For the past few days I've been listening to this CD collection of The Shadow on my daily commute. It's a nice compilation of stories on 9 discs. The audio has been digitally remastered and the quality is very good.
Here is a description of the collection from the back of the case: Radio Spirits is very pleased to present radio's greatest crime fighter, The Shadow, in this new collection of eighteen digitally restored and remastered episodes selected from the classic series. Featuring Orson Welles, William Johnstone and Bret Morrison each in the title role, this set also includes the first release of two newly discovered and previously lost episodes starring Orson Welles as Lamont Cranston and The Shadow - "The Old People" and "The Trumpet of Death."
Also included is a small booklet by radio historian Ivan G. Shreve, Jr. that includes notes on the episodes.
Some of my favorite episodes from this collection are "The Return of Carnation Charlie," "Terror at Wolf's Head Knoll," and "Death to The Shadow." There are a few episodes that I didn't care for much such as "Terrible Legend of Crownshield Castle."
The booklet contains some good information and I like the fact that two previously lost episodes have been found, restored and included in this collection. I recommend you add this to your Shadow collection!!
"Blood Money" aired on The Shadow radio on October 20, 1946. It was the 6th episode of the 10th season and starred Bret Morrison as Lamont Cranston/The Shadow and Grace Matthews as the lovely Margo Lane. Here's a brief synopsis and notes on this episode.
In "Blood Money", The Shadow must put an end to a murderous counterfeiting gang. The gang is lead by Bones and his two henchmen Rego and Buster. Buster is also the gang's hitman who uses a sawed off shotgun as his weapon of choice. Buster calls his shotgun by the name Baby throughout the episode, and I found this a little weird and creepy.
Lamont and Margo begin investigating the counterfeit gang when one of Lamont's friends, an engraver named D'Arcy goes missing. Putting together the fact that Commissioner Weston is pursuing a counterfeit gang, Lamont deduces D'Arcy has been kidnapped by the gang and forced to work for them. Cranston's deduction proves true when D'Arcy's body is found in the river after Buster killed him.
Lamont discovers the counterfeit money is being passed at a local gambling joint, that's where he encounters Rego and Buster. The gang members don't like Lamont and Margo asking questions, so they set a trap for them at Margo's apartment. One of Buster's shotguns is set up so when they walk in the door it will blast them, thus ending their curiosity! Fortunately, the wiring slips and the shotgun blasts the wall next to Lamont!
As The Shadow, Lamont makes a visit to Rego who reluctantly spills the beans on the counterfeiting ring. Bones learns about this and he and Buster pick up Rego pretending to take him to a safe house where he can lay low until the heat is off. But this is a trap and Buster uses Baby to end Rego's life.
The Shadow then confronts Bones in his secret office in the casino as Buster has just left to make sure a gambling wheel they used isn't left behind. When Buster comes back in the office, Bones thinks it's The Shadow trying to leave and cuts loose with a shotgun, killing Buster. The Shadow knocks it out of his hand and let's him know the police are already on their way - and that Commissioner Weston will be glad to meet him!
While this episode was entertaining, it was not as good as other Shadow episodes. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. For me, Bret Morrison seems to be a bit off as The Shadow and doesn't come across as authoritative and strong as in other episodes.
This episode was sponsored by Carey's Salt. It was interesting to hear some listener's ideas for unique ways to use Carey's Salt. One listener said they use Carey's Salt and kerosene to clean galvanized utensils! Listeners that had their ideas selected as unique and interesting were given the prize of a $100 wrist watch.
Cast/Crew:
Lamont Cranston/The Shadow: Bret Morrison
Margo Lane: Grace Matthews
Announcer: Don Hancock
Rating (out of 5 stars): ⭐⭐⭐
Sponsor: Carey's Salt
The Shadow radio was on the air from September 26, 1937 until the final episode on December 26, 1954. During that time, five men played the part of Lamont Cranston/The Shadow. This brief article will give the names and dates for each of these men. I plan on writing more about each of these actors in the future!
Orson Welles
Orson Welles portrayed The Shadow in season 1 (1937 - 1938), for a total of 52 episodes.
William Johnstone
William Johnstone took over the role for seasons 2 through 6 (1938 - 1943). (Shadow Comics #23 included some information on Johnstone which you can read here.)
Bret Morrison
For season 7 (1943 - 1944) it was Bret Morrison in the role of Lamont Cranston/The Shadow.
John Archer
John Archer was The Shadow for one season. He was in season 8 from 1944 to 1945.
Stephen Courtleigh
Stephen Courtleigh portrayed The Shadow for the first eight episodes* of season 9 (1945 - 1946). His last episode as The Shadow would have been "I Must Never Sleep Again" which aired on October 28, 1945.
Bret Morrison
Bret Morrison took over from Stephen Courtleigh beginning with the ninth episode of season 9 ("Spotlight on the Duchess" which aired on November 4, 1945). He stayed in the role until the end of The Shadow radio show in season 18 (1954).
*Information from Grams, Jr, Martin, 2011, The Shadow The History and Mystery of the Radio Program, 1930 - 1954, pp 258-259, OTR Publishing
A man bent on revenge accidentally learns the true identity of The Shadow and now he's offering to sell that information to gangdom! Will his nefarious plan fail? That's what we have to learn in The Shadow radio episode of "Death to The Shadow!" This episode originally aired on March 12, 1944.
The story begins with Professor Petro showing of his latest invention to Howard Crane. Crane leads us to believe he represents a group of wealthy investors who might want to purchase this invention. Professor Petro's invention is a television-like apparatus that enables him to see things by dialing in street addresses or coordinates. Wherever there is a tiny bit of light, he can look at that location and watch what is happening there on a small screen. Crane gives Professor Petro the address to one of his so-called business associates, Dan Gordon. Petro's invention allows them to look and listen in on Dan Gordon as he gives the combination of his safe to his personal secretary. In the safe they have just locked up half a million dollars!
Howard Crane seems to pick an address at random and Professor Petro adjusts the dials and they look in on gangster Finger Fenton. They see another man in the room but Finger doesn't see him! They listen in as The Shadow warns Finger Fenton that he must stay on the straight and narrow since he just got out of jail and so he doesn't end up in the electric chair like his brother, Killer Fenton. Crane and Petro are astonished that Finger can't see the other man in the room (The Shadow) and come to the conclusion that Fenton must be hypnotized! Crane recognizes Lamont Cranston, and hears him talk as The Shadow - now Crane knows the true identity of The Shadow!!!
Crane kills Professor Petro and steals his invention. He sets up a meeting with Finger Fenton and lays out his plan for profiting off of Petro's invention. He will give Fenton information on where to steal and rob, and they will split the profits. And, for a nice sum of money, Crane will tell Fenton who is The Shadow! Fenton wants to know so he can avenge the death of his brother who was sent to the chair by The Shadow. The felon Fenton agrees to the plan and the first job is to remove the half million dollars from Dan Gordon's safe as well as exact revenge on men that Crane wants to make pay for ruining him!
With Professor Petro's device, Crane eavesdrops on the police and stymies The Shadow's every move. Lamont Cranston laments to Margo Lane while visiting her apartment. Margo opines, "It's like they're able to watch everything you do!" Margo's comment jogs Lamont's memory - Professor Petro had talked with Lamont about his device before! Lamont then figures out he's probably being watched right then and there and so he sets a trap. He tells Margo that he will be going to an apartment at 10:30 that night to meet an informant with information on the crime wave. If he is being watched, he expects someone will show up at the apartment and The Shadow will be waiting!
At 10:30 The Shadow finds Lefty waiting for someone in the apartment. The Shadow unarms him and gets Lefty to rat out the plans. Meanwhile, Crane has sent henchman to pick up Margo Lane and bring her to him! After dealing with Lefty, Cranston returns to Margo's apartment to find a scuffle has taken place. Watching on the television device, Crane calls him and gives him specific instructions on where to go if he wants to see Margo Lane alive again! Crane watches the television device and sees Cranston obeying his orders!
Crane's plan is quickly foiled as The Shadow suddenly shows up and confronts him and Finger Fenton! The Shadow is able to smash the television device while Finger Fenton uses his machine gun to try and shoot The Shadow. Fenton sprays the room with bullets and ends up killing Crane, the man who knew The Shadow's true identity!
After the police mop up matters at Crane's, Lamont and Margo talk. Margo asks how Lamont could be seen on the television device and yet show up at Crane's as The Shadow. It turns out that Cranston had just enough time to contact Commissioner Weston and have a detective that strongly resembled him to act as a decoy - that's who Crane was watching! This allowed Cranston, as The Shadow, to rescue Margo and destroy the television device.
This was a great radio episode and even I was trying to figure out how Cranston could be watched and yet show up to rescue Margo. This is an action packed episode and I highly recommend you give it a listen!
In this radio episode, according to the radio logs I was able to find, The Shadow/Lamont Cranston was played by Brett Morrison and Margo Lane was played by Marjorie Anderson.
