Premium Only Content

The Whistler - 44/02/27 (ep093) Mind over Matter
The Whistler is an American radio mystery drama which ran from May 16, 1942, until September 22, 1955, on the west-coast regional CBS radio network. The show was also broadcast in Chicago and over Armed Forces Radio.
On the west coast, it was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company: "That whistle is your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler." There were also two short-lived attempts to form east-coast broadcast spurs: July 3 to September 25, 1946, sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company; and March 26, 1947, to September 29, 1948, sponsored by Household Finance. The program was also adapted into a film noir series by Columbia Pictures in 1944.
Characters and story
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!
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 whistling with an orchestra.
A character known only as the Whistler was the host and narrator of the tales, which focused on crime and fate. He often commented directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting the characters, guilty or innocent, from an omniscient perspective. The stories followed a formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically revealed either by an overlooked but important detail or by the criminal's own stupidity. An ironic ending, often grim, was a key feature of each episode. But on rare occasions, such as "Christmas Bonus" broadcast on Christmas Day 1944, the plot's twist of fate caused the story to end happily for the protagonist.
Bill Forman, a veteran radio announcer, had the title role of the Whistler for the longest period. Others who portrayed the Whistler at various times were Gale Gordon, Joseph Kearns, Marvin Miller (announcer for the show, who occasionally filled in for Forman and played supporting roles), and Bill Johnstone (who had the title role on radio's The Shadow from 1938 to 1943). Cast members included Betty Lou Gerson, 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. Of the 692 episodes, over 200 no longer exist. In 1946, a local Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors (including Everett Clarke as the Whistler) aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer.
-
LIVE
Wendy Bell Radio
5 hours agoDemocrats Have Lost Their Minds
13,689 watching -
LIVE
The Pete Santilli Show
15 hours agoCIA Documents Implicate The Soros’ As Ukraine War Criminals. Putin Agrees [EP 4467-8AM]
1,801 watching -
1:55:20
TheDozenPodcast
20 hours agoPrison Officer EXPOSES deaths in custody: Sam Samworth
13.2K3 -
25:23
Fit'n Fire
21 hours ago $0.30 earnedThe Krink at Home Part 2 - PSA 300 Blackout Krink vs PSA 5.56 Krink
15.8K4 -
1:01:29
PMG
18 hours ago $1.85 earnedTrump's Speech, SCOTUS Forces USAID Payments, and Justice For MRNA Vaccine Victims
17K6 -
4:23:59
STARM1X16
15 hours agoSunday Night Duos
96.2K4 -
1:02:11
The Dan Bongino Show
1 day agoSunday Special with Vince Coglianese, Rep. Tim Burchett, Rep. Byron Donalds & Vivek Ramaswamy
232K380 -
2:29:38
TheSaltyCracker
14 hours agoPiss Off War Pigs ReeEEeE Stream 03-09-25
235K449 -
1:03:55
Sarah Westall
16 hours agoCanada Media Mind Control to increase Assisted Suicide, Confusion & Enslavement w/ Jasmin Laine
90K21 -
2:41:11
Canal Paulo Figueiredo
2 days agoPedro Valente Debunks The Myths of Jiu-Jitsu History
91.2K9