Murder Is My Hobby

Murder Is My Hobby

Glenn Langan
Other names	Mystery Is My Hobby
Running time	30 minutes
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
Syndicates	Mutual
Starring	Glenn Langan
Announcer	Rod O'Connor Bruce Buell
Written by	Richard Wilkinson
Directed by	Dave Titus
Produced by	Raymond R. Morgan
Original release	October 14, 1945 (1945-10-14) – 1951
Sponsored by	Cystex Mendaco

Murder Is My Hobby (also titled Mystery is My Hobby) is an American radio mystery program that was broadcast on Mutual in 1945–1946.[1] The 30-minute program debuted on October 14, 1945, and ended on July 14, 1946.[2] It was sponsored by Mendaco.[3]

Before Murder Is My Hobby was broadcast nationwide, it was carried on six Don Lee Pacific stations, sponsored by Cystex, beginning in April 1945.[4]

Glenn Langan portrayed Barton Drake, a police inspector and the author of the book Mystery Is My Hobby. Drake combined his professions by collecting material for stories while he solved crimes. Rod O'Connor was the announcer,[1] and Richard Wilkinson was the writer.[5]

The program was revised and retitled Mystery Is My Hobby. It still featured Drake, but he was a "wealthy mystery writer who works with the police".[1]: 250  Episodes of the program were presented as cases from the book Mystery Is My Hobby. A typical opening had Drake saying: "For this week's drama I've selected Case History 127 from my book, Mystery Is My Hobby. I call it 'Death Is a Grain of Sand'".[6] At the end of each episode he gave the case number and title of the next week's episode.[6] The show was first broadcast on Mutual,[7] and from 1949 to 1951 it was syndicated.[2]: 190 

Langhan again portrayed Drake, and Inspector Danton was played by Ken Christy and Norman Field. Charles Lung had the role of Blake's houseboy, Mike. Bruce Buell was the announcer, and Len Salvo provided music.[2]: 190  Dave Titus was the director,[8] and Raymond R. Morgan was the producer.[9]

Television

In 1950, Reynolds Productions created a TV version of Mystery Is My Business, also starring Langhan.[10] Titled Mystery Is My Hobby, it debuted on February 17, 1950, on WNBT-TV in New York City. Sponsored by Polaroid TV Filters, the program was recorded via kinescope at KNBH-TV in Hollywood.[11]

References

1. Terrace, Vincent (2015). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-4766-0528-9. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
2. Cox, Jim (2015). Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-1-4766-1227-0. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
3. "Net Changes" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 5, 1945. p. 63. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
4. "Network Accounts" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 16, 1945. p. 34. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
5. Buxton, Frank; Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920–1950. New York: The Viking Press. p. 166.
6. Terrace, Vincent (2015). Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931–1972. McFarland. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-4766-1223-2. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
7. "'42 Killed Every Week' as Mystery Segs Glut the Air" (PDF). Billboard. July 27, 1946. p. 18. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
8. "Allied Arts" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 14, 1947. p. 57. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
9. "Our Respects to" (PDF). Broadcasting. March 3, 1952. p. 59. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
10. "Reynolds Bows Radio, TV Package Firm". Billboard. June 24, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
11. "Debuts, Highlights, Changes (Continued)". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. February 12, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2023.

External links

Logs

• Log of episodes of Mystery Is My Hobby from Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs
• Log of episodes of Mystery Is My Hobby from Old Time Radio Researchers Group

Streaming

• Episodes of Mystery Is My Hobby from LibriVox Audio Books
• Episodes of Mystery Is My Hobby from RedCircle