> A Star Trek radio show, movies, silent films, and a serial all before The Gre
> Bird ever created the idea? I would hope to think that this is just a stupid
> rumor that's going around, because if it is'nt, I would hate to think that G.
> didn't make up Trek. If there was a radio series, then it would mean that G.
> stole the whole damn thing. I don't want to believe that. Somebody please
> tell me it was just a joke.
I've been able to find some information on the radio
series of the '40s. All this is from Michael Marek who
I'm sure wouldn't mind if I post this info he gathered...
===============
I promised to try to pull together what I can tell you about
the Mutual Radio Network Star Trek series of the 1940s. I've tried
to emulate the format you used in your very interesting messages
about the series which premiered in 1922.
Let me preface my remarks by asking for more information on
what station or stations the programs you cite were carried on.
1922, of course, puts the first Star Trek radio programs well
before the official opening of the first radio network, National
Broadcasting Company, on November 15, 1926. I understand your
explainations about transcription disks. (In fact, the first radio
station I worked for, which went on the air May 20, 1992, actually
still had some of these disks in their archives--read that storage
closet.)
I would be very interested to know how many stations broadcast
those early Trek programs, and where they were.
Now, on to business:
This incarnation of Star Trek was the brainchild of John Todd
Larimore, who in his younger years had himself been a fan of the
series you so adequately charted beginning in 1922. Larimore,
however, was not a great producer. While his premise was sound and
his organizing skills competant, he did not succeed in rousing great
enthusiasm with the radio networks. Insider sources had informed
him in early 1939 of the plans at Republic Pictures to produce its
Star Trek movie serials, and Larimore managed to acquire the radio
rights for a song, before Republic made its formal announcement.
Mutual finally agreed to pick up Star Trek as a summer
replacement series, hoping to cash in by tieing in to the Star Trek
movie serials. But programming executives buried the series across
from the popular I Love a Mystery series. Even worse, it was wedged
into a 15 minute format, against the second half of ILAM. That
schedule failed to attract any sponsors for the first several weeks,
and Mutual carried the series on a sustaining basis.
Star Trek was first heard on Mutual outlets on June 16, 1939,
premiering a four part adaptation of the very first Star Trek story
published in Beeton's Christmas annual in 1887. The original 1887
story was entitled "The Emerald World," but Laromire elected to
change the title. He produced every episode, unless otherwise
noted.
Here is what I've been able to collect on the story lines:
#1 "A Study in Chartreuse." 7 episodes. Script adaptation by
John Todd Larimore. Kirk: George Radcliff. Spock: Tommy Shayne. Dr.
Piper: Robert Eastman.
A retired James Kirk speaks to a biographer about his career
commanding a magnificant interstellar spacecraft, the USS
Enterprise, telling the tale of exploration of a world which
appeared to be almost totally green from orbit, due to it's unusual
foliage. (Note: After the first 15 minute installment, the retired
Kirk as a narrator was dropped. His use in part 1 was apparently a
half hearted effort to tie into the earlier radio series.)
#2 "The Radical Man." 4 episodes. Script by Hobart Sherman.
Kirk: George Radcliff. Spock: Tommy Shayne. Dr. Piper: Robert
Eastman. Scotty: Lou Zimmerman.
A power hungry dictator on Arlys VI attempts to hijack the
Enterprise. (Note the heavy handed allegory of Nazi Germany.)
Mutual picked up Star Trek for its winter season, leaving it in
the same unfortunate time slot. However the program had managed to
attract a core of fans, many of whom remembered the generally
better series of the 20s and 30s with great fondness.
Tommy Shayne went on to bigger if not better things, and Brace
Beemer, who at the time was the ANNOUNCER for the Long Ranger (also
then on Mutual) moonlighted in the role of Spock.
Proctor & Gamble signed a 13 week sponsorship contract.
#3 "The Other Side of the Coin." 3 episodes. Script John Todd
Laromire. Kirk: George Radcliff. Spock: Brace Beemer. Dr. Piper:
Robert Eastman. Nurse White: Frances Abel.
The Enterprise is trapped in a rift in space, and the crew suffers
odd illusions.
#4 "The Dark Champions" 6 episodes. Script by Gerald Wood.
Kirk: George Radcliff. Spock: Brace Beemer. Dr. Piper: Robert
Eastman. Scotty: Dick Nolan. Redshirt: F. Andrews.
Sinister aliens cause havock on the Enterprise, and are pursued by
good aliens. (Note: The final of these six episodes had a chilling
climax, maning it suitable for the Holloween episode.)
#5 "Gossimer Thorns" 3 episodes. Script John Todd Laromire.
Kirk: George Radcliff. Spock: Brace Beemer. Scotty: Gil Stanley.
Sarek: Jewell Chase.
The Enterprise transports winged aliens to a space conference,
unaware that they are omiverous. (Note: One of the first efforts
of this series at comic relief.)
Note: Star Trek was preempted every week between Thanksgiving
and New Years, 1939, for holiday specials. During this break,
George Radcliff left the series, and Larimore scored the coup of
signing William Conrad for the Kirk role. Larimore also out did
himself in crafting the first episodes of 1940, which showcased
Conrad's dramatic skill.
#6. "This Far Horizon." 9 episodes. Script John Todd Laromire.
Kirk: William Conrad. Spock: Brace Beemer. Dr. Piper: Robert
Eastman. Scotty: Glen Dinsdale. Lt. Archer: Elizabeth Clark.
Gezdrill: Butch Raffetto.
The Enterprise carries plague vaccine to Strelsau IV, through a
Klingon blockade. Subsequently, Kirk and Spock are trapped on the
planet, battling Klingons while an unqualified "girl" is forced to
lead the Enterprise into battle.
#7. "The Iron Fist." 2 episodes. Produced and written by Gerald
Wood. Kirk: William Conrad. Spock: Brace Beemer. Dr. Piper:
Robert Eastman.
No information on script.
#8 "Homecoming." 3 episodes. Script: Gerald Wood. Kirk:
William Conrad. Spock: Brace Beemer. Dr. Piper: Robert Eastman.
Scotty: Clark Young.
Kirk visits Iowa.
#9 "The Beachhead." 4 episodes. Script John Todd Laromire.
Kirk: William Conrad. Spock: Brace Beemer. Old Woman: Alice
Timmerman.
Kirk and Spock are sent on a secret mission to an enemy planet.
(Again note the allegory to Nazi Germany.)
#10 "Jennifer." 3 episodes. Script by Hobart Sherman. Kirk:
William Conrad. Spock: Brace Beemer. Jennifer: Alexis Erskine.
Admiral Wilson: Jeff Perkins.
Kirk falls in love with an alien princess, unaware of her secret
that threatens the Federation!
<<<<CONTINUED>>>>
===================
There's descriptions of other episodes. Let me know if your
interested in seeing them. Thanks again to Michael Marek
for his research into this topic.
--
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