The Falcon
GenreMystery-detective drama
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Syndicates
  • Blue Network
  • Mutual
  • NBC
Starring
  • Berry Kroeger
  • James Meighan
  • Les Tremayne
  • Les Damon
  • George Petrie
Announcer
  • Ed Herlihy
  • Jack Costello
Written by
  • Gene Wang
  • Bernard Dougall
  • Jay Bennett
Directed by
  • Carlo De Angelo
  • Richard Lewis
  • Stuart Buchanan
Produced byBernard L. Schubert
Original releaseApril 10, 1943 –
November 27, 1954
Sponsored by

The Falcon radio series premiered on the Blue Network on April 10, 1943, continuing on NBC and Mutual until November 27, 1954.[1] Some 70 episodes were produced.

Background

"Drexel Drake" (a pseudonym of Charles H. Huff) created Michael Waring, alias the Falcon, a free-lance investigator and troubleshooter, in his 1936 novel, The Falcon's Prey. It was followed by two more novels (The Falcon Cuts In, 1937 and The Falcon Meets a Lady, 1938) and a 1938 short story. In 1941, RKO Radio Pictures launched a Falcon movie series, but that was based on a different character (Gay Lawrence) by a different author (Michael Arlen). Only the popularity of the film series prompted the radio series; the film and radio series were otherwise unrelated. The radio series was based on the Drexel Drake character. No explanation for the nickname was ever mentioned in any of the dramatizations.

The Michael Waring Falcon was also the hero in three late 1940s movies starring John Calvert, and a television series starring Charles McGraw.[2]

Characters and story

James Meighan portrayed the Falcon from 1945 to 1947.
Ken Lynch and Les Damon in a broadcast of The Falcon

Like the Falcon film series, the radio plots mixed danger, romance and comedy in equal parts. Each show began with a telephone ringing and Michael Waring, the Falcon, answering the phone. Speaking with a woman whose voice was never heard, Waring would explain that he had an urgent situation in which he had to deal with criminals. This led into the standard opening, followed by the week's tale of adventure. Often, incompetent police were unable to solve the mysteries without his help.

Actors

The program's characters and the actors who played them are indicated in the table below.

CharacterActor
The Falcon
(Michael Waring)		Berry Kroeger (1943)
James Meighan (1945–47)
Les Tremayne (1947–1950)
Les Damon (1950–1953)
George Petrie (1953–1954)
NancyJoan Banks
Elspeth Eric
Joan Alexander
Sergeant Johnny GleasonMandel Kramer
Sergeant CorbettKen Lynch

Source (except for years): Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows[3]

Those heard in supporting roles included Robert Dryden, Ethel Everett and Everett Sloane.[4] Russ Dunbar and Ed Herlihy were the announcers. The organist was Bob Hamilton, with Emerson Buckley and Harry Sosnik as orchestra leaders. Bernarld L. Schubert was the producer.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 239–240. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  2. ↑ Smith, Kevin Burton; "The Falcon (Michael Waring, Gay Stanhope Falcon, Gay Lawrence, Tom Lawrence)"
  3. 1 2 Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. pp. 112–113
  4. ↑ Cox, Jim (2002). Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland. pp. 32–34. ISBN 978-1476612270. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
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