The Communist Menace - Stand By For Crime - True Crime Drama Episode 1

This show, from the early 1950s, is a good example of the true story style of delivery made popular in radio's classic crime shows Gangbusters and Mr. District Attorney. Of course, the best and most popular of the true crime shows was Dragnet -- the monotone, "just the facts" style demanded by Jack Webb in the show made two points at once: first, that the show wasn't a typical melodramatic crime show, as had been on radio since "the good old days", and more importantly, that we were along for the ride on another day at the office -- in this case, a policeman's “day at the office".

Not a true crime show, as this is drama, but this show features Chuck Morgan, as played by Glen Langen, a very believable news anchor at KOP, a Los Angeles radio station. He is pals with Lieutenant Bill Miggs of the police force, who tips him off to hot crime news. Also in on the capers is Morgan's "Gal Friday", Carol Curtis, played by Adele Jurgens. The three meet all types -- mostly on the shady side of the street. In real life, Glen and Adele were husband and wife, the two marrying in 1949. They had met on the movie set of The Treasure of Monte Cristo. On the show, the repartee between the two is strictly old school and quite enjoyable. The dialogue is solid and makes the most of the plots.

You know right now just about every large American city has a threat of communism. It’s an insidious thing dangerous and a little bit frightening. In some cities it’s worse than others. In Los Angeles where Chuck Morgan works as a newscaster on radio station KLP they feel that the threat is more than frightening, it’s a menace that must be stamped out if their way of life is to survive. Most any day you can turn the dial on your radio or pick up a newspaper and read that the committee of un-American Activities is investigating some well-known Hollywood celebrity. It gives you a queer feeling when you see those familiar names. You wonder who’s going to be next and why and you find yourself groping for an answer to this disease that is doing its best to undermine Americanism. Those were the thoughts that were running through Chuck’s mind when he came in to his office a few weeks ago and found the script for his seven o’clock broadcast lying on his desk. He read it through and got a jolt that set him back on his heels.