OLD TIME RADIO - 1
mp3 CD - 78 Shows - Total Playtime: 38:04:49
![](http://onesmedia.com/OMI/otr/WHISTLER/CoverWhistler.jpg)
The Whistler is
one of American radio's most popular mystery dramas,
with a 13-year run from May 16, 1942 until September 22,
1955.The Whistler was the most popular West
Coast-originated program with its listeners for many
years. It was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company: "That
whistle is your signal for the Signal Oil program, The
Whistler."![](https://images.bonanzastatic.com/item_description_images/cc6302647b892e225c8d8fb14db163424083a6b4/whistler-billforeman.jpg)
Characters and
story
Each episode of The Whistler began with the sound of
footsteps and a person whistling. (The Saint radio
series with Vincent Price used a similar opening.) The
haunting signature theme tune was composed by Wilbur
Hatch and featured Dorothy Roberts performing the
whistling with the orchestra.
The stories followed an effective formula in which a
person's
criminal acts were typically undone by either an
overlooked but important detail or their own stupidity,
except on some rare occasions when a curious twist of
fate caused the story to end happily for the episode's
protagonist. Ironic twist endings were a key feature of
each episode of the series. The Whistler himself
narrated, often commenting directly upon the action in
the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting the criminal from
an omniscient perspective.
Bill Forman had the title role of host and narrator.
Others who portrayed the Whistler at various times were
Gale Gordon, Joseph Kearns, Marvin Miller (announcer for
The Whistler and The Bickersons and, later, Michael
Anthony on TV's The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (who
had the title role on radio's The Shadow from 1938 to
1943) and Everett Clarke. Cast members included Hans
Conried, Joseph Kearns, Cathy Lewis, Elliott Lewis,
Gerald Mohr, Lurene Tuttle and Jack Webb.
Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson established the tone of
the show during its first two years, and 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, of which over 200 no
longer have copies in existence. In 1946, a local
Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors aired
Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer.
SHOWS LIST
The Whistler 42-09-05 (017) House of
Greed
The Whistler 42-10-25 (024) The Alibi
The Whistler 42-11-15 (027) Apparition
The Whistler 42-12-27 (033) Double-Cross
The Whistler 43-01-03 (034) The Weakling
The Whistler 43-02-14 (040) Legacy of Death
The Whistler 43-05-15 (052) The Man Who Waited
The Whistler 44-11-20 (130) Death Sees Double
The Whistler 44-12-18 (134) Windfall
The Whistler 45-01-08 (137) The Body Wouldn't Stay in
the Bay
The Whistler 45-01-22 (139) Seascape
The Whistler 45-06-11 (159) Death Pays a Visit
The Whistler 45-08-06 (167) The Man Who Came to Murder
The Whistler 45-09-24 (174) The Man Who Died Twice
The Whistler 45-10-08 (176) Death Laughs Last
The Whistler 45-10-15 (177) House on Sycamore Road
The Whistler 45-10-29 (179) Final Return
The Whistler 45-11-05 (180) Harvest of Death
The Whistler 45-11-12 (181) The Seeing Eye
The Whistler 45-11-19 (182) Coincidence
The Whistler 45-11-26 (183) The Stray Dream
The Whistler 45-12-03 (184) Poison Is Quicker
The Whistler 46-01-07 (189) The Thin Line
The Whistler 46-01-28 (192) The Strange Sisters
The Whistler 47-01-06 (241) Dear Roger
The Whistler 47-01-27 (244) Night Melody
The Whistler 47-02-10 (246) Safety in Numbers
The Whistler 47-04-07 (254) The Sheriff's Assistant
The Whistler 47-04-21 (256) Backlash
The Whistler 48-01-07 (293) Comeback
The Whistler 48-01-21 (295) Twelve Portraits of Marcia
The Whistler 48-01-28 (296) Night Final
The Whistler 48-02-04 (297) Undertow
The Whistler 48-02-11 (298) Money Is The Root Of All
Evil
The Whistler 48-02-18 (299) Quiet Suicide
The Whistler 48-03-03 (301) Boiling Point
The Whistler 48-03-10 (302) Return Engagement
The Whistler 48-03-17 (303) The Human Catalyst
The Whistler 48-03-24 (304) The Dark Room
The Whistler 48-03-31 (305) Bird of Prey
The Whistler 48-04-14 (307) Till Death Do Us Part
The Whistler 48-04-21 (308) Silent City
The Whistler 48-05-12 (311) Chain Reaction
The Whistler 48-06-02 (314) Stranger in the House
The Whistler 48-07-21 (319) Farewell Party
The Whistler 48-07-28 (320) Lady from the Sea
The Whistler 48-08-04 (321) Question of Murder
The Whistler 48-12-12 (340) Stormy Weather
The Whistler 49-01-09 (344) Tell Tale Brand
The Whistler 49-01-23 (346) Impulse
The Whistler 49-02-13 (349) Last Curtain
The Whistler 50-02-19 (403) Five Cent Call
The Whistler 50-04-16 (411) Murder in Mind
The Whistler 50-04-23 (412) Return with the Spray
The Whistler 50-05-21 (416) The Return
The Whistler 50-06-11 (419) Rebound
The Whistler 50-06-18 (420) Jessica
The Whistler 50-06-25 (421) Manhunt
The Whistler 51-01-07 (449) Hit and Run
The Whistler 51-01-28 (452) Trade Mark
The Whistler 51-03-11 (458) High Death
The Whistler 51-04-22 (464) Kind Thought
The Whistler 51-04-29 (465) Clayton Affair
The Whistler 51-06-17 (472) The Man in the Trench Coat
The Whistler 51-07-01 (474) The House on Hainsley
Boulevard
The Whistler 51-07-22 (477) Autumn Song
The Whistler 51-08-05 (479) Design for Murder
The Whistler 51-09-16 (485) A Matter of Patience
The Whistler 51-09-30 (487) Two Smart People
The Whistler 51-11-11 (493) Three Minus One Equals
Murder
The Whistler 51-11-25 (495) The Clay Tree
The Whistler 51-12-16 (498) Curiosity Killed the Cat
The Whistler 52-05-11 (519) A Matter of Odds
The Whistler 52-06-29 (526) Night Flight
The Whistler 52-07-27 (530) You Can't Trust a Stranger
The Whistler 52-08-03 (531) Dark Island
The Whistler 52-08-24 (534) Final Papers
The Whistler 52-09-07 (536) The Secret of Chalk Point