William Bennett Kilpack (February 6, 1883 – August 17, 1962)

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons was one of radio’s longest running shows,
airing October 12, 1937 to April 19, 1955, continuing well into the television
era. It was produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, who based it upon Robert
W. Chambers‘ 1906 novel The Tracer of Lost Persons. The sponsors included
Whitehall Pharmacal (makers of Anacin), Dentyne, Aerowax, RCA Victor and
Chesterfield cigarettes. It aired on the NBC Blue network until 1947, when it
switched to CBS.

Bennett Kilpack (above) began as Mr. Keen in 1937 with Arthur Hughes and
then Phil Clarke stepping into the role later in the series.