Summary: The Shipboard Jewel Robbery (Aired October 20, 1953) As hard is it may be to believe by today's standards, Rocky Fortune was Frank Sinatra's only dramatic Radio program from The Golden Age of Radio as the lead in a recurring role. As a variety guest performer, Sinatra's Radiography goes on and on and on. But this was the program that a great many of the growing number of fans of Sinatra's acting work really wanted to hear. NBC spared no expense to showcase this growing super-star of the 1940s and 1950s, and it shows in both production values and supporting voice talent. Frank Sinatra seemed very comfortable in the role of Rocco Fortunato--'Rocky Fortune'--and the scripts that George Lefferts and Ernest Kinoy wrote for Sinatra made for some fascinating adventures. The role was clearly written specifically for him, and more importantly for the more 'adult' persona his agents and publicity reps were trying to portray of him at this point in his career. He'd already done the teen and 20-something idol gig, and he had been expressing more of an interest in dramatic work. Show Notes From The Digital Deli. THIS EPISODE: October 20, 1953. NBC network. "The Shipboard Jewel Robbery". Sustaining. Rocky's a steward on an ocean liner and becomes involved in a jewel heist on the high seas. This is a network version. Frank Sinatra, Tony Barrett, Marvin Miller, George Lefferts (writer), Lynn Allen, Andrew C. Love (director), Edward King (announcer), Norma Varden, Shepard Menken. 24:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.
