It is a shame that Gunsmoke became the pale imitation TV series. William Conrad's gravelly voice as Matt Dillon is perfect. I suppose I can understand why he didn't translate to the small screen. Although a short stocky bristled Dillon may have worked just fine. The stories are as hard and dark and satisfying as any noir that I have read or seen.
I have the same problem. I can get few to listen.
The Gerald Mohr Raymond Chandler programs are worthwhile as well.
Joe
On Mar 12, 2010, at 2:28 PM, J.C. Hocking wrote:
> For a while there I became somewhat obsessed with the radio Gunsmoke. It really is excellent-- tough stories, deep atmosphere, fine acting and characters that really come alive.
> The hardest thing about it was trying to get my friends to believe that an old western radio show was worth listening to.
>
> John
>
> ________________________________
> From: James Michael Rogers <jeddak5@cox.net>
>
> Alfred Bester did a lot of radio work. Quite a few of the late Shadow shows and, I think, Inner Sanctum were done by him. The radio Gunsmoke was consciously modeled off of the Continental Op.....very hardboiled scripts.
>
> James
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: davezeltserman
>
> Bill, any idea who used to write for these? Any familiar names?
>
> When I was in high school I used to listen to a station that was rebroadcasting them, as well as the old Jack Benny show. This is the best argument I've heard yet for satellite radio.
>
> --Dave
>
> --- In rara-avis-l@ yahoogroups. com, Bill Crider <macavityabc@ ...> wrote:
> >
> > Speaking of things noir, the radio shows of the late '40s and early '50s
> > were very dark stuff, indeed. Shows like "The Whistler" and "Suspense" and
> > "Inner Sanctum" and many others had plenty of doomed protagonists whom
> > nobody could love, and most of them met bad ends. I've been listening to a
> > lot of these old shows on satellite radio. If you did a series like any of
> > these shows today, it would have to be on cable. Is cable the Gold Medal of
> > television?
> >
> > Bill Crider
Joe Coluccio
Service Equipment Company, Inc.
jcoluccio@seco-pgh.com
10 Ben Avon Heights Road
PO Box 4180
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
412.766.6085
FAX: 412.766.7017
CELL: 412.287.0896
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