The Black Castle (radio program)

Last updated
The Black Castle
Running time15 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home station WOR
Syndicates Mutual
Starring Don Douglas
Directed byW. Keys Perrin
Produced byW. Keys Perrin
Original release1943 
1944

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. [1]

Contents

Schedule

Initially, the program was broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday nights. On January 31, 1944, a Monday-Friday afternoon schedule was added, with plans to drop the evening broadcasts if the afternoon episodes were successful. [2]

Format

This anthology program featured "chilling dramatizations of people trapped in unexpected and dangerous situations." [1] An article in the trade publication Broadcasting described The Black Castle as "a ghost story series," noting that it was one of five shows announced by the Mutual Broadcasting System "immediately following the new 'aggressive' policy calling for new and better programs." [3] The program originated at WOR in New York City and was featured as part of a "WOR Matinee," along with Consumer Quiz and Songs by Sunny Skylar. [4]

One-man cast

The program's continuing characters were the host, the Wizard of the Black Castle, and his raven, Diablo. Don Douglas played all roles in each episode and was the announcer. [5] A review of The Black Castle in the trade publication Billboard complimented Douglas's handling of multiple roles in the drama. Bob Francis wrote: "Except for the fact that he is inclined to ham the wizard, making the role often seem more silly than awesome, Douglas puts on a good 15 minutes. His vocal changes are sharp and clear, and his characterizations come over effectively." [6]

W. Keys Perrin was the producer and director. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutual Broadcasting System</span> American radio broadcasting network (1934–1999)

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 1930s until the network's dissolution in 1999, Mutual ran a respected news service along with a variety of lauded news and commentary programs. In the 1970s, Mutual pioneered the nationwide late night call-in talk radio program, introducing the country to Larry King and later, Jim Bohannon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Q. Bryan</span> American actor (1899–1959)

Arthur Quirk Bryan was an American actor and radio personality. He is best remembered for his longtime recurring role as well-spoken, wisecracking Dr. Gamble on the radio comedy Fibber McGee and Molly and for voicing the Warner Bros. cartoon character Elmer Fudd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOR (AM)</span> Clear-channel AM radio station in New York City

WOR is a 50,000-watt class A clear-channel AM radio station owned by iHeartMedia and licensed to New York, New York. The station airs a mix of local and syndicated talk radio shows, primarily from co-owned Premiere Networks, including The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, The Sean Hannity Show, and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory. CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor, from CBS Audio Network is heard at night. Since 2016, the station has served as the New York outlet for co-owned NBC News Radio. The station's studios are located at 125 West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, with its transmitter in Rutherford, New Jersey. WOR began broadcasting on Wednesday, February 22, 1922, and is one of the oldest continuously operating radio stations in the United States with a three–letter call sign, characteristic of a station dating from the 1920s. WOR is the only New York City station to have retained its original three-letter call sign, making those the oldest continuously used call letters in the New York City area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Elson</span> Pioneering baseball radio broadcaster

Robert Arthur Elson was a pioneering American sportscaster who was the voice of the Chicago White Sox for all or parts of four decades. Known as "The 'Ol Commander", he broadcast an estimated 5,000 major league baseball games. In his prime, was among the leading play-by-play men in the game. In 1979, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame for his excellence and longevity in the industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Douglas (actor)</span> Scottish actor (1905–1945)

Donald Douglas was a Scottish-American actor who performed in films, on the stage and in radio.

The year 1943 saw a number of significant happenings in radio broadcasting history.

<i>Beat the Band</i> Musical quiz show heard on NBC radio (1944-1944)

Beat the Band is a musical quiz show heard on NBC radio from 1940 to 1944 in two distinctly different series. The program popularized the show business catch phrase, "Give me a little traveling music", often uttered on TV a decade later by Jackie Gleason.

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

<i>The Amazing Nero Wolfe</i> US radio program

The Amazing Nero Wolfe is a 1945 American radio drama series starring Francis X. Bushman as Rex Stout's fictional armchair detective Nero Wolfe. Broadcast July 17–November 30, 1945, the series was created by the Don Lee Network, a California affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System, and may have been broadcast only in that region. The Amazing Nero Wolfe was based on Stout's principal characters but not his stories.

<i>The Frank Sinatra Show</i> (radio program) US radio program

The Frank Sinatra Show was a title applied—in some cases specifically and in other cases generically—to several radio musical programs in the United States, some of which had other distinct titles as indicated below. Singer Frank Sinatra starred in the programs, some of which were broadcast on CBS, while others were on NBC.

Black Hood was an American radio serial based on the popularity of the US superhero comics series Black Hood. It was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System July 5, 1943 – January 14, 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Steele (bandleader)</span> 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.

<i>Bobby Benson and the B-Bar-B Riders</i> Old-time radio juvenile Western adventure program

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> Radio crime drama

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.

The Count of Monte Cristo is an American old-time radio adventure program. It was broadcast on the Don Lee Network on the West Coast in the 1944-1945 season and on the Mutual Broadcasting System December 19, 1946 - January 1, 1952.

Hallmark Playhouse is an American old-time radio dramatic anthology series. It was broadcast on CBS from June 10, 1948 until February 1, 1953, and was described by one author as "a program that consistently produced the highest levels of production quality and value." Beginning on February 8, 1953, the program underwent changes of title, host, and format. It was broadcast as The Hallmark Hall of Fame until March 27, 1955, still on CBS.

Hop Harrigan is an American old-time radio juvenile adventure program. It was broadcast on ABC from August 31, 1942, until August 2, 1946, and on Mutual from October 2, 1946, until February 6, 1948. General Foods began sponsoring the program on October 2, 1944; it had previously been unsponsored.

<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.

<i>Kay Kysers Kollege of Musical Knowledge</i> American radio and television program

Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge is an American old-time radio musical quiz program starring Kay Kyser. It was broadcast on Mutual, NBC, and ABC beginning on February 1, 1938, and ending on July 29, 1949.

References

  1. 1 2 Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN   978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 43.
  2. "Don Douglas 7 Times a Week" (PDF). January 22, 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  3. "Purely Programs" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 9, 1943. p. 38. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  4. "WOR Quiz" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 27, 1944. p. 50. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  5. Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 95. ISBN   978-0-19-507678-3 . Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  6. 1 2 Francis, Bob (October 9, 1943). ""The Black Castle"" (PDF). Billboard. p. 11. Retrieved 20 November 2016.