Bennett Kilpac

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons was a 15-minute serial that was one of radio’s
longest running shows, from (October 12, 1937 to April 19, 1955). It aired on the
NBC Blue network until 1947, when it switched to CBS. The program was produced
by Frank and Anne Hummert. Mr. Keen and Mike Clancy were primarily homicide detectives. Bennett Kilpac (above) was the longest-running Mr. Keen; Philip Clarke
took over late in the run. and Jim Kelly was Mike Clancy. The series sponsors
included Whitehall Pharmacal Company, Dentyne, Aerowax, RCA Victor and
Chesterfield cigarettes.

     
      Tim Maguire

    
                                                                                                 Don Ameche

Betty and Bob was the first widely popular daytime serial soap opera that began on
the NBC Blue network. It was created by the  producer-couple Anne and Frank
Hummert. and ran until 1940. The series originally starred Elizabeth Reller as
Betty and Don Ameche as Bob Drake. The cast underwent a number of changes
during its 8-year run. There were eight different Bob’s and five different Betty’s. It
was sponsored by General Mills. The theme song was “Salute d’Amour".
 

Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the 
DuPont Company. It documented historical events using stories of individual
courage, initiative and achievement, but It occasionally presented a musical
program. The series was originally broadcast on CBS radio until 1953. The
show pioneered the use of anthology drama

The Kate Hopkins 15-minute radio drama Angel of Mercy was heard for the first
time on CBS radio. It was written by Chester McCraken and Gertrude Berg, writer
and Emmy Award-winning actress of The Goldbergs. The title character was
played by Margaret MacDonald, Tom Hopkins, Kate’s husband, was played
by eventual Beat the Clock host Clayton ‘Bud’ Collyer. Ralph Edwards of future
This is Your Life fame was the announcer for the shows four year run. Maxwell
House coffee was the sponsor.

Bud Collyer

 

     Ralph Edwards