Crime Correspondent

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Crime Correspondent is an American radio mystery series that debuted on CBS on November 4, 1949. [1]

Contents

Overview

Paul Frees portrayed Larry Mitchell, a broadcaster who reported on the ongoing battle between police and criminals. Each episode began with a crime report by Mitchell and then made a transition [2] to flashbacks that had "an essential part in featured commentary". [3] The premiere episode had Mitchell investigating the case of Dino Seroti, who killed himself during a shootout with police rather than let the law officers take him prisoner. Mitchell's curiosity was aroused after he learned that Seroti had been sought only for questioning. [2] The November 11, 1949, episode was "Squeeze Play", and the November 18, 1949, episode was "Firebug". [4]

Production

Crime Correspondent replaced Abe Burrows's program at 9:30 p.m. on Fridays. Gorton T. Hughes produced and directed the show; Frees and Adrian Gendot were the writers. Marlin Skyles and his orchestra provided music. [1] Paul Masterson was the announcer. The program was sustaining. [4] It originated from Hollywood. [5]

Critical response

A review in the trade publication Billboard said that Crime Correspondent "is a pseudo-documentary with dull dialog, badly timed sound effects and one of those omnipotent journalists as its amateur sleuth hero". [6] The review said that the show's musical components were better than the script. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Radio and Television: C. B. S. Video Network to Offer Tuesdays 'Actor's Studio,' Dropped by A. B. C." . The New York Times. October 29, 1949. p. 28. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Weekly Crime Series New Addition To CBS-KWKH on Friday Evening Schedule of Tops in Entertainment". The Shreveport Times. November 6, 1949. p. 14 A. Retrieved October 13, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Dramatic Serial Starts on CBS: 'Crime Correspondent' Premier Tonight". The Tampa Daily Times. November 18, 1949. p. 18. Retrieved October 13, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 Radio Series Scripts, 1930-2001: A Catalog of the American Radio Archives Collection. McFarland. January 28, 2015. p. 126. ISBN   978-1-4766-0670-5 . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  5. ↑ Caldwell, John (October 27, 1949). "Take Two, Put Two, In CBS Net Revision With More To Come". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 13. Retrieved October 13, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Bundy, June (November 26, 1949). "Crime Correspondent" (PDF). Billboard. p. 12. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
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