Terry and the Pirates was a radio serial adapted from the comic strip of the
same name created in 1934 by Milton Caniff. When the late afternoon series
began, it was heard three times a week, sponsored by Dari-Rich, airing on
NBC Red Network from November 1, 1937 to June 1, 1938. It switched to
NBC Blue Network on September 26, 1938, continuing until March 22, 1939.
Absent from the airwaves for over two years, it returned shortly before the
Attack on Pearl Harbor, heard in the Midwestern United States on the
Chicago Tribune‘s WGN. That series, sponsored by Libby’s, aired five
days a week from October 16, 1941 to May 29, 1942. Ratings began to
drop in the post-WWII period until the final episode on June 30, 1948.
The central character, Terry Lee, was portrayed at various times by Jackie
Kelk, Cliff Carpenter, Owen Jordan, and Bill Fein. Terry’s buddy Pat Ryan
was played by Bud Collyer, Warner Anderson, Bob Griffin, and Larry
Alexander.
Jackie Daly Kelk
(August 6, 1923 – September 5, 2002)
