Fat Man, The

.

The Fat Man, a popular radio show during the 1940s and early 1950s was a detective drama based on characters by Dashiell Hammett. It starred J. Scott Smart in the title role.

Broadcast from the studios of WJZ in New York, the series premiered on the ABC Radio Network on Monday, January 21, 1946, at 8:30pm, as part of a block of four new programs (I Deal in Crime, Forever Tops, and Jimmy Gleason's Diner). Based on Dashiell Hammett's fiction, The Fat Man was further developed by producer, E.J. ("Mannie") Rosenberg. The program was directed by Clark Andrews, creator of Big Town, and Charles Powers. The main writer was Richard Ellington, with other scripts by Robert Sloane and Lawrence Klee.

The veteran character actor Ed Begley co-starred as Sgt. O'Hara, and the supporting cast included Betty Garde, Paul Stewart, Linda Watkins, Mary Patton as Lila North and Vicki Vola, who was also the female lead in Mr. District Attorney. Amzie Strickland played Runyon's girlfriend Cathy Evans, and Nell Harrison was Runyon's mother during the early episodes. The cast also included Dan Ocko, Rolly Bester (wife of science fiction writer Alfred Bester) and Robert Dryden. An 11-piece orchestra was directed by Bernard Green, who also wrote the program's theme. The sound effects were by Ed Blaney, and the announcers were Charles Irving and sportscaster Gene Kirby (1909-1985).

The success of the radio series led to a movie, The Fat Man (1951), directed by William Castle with a flashback-within-a-flashback storyline. Smart retained his role as detective Brad Runyon, investigating the murder of a Los Angeles dentist with an assist from Bill Norton (Clinton Sundberg). One of the suspects is portrayed by famed Barnum & Bailey clown Emmett Kelly in his screen debut as an actor. Also in the cast are Rock Hudson, Julie London, Parley Baer (uncredited) and Jayne Meadows.

There was also a version made in Australia, syndicated on the Artansa label in 1954 - 1955. The Australian Fat Man was played by Lloyd Burrell.

All US Shows






All Australian Shows







AU LOG

Murder Plays the Horses	1	19/08/1954
Murder Sends a Xmas Card	2	26/08/1954
Murder Runs a Want Ad	3	2/09/1954
Murder Runs A Want Ad	4	9/09/1954
Murder Wears a False Face	5	16/09/1954
Murder Stalks the Dead	6	23/09/1954
Murder Meets an Agent	7	30/09/1954
Murder Missed Out	8	7/10/1954
Murder Takes A Train Journey	9	14/10/1954
Murder In Triplicate	10	21/10/1954
Murder Throough A Crystal	11	28/10/1954
Murder Makes A Hum	12	4/11/1954
Murder Plays A Double	13	11/11/1954
Murder Moves In Circles	14	18/11/1954
Murder And The Peacock	15	25/11/1954
Murder Calls The undertaker	16	2/12/1954
Murder Seeks A Lost Penny	17	9/12/1954
Murder Makes A Statue	18	16/12/1954
Murder Meets A Con Man	19	23/12/1954
Murder Finds Twins	20	30/12/1954
Murder Rings a Bell	21	6/01/1955
Murder Repeats Itself	22	13/01/1955
Murder Rides A Wheelchair	23	20/01/1955
Murder Finds A Coffin	24	27/01/1955
Murder For Sale	25	3/02/1955
Murder By Mail	26	10/02/1955
Murder Makes Am Alibi	27	17/02/1955
Murder in Close	28	24/02/1955
Murder Shows An Unfamiliar Face	29	3/03/1955
Murder Makes The Kings Coffin	30	10/03/1955
Murder Makes the Highest Bid	31	17/03/1955
Murder Finds A Devils Drum	32	24/03/1955
Murder Makes A Black Moon	33	31/03/1955
Murder Blows A Phantom Face	34	7/04/1955
Murder Makes A Silent Partner	35	14/04/1955
Murder Makes Music	36	21/04/1955
Murder Writes A Story	37	28/04/1955
Murder Meets An Uncertain Lady	38	5/05/1955
Murder Shows A Card	39	12/05/1955
Murder Makes The Payoff	40	19/05/1955
Murder Sends A Warning	41	26/05/1955
Murder Calls At Eventide	42	2/06/1955
Murder Seeks A Thousand Dollar Bill	43	9/06/1955
Murder Tells A secret	44	16/06/1955
Murder In The Dark	45	23/06/1955
Murder Shows Eyes In The Dark	46	30/06/1955
Murder Shows A Stolen Heart	47	7/07/1955
Murder Pays A Dividend	48	14/07/1955
Murder Appears Out Of The Pst	49	21/07/1955
Murder Made Stylish	50	28/07/1955
Murder Takes A Picture	51	4/08/1955
Murder Bait	51	18/08/1955
Murder Forecasts Death	52	11/08/1955