Molle Mystery Theater

Show Information based on John Dunning's book "On The Air" " and www.otrcat.com

Crime drama and mystery; (1943-1953).

Often heard as Mystery Theater and, in spinoffs, as Mark Sabre and as Hearthstone of the Death Squad.

The sponsor of this show, Sterling Drugs, makers of Molle (pronounced MOE-LAY) Shave Cream, used it as a vehicle for advertising. In over a decade, the show went through several incarnations, beginning first as Molle Mystery Theater, then simply Mystery Theater in 1948, as Sterling emphasized Bayer Aspirin and Phillips Milk of Magnesia. Several versions were broadcast in the early 1950's.

As Molle Mystery Theater through 1948, the show centered around the character Geoffrey Barnes, a crime fiction expert and connoisseur who served as host. Bernard Lenrow played Barnes with a suave subtlety that foreshadowed the host of Crime Classics, a fact-based crime show that ran in 1953-54. The Molle Mystery Theater starred some of the best of New York's radio actors, including Joseph Julian, Anne Seymour, and Raymond Edward Johnson (the famous Raymond of the Inner Sanctum Mysteries, and librarian of the Crime Club.) Also occasionally appearing were film stars such as Richard Widmark and Frank Lovejoy (who does a great job as Randy Stone in the radio show Nightbeat.)

The shows were tight and tension filled, with a fine orchestra score and solid production values. They featured "the best in mystery and detective fiction," with tales running from classic (Poe) to modern (Raymond Chandler, etc.). The trademarks were high tension and twist (often shocking) endings.

When it moved in 1948, it was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, who made their name in soap operas. It shortened its name, and sank into melodrama. The Geoffrey Barnes host was kept, but the shows were considered by fans to be less inventive. Alfred Shirley (who also played Watson of Sherlock Holmes) played a new character, Inspector Hearthstone of the Death Squad. Hearthstone was spun off as Hearthstone of the Death Squad, and then in 1951 through 1954, broadcast the continuation of Mystery Theater with a new format. The show was also known as Mark Sabre. Robert Carroll played Inspector Mark Sabre, with James Westerfield as Sgt. Maloney. Again, the Hummerts were in charge, and their style was much more like classic old time radio drama of the 1930's than a crime show airing in the 1950's. Like other Hummert shows, it was replete with stilted dialogue and cardboard characters.

BROADCAST HISTORY:

Sept. 7, 1943-June 25,1948, NBC. 30m, Tuesdays at 9 until July 3, 1945;

resumed Oct. 5, Fridays at 10, 1945-48. Sterling Drugs, Molle Shave Cream.

CAST:

Bernard Lenrow as Geoffrey Barnes, crime fiction connoisseur who introduced the shows.

New York radio actors in lead and supporting roles: Richard Widmark, Joseph Julian, Elspeth Eric,
Frank Lovejoy, Anne Seymour, Raymond Edward Johnson, etc.

ANNOUNCER: Dan Seymour.

ORCHESTRA: Alexander Semmler.

WRITERS: Joseph Ruscoll, etc.

June 29, 1948-June 19, 1951, CBS. 30m, Tuesdays at 8. Mystery Theater.

Sterling Drugs for Bayer Aspirin and Phillips Milk of Magnesia.

CAST: Alfred Shirley as Inspector Hearthstone of the Death Squad,
with many of the same New York actors in support.

PRODUCERS: Frank and Anne Hummert.

Spinoff series: Hearthstone of the Death Squad. Aug. 30, 1951-Sept. 17, 1952, CBS. 30m, various times.

Oct. 3, 1951-June 3G, 1954, ABC. 30m, Wednesdays at 8, 1951-53; at 9:30, 1953-54.

Continuation of Mystery Theater but with a new format, also known as Mark Sabre. Sterling Drugs.

CAST:

Robert Carroll as Inspector Mark Sabre.

James Westerfield as Sergeant Maloney.

PRODUCERS: Frank and Anne Hummert.