Radio Retropolis

Last time, Superman broke into Quincy’s office to get a look at that will to see who could have ulterior motives, yet when he reaches the safe he has been caught by someone in the shadows.  Commentary on the not so nice Superman in this episode.

A gang of criminals posing as legitimate car dealers are cheating people out of thousands of dollars.  Commentary on how the real car thieves of the 50's operated their syndicate.

As Clark and Jimmy visit the lab where the test animals are stored, Jimmy decides to check on the big gorilla they’ve got in which he lets out a big cry for help with Clark racing to reach him not knowing the danger that lies ahead.  Commentary on the connection between Superman and John Carter of Mars that helped Siegel and Schuster with one major character element in creating Superman.

A wealthy woman is murdered and a Scotland Yard detective is determined to force the prime suspect, her spoiled nephew,  to confess. Commentary on the announcement preceding the episode about the miscue in the last episode Sorry, Wrong Number as well as the misfortune of having to follow one of the most famous radio episodes of all time.

A triple murder occurs at the Chess Club in what Lamont discovers the murderer can be revealed in one of the dead men’s tale.  Commentary on the problems of a live audience.

Clark must find a way to protect the football team so the team can go to the Rose Bowl and the money is granted for a cure for infantile paralysis.  Commentary on the history of the Rose Bowl with special attention to the year of this broadcast.

An attractive blonde is found beaten to death in a downtown office building. A length of steel pipe wrapped in heavy paper is the only lead.  Commentary on the verisimilitude of Dragnet which set this series far above anything else at this time.

All 30 players of the Metropolis Football Team collapsed with no motive or explanation in site although Clark is quick to assume that poison of some kind must be involved.  A look at the history of infantile paralysis (which is the story point for this series) better known under it's common name, polio.

Agnes Moorehead stars in the best Suspense episode of all time and ranks among the finest radio broadcasts in the history of all radio performances.  An invalid overhears a phone conversation about a murder that is to take place that night.  Commentary on author Lucille Fletcher, the special direction of this episode to heighten the terror, and the career of Agnes Moorehead from her experience performing this script to playing Endora on Bewitched-a show she hated.  Plus we discuss her tragic death.

Adrift at sea, Lamont and Margot come across a passing ship who rescues them, but once they're on board they soon realize the ship has been taken over by smugglers. Commentary on wireless communication, North Korean dictator Kim Jung Il who was born this day, Japanese ambassador Nomura and FDR's concerns about Japan and the #1 song of the week.

Clark and Lois cover the Metropolis Football game for the Daily Planet when Clark notices the players are collapsing on the field.  Commentary on Clark and Lois' relationship.

Weekly commentary on current topics of the week relating to the Retropolis theme. Today, Jim reflects on a personal Hollywood tragedy that occurred ten years ago to the date-April 25, 2008.

Two armed bandits invade the home of an elderly couple in which the husband is tortured unmercifully before he reveals the hiding place of his valuables. The two home invaders take the jewels and make their escape.

Duke Renard learns that Clark and Perry escaped the fire and now makes plans to do away with Bensen’s car by rigging the drawbridge.  Kent plans to be in the sheriff’s car disguised as a deputy but has no clue what’s coming up or that the time to leave was switched earlier. Commentary on the disappointment in the big villain here as we compare this person to a similar villain in Dragnet.

Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester star in an Agatha Christie mystery about a man who is accused of several murders but cannot recall committing them.  Commentary on the unusual lives and marriage of Laughton and Lanchester on whether their marriage was a sham.  Plus, why Lanchester hated being the Bride of Frankenstein.