The Whistler was one of radio's most popular mystery
dramas, playing from 1942 until 1955. The Whistler was sponsored
by the Signal Oil Company: "Let that whistle be your signal for
the Signal Oil program, The Whistler." The writing was first class
for its genre, and it added a slightly macabre element of humor
to its often-paranoid crime stories.
At night the Whistler would begin his ominous narration:
I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by
night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts
of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know
the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak.
The stories follow an effective formula in which a person's criminal
acts were typically undone by their own stupidity. Ironic twist
endings were common, as they had been on the show that most obviously
influenced it, The Shadow. The Whistler narrated, often commenting
directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting
the criminal from an omniscient perspective. The Whistler seldom
featured any major Hollywood stars, but the quality of writing and
performance made it a radio mainstay.
This collection of The Whister Greats includes 410 different shows
and appearances for a total of 194+ hours of listening enjoyment.
This product is a DVD collection of Old Time Radio mp3s. It is
designed to be played on your computer DVD drive with standard mp3
software - like Windows media player or its equivalent on Macintosh
computers. The mp3 files on the DVDs can be copied onto CDs for
play in your car stereo, home entertainment center, etc so you can
take your favorite shows with you anywhere you go.
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