 Ken Lynch and Les Damon in a broadcast of The Falcon | |
| Genre | Mystery-detective drama |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates |
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| Starring |
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| Announcer |
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| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Produced by | Bernard L. Schubert |
| Original release | April 10, 1943 – November 27, 1954 |
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The Falcon radio series premiered on the Blue Network on April 10, 1943, continuing on NBC and Mutual until November 27, 1954. [1] Some 70 episodes were produced.[ citation needed ]
"Drexel Drake" (a pseudonym of Charles H. Huff) created Michael Waring, alias the Falcon, a free-lance investigator and troubleshooter, in his 1936 novel, The Falcon's Prey. It was followed by two more novels (The Falcon Cuts In, 1937 and The Falcon Meets a Lady, 1938) and a 1938 short story. In 1941, RKO Radio Pictures launched a Falcon movie series, but that was based on a different character (Gay Lawrence) by a different author (Michael Arlen). Only the popularity of the film series prompted the radio series; the film and radio series were otherwise unrelated. The radio series was based on the Drexel Drake character. No explanation for the nickname was ever mentioned in any of the dramatizations.[ citation needed ]
The Michael Waring Falcon was also the hero in three late 1940s movies starring John Calvert, and a television series starring Charles McGraw. [2]
Like the Falcon film series, the radio plots mixed danger, romance and comedy in equal parts. Each show began with a telephone ringing and Michael Waring, the Falcon, answering the phone. Speaking with a woman whose voice was never heard, Waring would explain that he had an urgent situation in which he had to deal with criminals. This led into the standard opening, followed by the week's tale of adventure. Often, incompetent police were unable to solve the mysteries without his help.[ citation needed ]
The program's characters and the actors who played them are indicated in the table below.
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| The Falcon (Michael Waring) | Berry Kroeger (1943) James Meighan (1945–47) Les Tremayne (1947–1950) Les Damon (1950–1953) George Petrie (1953–1954) |
| Nancy | Joan Banks Elspeth Eric Joan Alexander |
| Sergeant Johnny Gleason | Mandel Kramer |
| Sergeant Corbett | Ken Lynch |
Source (except for years):Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows [3]
Those heard in supporting roles included Robert Dryden, Ethel Everett and Everett Sloane. [4] Russ Dunbar and Ed Herlihy were the announcers. The organist was Bob Hamilton, with Emerson Buckley and Harry Sosnik as orchestra leaders. Bernarld L. Schubert was the producer. [3]
Adventures of the Falcon was broadcast on Mutual on Sundays at 7 p.m. Eastern Time until May 7, 1950, when it was moved to NBC in the same time slot. [5] NBC made that change because the program had been more successful against Jack Benny's show than any other radio competitors. [6]
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The Falcon is the nickname for two fictional detectives. Drexel Drake created Michael Waring, alias the Falcon, a freelance investigator and troubleshooter, in his 1936 novel, The Falcon's Prey. It was followed by two more novels – The Falcon Cuts In, 1937, and The Falcon Meets a Lady, 1938 – and a 1938 short story. Michael Arlen created Gay Stanhope Falcon in 1940. This Falcon made his first appearance in Arlen's short story "Gay Falcon", which was originally published in 1940 in Town & Country magazine. The story opens with the words "Now of this man who called himself Gay Falcon many tales are told, and this is one of them." Arlen's Falcon is characterized as a freelance adventurer and troubleshooter – a man who makes his living "keeping his mouth shut and engaging in dangerous enterprises."
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