defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 1

CD 5 George Baughman 08-28-52 DEFENSE ATTORNEY Jim Nelson 09-11-52

CD 6 Program Guide by Jack French Thomas Kennedy and Jethro Lester 09-18-52 Defense Attorney was supposed to debut on NBC, but it premiered on Edith Larkin 10-09-52 ABC. The productions were planned for a studio, but all of the programs were produced in Hollywood. The intent was for the radio version to evolve into a television series, but that never came to fruition. Nevertheless, in the year and a half that it was on the air, the series captivated listeners, attracted reputable sponsors, and garnered awards for itself and its star.

Radio producer Don Sharpe was responsible for packaging this show (originally called The Defense Rests ). He produced an audition record in April of 1951, and obtained a tentative agreement from NBC to air the show that summer. But by May, NBC had begun a belt-tightening policy designed to get more work out of their New York berthed directors and production staff. NBC required that their summer replacement programs originate in Manhattan, not the West Coast, since the latter would necessitate hiring additional staffers.

The two leads in Mercedes McCambridge the program, Mercedes McCambridge (as Marty Ellis Bryant) and Howard Jack French has been researching radio history for over 30 years. His book Culver (as Judson Barnes), “Private Eyelashes: Radio’s Lady Detectives” won the Agatha Award for were radio veterans, but Best Non-Fiction and is available through Radio Spirits. had seldom worked together before this series. Based in , as were the show’s writers, they were not eager to travel 3,000 miles to do a “summer show.” Sharpe quickly restructured the www.RadioSpirits.com production, renamed it PO Box 1315, Little Falls, NJ 07424 Defense Attorney , and sold it to ABC, which agreed to © RSPT LLC. All rights reserved. For home use only. produce it in Hollywood. Unauthorized duplication prohibited. An old friend of Culver’s, Dwight Hauser, was hired Program Guide © 2011 Jack French and RSPT LLC. All Rights Reserved. to direct and produce the series, which debuted as a 45092 sustainer on July 6, 1951. defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 2

Although Mercedes Agnes McCambridge 1956, McCambridge was nominated for an Oscar for was born in Joliet, IL on March 16, 1916, her role in Giant . She had minor roles in Touch of she insisted throughout her entire career Evil , Suddenly Last Summer , Cimarron , and other that she was born March 17, 1918. This films. She returned to radio in the 1970’s, appearing deception was not uncovered until her in 25 episodes of CBS Mystery Theater , which death in 2004 when a trustee of her estate reunited her with old friend, Himan Brown. Her explained that McCambridge, in a nod to radio experience earned her the unusual job of her Irish Catholic heritage, moved her providing the voice of the demon in the 1973 birthday to St. Patrick’s Day…and blockbuster film The Exorcist , but it took the shaved two years off her age to appear intervention of the Screen ’s Guild to get her younger. While still attending name listed in the credits. Mundelein College, McCambridge Howard Culver found part-time microphone work on Her personal life was filled with ’s soap operas. By the time she disappointment and tragedy. Both of her marriages ended in divorce, and her graduated in 1937, she had earned a son killed his wife and children before committing suicide. She spent her last contract with NBC radio. years in relative seclusion, helping to raise money for a San Diego homeless shelter, and talking about her struggles with alcoholism. McCambridge was 85 Her success on the soaps – when she died on March 2, 2004. including The Guiding Light and Big Sister - led to Broadway roles and, McCambridge’s 1981 autobiography, The Quality of Mercy , did not eventually, Hollywood. Her acting mention Defense Attorney , but it did make it clear that she loved her radio work prowess was confirmed when she won and the fame it brought her: She wrote, “People all over the country have the Oscar for Best Supporting Role in retained for so long and so vividly the visions they themselves created merely Mercedes McCambridge her first motion picture, All the King’s from sounds....They don’t remember what they saw on TV the night before last, Men (1949). Alcohol and drugs limited her for certain periods of her career, but they remember forever what they heard on radio. Radio was the best.” although she continued to achieve success on radio and the silver screen. At the time she was signed to play the lead in Defense Attorney , no less than three of her TRACK LISTING films - Inside Straight , Lightning Strikes Twice , and The Scarf - were in theaters across the country. CD 1 The Defense Rests : Joseph Moriano (Audition) 04-17-51 Howard Brasfield Culver, Jr. was born on June 2, 1919 on a ranch Defense Attorney : Marcus Moriano 08-10-51 outside of Ft. Collins, . The family later moved to southern where, as a high school lad, he began getting bit parts on radio. Later, he found CD 2 work at KFI, reading poetry over a background of organ music. As his acting skills Peter Lynch 08-17-51 improved, so did his roles, and by the 1947-48 season, he was playing the title role Grady Daniels 08-24-51 in The Adventures of Ellery Queen . When Culver got his role on Defense Attorney , CD 3 he had just finished three years portraying Steve Adams on Mutual’s Straight Mike Tully 08-31-51 Arrow adventure program. Jimmy Leonard 09-14-51

The basic framework of the series was created by a woman, Cameron CD 4 Blake, who wrote the audition script and many of the series’ early episodes. Martha Thomas Richards 03-13-52 Ellis Bryant, known to her friends as “Marty,” was the main character. She was an Joshua Masters 04-10-52 experienced lawyer, and a former District Attorney, who now had a private practice. She had an office on the eighth floor of a high rise, but no staff. While it 2 7 defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 3

Murcott was a close friend of them both. The studio was on Vine Street, just would be unusual for a prominent attorney like Bryant not to have a receptionist, below Hollywood Boulevard. Lois frequently came into Hollywood with a secretary, and a paralegal clerk, apparently a decision was made at the show’s Howard when he was working on Defense Attorney . She’d do some shopping inception not to add these characters to the show (perhaps so she would have to do while he was at the studio, and they’d meet at the break. McCambridge usually her own legal research). led her co-workers down the street to a nearby ice cream parlor. “Mercy” would hold forth on a variety of topics while Dwight, Howard, and Parley would try Her loving boy friend, Jud Barnes (who was named Jud Cramer in to get a word in now and then. The Defense Rests ) was a reporter for the “City Dispatch,” which gave him plenty of free time to be at Bryant’s beck-and-call. Neither Jud, nor his boss at Variety reported in their December 10, 1952 issue that Defense the newspaper office, seemed to mind the inordinate amount of his time spent Attorney had been canceled and would cease broadcasting later that month. running errands for Bryant. Their love for each other was obvious to all; they While it was the end of a very good radio series, many in the cast were hoping referred to each other as “darling,” “sweetie,” and “honey,” and made continual that it would soon evolve into a television show. references to their eventual marriage.

Beginning in October of 1952, there were attempts to create a Defense Three key Defense Attorney contributors would become mainstays in Attorney television series using essentially the same cast. A pilot program was radio’s when that classic series began in April of 1952. The shot at General Service Studios with Fletcher Markle as its director. The pilot composer and musical arranger for both series was Rex Koury. He was an was shopped around, but there were no immediate takers. Billboard reported in experienced radio musician, but Gunsmoke was the first program that April of 1953 that Don Sharpe announced from his New York office that he had ever scored. And, two of the regular supporting on Defense Defense Attorney would begin shooting a television series very soon. Variety Attorney would become the backup team to Bill Conrad’s on stated that Official Films had taken over production of Defense Attorney in June Gunsmoke : Parley Baer and Howard McNear. On Defense Attorney , Hauser of 1953 and that a pilot was being shown to various advertising agencies. Again, gave all of the judicial roles to Baer, so in these episodes whether it’s Judge there were no takers. Harris, Judge Elliott, or an unnamed presiding judge, it’s always Parley When the TV hopes evaporated, both of the Defense Attorney leads Baer. You’ll also hear Baer doubling in continued in their chosen profession. Howard Culver found television and lesser roles. McNear was frequently movie work in the ensuing years. He appeared in the premiere of TV’s cast in major roles in this series. In this Gunsmoke as the Dodge Hotel desk clerk, which became a recurring role for boxed set, you’ll hear him as Mike him (billed as “Howie Culver”). He had bit parts on other television shows, Tully in the August 31, 1951 show, as including and Perry Mason , and found well as Orville Keel in the August 10, voiceover work, as well. One of his best movie roles 1951 episode. was in 30 , the 1959 film. Culver retired from show business in 1980, but still accepted roles A reoccurring role on in a few local stage productions. His end was very Defense Attorney was that of local sad. Returning from a three week cruise to China, he police lieutenant, Ed Leebis, who was contracted a very serious respiratory illness and died usually, but not always, played by onboard on August 5, 1985; he was only 66 years old. Tony Barrett. (Forest Lewis substitutes He was buried at sea off the coast of California. for him in the August 10, 1951 episode.) Hauser also let Barrett McCambridge did relatively little television, demonstrate his skill with accents in although she did play a globe-trotting reporter in other roles; Barrett plays a Latino Wire Service for ABC-TV. She concentrated on film character in the August 17, 1951 work, with occasional trips back to the stage. In program. The announcers on this series Defense Attorney regulars Parley Baer and Howard McNear 1954’s Johnny Guitar she played opposite Joan were Don Stanley and Orville (on the left) pose for a publicity shot with their Gunsmoke Fletcher Markle Crawford (whom she personally disliked) and, in Anderson. co-stars Bill Conrad and Georgia Ellis . 6 3 defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 4

Among the supporting cast in this series Apparently advertisers agreed. By 1952, were a host of some of the most talented radio actors three reputable companies had signed on as sponsors on the West Coast: Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell, and audiences began hearing commercials for Kix, Barney Phillips, Irene Tedrow, Herb Butterfield, Clorets, and Chiclets. Kix, one of the many cereals of Jeanne Bates, Bill Johnstone, Mary Lansing, Lou General Mills of Minnesota, was first introduced in Krugman, and Paul Frees. You’ll hear all of them in 1937. The second sponsor, Warner-Hudnut Corporation this boxed set, plus some lesser known voices: of New York, advertised their Clorets line of gum and Charles Seel, Joel Nestor, Dallas McKennon, and mints with their slogan of making one’s breath “kissing Kay Wiley. sweet.” The third sponsor, the American Chicle Company of Long Island, NY, advertised its gum: Dwight Hauser was able to rely upon a Chiclets. revolving team of writers in this series who could provide taut scripts of excitement, pathos, adventure, This series holds up particularly well for mystery and humor. For the first few months, today’s listeners, over a half century after it was Irene Tedrow Cameron Blake and Joel Murcott alternated writing originally recorded. Part of the reason is that the Burn ‘Em Up Barnes 1934 the scripts, with occasional help from Jack Spears. By 1952, at least a half dozen scripts avoided topicality or dated anecdotes. One of Movie Poster writers were contributing scripts for the show, including Jack Rubin, Brian the expressions heard in this boxed set, however, will probably be unfamiliar to Moore, Rich McClune, William Yeager, Jack Spears, and Shelby Gordon. modern ears. In the “Joshua Masters” episode, Jud Barnes - driving rapidly in his automobile - refers to himself as “Burn ‘em up Barnes.” This was a fairly Unlike Erle Stanley Gardner, none of these writers were also lawyers. common expression, at least through the World War II era, as a nickname for So, despite their skills, they stumbled occasionally over legal terminology. an auto racer. It was derived from a popular 1934 Mascot Studios 12 chapter Their most common mistake was confusing robbery, burglary, and larceny. serial about a race driver. The serial was entitled Burn ‘Em Up Barnes and was (Note: Robbery is stealing by force or threat; burglary is theft by breaking into based, somewhat loosely, upon a 1921 silent movie of the same name. a building; and larceny is theft by fraud, or stealing valuables that one is entrusted with.) At least one of Hauser’s writers had some familiarity with the works of William Shakespeare. In his script for the September 18, 1952 episode, In the September 11, 1952 episode, both the police and an attorney Shelby Gordon included references to two of the Bard’s plays: The Merchant erroneously refer to a bank larceny as a “robbery.” The October 9, 1952 of Venice and All’s Well That Ends Well . Toward the end of this program, Marty broadcast contains a similar mistake in which a lawyer, describing a swindle, recites the plot basics of the first play, discussing Shylock and Portia who, like terms it “robbing widows.” But the worst mistake you’ll hear in this boxed set Marty, was a female lawyer. She later ends the case, and the episode, by stating occurs in the March 13, 1952 program where Jud, at Marty’s direction, steals a that while “All’s Well That Ends Well” is not Shakespeare’s best play, it’s still file from a judge’s office after that judge has refused to give up the file without a nice comforting thought. a subpoena. That type of burglary in real life would be an automatic disbarment for any lawyer, but Marty makes light of it in this episode. The February 1952 issue of Radio-TV Mirror magazine contained a lengthy interview with McCambrige and her husband, Fletcher Markle, a However, despite these slip-ups, the series as a whole was not only Hollywood director. She was asked about Defense Attorney and she responded: enjoyed thoroughly by its listening audience, but garnered wide acceptance “I like working in radio better than anything. Its great being a lady lawyer from the legal profession. As you’ll hear in the September 11, 1952 episode in because I love being able to make official sounds. And too, the present series this boxed set, McCambridge addressed the 53rd annual meeting of the of ‘Defense Attorney’ only takes four hours a week for rehearsals and show American Bar Association. In addition, the National Association of Women time so I have more of the precious stuff to spend at home.” Lawyers honored McCambridge with the “celebrity chair” at their annual banquet. A further honor was accorded by Radio-TV Mirror magazine, which The congeniality of the principals in this series made working on it a announced that radio listeners voted McCambridge their favorite dramatic very pleasant experience. I interviewed Culver’s widow, Lois, in 2002. She said actress based upon her performance in Defense Attorney . that he and Dwight Hauser were longtime fishing buddies, and writer Joel 4 5 defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 4

Among the supporting cast in this series Apparently advertisers agreed. By 1952, were a host of some of the most talented radio actors three reputable companies had signed on as sponsors on the West Coast: Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell, and audiences began hearing commercials for Kix, Barney Phillips, Irene Tedrow, Herb Butterfield, Clorets, and Chiclets. Kix, one of the many cereals of Jeanne Bates, Bill Johnstone, Mary Lansing, Lou General Mills of Minnesota, was first introduced in Krugman, and Paul Frees. You’ll hear all of them in 1937. The second sponsor, Warner-Hudnut Corporation this boxed set, plus some lesser known voices: of New York, advertised their Clorets line of gum and Charles Seel, Joel Nestor, Dallas McKennon, and mints with their slogan of making one’s breath “kissing Kay Wiley. sweet.” The third sponsor, the American Chicle Company of Long Island, NY, advertised its gum: Dwight Hauser was able to rely upon a Chiclets. revolving team of writers in this series who could provide taut scripts of excitement, pathos, adventure, This series holds up particularly well for mystery and humor. For the first few months, today’s listeners, over a half century after it was Irene Tedrow Cameron Blake and Joel Murcott alternated writing originally recorded. Part of the reason is that the Burn ‘Em Up Barnes 1934 the scripts, with occasional help from Jack Spears. By 1952, at least a half dozen scripts avoided topicality or dated anecdotes. One of Movie Poster writers were contributing scripts for the show, including Jack Rubin, Brian the expressions heard in this boxed set, however, will probably be unfamiliar to Moore, Rich McClune, William Yeager, Jack Spears, and Shelby Gordon. modern ears. In the “Joshua Masters” episode, Jud Barnes - driving rapidly in his automobile - refers to himself as “Burn ‘em up Barnes.” This was a fairly Unlike Erle Stanley Gardner, none of these writers were also lawyers. common expression, at least through the World War II era, as a nickname for So, despite their skills, they stumbled occasionally over legal terminology. an auto racer. It was derived from a popular 1934 Mascot Studios 12 chapter Their most common mistake was confusing robbery, burglary, and larceny. serial about a race driver. The serial was entitled Burn ‘Em Up Barnes and was (Note: Robbery is stealing by force or threat; burglary is theft by breaking into based, somewhat loosely, upon a 1921 silent movie of the same name. a building; and larceny is theft by fraud, or stealing valuables that one is entrusted with.) At least one of Hauser’s writers had some familiarity with the works of William Shakespeare. In his script for the September 18, 1952 episode, In the September 11, 1952 episode, both the police and an attorney Shelby Gordon included references to two of the Bard’s plays: The Merchant erroneously refer to a bank larceny as a “robbery.” The October 9, 1952 of Venice and All’s Well That Ends Well . Toward the end of this program, Marty broadcast contains a similar mistake in which a lawyer, describing a swindle, recites the plot basics of the first play, discussing Shylock and Portia who, like terms it “robbing widows.” But the worst mistake you’ll hear in this boxed set Marty, was a female lawyer. She later ends the case, and the episode, by stating occurs in the March 13, 1952 program where Jud, at Marty’s direction, steals a that while “All’s Well That Ends Well” is not Shakespeare’s best play, it’s still file from a judge’s office after that judge has refused to give up the file without a nice comforting thought. a subpoena. That type of burglary in real life would be an automatic disbarment for any lawyer, but Marty makes light of it in this episode. The February 1952 issue of Radio-TV Mirror magazine contained a lengthy interview with McCambrige and her husband, Fletcher Markle, a However, despite these slip-ups, the series as a whole was not only Hollywood director. She was asked about Defense Attorney and she responded: enjoyed thoroughly by its listening audience, but garnered wide acceptance “I like working in radio better than anything. Its great being a lady lawyer from the legal profession. As you’ll hear in the September 11, 1952 episode in because I love being able to make official sounds. And too, the present series this boxed set, McCambridge addressed the 53rd annual meeting of the of ‘Defense Attorney’ only takes four hours a week for rehearsals and show American Bar Association. In addition, the National Association of Women time so I have more of the precious stuff to spend at home.” Lawyers honored McCambridge with the “celebrity chair” at their annual banquet. A further honor was accorded by Radio-TV Mirror magazine, which The congeniality of the principals in this series made working on it a announced that radio listeners voted McCambridge their favorite dramatic very pleasant experience. I interviewed Culver’s widow, Lois, in 2002. She said actress based upon her performance in Defense Attorney . that he and Dwight Hauser were longtime fishing buddies, and writer Joel 4 5 defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 3

Murcott was a close friend of them both. The studio was on Vine Street, just would be unusual for a prominent attorney like Bryant not to have a receptionist, below Hollywood Boulevard. Lois frequently came into Hollywood with a secretary, and a paralegal clerk, apparently a decision was made at the show’s Howard when he was working on Defense Attorney . She’d do some shopping inception not to add these characters to the show (perhaps so she would have to do while he was at the studio, and they’d meet at the break. McCambridge usually her own legal research). led her co-workers down the street to a nearby ice cream parlor. “Mercy” would hold forth on a variety of topics while Dwight, Howard, and Parley would try Her loving boy friend, Jud Barnes (who was named Jud Cramer in to get a word in now and then. The Defense Rests ) was a reporter for the “City Dispatch,” which gave him plenty of free time to be at Bryant’s beck-and-call. Neither Jud, nor his boss at Variety reported in their December 10, 1952 issue that Defense the newspaper office, seemed to mind the inordinate amount of his time spent Attorney had been canceled and would cease broadcasting later that month. running errands for Bryant. Their love for each other was obvious to all; they While it was the end of a very good radio series, many in the cast were hoping referred to each other as “darling,” “sweetie,” and “honey,” and made continual that it would soon evolve into a television show. references to their eventual marriage.

Beginning in October of 1952, there were attempts to create a Defense Three key Defense Attorney contributors would become mainstays in Attorney television series using essentially the same cast. A pilot program was radio’s Gunsmoke when that classic series began in April of 1952. The shot at General Service Studios with Fletcher Markle as its director. The pilot composer and musical arranger for both series was Rex Koury. He was an was shopped around, but there were no immediate takers. Billboard reported in experienced radio musician, but Gunsmoke was the first western program that April of 1953 that Don Sharpe announced from his New York office that he had ever scored. And, two of the regular supporting actors on Defense Defense Attorney would begin shooting a television series very soon. Variety Attorney would become the backup team to Bill Conrad’s Matt Dillon on stated that Official Films had taken over production of Defense Attorney in June Gunsmoke : Parley Baer and Howard McNear. On Defense Attorney , Hauser of 1953 and that a pilot was being shown to various advertising agencies. Again, gave all of the judicial roles to Baer, so in these episodes whether it’s Judge there were no takers. Harris, Judge Elliott, or an unnamed presiding judge, it’s always Parley When the TV hopes evaporated, both of the Defense Attorney leads Baer. You’ll also hear Baer doubling in continued in their chosen profession. Howard Culver found television and lesser roles. McNear was frequently movie work in the ensuing years. He appeared in the premiere of TV’s cast in major roles in this series. In this Gunsmoke as the Dodge Hotel desk clerk, which became a recurring role for boxed set, you’ll hear him as Mike him (billed as “Howie Culver”). He had bit parts on other television shows, Tully in the August 31, 1951 show, as including Dragnet and Perry Mason , and found well as Orville Keel in the August 10, voiceover work, as well. One of his best movie roles 1951 episode. was in 30 , the 1959 Jack Webb film. Culver retired from show business in 1980, but still accepted roles A reoccurring role on in a few local stage productions. His end was very Defense Attorney was that of local sad. Returning from a three week cruise to China, he police lieutenant, Ed Leebis, who was contracted a very serious respiratory illness and died usually, but not always, played by onboard on August 5, 1985; he was only 66 years old. Tony Barrett. (Forest Lewis substitutes He was buried at sea off the coast of California. for him in the August 10, 1951 episode.) Hauser also let Barrett McCambridge did relatively little television, demonstrate his skill with accents in although she did play a globe-trotting reporter in other roles; Barrett plays a Latino Wire Service for ABC-TV. She concentrated on film character in the August 17, 1951 work, with occasional trips back to the stage. In program. The announcers on this series Defense Attorney regulars Parley Baer and Howard McNear 1954’s Johnny Guitar she played opposite Joan were Don Stanley and Orville (on the left) pose for a publicity shot with their Gunsmoke Fletcher Markle Crawford (whom she personally disliked) and, in Anderson. co-stars Bill Conrad and Georgia Ellis . 6 3 defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 2

Although Mercedes Agnes McCambridge 1956, McCambridge was nominated for an Oscar for was born in Joliet, IL on March 16, 1916, her role in Giant . She had minor roles in Touch of she insisted throughout her entire career Evil , Suddenly Last Summer , Cimarron , and other that she was born March 17, 1918. This films. She returned to radio in the 1970’s, appearing deception was not uncovered until her in 25 episodes of CBS Mystery Theater , which death in 2004 when a trustee of her estate reunited her with old friend, Himan Brown. Her explained that McCambridge, in a nod to radio experience earned her the unusual job of her Irish Catholic heritage, moved her providing the voice of the demon in the 1973 birthday to St. Patrick’s Day…and blockbuster film The Exorcist , but it took the shaved two years off her age to appear intervention of the Screen Actor’s Guild to get her younger. While still attending name listed in the credits. Mundelein College, McCambridge Howard Culver found part-time microphone work on Her personal life was filled with Chicago’s soap operas. By the time she disappointment and tragedy. Both of her marriages ended in divorce, and her graduated in 1937, she had earned a son killed his wife and children before committing suicide. She spent her last contract with NBC radio. years in relative seclusion, helping to raise money for a San Diego homeless shelter, and talking about her struggles with alcoholism. McCambridge was 85 Her success on the soaps – when she died on March 2, 2004. including The Guiding Light and Big Sister - led to Broadway roles and, McCambridge’s 1981 autobiography, The Quality of Mercy , did not eventually, Hollywood. Her acting mention Defense Attorney , but it did make it clear that she loved her radio work prowess was confirmed when she won and the fame it brought her: She wrote, “People all over the country have the Oscar for Best Supporting Role in retained for so long and so vividly the visions they themselves created merely Mercedes McCambridge her first motion picture, All the King’s from sounds....They don’t remember what they saw on TV the night before last, Men (1949). Alcohol and drugs limited her for certain periods of her career, but they remember forever what they heard on radio. Radio was the best.” although she continued to achieve success on radio and the silver screen. At the time she was signed to play the lead in Defense Attorney , no less than three of her TRACK LISTING films - Inside Straight , Lightning Strikes Twice , and The Scarf - were in theaters across the country. CD 1 The Defense Rests : Joseph Moriano (Audition) 04-17-51 Howard Brasfield Culver, Jr. was born on June 2, 1919 on a ranch Defense Attorney : Marcus Moriano 08-10-51 outside of Ft. Collins, Colorado. The family later moved to southern California where, as a high school lad, he began getting bit parts on radio. Later, he found CD 2 work at KFI, reading poetry over a background of organ music. As his acting skills Peter Lynch 08-17-51 improved, so did his roles, and by the 1947-48 season, he was playing the title role Grady Daniels 08-24-51 in The Adventures of Ellery Queen . When Culver got his role on Defense Attorney , CD 3 he had just finished three years portraying Steve Adams on Mutual’s Straight Mike Tully 08-31-51 Arrow adventure program. Jimmy Leonard 09-14-51

The basic framework of the series was created by a woman, Cameron CD 4 Blake, who wrote the audition script and many of the series’ early episodes. Martha Thomas Richards 03-13-52 Ellis Bryant, known to her friends as “Marty,” was the main character. She was an Joshua Masters 04-10-52 experienced lawyer, and a former District Attorney, who now had a private practice. She had an office on the eighth floor of a high rise, but no staff. While it 2 7 defense.qxd:8 pg. Booklet 5/10/11 1:35 PM Page 1

CD 5 George Baughman 08-28-52 DEFENSE ATTORNEY Jim Nelson 09-11-52

CD 6 Program Guide by Jack French Thomas Kennedy and Jethro Lester 09-18-52 Defense Attorney was supposed to debut on NBC, but it premiered on Edith Larkin 10-09-52 ABC. The productions were planned for a New York City studio, but all of the programs were produced in Hollywood. The intent was for the radio version to evolve into a television series, but that never came to fruition. Nevertheless, in the year and a half that it was on the air, the series captivated listeners, attracted reputable sponsors, and garnered awards for itself and its star.

Radio producer Don Sharpe was responsible for packaging this show (originally called The Defense Rests ). He produced an audition record in April of 1951, and obtained a tentative agreement from NBC to air the show that summer. But by May, NBC had begun a belt-tightening policy designed to get more work out of their New York berthed directors and production staff. NBC required that their summer replacement programs originate in Manhattan, not the West Coast, since the latter would necessitate hiring additional staffers.

The two leads in Mercedes McCambridge the program, Mercedes McCambridge (as Marty Ellis Bryant) and Howard Jack French has been researching radio history for over 30 years. His book Culver (as Judson Barnes), “Private Eyelashes: Radio’s Lady Detectives” won the Agatha Award for were radio veterans, but Best Non-Fiction and is available through Radio Spirits. had seldom worked together before this series. Based in Los Angeles, as were the show’s writers, they were not eager to travel 3,000 miles to do a “summer show.” Sharpe quickly restructured the www.RadioSpirits.com production, renamed it PO Box 1315, Little Falls, NJ 07424 Defense Attorney , and sold it to ABC, which agreed to © RSPT LLC. All rights reserved. For home use only. produce it in Hollywood. Unauthorized duplication prohibited. An old friend of Culver’s, Dwight Hauser, was hired Program Guide © 2011 Jack French and RSPT LLC. All Rights Reserved. to direct and produce the series, which debuted as a 45092 sustainer on July 6, 1951.