Category Archives: 1930s

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Spring Saturdays with Superman

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Bob Stepno

The 1940 Superman radio adventure of Professor Thorpe’s Bathysphere begins with Clark Kent being called to editor Perry White’s office to get his new assignment — covering a scientific discovery. No Earth-destroying calamity is approaching from outer space; no mad … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, Clark Kent, Perry White, Superman | 4 Comments

Journalists make good neighbors

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Bob Stepno

This week’s “Betty and Bob” episode, Anita Rusack escapes from her father, finds the journalist couple providing a refuge — and sandwiches — for the young daughter of their neighbor, who apparently went mad after the death of his wife. … Continue reading →

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Could there be a newsroom romance brewing?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Bob Stepno

There isn’t much newspapering yet in this third Betty & Bob episode, but there is a hint of soap opera romance to come, as Chet meets Claire. Claire is the young and “expecting” widow of The Trumpet’s star reporter, who … Continue reading →

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‘There’s Murder in the Air Tonight…’

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Bob Stepno

As with the last episode, you can push past the opening two minutes of syrupy music to get to the 13 minutes of action in Neighbor Shoots Deputy Sheriff, the second installment in our continuing story from the 1930s radio … Continue reading →

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Another journalist named Bob: Newspaper life as soap opera

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Running a newspaper is our line of duty” — Betty Drake, co-publisher of The Trumpet, pioneer soap opera heroine “Betty and Bob,” one of radio’s first soap operas, eventually twisted its troubled-marriage plot around to journalism — not surprising, considering … Continue reading →

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Tabloid Editors Repent!

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Bob Stepno

For students watching the 1931 film “Five Star Final” with Edward G. Robinson as a guilt-ridden tabloid editor, and for anyone looking for an audio alternative to the old-movie experience, here is something close to a radio sequel to the … Continue reading →

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