Claire Trevor with Edward G. Robinson


Ona Munson with Robinson in 1941

Big Town first aired on CBS from October 19, 1937 to June 25, 1952. Edward
G. Robinson had the lead role of crusading newspaper editor Steve Wilson
from 1937 till 1942. Clair Trevor played Wilson’s sidekick with Ona Munson
taking over the role in 1940. The show was written by ex-newspaperman
Jerry McGill. It was rated No. 1 among the r reporter-type drama series
on radio. Big Town w as also rated in the top 15 among all radio programs
broadcast and had a listenership of between 10 and 20 million people. Show
sponsors were Isronized Yeast, Bayer Asprin, and Lifeboy Soap.The original
announcer was Carlton KaDell (below). 

Carlton KaDell

The radio drama Big Town was later adapted to both film
and television as well as a comic book published by DC
Comics (shown above).