredric March (Al Stephenson), Dana Andrews (Fred Derry) Teresa Wright (Peggy Stephenson), William Keighley (Host) |
Fred MacKaye (Director), Sanford Barnett (Adaptor) | ["Drama"] |
Synopsis: Three World War Two veterans struggle with civilian reintegration, family estrangement, and physical disabilities upon returning to their Midwestern hometown. Background: Exceptional hour-long radio adaptation of William Wyler's Academy Award-winning masterpiece, reuniting original stars Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Teresa Wright. Newspaper listing: Los Angeles Times, Oct 6, 1949, Radio Timetable, p. A11. |
| "The Big White Line" | NBC Radio Network 1953-10-06 9:00 PM EST |
Chesterfield Cigarettes, Fatima Cigarettes | Jack Webb (Sgt. Joe Friday), Ben Alexander (Officer Frank Smith) Herb Ellis, Harry Bartell, Hal Gibney (Announcer) |
Jack Webb (Director), John Robinson (Writer) | ["Police Procedural", "Drama"] |
Synopsis: Joe Friday and Frank Smith pursue a ruthless hit-and-run motorist who critically injured an elderly pedestrian and fled the accident scene. Background: Realistic police procedural detailing LAPD traffic investigation division methods, scientific tire tread analysis, and paint transfer forensic laboratory work. Newspaper listing: The Washington Post, Oct 6, 1953, Radio Highlights, p. 28. |
| "The Big Con" | CBS Radio Network 1957-10-06 6:30 PM EST |
L&M Cigarettes | William Conrad (Marshal Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester Proudfoot) Howard McNear (Doc Adams), Georgia Ellis (Kitty Russell) |
Norman Macdonnell (Producer/Director), John Meston (Writer) | ["Western"] |
Synopsis: Matt Dillon confronts a slick traveling swindler whose fraudulent gold mine investment scheme threatens to fleece Dodge City merchants. Background: Norman Macdonnell and John Meston craft a character study of Dodge City prairie commerce, with William Conrad's deep baritone delivering justice. Newspaper listing: The Washington Post, Oct 6, 1957, TV-Radio Preview, p. H14. |