Candy Matson

Last updated
Candy Matson
Other namesCandy Matson, YUkon 2-8209
GenreDetective drama
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home station KNBC
SyndicatesNBC West Coast
Starring Natalie Masters
Announcer Dudley Manlove
Written byMonty Masters
Directed byMonty Masters
Produced byMonty Masters
Original releaseJune 29, 1949 
May 20, 1951
Opening theme Candy

Candy Matson was a radio program on NBC West Coast that aired from June 29, 1949, to May 20, 1951. [1] It centered on Candy Matson, a female private investigator [2] with a wry sense of humor and a penthouse on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. The program was notable for having a striking female character "without a trace of squeamishness" [3] as well as a veiled gay character in Candy's best friend Rembrandt Watson, voiced by Jack Thomas. Candy's love interest was police detective Ray Mallard, voiced by Henry Leff. The announcer was Dudley Manlove. Actors frequently heard in minor roles were Helen Kleeb, John Grober, Mary Milford and Hal Burdick. In addition to the show being set in San Francisco, it was produced at San Francisco Radio City. [4]

The series concluded with a twist ending when Ray finally proposed to Candy, who accepted and retired from the detective business. [1]

It was created by Monty Masters and starred his wife Natalie Parks as Candy Matson. When Monty Masters created the show, he planned to star in it himself, as a male private detective. His mother-in-law convinced him to change the lead to a female, which led to his wife being the star. [4]

In 1950, Candy Matson was recognized with the San Francisco Examiner's Favorite Program Award. [5] The award was presented as part of the broadcast of the episode "Symphony of Death". [4]

The aftermath of a 1950 episode illustrated the program's popularity. A newspaper story related: "It seems that during the closing moments of the last Monday's sequence, Candy is in an aircraft repeating the 'Twenty-third Psalm' as the plane crashes into a lake. At that point the show ends. And at that point the switchboard at Radio City started lighting up like a Christmas tree. More than 800 calls were received shortly after the program signed off. All of them wondering what happened to their heroine." [6]

Only 14 of the 92 episodes survive, along with the April 1949 audition show and the September 1952 series revival audition show.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar is a radio drama that aired on CBS Radio from February 18, 1949 to September 30, 1962.

The Six Shooter is a United States Western old-time radio program starring James Stewart as a gunfighter. It was created by Frank Burt, who also wrote many of the episodes, and lasted only one season of 39 episodes on NBC. Initially, it was broadcast on Sundays at 9:30 pm Eastern Time, through October 11. Then it was heard at 8:30 pm for three weeks. Finally, on November 8, 1953, through March 21, 1954, it was broadcast Sundays at 8 pm; beginning April 1, 1954, through the final episode, it was on Thursdays at 8:30 pm. One old-time radio directory called the program "a last, desperate effort by a radio network (NBC) to maintain interest in adventure drama by employing a major Hollywood movie star in the leading role."

<i>I Love a Mystery</i> American radio drama series, 1939-1944

I Love a Mystery is an American radio drama series that aired 1939–44, about three friends who ran a detective agency and traveled the world in search of adventure. Written by Carlton E. Morse, the program was the polar opposite of Morse's other success, the long-running One Man's Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett Sloane</span> American actor (1909–1965)

Everett H. Sloane was an American character actor who worked in radio, theatre, films, and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Day</span> American actor, comedian and singer (1916–1988)

Dennis Day was an American actor, comedian and singer. He was of Irish descent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olan Soule</span> American actor and voiceover performer (1909–1994)

Olan Soule was an American actor, who had professional credits in nearly 7,000 radio shows and commercials, appearances in 200 television series and television films, and in over 60 films.

Blackstone, the Magic Detective was a 15-minute radio series based on Elmer Cecil Stoner's comic book series Blackstone, Master Magician. The program aired Sunday afternoons at 2:45pm on the Mutual Broadcasting System from October 3, 1948, until March 26, 1950.

Johnny Madero, Pier 23 was a 30-minute radio detective drama series which was broadcast on Mutual Thursday at 8 p.m. from April 24, 1947, to September 4, 1947. It was the first nationwide program for star Jack Webb.

<i>Blondie</i> (radio series) 1940s radio sitcom adapted from the Blondie comic strip

Blondie is a radio situation comedy adapted from the long-running Blondie comic strip by Chic Young. It stars Arthur Lake as Dagwood Bumstead and, for the majority of its run, Penny Singleton as Blondie Bumstead. The radio program ran on several networks from 1939 to 1950.

The year 1949 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting history.

<i>The Harold Peary Show</i> American radio situation comedy series (1950–1951)

The Harold Peary Show is a radio situation comedy broadcast in the United States September 17, 1950-June 13, 1951 on CBS. Some sources refer to the program as Honest Harold or The Hal Peary Show.

<i>The Jack Smith Show</i>

The Jack Smith Show was a radio program of popular music in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS Aug. 21, 1945-Dec. 26, 1952. It first originated from New York, but production was moved to Hollywood in 1948 to allow more opportunities for Smith to work in movies.

<i>The Martin and Lewis Show</i>

The Martin and Lewis Show is a radio comedy-variety program in the United States starring the comedy duo Martin and Lewis, consisting of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. It was broadcast on the NBC Radio Network beginning April 3, 1949, and ending July 14, 1953.

Mayor of the Town is a radio comedy-drama in the United States. From September 6, 1942, to July 3, 1949, it was broadcast at various times on ABC, CBS, Mutual and NBC.

Stars over Hollywood is a radio anthology in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS from May 31, 1941, to September 25, 1954, sponsored first by Dari-Rich, Carnation Milk and later by Armour and Company.

Hopalong Cassidy is a radio western in the United States, featuring the character Hopalong Cassidy created by writer Clarence E. Mulford. It was syndicated via electrical transcription, beginning in 1948 and continuing into 1950. Its network broadcasts began on Mutual January 1, 1950, and ended on CBS December 27, 1952.

<i>Granbys Green Acres</i> American radio situation comedy series

Granby's Green Acres is a radio situation comedy from the United States. It was broadcast on CBS July 3, 1950 – August 21, 1950, as a summer replacement for Lux Radio Theatre.

<i>The Jack Carson Show</i> Radio comedy-variety program

The Jack Carson Show is an American old-time radio comedy-variety program. It was broadcast on different seasons on CBS and NBC, beginning on June 2, 1943, and ending on December 20, 1956. The program was also known as The Sealtest Village Store, and the New Jack Carson Show. It was carried on the CBC Dominion network in Canada, as well. Additionally, The Jack Carson Show is the title of a television program that was broadcast on NBC from October 22, 1954, until March 11, 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Masters</span> American actress (1915–1986)

Natalie Masters was an American actress. She was featured in several television shows, including The Real McCoys, Adam-12, Dragnet, The Patty Duke Show, My Three Sons, and Gunsmoke. She played Wilma Clemson on the television series Date with the Angels, and played the title role in the radio series Candy Matson. She was married to actor Monty Masters, who also created Candy Matson.

Jeff Regan, Investigator is a radio detective drama that ran on CBS from July 10, 1948 to December 18, 1948, and again from October 5, 1949 to August 27, 1950. The series is one of the earliest nationwide programs to feature Jack Webb.

References

  1. 1 2 Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 136. ISBN   978-0-19-507678-3 . Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  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. 46.
  3. Dunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925–1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN   0-13-932616-2. pp. 112–13.
  4. 1 2 3 French, Jack. "San Francisco's Finest: 'Candy Matson: YUkon 2-8209'". Old Time Radio Researchers Group. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  5. "Dwight Newton" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 24, 1950. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  6. Foster, Bob (May 19, 1950). "Sid Caeser Makes Hit on Return to Local Television". The Times. San Mateo, CA. The Times. p. 15. Retrieved March 7, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg