Author Archives: Bob Stepno

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About Bob Stepno

mild-mannered reporter who found computers & the Web in grad school in the 1980s (Wesleyan) and '90s (UNC); taught journalism, media studies, Web production; retired to write, make music, photograph sunsets & walks in the woods.

Something Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Bob Stepno

  The band played an Irish jig  whenever derby-wearing Michael Axford entered the scene in The Green Hornet Strikes Again, the 1941 movie serial closely based on the Green Hornet radio program. Cop-turned-reporter Axford, played by Wade Boteler in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adventure, GreenHornet, movies, radio, reporters, undercover, women | Leave a comment

Even soap-opera journalists can fly the flag of human decency

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Betty and Bob have neither thought nor fear of the disasters that may lie ahead. Their newspaper will not only fly the flag of freedom and human decency, but will fight for it.” Publishers Betty and Bob Drake have turned … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, journalism, newspapers, political corruption, publishers, soap opera | Leave a comment

Teamwork at The Daily Planet

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Bob Stepno

For this weekend, four episodes concluding “Professor Thorpe’s Bathysphere,” transported from the fall of 1940 for your March 2012 entertainment. 9: Sept. 13, 1940 10: Sept. 16, 1940 11: Sept. 18, 1940 12: Sept. 20, 1940 At this point in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Superman | Leave a comment

Radio celebrated women journalists in fact and fiction

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Happy International Women’s Day… First, here’s a dramatized version of a real woman reporter covering a real crime story — with a young woman criminal for good measure. Farther down the page, you will find links to other radio programs … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, 19th century, cavalcade, Hearst, Hildy Johnson, historical figures, Lois Lane, women | Leave a comment

Newspapers as Madness: Is Bob Ready to Take Control?

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“You wouldn’t have made a bad detective, either of you” — ex-police chief to editors Betty & Bob In last week’s eighth episode in our 16-part “Betty and Bob” story, crusading editor and publisher Bob Drake hired a former police chief … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, editors, journalism, newspaper crusades, political corruption, publishers, radio, soap opera | Leave a comment

What’s a ‘batch-i-naylian orgy’? Ask Abby

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Bob Stepno

About half-way through this Cavalcade of America radio profile, a libelous attack on suffragist newspaper publisher Abigail Scott Duniway sends her off to the dictionary to find out more about the lies a competing newspaper has been telling about her. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 19th century, cavalcade, editors, historical figures, true stories, women | Leave a comment

Spring Break Superman Double Double-Feature

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Bob Stepno

This week, four episodes of “Professor Thorpe’s Bathysphere,” transported from the fall of 1940 for your March 2012 spring-break entertainment. 5: Sept. 4, 1940 6: Sept. 6, 1940 7: Sept. 9, 1940 8: Sept. 11, 1940 On the radio, America’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adventure, Clark Kent, journalism, newspaper stunts, newspapers, Perry White, reporters, science reporting, Superman | Leave a comment

Will police chief trade his badge for a press card?

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“I never knew there was so much rottenness and corruption in Monroe until you and Betty and The Trumpet began to dig it up and tried to get rid of it” — police chief. “Ex-Police Chief Henderson Visits,” the seventh episode … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, newspaper crusades, political corruption, publishers, radio, reporters, soap opera | Leave a comment

Radio’s Clark Kent showed “star reporter” qualities

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Bob Stepno

The 1940 Superman radio adventure of Professor Thorpe’s Bathysphere finds reporter Clark Kent hiding not only his secret identity, but the very existence of Superman. In the process, unlike some comic and TV representations of the character, this Clark is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, Clark Kent, newspapers, Perry White, reporters, Superman | Leave a comment

Emotional woes and courage of a newspaper family

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Bad enough to give up something that’s meant your whole life, running a newspaper, but when I can’t even get a copy of it to read!” — Bob Drake, publisher No wonder publisher Bob Drake has a temper tantrum when … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, editors, journalism, publishers, romance, soap opera, women | Leave a comment