Bulldog Drummond (radio program)

Last updated
Bulldog Drummond
Other namesThe Adventures of Bulldog Drummond
The American Adventures of Bulldog Drummond
GenreCrime drama
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
SyndicatesMutual
StarringGeorge Coulouris
Santos Ortega
Ned Wever
Cedric Hardwicke
Everett Sloane
Luis Van Rooten
Rod Hendrickson
AnnouncerTed Brown
Henry Morgan
Written byAllan E. Sloane
Leonard Leslie
Edward J. Adamson
Jay Bennett
Directed byHiman Brown
Produced byHiman Brown
Original releaseApril 13, 1941 – March 28, 1954

For a broader look at the character on which this program was based, see Bulldog Drummond.

Contents

Bulldog Drummond is a radio crime drama in the United States. It was broadcast on Mutual April 13, 1941 – March 28, 1954. [1] Garyn G. Roberts wrote in his book, Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context, "With its trademark foghorn, Bulldog Drummond was one of the premiere mystery programs of its time." [2]

Format

Bulldog Drummond was "a British investigator called 'Bulldog' because he was relentless in the pursuit of criminals." [3] The character was created by British author H. C. McNeile. [4] In addition to McNeile's books, Drummond was featured in a series of films from Paramount Pictures in the 1930s. [5] Drummond was described as "a polished man-about-town, whose hobby is crime detection and the apprehension of criminals." [6]

Radio historian John Dunning commented, "With his sidekick Denny, Captain Hugh Drummond solved the usual run of murders, collected the usual run of bumps on the head, and ran afoul of underworld characters ranging from radium thieves to counterfeiters." [5] In a 1948 column in the Oakland Tribune, media critic John Crosby called the program "the first of the more successful exemplars of radio espionage and intrigue." [7]

One notable aspect of Bulldog Drummond was its opening (created by producer-director Himan Brown), which "evoked a London ambiance with footsteps, a foghorn, shots, and three blasts of a police whistle." [8] Following the sound effects, an announcer introduced the program with the line, "Out of the fog ... out of the night ... and into his American adventures ... comes ... Bulldog Drummond." [9]

The program was initially set in Great Britain, but after two months, the setting was moved to the United States, [1] thus leading some sources to identify it as The American Adventures of Bulldog Drummond. [3] In another change from the books, the radio program omitted Drummond's wife "and his gaggle of ex-army comrades." [10] He did, however, keep his butler, Denny. [10]

Personnel

Drummond and Denny were the series' only regular characters. Over the years, Drummond was played by George Coulouris, Santos Ortega, Ned Wever, and Cedric Hardwicke. Actors portraying Denny were Everett Sloane, Luis van Rooten, and Rod Hendrickson. [1] Others appearing frequently on the program were Agnes Moorehead, Paul Stewart, Ray Collins, [9] and Mercedes McCambridge. [11]

Announcers for Bulldog Drummond were Ted Brown, Henry Morgan, [4] and Robert Shepard. [12] The show's writers were Allan E. Sloane, Leonard Leslie, [1] Edward J. Adamson, and Jay Bennett. [9]

Distribution

Bulldog Drummond was first broadcast on WOR in New York City. From there, it was distributed nationwide on the Mutual Broadcasting System. [5] It was also carried in Canada. [13] [14]

In 1948, distribution shifted from Mutual's network to syndication via electrical transcription. The program continued to originate at WOR, with the Chartoc-Coleman company handling syndication. [15] An advertisement in the trade publication Billboard touted: "Year after year, since 1941, 'Drummond' has rung up top ratings ... The name alone pulls listeners ... Want a low-priced show to do a top-price selling job? Don't pass up 'Bulldog Drummond.'" [16]

A new version of Bulldog Drummond aired in 1953, once again on Mutual. Sir Cedric Hardwicke had the title role in what the network promoted as "a strengthened program structure" that also included Counterspy , and Starlight Theatre. [17] The network also introduced "a new plan to pay stations in 'top-quality' programs instead of cash," with the revived Bulldog Drummond as one of "18 new 'star-name' shows." [18] Those efforts were largely ineffective, however, as the final network version of Bulldog Drummond was broadcast only January 3, 1954 – March 28, 1954. [1]

Related Research Articles

Mutual Broadcasting System Former American radio broadcasting network

The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American commercial radio network in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, Mutual was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow. For many years, it was a national broadcaster for Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football. From the mid-1930s and until the retirement of the network in 1999, Mutual ran a highly respected news service accompanied by a variety of popular commentary shows. Mutual pioneered the nationwide late night call-in radio program in the late 1970s, introducing the country to Larry King and later Jim Bohannon.

The year 1942 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

Bulldog Drummond Fictional character created by H. C. McNeile (pen name "Sapper")

Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond is a fictional character, created by H. C. McNeile and published under his pen name "Sapper". Following McNeile's death in 1937, the novels were continued by Gerard Fairlie. Drummond is a First World War veteran who, fed up with his sedate lifestyle, advertises looking for excitement, and becomes a gentleman adventurer. The character has appeared in novels, short stories, on the stage, in films, on radio and television, and in graphic novels.

H. C. McNeile British soldier and author

Herman Cyril McNeile, MC, commonly known as Cyril McNeile and publishing under the name H. C. McNeile or the pseudonym Sapper, was a British soldier and author. Drawing on his experiences in the trenches during the First World War, he started writing short stories and getting them published in the Daily Mail. As serving officers in the British Army were not permitted to publish under their own names, he was given the pen name "Sapper" by Lord Northcliffe, the owner of the Daily Mail; the nickname was based on that of his corps, the Royal Engineers.

The year 1954 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

The year 1941 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

The year 1938 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.

The Ted Steele Show is the title of several television and radio programs that were hosted by bandleader Ted Steele (1917–1985).

<i>Bulldog Drummond at Bay</i> (novel)

Bulldog Drummond at Bay was the ninth Bulldog Drummond novel. It was published in 1935 and written by H. C. McNeile under the pen name Sapper. It was filmed in 1937 and in 1947.  

<i>Challenge</i> (novel)

Challenge was the tenth and final Bulldog Drummond novel written by H. C. McNeile. It was published in 1935 under McNeile's pen name Sapper.  

<i>Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back</i> (1947 film) 1947 film by Frank McDonald

Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back is a 1947 American adventure crime mystery film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Ron Randell, Gloria Henry and Patrick O'Moore. The film is loosely based on the H. C. McNeile novel Knock-Out.

Don Carney

Don Carney was the stage name of Howard Rice, an American radio personality and children's radio show host. Carney was best remembered as the host of Uncle Don, a children's radio program produced between 1928 and 1947 and broadcast from WOR in New York.

Ted Steele (bandleader) American bandleader and host of radio and TV

Ted Steele was an American bandleader and host of several radio and television programs. He also held administrative positions at radio stations and had his own media-related businesses.

Ned Wever

Ned Wever was an actor on stage and on old-time radio. Garyn G. Roberts wrote in his book, Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context, "Wever's most famous role was probably that of H.C. McNeile's British detective and adventurer Bulldog Drummond for the program of the same name."

The Black Castle is an old-time radio mystery-terror program in the United States. The 15-minute program was broadcast on Mutual in 1943 and 1944.

<i>Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders</i>

Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders is an old-time radio juvenile Western adventure program in the United States, one of the first juvenile radio programs. It was broadcast on CBS October 17, 1932 - December 11, 1936, and on Mutual June 21, 1949 - June 17, 1955.

Brownstone Theater is an old-time radio dramatic anthology series in the United States. It was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System February 21, 1945 – September 23, 1945.

<i>Chick Carter, Boy Detective</i>

Chick Carter, Boy Detective is a 15-minute American old-time radio juvenile crime drama. It was carried on the Mutual Broadcasting System weekday afternoons from July 5, 1943 to July 6, 1945.

<i>December Bride</i> (radio program)

December Bride is an American old-time radio situation comedy. It was broadcast on CBS from June 8, 1952, to September 6, 1953, replacing Jack Benny's program. CBS television broadcast a version of the program 1954–1959.

Hashknife Hartley is an American old-time radio Western program. It was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System from July 2, 1950, until December 30, 1951.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 123. ISBN   978-0-19-507678-3 . Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  2. ↑ Roberts, Garyn G. (1993). Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context. McFarland. p. 231. ISBN   9780786416981 . Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN   978-0-8108-7616-3. pp. 49–50.
  4. 1 2 Terrace, Vincent (1981), Radio's Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930–1960. A.S. Barnes & Company, Inc. ISBN   0-498-02393-1. p. 5.
  5. 1 2 3 Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925–1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN   0-13-932616-2. p. 102.
  6. ↑ Alicoate, Jack, Ed. (1947). Radio Daily presents the 1947–48 Edition of Shows of Tomorrow. Radio Daily Corp. p. 37. "The Adventures of Bulldog Drummond" (PDF). Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Crosby, John (January 2011). "Air Villains Chased Again By 'Mr. X'" (PDF) (53). Old-Time Radio Researchers. The Old Radio Times. pp. 7–12. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Balk, Alfred (2006). The Rise of Radio, from Marconi through the Golden Age. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN   978-0-7864-2368-2. p. 173.
  9. 1 2 3 Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920–1950. The Viking Press. ISBN   9780810829572. p. 42.
  10. 1 2 DeForest, Tim (2008). Radio by the Book: Adaptations of Literature and Fiction on the Airwaves. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN   978-0-7864-3972-0. pp. 36–40.
  11. ↑ "Mercedes McCambridge: Radio star shows her versatility". Life. September 23, 1946. p. 55. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Main Street" (PDF). Radio Daily. March 2, 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "O'Cedar" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 22, 1945. p. 65. Retrieved 15 February 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. ↑ "CKLW Solving War Shifts With A.M. Gaff". Billboard. February 27, 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Bulldog Drummond On E.T. Next Month". Billboard. December 30, 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "(WOR ad)". Billboard. February 28, 1948. p. 9. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "MBS Sales up Nearly 10% in '53" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 4, 1954. p. 68. Retrieved 16 February 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ "MBS Sets Lineup for Program Plan" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 28, 1953. p. 73. Retrieved 16 February 2015.[ permanent dead link ]

Log

Streaming audio

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.