#Red De Corsia | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

meanstreetspodcasts · 3 years

Text

Diamond in the Rough

“I was sitting in my office shooting paper clips at a King size horse fly. It was a little sadistic but he was bigger than I was. Well, about the time I had him down on his knees begging for mercy, the door opened…”

There’s nothing in Dick Powell’s early career to suggest he was destined to play hard-boiled private eyes. Had his bosses at Warner Brothers had their way, he’d have stayed in the song-and-dance roles on which he built his career. But thanks to a gamble by a director, Powell kicked off a new chapter to his career and the result were some great radio shows, including one of the medium’s best - Richard Diamond, Private Detective.

Powell got his start in Hollywood in the 30s as a singer in Warner Brothers musicals, including 42nd Street, and On the Avenue. He was frequently cast in the role of a boyish crooner, even as he approached his 40s. Despite his success, Powell was eager to expand into other roles. His efforts were resisted by Warner Brothers, who wanted to keep Powell right where he was, even if he thought it was the wrong place to be. He pursued the lead role in Double Indemnity, but it ultimately went to another actor pegged in “nice guy” roles - Fred MacMurray.

But later in 1944, RKO and director Edward Dmytryk gave Powell the role he’d been waiting for - Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe in Murder, My Sweet, the film adaptation of the Marlowe novel Farewell, My Lovely. The film was a success, and Powell received rave reviews for his performance. In a flash, he had shed the crooner image he’d been desperate to shake and he embarked on the next stage of his career.

Powell recreated his role as Marlowe on the June 11, 1945 Lux Radio Theater broadcast of Murder, My Sweet, and he starred as private detective Richard Rogue in Rogue’s Gallery from 1945 to 1946. While it was a fine series, it failed to stand out from the crowd of hard-boiled private eyes littering the airwaves in the postwar years. For his next radio effort, Powell wanted to “make something a little bit different of a standard vehicle.” He recorded an audition show as “the man with the action packed expense account,” Johnny Dollar, but he passed on the series for a show that sprang from the mind of Blake Edwards. Edwards would later create the outstanding police procedural The Line-Up for radio, develop Peter Gunn for television, and would become a celebrated writer and director of film arguably most famous for the Pink Panther film series with Peter Sellers.

Powell and his producer, Don Sharp, asked Edwards if he had any ideas for a vehicle for Powell. Edwards said he did (a lie), and went home to write what would become the pilot for Richard Diamond, Private Detective. In Edwards’ original script, Diamond was a former OSS agent; he would evolve into an ex-cop. One trait he would retain as the script evolved was that Diamond was as quick with a quip as he was with his fists. This played to Powell’s natural comedic strengths, and it helped to give the show a unique voice in the sea of detective programs from the era. Unlike other radio shamuses, Diamond would keep up a friendly relationship with his old colleagues on the force - Lt. Walt Levinson, his former partner; and the oafish Sgt. Otis Ludlum, the long-suffering butt of Diamond’s jokes. Diamond flirted with every skirt that came through his office door, but he only had eyes for his Park Avenue girlfriend, Helen Asher. Shows would often close at her apartment, where Diamond would sum up his case and (in a nod to Powell’s old career) Helen might coax him to do a little singing.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC on April 24, 1949. Powell was supported by Virginia Gregg as Helen; Ed Begley as Levinson; and Wilms Herbert doing double duty as Sgt. Otis and as Helen’s butler, Francis. Joseph Kearns, Peggy Webber, Bill Johnstone, Jack Kruschen, and other West Coast actors filled out the cast. Later in the show’s run, Frances Robinson would take over the role of Helen, and Ted de Corsia, Arthur Q. Bryan (Elmer Fudd), and Alan Reed (Fred Flinstone) would rotate in and out as Levinson.

The show ran without a sponsor for the first year before being picked up by the Rexall Drug Company (“Good health to all from Rexall!”) in June 1950. In January 1951, the show switched networks and picked up Camel cigarettes as its new sponsor. The show took its final bow on June 27, 1952 (although repeats popped up in the summer of 1953). Powell pulled the plug on the show as he entered a third phase of his career as a successful director and producer.

It was in this capacity that Powell brought Richard Diamond to television in 1957 for a four-season run starring David Janssen in the title role, minus the crooning of the radio series. Janssen would later star as Dr. Richard Kimble on The Fugitive. The Diamond TV show is perhaps best known today for its character of Diamond’s secretary, Sam, who was only shown from the waist down to show off her legs. The first actress to furnish Sam’s legs was a young Mary Tyler Moore.

In honor of his anniversary, here are ten of my favorite Richard Diamond radio adventures. Sit back and enjoy some sleuthing and singing with Dick Powell and company in these sensational stories.

"The Lillian Baker Case" - This one is a good showcase for Diamond's girlfriend Helen Asher, who gets to take a rare role in the case of the week. At a department store, Helen witnesses an elderly woman shoplifting. It turns out she's a wealthy eccentric, and later that afternoon she dies - allegedly after leaping from her balcony. (9/3/49)

"The Jerome J. Jerome Case" - Joseph Kearns plays the titular eccentric character - a man who claims to be a millionaire, a genius inventor, and a private detective. He wants to partner with Diamond, but as soon as the gumshoe tries to dismiss him it turns out the kook may have information about an actual murder. (9/17/49)

"The Louis Spence Case" - An unusual, but very exciting, episode finds Diamond racing against time to save his old friend Lt. Walt Levinson. A deranged bomber has escaped from prison, and he's taken the lieutenant hostage. Unless the mayor jumps to his death from city hall within the hour, the bomber will blow the precinct - and Walt - to kingdom come. (3/5/50)

"The Statue of Kali" - It's Richard Diamond's version of The Maltese Falcon (complete with Paul Frees doing his best Sydney Greenstreet). An ivory statue is delivered to Diamond by a dying man, and it's being hunted by nefarious characters from all around the world. (4/5/50)

"The Martha Campbell Kidnap Case" - Diamond is hired to deliver the ransom when a wealthy woman is kidnapped, but both he and the lady's nephew are knocked out, the ransom money is taken, and the kidnap victim is killed. Rick has to use some creativity and theatricality to figure out what happened. (7/26/50)

"The Oklahoma Cowboy Murder Case" - Diamond trades the bright lights of the big city for the clear skies of the plains in this episode that was later adapted as an episode of Peter Gunn. Rick heads west to investigate a suspicious death - a wealthy rancher who expired when he fell from his horse. (9/27/50)

"The Cover-Up Murders" - Rick and Walt partner again when a serial killer stalks the city. Part of his MO is to call the police and boast that he'll kill someone that night at eight o'clock. But what appears to be random madness may have a clear motive, and it's up to Diamond to stop the killings before more bodies drop. (11/22/50)

"Blue Serge Suit" - Jim Backus (later Mr. Howell on Gilligan's Island) is Diamond's new client - a tailor whose supply of blue serge is raided and stolen by intruders. When Diamond's own suit is snatched, he's on the trail of a gang of spies. (2/9/51)

"Lady in Distress" - A beautiful woman hires Diamond, and then she drops dead in his office. With nothing to go on - he didn't even know her name - Rick takes the case and tries to learn what had her so scared and what led to her death. It's a story that was recycled quite a few times. Jeff Regan and Johnny Dollar both solved variations of this script, but the Richard Diamond version is my favorite. (2/23/51)

"The Red Rose" - In another story later reworked as a TV episode of Peter Gunn, Diamond is hired to keep a client alive. The man hired a hit man to do away with himself, but he's had a change of heart. Unfortunately, the hit man is a committed professional and he intends to finish the job. (3/2/51)

Check out this episode!

#old time radio #golden age of radio

9 notes · View notes

citizenscreen · 7 years

Text

Since I’m spending the day listening to New York City private detective Mike Hammer on the radio it’s only fair that I should share some good, old-fashioned noir with you.

As you probably know, Mike Hammer – as hard-boiled and treacherous a P.I. as there ever was – was the creation of Brooklyn-born pulp novelist, Mickey Spillane (March 9, 1918 – July 17, 2006). Hammer was introduced in Spillane’s 1947 novel I, the Jury, which reportedly took him just six days to complete. I, the Jury was adapted for the screen in 1953 with a vehicle directed by Harry Essex and starring Biff Elliot as Mike Hammer.

Spillane

Mickey Spillane’s critics were many with the majority condemning the extent of the violence in his stories. Here’s what Spillane thought about that…

“Those big-shot writers could never dig the fact that there are more salted peanuts consumed than caviar.”

I was quite surprised to read how often that was true although I’m familiar with the fact that Mike Hammer takes no prisoners…

“I don’t want to arrest anyone. I just want to shoot somebody.” — Mike Hammer in I, the Jury

Fortunately for Mickey Spillane audiences loved his stories – critics be damned – and Spillane’s books were instant best sellers. Some sites list him as one of the best-selling mystery writers of all time. So, it’s no surprise that Hollywood came calling in 1953, at the height of Hammer’s popularity. Several more movies would follow with Robert Aldrich’s Kiss Me Deadly (1955) starring Ralph Meeker as an enjoyable, particularly bitter, no holds barred Mike Hammer being my favorite of the bunch. TV’s fascination with Hammer would last through the 1990s with three series and numerous made-for-TV movies featuring the famous detective produced.

Today we focus on radio, however, and The Hammer Guy series, which made its debut the same year Mike Hammer made it to the movies. Compared to Spillane’s novels, The Hammer Guy is tame, but still quite enjoyable. The series was not written by Mickey Spillane, however, but by Ed Adamson who wrote for some of the best Western and crime TV shows since the mid-1950s. Given that each episode of The Hammer Guy is only a half-hour long, I think you’ll find the stories satisfyingly gritty if you go for that sort of thing, which I do. It’s really a shame the series only last from January through October 1953, probably due to the fact it had to compete with the wonder of television.

I won’t delay any longer in showcasing episodes of The Hammer Guy, but I do want to spotlight the actors who I think will impress you. Larry Haines, whose face you might recognize as Speed, one of Oscar and Felix’s poker-playing friends in Gene Saks’ The Odd Couple (1968), is terrific as Mike Hammer. Haines’ voice is perfectly suited for the back alleys and smoke-swirled rooms that come alive as you listen to these stories. Ted De Corsia replaced Haines and did a decent job with Hammer, but (for me) some of the grittiness was lost.

Although she’s best remembered for comedic roles or as Palmolive’s Madge, Jan Miner plays it heavy as one of the most memorable broads of any noir radio series I’ve ever listened to. Richard Lewis was the director of the series. Lewis had experience from such memorable radio series as The Falcon and Murder and Mr. Malone, both of which I highly recommend.

The Hammer Guy aired on The Mutual Network, but take a look at the following mentions in Billboard Magazine, which suggest a somewhat unsteady road for the series before it landed at Mutual:

Billboard announcement of March 8, 1952

Spillane auditions – 1952 – note the “sex and slaughter” notation referencing Spillane’s writing

Billboard magazine announcement of That Hammer Guy as part of the Mutual lineup for 1953

Now, enjoy That Hammer Guy from “The Mickey Spillane Mysteries”

“The Laura Fenton Case”

https://ia800306.us.archive.org/14/items/ThatHammerGuy_385/15TheLauraFentonCaseapril141953.mp3

“Contract on a Dead Man”

https://ia800306.us.archive.org/14/items/ThatHammerGuy_385/18ContractOnADeadManmay51953.mp3

“The Barney Miller Syndicate”

https://ia800306.us.archive.org/14/items/ThatHammerGuy_385/TheBarneyMillerSyndicate1953.mp3

“The Dead Dame in the Park”

https://ia800306.us.archive.org/14/items/ThatHammerGuy_385/TheDeadDameInThePark1953larryHaines.mp3

“The Jim Gordon Case”

https://ia800306.us.archive.org/14/items/ThatHammerGuy_385/TheJimGordonCase1953.mp3

“The Wakefield Dame”

https://ia800306.us.archive.org/14/items/ThatHammerGuy_385/TheWakefieldDame1953.mp3

“Velda’s Brother”

https://ia800306.us.archive.org/14/items/ThatHammerGuy_385/VeldasBrother1953.mp3

Wait…there was a Mike Hammer comic too…

Mickey Spillane created the character of Mike Danger…

Mike Danger

…who later became Mike Hammer…

…and the rest is down and dirty history.

Mickey Spillane and “That Hammer Guy” Radio Noir Since I'm spending the day listening to New York City private detective Mike Hammer on the radio it's only fair that I should share some good, old-fashioned noir with you.

#Film Noir #Jan Miner #Larry Haines #Mickey Spillane #Mike Hammer #Old-Time Radio Noir #Radio Noir #Red De Corsia #Richard Lewis #That Hammer Guy

0 notes

ultra-dangerousstrawberrybouquet · 6 years

Link

Si è conclusa pochi istanti fa la sfida fra il Manchester Joined e il Liverpool, uno dei huge match della trentesima giornata della Head Alliance.

Alla fine l’ha spuntata lo Joined together, che ha ottenuto così I tre punti. I Red Villains fanno praticamente tutto nella prima mezz’ora di gioco, con il gioiellino d’attacco Rashford che trova due gol (al 14esimo e al 24esimo), chiudendo così il primo beat con il doppio vantaggio. Nella seconda frazione di gioco il Liverpool accorcia le distanze al 66esimo con autorete di Bailly e I Reds a quel punto ci credono, chiudendo gli avversari nella propria metà campo. Peccato però che la squadra di Klopp, nonostante I cambi e l’inserimento di giocatori sempre più offensivi non sia riuscita a trovare la rete che avrebbe riequilibrato la gara, complice anche un fortification perfettamente attuato da José Mourinho nel finale di coordinate. Grazie a questo successo, il Manchester (secondo) deal a share 65, a 13 lunghezze di distanza dal City che però ha una partita in meno. Liverpool invece sempre terzo, a standard 60, mama con il Tottenham che potrebbe superarlo in caso di vittoria in trasferta col Bournemouth. (aggiornamento di Davide Giancristofaro)

IL LIVERPOOL ACCORCIA LE DISTANZE

E’ ricominciata la sfida fra il Manchester Joined e il Liverpool, e attualmente, quando siamo an around il 67esimo minuto di gioco, la partita si trova sul risultato di due reti an uno in favore dei padroni di casa dei Red Demons. Alle due marcature siglate dal gioiello Rashford al 14esimo e al 24esimo, ha replicato pochi istanti fa… Bailly. Proprio così perché il calciatore dei Diavoli Rossi ha colpito male un cross effettuato dalla sinistra da parte di Mané, mandando la palla in rete e beffando De Gea. Gara riaperta dopo questo clamoroso errore difensivo dello Joined together. In questa seconda frazione di gioco, Reds decisamente più in palla, ed entrati in campo con l’obiettivo di provare a riequilibrare la gara. Il primo brivido corso dallo Joined è arrivato al 48esimo minuto di gioco, con il difensore centrale Van Dijk, che ha colpito di testa, mama la palla ha sorvolato di poco la traversa, adagiandosi sulla rete. Al 55esimo, poi, protesta Liverpool per un tocco di mano in region di rigore di Valencia: l’arbitro lascia correre mama il rigore poteva starci. Appuntamento al termine del coordinate per l’ultimo aggiornamento sulla sfida fra Joined e Liverpool. (aggiornamento di Davide Giancristofaro)

FINITO IL PRIMO Beat

E’ terminato poco fa uno scoppiettante primo beat della sfida fra il Manchester Joined e il Liverpool. All’Old Trafford le due squadre sono rientrate negli spogliatoi sul risultato di due reti a zero in favore dei padroni di casa guidati da José Mourinho. Protagonista indiscusso di questa prima frazione di gioco, il gioiello d’attacco Rashford, che prima ha portato in vantaggio I suoi al 14esimo, per poi raddoppiare al 24esimo: ancora una volta l’azione è partita dai piedi di Lukaku, che ha appoggiato per la corrente Mata, con palla che é arrivata proprio al giovane inglese, che ha così trovato la doppietta personale. Manchester Joined che è andata addirittura vicina a segnare il terzo gol, questa volta con Mata, che ha colpito in semirovesciata al centro region, da solo, mama la palla non ha trovato lo specchio della porta. Lo spagnolo si è mangiato una ghiotta occasione. Il Liverpool non è stato a guardare, a provato a creare qualche occasione pericolosa, mama fino advertisement ora non è mai riuscito a far venire I brividi ai Diavoli Rossi. Appuntamento a dopo la pausa fra il primo e il secondo rhythm per un nuovo aggiornamento su Joined Liverpool. (aggiornamento di Davide Giancristofaro)

VANTAGGIO Joined together!

E’ iniziata 22 minuti fa, la sfida fra il Manchester Joined e il Liverpool, il piatto strong point di questa nuova giornata del campionato inglese, la Chief Alliance 2017-2018. La compagine di casa si è già portata in vantaggio, precisamente al 14esimo minuto di gioco, grazie a Rashford. Bella sponda di Lukaku per il 20enne della nazionale inglese, che salta Alexander-Arnold e batte Karios: uno a zero for each I Diavoli Rossi di Mourinho. Liverpool che ha cercato di reagire di lì a poco, precisamente al 18esimo minuto, con bella palla di Firmino per Mané, mama quest’ultimo non ci è arrivato di poco di testa: sarebbe stato semi sicuramente il gol del pareggio. Fino a qui, il Manchester Joined ha avuto il pallino del gioco, mama da quando è andato in svantaggio, il Liverpool ha iniziato a farsi vedere con maggiore frequenza dalle parti di De Gea. Appuntamento al termine della prima frazione di gioco per un nuovo aggiornamento sulla sfida fra Joined e Liverpool. (aggiornamento di Davide Giancristofaro)

DIRETTA MANCHESTER Joined LIVERPOOL (RISULTATO LIVE 0-0)

Sta per avere inizio la sfida tra Manchester Joined e Liverpool e mentre le formazioni della sfida di Head Group stanno per toll il loro ingresso in campo all’Old Trafford andiamo un po’ a curiosare nello storico che lega questi due club Ovviamente il bilancio generale dei precedenti sarebbe cosa complicata: basti ricordare che solo dalla fondazione della Chief Class I testa a testa registrati sono stati ben 51. In tutto quindi si contano 27 successi per I Red demons e 13 affermazioni dei Reds. L’ultimo scontro diretto tra Manchester Joined e Liverpool registrato in campionato risale ovviamente al girone di andata della stagione in corso: promotion Anfield lo scorso 14 ottobre il risultato fu di 0-0. Curiosamente allora fu il terzo pareggio di seguito segnato tra I due club. Nella precedente stagione del campionato inglese I due scontri diretti tra Manchester joined e Liverpool terminarono entrambi con un pareggio: a reti bianche all’andata e per 1-1 in casa dei Red demons al ritorno. Diamo quindi ora la parola al campo: si gioca! (agg Michela Colombo)

Information Gushing VIDEO E DIRETTA television, COME SEGUIRE IL MATCH

La diretta television del coordinate tra Manchester Joined Liverpool sarà offerta dalla piattaforma di Sky: appuntamento quindi al canale 204 del satellite, Fox Games HD. Segnaliamo quindi che tutti gli abbonati Sky potranno anche seguire la diretta gushing video della sfida di Head Alliance attesa alle metal 13.30 tramite l’app dedicata Sky Go.

L’ARBITRO

Come abbiamo visto prima, la partita tra Manchester Joined e Liverpool sarà diretta dal fischietto inglese Craig Pawson, che in questa particolare occasione della Chief Class verrà coadiuvato nella direzione dai due assistenti Gary Beswick e Diminish Kirkup, con Martin Atkinson quarto uomo del coordinate. Sulla carta Pawson è certamente l’uomo giusto per dirigere un coordinate di story importanza: arbitro Fifa dal 2015 il fischietto di South Yorkshire in stagione ha messo a bilancio ben 30 presenze tra campionato inglese, tornei europei e appuntamenti con le nazionali: in 19 direzioni di Head Class Pawson ha messo a tabella 72 cartellini gialli, 5 rossi (di cui due diretti) e ha concesso anche 5 calci di rigore. Considerando poi la sua carriera vediamo che il fischietto inglese ha registrato ben 14 precedenti con il Manchester Joined together (diretto anche in finale del Group Shield contro il Leicester l’anno scorso: 16 I testa a testa a bilancio con il Liverpool. (agg Michela Colombo)

ORARIO E PRESENTAZIONE PARTITA

Manchester Joined Liverpool, diretta dall’arbitro Craig Pawson è in programma sabato 10 marzo 2018 alle metal 13.30, e sarà il coordinate che aprirà ufficialmente la trentesima giornata della Head Class inglese. Enormous match in Head Alliance alle spalle del Manchester City, blade qui dominatore della stagione e avviato verso un titolo inglese che difficilmente potrà finire in mani various. Con l’ultima grande rimonta sul campo del Precious stone Castle, il Manchester Joined si è ripreso il secondo posto in classifica che time stato momentaneamente occupato dal Liverpool. I Reds pareggiando in Champions Class promotion Anfield zero a zero contro il Porto hanno staccato il biglietto per I quarti di finale della massima competizione europea, risultato notevole che ha portato a sette I risultati utili consecutivi per la squadra di Jurgen Klopp. Il Liverpool aveva d’altronde ipotecato il passaggio del turno con il cinque a zero ottenuto in Portogallo, ed ora punta a blindare la qualificazione alla prossima Champions Group, prendendosi il secondo posto su un campo dove non vince da quattro anni esatti.

LE PROBABILI FORMAZIONI

All’Old Trafford di Manchester scenderanno in campo queste probabili formazioni. Padroni di casa dello Joined schierati con lo spagnolo De Gea in porta, l’ecuadoregno Valencia esterno destro difensivo e Ashley Youthful esterno sinistro, mentre I due difensori centrali saranno Smalling e lo svedese Lindelof. Terzetto di centrocampo composto dal serbo Matic, dallo scozzese McTominay e dal francese Pogba, mentre nel tridente offensivo partiranno dal primo minuto Rashford, il cileno Sanchez e il belga Romelu Lukaku. Risponderà il Liverpool col portiere tedesco Karius alle spalle di una difesa a quattro schierata dalla corsia laterale di destra alla corsia laterale di sinistra rispettivamente con Alexander-Arnold, il croato Lovren, l’olandese Van Dijk e lo scozzese Robertson. A centrocampo il capitano Henderson sarà affiacato dal tedesco di origine turca Emre Would e be able to da Oxlade-Chamberlain, in attacco spazio nel tridente al senegalese Mané, al brasiliano Firmino e all’egiziano Salah.

Statement E PRONOSTICO

Le quote sono equilibratissime, equivalenti secondo I bookmaker per la vittoria interna dello Joined together, proposta a 2.68 da Unibet, e per il successo in trasferta dei Reds quotato 2.75 da William Slope. Bwin offre invece a 3.25 la standard relativa al pareggio. Per le quote per I gol realizzati, Bet365 propone le quote per l’over 2.5 e l’under 2.5 rispettivamente a 1.89 e 1.94.

L'articolo DIRETTA / Manchester United vs Liverpool (risultato finale 2-1): vincono i Red Devils! proviene da World Trending News.

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes