The Shadow (July 17, 1938) - "The Firebug"

"The Firebug," an episode of the radio drama The Shadow, aired on July 17, 1938, over the Mutual Broadcasting System as part of the summer series. In this gripping tale, Lamont Cranston, aka The Shadow, investigates a series of arson attacks in the city. Margo Lane is kidnapped by a group of pyromaniacs led by Hegman, a deranged arsonist, and Verelle, a fur shop owner with ulterior motives. The villains tie up Margo and burn her fingers, heightening the stakes. Using his powers of invisibility and mental manipulation, The Shadow tracks the criminals, uncovering their plan to extort businesses through arson. With assistance from Commissioner Weston and Fire Department chief Pete, The Shadow infiltrates their hideout, rescues Margo, and thwarts a major fire. Both Hegman and Verelle perish in the chaos they created, delivering a poetic justice. The episode blends suspense, action, and moral retribution, with sound effects like crackling flames enhancing the tension.

Cast and Crew
Cast:
Orson Welles as Lamont Cranston / The Shadow

Margot Stevenson as Margo Lane

Supporting actors: Likely included Mercury Theatre regulars such as Ray Collins (Commissioner Weston), Everett Sloane, or Paul Stewart (possibly as Hegman or Verelle)

Additional roles: Uncredited actors as Pete (Fire Department chief) and Ellen (Margo’s maid)

Crew:
Director: Likely Martin Gabel or William Alland (Mercury Theatre directors for The Shadow)

Writer: Adapted by staff writers, possibly Jerry Devine or William Sweets, based on Walter B. Gibson’s pulp stories

Producer: Sponsored by Blue Coal (Mutual Broadcasting System)

Music: Mutual Network orchestra, possibly led by Bernard Herrmann

Sound Effects: Mutual Network sound team, likely managed by Ora Nichols

Note: Exact cast and crew details for this episode are not fully documented. The above is based on the standard The Shadow team during the 1938 summer season, with character details from The Shadow Wiki.

News in the United States (Week of July 17, 1938)
Economic Challenges: The "Roosevelt Recession" lingered, with unemployment at 19%. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s $3.75 billion recovery plan, announced in April, faced Senate resistance, delaying relief efforts.

Labor Developments: Strikes in the steel industry subsided after negotiations, but the United Auto Workers planned new organizing drives in Michigan, targeting Chrysler.

Aviation Feat: Howard Hughes completed his around-the-world flight on July 14, landing in New York after 91 hours, setting a record and boosting aviation enthusiasm.

Political Climate: Congressional midterm campaigns heated up, with Republicans attacking New Deal policies. Roosevelt campaigned for liberal Democrats, risking party unity.

Cultural Note: The film Algiers, starring Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr, was a box-office hit, captivating audiences with its romantic drama.

News in the World (Week of July 17, 1938)
Spanish Civil War: The Battle of the Ebro began on July 25, with Republican forces launching a major offensive against Franco’s Nationalists. Early Republican gains were reported, but German and Italian air support bolstered Franco.

Sino-Japanese War: Japan’s invasion of China intensified, with battles in Hubei Province. Chinese forces under Chiang Kai-shek prepared to defend Wuhan, a key stronghold.

Nazi Germany: Adolf Hitler escalated anti-Semitic policies, with Jewish professionals barred from practicing medicine. Preparations for annexing Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland gained momentum.

British Appeasement: Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain faced domestic criticism for appeasing Hitler. Talks with Germany aimed to resolve the Sudeten crisis, but tensions rose.

Soviet Union: Stalin’s purges continued, with arrests of scientists and engineers reported, hampering Soviet technological development amid global scrutiny.