Category Archives: 1940s

“Storm in a Teacup” crossed Atlantic

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Bob Stepno

The full-length 1937 film “Storm in a Teacup” is available from the Internet Archive, with Rex Harrison as a crusading young journalist and Vivien Leigh as the beautiful daughter of the smalltown dictator he crusades against. The 1948 Ford Theater … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, adaptations, comedy, international, journalism | Leave a comment

Serial killer and journalist

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“The Hands of Mr. Ottermole,” a frequently anthologized classic murder mystery by Thomas Burke, was adapted for radio in the 1940s by the anthology series Suspense and Radio City Playhouse — each with its own twist on the tale. Both versions involve a suspicious newspaper reporter … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, crime, detectives, reporters | Leave a comment

Crime Photographer Thanksgivings

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Working holidaysCasey, Crime Photographer was a weekly fixture on CBS radio for a dozen years, 1943-55, and listeners probably felt they were dropping into the Blue Note Cafe along with the hero and his reporter friend Ann Williams — even … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, Casey, detectives, holidays, newspapers, photographer, reporters | Leave a comment

Who would want a newspaper for a wedding present?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Two recent journalism school grads, Betty and Henry Beetle Hough, that’s who. Their adventure is explored in this week’s radio program, “Once More the Thunderer.” Some context: My “Portrayal of the journalist in popular culture” students are watching “Teacher’s Pet” this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, editors, journalism, local news, newspapers, publishers, romance | Leave a comment

A Virginia reporter digs deeper

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Updated Sept. 15, 2020, see note at end This week’s “The Big Story” episode is a “journalism procedural” about a Richmond News Leader reporter who takes up the case of a man convicted of murder six years earlier. Exactly when … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, crime, Race, racial justice, reporters, reporting, The Big Story, true stories | 2 Comments

Arsenic and Old Headlines

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Bob Stepno

As a former reporter for The Hartford Courant, I was intrigued to find a Courant story from long ago among episodes of the radio series “The Big Story,” and just had to track down the original criminal investigation. The broadcast … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s, 1940s, movies, newspapers, The Big Story, true stories | Leave a comment

More police-press cooperation: “Here, take the gun…”

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Bob Stepno

“Here, take the gun; cover me…” — detective to journalist That’s not a sentence most newspaper reporters ever hear from a police officer, but it’s part of the dialogue from the thrilling conclusion of this week’s episode of “The Big … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, crime, Lois Lane, reporters, The Big Story, true stories | Leave a comment

Police-press cooperation: “You got a gun?”

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Bob Stepno

After a rather long preamble, you’ll find an episode below from “The Big Story,” a radio series that sometimes sounded like a “reporter-cop buddy movie.” (Actually, I don’t think such a genre ever existed on film, except when the reporter … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, crime, newspapers, Police, reporters, The Big Story, United Press, wire services | 3 Comments

Hearing the reporter’s voice in All the King’s Men

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Bob Stepno

In the movies of All the King’s Men, starring Broderick Crawford (1949) or Sean Penn (2006), charismatic Southern politician Willie Stark is obviously the main character. But for the only radio adaptation I’ve found of Robert Penn Warren’s novel — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, journalism, movies, political corruption, Pulitzer Prize, reporters | Leave a comment

A journalist poet with a passion for croquet

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Bob Stepno

Journalism’s a shrew and a scold. I like her. She makes you sick, she makes you old. I like her. She’s daily trouble, storm and strife. She’s love and hate, and death and life. She ain’t no lady. She’s my … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, columnists, New York City, newspapers, radio | 1 Comment