Here's a brief synopsis and notes on The Shadow radio episode, "The Leopard Strikes!" that originally aired on January 5, 1941.
The story opens with two policeman walking their beat around the city zoo. One is a seasoned veteran, the other a rookie wanting some action. They talk briefly and shortly after, the rookie cop is attacked and killed by what appears to be a wild animal.
Commissioner Weston requests Lamont Cranston's assistance in the case due to Cranston's knowledge of big game animals. Before long, The Shadow is on the case and talks with the two men responsible for the care of the large cats. Based on the wounds of the killed cop, it appears he was attacked by a leopard! Mr. Harper and Mr. Oliver, the two zookeepers in charge of the big cats, are questioned but they say none of the cats had escaped. Something doesn't seem right, so Lamont plans to visit the two men.
The Shadow pays a visit to Harper and Oliver but does not get any leads in the case. However, he does note the obvious tension between the two zookeepers. The Shadow warns them that he will be back if more attacks occur!
Unfortunately, more attacks do happen so Lamont and Margo begin to spend their nights walking the park in hopes of finding a clue or the killer. There is another attack on a poor park bum and Lamont and Margo rush to the scene. A policeman is there and he states he witnessed the attack and shot the leopard. Margo makes a statement about smelling salts and that triggers Lamont's thinking! The thing that was missing on all the leopard's victims, was the distinct smell of a leopard! Based on Cranston's experience in Africa, when a leopard attacks a victim, it leaves a distinct smell on the body and that's what has been missing in each of these attacks.
As they enter the zoo where the leopards are kept, they find the leopard named Ribu has in fact been killed! Commissioner Weston believes the cat had been shot by the policeman, but upon further inspection, the leopard had been killed by a knife. The killer cat was still on the loose! The Shadow springs into action and revisits the zookeepers. Only Mr. Oliver is present and he begins to share some helpful information with The Shadow - information that is incriminating fellow zookeeper Harper! Before Oliver can fully let the cat out of the bag (see what I did there?!), he is shot. However, he has provided The Shadow with information that Harper is involved in a leopard cult and gives him information on the neighborhood where the cult meets.
The Shadow, Margo and Shrevvy take off and begin searching the area Oliver had told them about. Margo happens to see a woman being taken into a building by two men and it appears suspicious. The Shadow enters the building and finds the leopard cult is meeting! While the leopard cult never intends to harm anyone, one member, zookeeper Harper, intends to kill the woman as a sacrifice and offering to the leopard. The Shadow confronts Harper. Harper is dressed as a leopard - complete with razor sharp claws and he strikes at The Shadow. The Shadow shoots Harper and kills him, thus ending his murderous rampage.
Here are a few side notes about this episode. This is one of the rare episodes where Lamont Cranston/The Shadow carries a gun and uses it to kill the villain. Also, in the episode, Margo jokingly calls Lamont "Hawkshaw." Hawkshaw is slang for detective and there was a popular comic strip entitled Hawkshaw the Detective that ran from 1913 to 1922, and again from 1931 to 1952. The villain, Harper, was played by Frank Readick who was the voice of The Shadow introducing the stories on the Detective Story Hour!
The Leopard Strikes also made it into print in Shadow Comics #11 which published on April 25, 1941.
Cast:
Lamont Cranston/The Shadow: William Johnstone
Margo Lane: Marjorie Anderson
Commissioner Weston: Kenny Delmar
Shrevie: Everett Sloane
Harper: Frank Readick
Shadow Comics #23 (on sale December 24, 1942*) had an interesting addition to the comic book! Not only did it have Shadow stories, it also had a four page look at The Shadow radio program. It offered readers "the exclusive story behind...the cast of radio's The Shadow!"
First, we are given a one-page biography of William Johnstone who played Lamont Cranston/The Shadow beginning with the second season (replacing Orson Welles).
Then we have a brief bio of Marjorie Anderson who portrayed the lovely Margo Lane in seasons 3 and 7.
Finally, we are given insight into The Shadow's impact on society and how it truly teaches listeners that crime does not pay!
Here is a picture of William Johnstone and Marjorie Anderson from the New York Public Library digital collection.
I don't have a lot of information on Shadow Comics, but what research I've done indicates that The Shadow in the comics closely mirrors the character from the radio show. This four page article seems to keep that connection going!
*According to Mike's Amazing World of Comics
I was listening to The Shadow radio episode "Mansion of Madness" and found a humorous ending to the show! Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane are attending a wedding at the end of the episode and Margo isn't paying much attention to Lamont as he talks to her. Lamont says, "...are you listening to me?" and Margo responds that she was listening but was just thinking about what it would be like if The Shadow ever got married. Here's how Margo envisions it:
"Don't be alarmed Lamont, it was pure supposition! I was just thinking of you walking up the aisle...ready to take the sacred vows that endure for the rest of your life...and all of a sudden somebody would shoot the best man, the minister would fall down poisoned, the bridesmaid would be stabbed, and you'd be off on another case and bust up the whole darned thing!"
That was pretty comical and thought it was a great description of how The Shadow's wedding truly would be!
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.
