Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons 1950 The Case of the Two-Faced Murderer
Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons was one of radio's longest running shows, airing October 12, 1937, to April 19, 1955, continuing well into the television era. It was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, who based it upon Robert W. Chambers' 1906 novel The Tracer of Lost Persons. The sponsors included Whitehall Pharmacal (as in Anacin, Kolynos Toothpaste, BiSoDol antacid mints, Hill's cold tablets and Heet liniment), Dentyne, Aerowax, RCA Victor and Chesterfield cigarettes. It aired on the NBC Blue network until 1947, when it switched to CBS.
Characters and story
Bennett Kilpack began as Mr. Keen in 1937 with Arthur Hughes and then Phil Clarke stepping into the role later in the series. The kindly Keen and his faithful assistant, Mike Clancy (Jim Kelly), entertained listeners for 18 years. With 1690 nationwide broadcasts, Mr. Keen was the most resilient private detective in a namesake role. The nearest competitors were Nick Carter, Master Detective (726 broadcasts), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (657) and The Adventures of the Falcon (473). Only 59 of the 1690 Mr. Keen programs are known to survive.
Richard Leonard directed scripts by Barbara Bates, Stedman Coles, Frank Hummert, Lawrence Klee and Bob Shaw. James Fleming and Larry Elliott were the announcers. Al Rickey's band provided the background music, including the program's theme, "Someday I'll Find You."
Satires
The cliches, stereotypes and simplistic dialogue provided much fodder for Bob and Ray's parody, Mr. Trace, Keener Than Most Persons, broadcast in numerous variations. It was also combined with rival detective show Martin Kane, Private Eye and satirized by Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis in Mad magazine's fifth issue (June–July 1953), as Kane Keen! Private Eye.
The character of Mr. Keen was referenced by Alfred Hitchcock in one of his television shows, according to The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion by Patrik Wikstrom and Martin Grams, Jr. Mr. Keen is also mentioned in the stage version of Bye Bye Birdie by the character Mr. Harry MacAfee, who was played by Paul Lynde.
In the "Honeymooners" sketch, "Razor Blades", appearing on the October 12, 1951 episode of Cavalcade of Stars, Ralph Kramden cannot find his razor blades. When he questions Alice Kramden about it, she responds, "What am I? Mrs. Keen, Tracer of Lost Razor Blades?".
-
LIVE
TudorDixon
23 minutes agoCovert Child Sex Change Surgeries at Texas Children's Hospital | The Tudor Dixon Podcast
108 watching -
1:16:34
Ben Shapiro
3 hours agoEp. 1995 - PANIC! Will Democrats REPLACE Biden?
27.6K54 -
The Charlie Kirk Show
3 hours agoTrump's SCOTUS Triumph + Biden's Last Monday? + Bannon Behind Bars | Sacks, Carolla | 7.1.24
56.5K51 -
LIVE
The Kevin Trudeau Show
1 hour agoThe Kevin Trudeau Show LIVE
539 watching -
1:07:17
Russell Brand
4 hours agoBiden being REPLACED? Dems Plans Uncovered. Far-Right VICTORY in French Elections. - Stay Free 397
114K197 -
LIVE
Deprogrammed with Keri Smith
1 hour agoSHAME Month - LIVE Deprogrammed with Keri Smith
314 watching -
15:20
Neil
2 hours agoSomething Really Strange Is Going On… !!!
3.95K2 -
3:27:02
Scottish Viking Gaming
4 hours agoIt's HEAVY METAL Monday | Fortnite Around and Find Out
35.2K2 -
44:13
ArcaneBear
2 hours agoMarket Indecision - Bitcoin, S&P 500 - Gold and larger Macro Trends
5.88K3 -
1:05:01
The Rubin Report
4 hours agoWhy Is the Government Ignoring the #1 Source of Health Problems? | Paul Saladino
30.1K50