Counterspy (radio series)
| Other names | David Harding, Counterspy |
|---|---|
| Genre | Spy drama |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | Blue Network/ABC NBC Mutual |
| Starring | Don MacLaughlin |
| Announcer | Roger Krupp Bob Shepherd |
| Creator(s) | Phillips H. Lord |
| Writer(s) | Milton J. Kramer Stanley Niss Emile C. Tepperman |
| Director(s) | Bill Sweets Marx Loeb Leonard Bass Robert Steen Victor Seydel |
| Producer(s) | Phillips H. Lord |
| Air dates | May 18, 1942 to November 29, 1957 |
Counterspy was an espionage drama radio series that aired on the NBC Blue Network (later the ABC) and Mutual from May 18, 1942 to November 29, 1957.[1]
David Harding (played by Don MacLaughlin) was the chief of the United States Counterspies, a unit engaged during World War II in counterintelligence against Japan's Black Dragon and Germany's Gestapo.[2] United States Counterspies was a fictional government agency devised by the program's creator, Phillips H. Lord after Lord "had a certain amount of difficulty with J. Edgar Hoover over story content in Gang Busters."[3] Mandel Kramer played Peters, Harding's assistant.[4]
The program's plots progressed through three phases. During World War II they involved "threats from the Axis powers."[5] After the war ended, Cold War threats took precedence. In the third phase, "they addressed all manner of illegal activities.[5]
Scriptwriters for the series included Milton J. Kramer, Emile C. Tepperman and Stanley Niss.[1]
Contents
Adaptations
The radio drama was adapted to film twice, as David Harding, Counterspy (July 1950) and as Counterspy Meets Scotland Yard (November 1950). Both Columbia Pictures productions starred Howard St. John in the title role.[5]
An unsuccessful pilot for a television version of Counterspy was produced in England in 1958, with Don Megowan as David Harding.[3] The trade publication Broadcasting also reported on plans of Bernard L. Schubert Inc. to produce 39 episodes of David Harding, Counterspy with Reed Hadley in the title role[6] and Telestar Films' releasing of Counterspy for syndication.[7]
A Spanish version of Counterspy was transmitted to South America via shortwave radio in 1942. An article in Broadcasting reported that commercial were deleted and that the effort was "in cooperation with the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs."[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. P. 181.
- ↑ Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8108-7616-3. Pp. 69-70.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Erickson, Hal (2014). From radio to the big screen: Hollywood films featuring broadcast personalities and programs. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-7757-9. Pp. 253-255.
- ↑ Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. The Viking Press. SBN 670-16240-x. P. 62.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Blottner, Gene (2012). Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926-1955: The Harry Cohn Years. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3353-7. Pp. 80-83.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
Logs
- Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs: Counterspy
- Episodic log of Counterspy from RadioGOLDINdex
- Episodic logs of Counterspy (and more) from The Digital Deli Too
Audio
- Times Past Old Radio: Counterspy
- Script of "Case of the Framed Congressman" episode of Counterspy
- Zoot Radio, free old time radio show downloads of "David Harding Counter Spy"
TV pilots
- Pilot of TV version of David Harding, Counterspy, starring Reed Hadley
- Pilot of TV version of Counterspy starring Don Megowan
