The Shadow (1930-1954)

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Here's a brief history of The Shadow I wrote in the eigth grade. I have corrected a few major grammar errors, but otherwise, this is how I turned it in to my English teacher several years ago. As far as I know, all the information is still accurate. Enjoy!
---Bryan Wright

THE SHADOW
(1930-1954)

“Who knows...what evil...lllllurks....in the hearts of men?...The Shadow knows!!!!!!” The music came up - a spine tingling version of Omphale’s “Spinning Wheel,” and the show began.

On Thursday, July 31, 1930 - 9:40PM, listeners tuned to CBS heard the first radio appearance of THE SHADOW, when James La Curto appeared as the Shadow on the DETECTIVE STORY HOUR, which was sponsored by Street and Smith, the publishing company that published THE SHADOW MAGAZINE, A DETECTIVE MONTHLY. In 1931, Blue Coal became the sponsor, though they would drop the show several times, they’d always come back, and until 1949, they were the main sponsor of THE SHADOW.

In October, 1932, DETECTIVE STORY HOUR moved to NBC (National Broadcasting Company), with Frank Readick as the Shadow.

September 26, 1937 was the biggest turning point for THE SHADOW when the program moved to MBS (Mutual Broadcasting System) and picked up a new format with the show “The Death House Rescue.” Up until this point, the Shadow had served only as the narrator, but on this day, with radio genius Orson Welles as the Shadow, the Shadow was heard as a part of the drama. It was also then that the character, Lamont Cranston was introduced.

“The Shadow, Lamont Cranston, a man of wealth, a student of science, and a master of other people’s minds devotes his life to righting wrong, protecting the innocent, and punishing the guilty. Cranston is known to the underworld as The Shadow, never seen, only heard. His true identity is known only to his constant friend and aid, Margo Lane.” explains Ken Roberts, the announcer on a 1937 broadcast of THE SHADOW. In later broadcasts, we are told that Lamont Cranston is an amateur criminologist and years ago in the Orient he learned the power to cloud men’s minds so that they could not see him. He aids local police in solving cases that were too tough for them, even sometimes against their will.

During the first year, The Shadow was played by Orson Welles, however, throughout the run of the show, two other actors, Bill Johnstone, and Bret Morrison were the Shadow (John Archer played the role for a brief time). Actors such as Agnes Moorehead, Majorie Anderson, Gertrude Warner, Grace Matthews, and Lesley Woods played Margo Lane.

Every week, Cranston/The Shadow faced a new villain, from ghosts to burglars, from lunatics to werewolves to mad scientists to murderers, he got them all, and each week, he won the battle against crime.

On December 26, 1954, THE SHADOW came to an end. After seventeen years of being one of the most listened to radio dramas in the U.S. it ended with “Murder By The Sea.” However during the nostalgia boom of the late 1960s and 1970s, THE SHADOW was resyndicated and was popular all over again.

After a frightening, suspenseful 30 minutes each week, the Shadow brought the message to its listeners... “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit... crime does not pay... The Shadow knows!!!!”

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Please e-mail me with any comments, questions,
suggestions, or corrections: bswrig@wm.edu