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The Whistler was one of radio's
most popular mystery dramas. It had a 13-year run from May 16, 1942 until
September 22, 1955. It was the most popular West-Coast originated program
with its listeners for many years. The Signal Oil Company was it’s
sponsor. Who can forget: "Let that whistle be your signal for the Signal
Oil program, The Whistler." The writing was first class for its genre, and
it added a slightly macabre element of humor to its often-paranoid crime
stories.
At night, glowing car radios illuminated dashboards, and drivers traveled
dark highways while the Whistler began his ominous narration:
"I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know
many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who
have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless terrors of which
they dare not speak."
That opening was intoned along with the echo of footsteps and Wilbur
Hatch's haunting 13-note theme, whistled weekly by Dorothy Roberts for 13
years. Bill Forman had the title role of host and narrator. Others who
portrayed the Whistler at various times were Gale Gordon (Lucille Ball's
future television nemesis), Joseph Kearns (played Mr. Wilson on TV series
Dennis the Menace, and upon whose death had his Mr. Wilson character
replaced by his character's brother, played by Gale Gordon), Marvin Miller
(soon the announcer for The Bickersons and, later, television's Michael
Anthony on The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (who played The Shadow on
radio 1938-1943) and Everett Clarke.
The stories followed an effective formula in which a person's criminal
acts were typically undone by their own stupidity. Ironic twist endings
were common, as they had been on the show that most obviously influenced
it, The Shadow. The Whistler narrated, often commenting directly upon the
action in the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting the criminal from an
omniscient perspective. The Whistler seldom featured any major Hollywood
stars, but the quality of writing and performance made it a radio
mainstay.
Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson was the one who established the tone of
the show during its first two years. He was followed in 1944 by
producer-director George Allen. Other directors included Sterling Tracy
and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. A
total of 692 episodes were produced, yet despite the series' fame, over
200 episodes are lost today. In 1946, a local Chicago version of The
Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister
Brau beer.
As to the satires that were done on The Whistler, Spike Jones provided a
musical satire: "I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by
night... I have to. I can't sleep."
The Whistler was also the target of a parody on the October 20th, 1946
edition of The Jack Benny Program. In this parody, Benny cast members Mary
Livingstone and Dennis Day played an ostensibly happily married young
couple, Phil Harris played the secret lover of the young wife, and Benny
himself played The Fiddler – complete with scraping the theme on his
infamous violin to punctuate his periodic ghostly observations and
interventions ("I am the Fiddler... I play by night. I influence the lives
of innocent people. And sometimes I even drive them to murder... ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"),
as he manipulated the clandestine lovers into murdering the young husband.
("Mr. and Mrs. Parks are having breakfast. They're happy, but not for
long... for I am the Fiddler!") Along with Fred Allen's equally hilarious
parody of Queen for a Day the same year, these were two of the most
successful parodies of contemporarily popular radio shows. The Whistler
himself appeared just as the sketch was to begin, complete with the famous
whistling theme and a short version of his usual opening remark.
In regard to films, The Whistler was adapted into a film noir series from
Columbia Pictures. The first seven featured actor Richard Dix (playing a
different character in each).
The films were: The Whistler (1944) (Directed by William Castle); The Mark
of the Whistler (1944) (Directed by William Castle and based on Cornell
Woolrich's story, "Dormant Account"); The Power of the Whistler (1945);
Voice of the Whistler (1945) (Directed by William Castle); The Secret of
the Whistler (1946); Mysterious Intruder (1946) (Directed by William
Castle) ; The Thirteenth Hour (1947); and Return of the Whistler (1948).
The "Voice of the Whistler" was provided by an un-credited Otto Forrest.
So for over 200 hours and better then 410
episodes sit back, turn down the lights and remember , “I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I
walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the
hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the
nameless terrors of which they dare not speak."
420516 Retribution
420613 Shrunken Head
420627 Notes In The Night
420822 Death Has A Thirst
420829 The Letter
420905 House Of Greed
420913 Mirage
420920 Fog
420927 Jealousy
421004 Urge To Kill
421011 Malice
421018 Death Comes At Midnight
421025 The Alibip3
421115 Apparition
421122 The Other Woman
421129 Avarice
421213 The Accounting
421227 Double Cross
430103 The Weakling
430110 The Nemesis
430117 The Thief
430124 Mind Over Matter
430131 The Confession
430207 In The Dark
430214 Legacy Of Death
430221 Fools Gold
430328 The Penalty
430501 The Killers
430508 Death Has A Thirst
430516 The Man Who Waited
430529 Final Decree
430605 Shadow Of A Mind
430612 Justice
430619 House Of Fear
430626 The Blank Wall
430702 Avengers
430709 Eye For An Eye
430813 Death In The Air
430903 Destiny
430910 The Tangled Web
430924 Blind Alley
431003 Mirage
431121 Patience For The Doctor
431219 Death Demands A Payment
440723 Last Of The Devereaux's
440730 Till Death Do Us Part
440903 Practically Foolproof
440910 Local Storm
440918 Black Magic
440925 Married To Murder
441002 Not If I Kill You First
441009 Finders Weepers
441016 Tale The Dead Man Told
441023 Death Carries A Lunch Kit
441030 The Beloved Fraud
441106 The Twin
441113 Beware The Bridegroom
441120 Death Sees Double
441127 Death Walks A Tight Wire
441204 The Doctor Operates In Crime
441211 Lie Or Consequences
441218 Windfall
441225 Christmas Bonus
450101 Two For The Money
450108 The Body Wouldn’t Stay In The Bay
450115 Murder Has A Signature
450129 Murder On Paper
450205 Murder Is Legal
450219 The Dead Man Laughed
450226 Gateway To Danger
450312 Death Marks The Double Cross
450319 Murder Will Shout
450402 Return Of The Innocent
450416 To Rent Danger
450423 Meet Mr. Death
450430 The Masters Tree
450507 Accident According To Plan
450514 Hit And Run
450521 The Man Who Bought Death
450528 Escape To Danger
450604 Murder Is Blind
450611 Death Pays A Visit
450618 Blueprint For Suicide
450625 Death Watch
450702 The Deadly Innocent
450709 Highway Of Escape
450716 Pattern For Terror
450723 Let George Do It
450730 Summer Thunder
450806 Man Who Came To Murder
450813 What Makes A Murderer
450820 X Marks The Murderer
450827 Ill Trade You Murder
450910 Phone Call From Death
450917 Sing A Song Of Murder
450924 The Man Who Died Twice
451001 Death Wears A White Robe
451008 Death Laughs Last
451015 The House On Sycamore Road
451029 Final Return
451105 Harvest Of Death
451112 The Seeing Eye
451119 Coincidence
451126 The Stray Dream
451203 Poison Is Quicker
451210 The Cistern
451217 Lucky Night
451231 Miracle On 49th Street
460107 The Thin Line
460114 Hit And Run
460121 Treasure Hunt
460128 The Strange Sisters
460204 Panic
460211 Six Letter Word For Murder
460225 Murder In Haste
460304 Decision
460311 Boomerang
460325 Triggerman
460401 Three Times A Sinner
460408 Terror Stricken
460415 Smart Boy
460422 The Waterford Case
460429 My Love Comes Home
460520 Broken Chain
460603 The Judas Face
460610 Quiet Sunday
460617 Affair At Stony Ridge
460624 The Blind Bet
460701 Solid Citizen
460708 Confession
460715 Custom Built Blonde
460729 My Love Comes Home
460805 Bullet Proof
460812 Stolen Murder
460819 Delivery Guaranteed
460821 The Broken Chain
460902 Stranger In The House
460909 Witness At The Fountain
460911 Brief Pause For Murder
460916 The Brass Ring
461007 A Present For Ricky
461014 Weak Sister
461021 Masquerade
461028 Backfire
461111 The Deadly Penny
461125 Two Year Plan
461202 Blind Impulse
461209 With My Own Eyes
461223 Next Year Is Mine
461230 Murder On Rourke Island
470106 Dear Roger
470113 The Choice
470120 Last Curtain
470127 Night Melody
470203 Seven Steps To Murder
470210 Safety In Numbers
470217 A Woman’s Privilege
470224 Eight To Twelve
470303 Blue Legend
470310 Murder Of Byron Blake
470317 Mavis Cameron Disappears
470324 Lady With The Knife
470331 The Blank Wall
470407 The Sheriffs Assistant
470414 Maid Of Honor
470421 Backlash
470428 The Black Book
470505 Windfall
470519 Hasty Conclusion
470526 Fateful Friday
470602 Caesars Wife
470609 Juggernaut
470616 Ambassador Of Death
470623 The Gentle Way
470709 The Lives Of Colby Fletcher
470716 Beyond Reasonable Doubt
470730 Borrowed Byline
470806 Dark Future
470813 Whispered Verdict
470820 Girl Next Door
470827 Curtain Call
470903 The Eleventh Hour
470910 The Bridge On Black Mountain
470917 Death And The Emperor
470924 Sleep My Pretty One
471008 Career Man
471015 Man Of Distinction
471022 A Case For Mr. Carrington
471029 The Back Door
471105 The Big Prison
471119 Dark Moon
471126 The Body Off Billingsgate
471203 Professor And The Fox
471210 Wedding Gift
471217 Murder In Haste
471224 Decision
471231 The First Year
480107 Comeback
480114 Silent Partner
480121 Twelve Portraits Of Marcia
480128 Night Final
480204 Undertow
480211 Rosalind
480218 Quiet Suicide
480225 Meeting On Tenth Street
480303 Boiling Point
480310 Return Engagement
480317 The Human Catalyst
480324 The Dark Room
480331 Bird Of Prey
480407 What Makes A Murderer
480414 Till Death Do Us Part
480421 Silent City
480428 Tough Guy
480512 Chain Reaction
480519 Murder On Margin
480602 A Stranger In The House
480616 Concerto Of Death
480630 Small Town Girl
480707 Fatal Appointment
480721 Farewell Party
480728 Lady Of The Sea
480804 Question Of Murder
480811 Enough Rope
480818 Bright Future
480825 Trio Of Rogues
480901 Payment In Full
480915 Uncle Bens Widow
480922 Still Death
480929 Conspiracy
481003 Big Gamble
481010 Whirlpool
481017 Package For Emily
481024 Search For An Unknown
481031 Letter From Yesterday
481107 Cover Up
481114 Nightmare
481121 The Lovely Look
481128 Murder In Paradise
481205 Hired Alibi
481212 Stormy Weather
481219 The Hangtree Affair
481226 Delayed Christmas Present
490102 Man On The Roof
490109 Tell Tale Brand
490116 Shakedown
490123 Impulse
490130 All Damage Covered
490206 The Cheat
490213 The Last Curtain
490220 Ticket To Paris
490227 Grave Secret
490313 Search For Maxine
490320 Death Of Mr. Penny
490327 Beyond The Wall
490403 Rawhide Coffin
490410 Murder At Twin Pines
490417 Sleep My Pretty One
490424 Mask For Kinsella
490501 Solid Citizen
490508 Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde
490515 Golden Opportunity
490522 Fatal Fraud
490529 Deal With Death
490605 Letter To Melanie
490612 Perfect Alibi
490619 That Physical Fact
490626 Final Decree
490703 Panic On Mulberry Street
490710 Front Man
490717 Death In 16mm
490724 The Hermit
490731 Brotherly Hate
490807 Trigger Man
490814 Best Friend
490821 The Confession
490828 The Eager Pigeon
490904 Smart Girl
490911 Brief Pause For Murder
490918 Poor Henry
490925 Incident At Arroyo Grande
491002 A Women’s Privilege
491009 A Rose For Pamela
491016 Best Man
491023 Debt Of Honor
491030 Ticket To Murder
491106 New Mrs. Devlin
491113 Incident At Pebble Cove
491120 Letters From Aaron Burr
491127 Cleaver Mr. Farley
491204 Impulse
491211 Swan Song
491218 Patroness Of Murder
491225 Letter From Cynthia
500101 Evening Stroll
500108 Return To Riondo
500115 Escape To Scull Island
500122 The Go Between
500129 Burden Of Guilt
500212 Dead Reckoning
500219 Five Cent Toll
500226 Appointment For Murder
500305 Chinese Elephant Puzzle
500312 Strange Meeting
500319 Oriana Affair
500326 Lady In The Snow
500402 Lady With A Key
500409 Dark Voyage
500416 Murder In Mind
500423 Return With The Spray
500507 Fatal Error
500514 Blue Alibi
500521 The Return
500611 Rebound
500618 Jessica
500625 Manhunt
500702 Quiet Sunday
500709 Devoted Couple
500716 Attorney For The Defense
500723 The Cliffs At Weyrum
500730 With My Own Eyes
500806 Double Exposure
500820 Finale
500827 Undercurrent
500903 Whirlwind
500910 The Golden Penny
500917 Deadly Rumor
500924 That Hemsley Affair
501001 Dear Diary
501008 Fatal Action
501015 Smart Boy
501022 The Wall
501029 The Intruder
501105 Just Like A Man
501112 Friendly Case Of Blackmail
501210 Clock On The Tower
501217 Flee From Evil
501224 Three Wise Guys
501231 Big Jump
501231 Evening Stroll
510107 Hit And Run
510114 The Little Things
510121 Treasure Hunt
510128 Trade Mark
510204 Murder Over Burma
510211 Spell In Green
510218 Man In The Storm
510225 Murder Arrangement
510304 Helping Hand
510311 High Death
510318 Jackson Street Affair
510325 His Own Reward
510401 Man In The Corner
510408 Trip To Aunt Sarah’s
510415 Triple Cross
510429 The Clayton Affair
510506 Two And One Makes Murder
510513 A Matter Of Courtesy
510520 Custom Made Murder
510527 Seattle Take Three
510610 A Law Of Physics
510617 Man In The Trench Coat
510701 House On Hainsley Blvd
510708 The Witness
510715 Attempted Murder
510722 Autumn Song
510729 Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde
510805 Design For Murder
510812 The Fight Game
510826 Taken For A Ride
510902 Public Hero
510916 A Matter Of Patience
510930 Two Smart People
511014 Partners In Crime
511021 Alias Mister Alden
511209 The Other Hand
511216 Curiosity Killed The Cat
511223 Christmas Gift
511230 Fatal Step
520106 Episode Thunder Mountain
520120 Bad Penny
520127 Borrowed Byline
520203 Shakedown
520210 Little Red Book
520217 Rose For Pamela
520224 Matter Of Time
520302 Whirlpool
520309 Breakaway
520330 Homecoming
520406 Element X
520427 Saturday Night
520504 Lady In Waiting
520511 A Matter Of Odds
520518 Determined Traveler
520525 Charming Hostess
520601 A Case For Mr. Carrington
520608 Man In The Way
520629 Night Flight
520727 Never Trust A Stranger
521019 The Prosecutor
521130 So Soon
530705 Glass Dime
531004 Death Claim
531011 Ticket To Nowhere
540124 Garvey’s Folly
540321 Perilous Weekend
540418 Days Of Fear
540516 She Wanted Too Much
540718 Mister Pettibone’s Last Journey
540725 Anything For A Friend
540919 Song Team
550324 Backfire
550519 A Case For Mr.
550825 Little Red Book
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