Category Archives: 1940s

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

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 →

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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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Wasp and Hornet — Journalistic Vigilantes

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Bob Stepno

It’s been a year since Seth Rogen’s “Green Hornet” movie did its violence to the legend of the old radio hero by that name, whose newspaperman secret identity might have been portrayed as more of a role model for journalism … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, crime, ethics, GreenHornet, journalism, movies, novels | Leave a comment

‘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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A Casey New Year: More than one way to get a headache

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Bob Stepno

Sticking with both “Crime Photographer” and my seasonal theme, the episode titled Hot New Year’s Party is really a “morning after” story — one that just happened to be broadcast on a New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 1948. The story … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, Casey, crime, photographer, reporters, women | Leave a comment