Best of Classic Radio 09-20-26 - Postal Pirates, Fog, and The FU

Wyatt Cox (0:00)

Thanks for being with us on this Sunday edition of Classic Radio Theater, the best of Classic Radio Theater. And we'll be getting back to our regular shows here pretty quick.

This is a Tuesday episode of the program from 2022

And we'll have episodes of Counterspy, Don Maclaughlin and Mandel Kramer, The Case of the Postal Pirates. You're going to like this one. The Whistler and The Fog. I have an episode of Claudia. We'll have Gunsmoke. William Conrad and The FU.

And we'll also have part four of a five part Yours Truly Johnny Dollar story, The Imperfect Alibi Matter. That's all coming up straight ahead right here on the best of Classic Radio Theater.

SPEAKER_2 (0:55)

Now, the greatest radio shows of all time.

SPEAKER_3 (0:59)

Suspense, The Shadow Node, Washington Calling, David Harding, Counterspy, Classic Radio Theater, The Great Gilded Slave, Fibber McGee and Molly, Dragnet, Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger.

SPEAKER_2 (1:13)

Now, step back into a time machine with your host, Wyatt Cox.

SPEAKER_4 (1:19)

Good evening, friends of the NSNC.

Wyatt Cox (1:22)

And on this Tuesday, we go back 73 years to a Tuesday, September 20th, 1949, an episode of Counterspy, the fictionalized depiction of the FBI, starring Don Maclaughlin and Mandel Kramer. The Case of the Postal Pirates, another two-part episode of Counterspy, as they are investigating a parcel post theft ring. And we thank you for tuning in. On this Tuesday, this is the 20th day of September, 263rd day of the year, 102 days remaining in the year. This is the birthdate of Marty Lundy. Although you may not know him by that name. And this is also the birthday of twins Matthew and Gunnar. The singing duo has a famous father, who himself was a child star. Do you know who they are?

In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan sent sail from Sanlucar de Arameda with about 270 men on his expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Chester A. Arthur inaugurated as President Number 21 in 1881

In 1891, the first gasoline-powered car debuted in Springfield, Massachusetts. James Meredith, an African-American, barred from entering the University of Mississippi in 1962 More civil rights, don't you know? Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs on this date in 1973 in a $100,000 winner-take-all Battle of the Sexes tennis match.

SPEAKER_5 (3:04)

And so, this is what it's come down to here in the Houston Astrodome. The long-awaited match, hustled and promoted ceaselessly and truly by Bobby Riggs. Excitement engendered all over the country as Billie Jean hucked her husband Larry King. It began to become a cause of celebration, equality for women, equal rights. It was Billie Jean who fought for equal pay for women in the US. Open Tennis Tournament and got it.

All of the women of America, or at least most of them, seemed to be caught up with the anticipation of this match.

Wyatt Cox (3:41)

Battle of the Sexes in the Houston Astrodome on this date in 1973 Oh, and it was on this date also in 1973, another sporting item, as Say Hey Willie Mays said goodbye to baseball. Mays had spent almost all of his 22-season career playing for the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility, 660 home runs, third at the time of his retirement, currently fifth all time, and won a record-tying 12 Golden Glove Awards beginning in 1957 when the award was first introduced. Lee Iacocca was named President of the Chrysler Corporation on this date in 1979, a suicide bomber in a car attack on the US. Embassy in Beirut in 1984, 12 people killed, the final performance of the musical Cats on Broadway in 2000

In 2007, between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters marked on General Louisiana in support of six black youths who had been convicted of assaulting a white classmate. In 2011, the military ended its Don't Ask, Don't Tell policies allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time.

Among those passing away on this date in history, Jim Croce, taken from as far too soon in a plane crash, he was just 40 Also, pianist, composer, conductor Paul Weston, actress, singer Polly Bergen, and Jimmy Olsen in TV's first Superman television program, I should say. Jack Larson, all passing away on this date. Upton Sinclair, born on this date, as was basketball coach, executive Red Auerbach. Gogi Grant, the wayward wind, is a restless wind. What a fine singer she was. Dr. Joyce Brothers and comic actress Anne Mira.

This is birthday number 88 for the lovely Italian actress Sofia Loren. Game of Thrones novelist George RR. Martin is 74