Nancy Lyons

Claire Trevor and Edward G. Robinson

Big Town is a popular radio drama series that was broadcast until
1952. Edward Robinson played Steve Wilson, the managing editor 
for Illustrated Press until 1942 when Edward J.Pawley took over for
most of the remaining episodes. Claire Trevor portrayed Lorelei
Kilbourne, a society editor and Wilson’s  sidekick. She was replaced
by Ona Munson in 1940.

Big Town was rated No-one among all of the reporter-type drama
series on radio. It was also rated in the top 15 among all radio
programs broadcast and had a listening audience rated between
10 and 20 million people. The program was later adapted to both
film and television and a comic book published by DC Comics. 

The film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a political comedy-drama, starring
Jean Arthur and James Stewart. It was directed by Frank Capra and written
by Sidney Buchman, based on Lewis R. Foster‘s unpublished story. The
movie was controversial when it was released, but was successful at
the box office, and made Stewart a major movie star. Mr. Smith Goes to
Washington was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning for Best
Original Story.

James Stewart in front of the camera filming a scene for movie

                                     
                                      Tim Maguire

Bob Swanson (May 20, 1942 – Sept. 11, 2001)

The smooth, personable voice of Bob Swanson came to Portland’s KEX (1190 AM)
radio in 1967. He was an important part of his midday listeners daily lives until he
retired in 1994. Shoppers at Fred Meyer and Thriftway stores also heard his “voice
in the ceiling” announcing in-store messages. He also made many local commercials
and was a member of barbershop quartets. Bob left us way too at the age of 59 from
complications related to leukemia. He is still greatly missed!

Bob Swanson (left) with KEX legend Barney Keep back in the “real” 
radio days!