The Fat Man, a popular radio show during the 1940s and early 1950s was a detective drama based on characters by Dashiell Hammett. It starred J. Scott Smart in the title role.
Broadcast from the studios of WJZ in New York, the series premiered on the ABC Radio Network on Monday, January 21, 1946, at 8:30pm, as part of a block of four new programs (I Deal in Crime, Forever Tops, and Jimmy Gleason's Diner). Based on Dashiell Hammett's fiction, The Fat Man was further developed by producer, E.J. ("Mannie") Rosenberg. The program was directed by Clark Andrews, creator of Big Town, and Charles Powers. The main writer was Richard Ellington, with other scripts by Robert Sloane and Lawrence Klee.
The veteran character actor Ed Begley co-starred as Sgt. O'Hara, and the supporting cast included Betty Garde, Paul Stewart, Linda Watkins, Mary Patton as Lila North and Vicki Vola, who was also the female lead in Mr. District Attorney. Amzie Strickland played Runyon's girlfriend Cathy Evans, and Nell Harrison was Runyon's mother during the early episodes. The cast also included Dan Ocko, Rolly Bester (wife of science fiction writer Alfred Bester) and Robert Dryden. An 11-piece orchestra was directed by Bernard Green, who also wrote the program's theme. The sound effects were by Ed Blaney, and the announcers were Charles Irving and sportscaster Gene Kirby (1909-1985).
The success of the radio series led to a movie, The Fat Man (1951), directed by William Castle with a flashback-within-a-flashback storyline. Smart retained his role as detective Brad Runyon, investigating the murder of a Los Angeles dentist with an assist from Bill Norton (Clinton Sundberg). One of the suspects is portrayed by famed Barnum & Bailey clown Emmett Kelly in his screen debut as an actor. Also in the cast are Rock Hudson, Julie London, Parley Baer (uncredited) and Jayne Meadows.
There was also a version made in Australia, syndicated on the Artansa label in 1954 - 1955. The Australian Fat Man was played by Lloyd Burrell.
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (01) Murder Squares The Triangle.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (02) Murder Plays The Horses.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) 45-12-01 (03) Murder Sends A Christmas Card.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (04) Murder Runs A Want Ad.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (05) Murder Wears A False Face.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (06) Murder Stalks The Dead.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (11) Murder Through A Crystal.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (12) Murder Makes A Ham.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (15) Murder and The Peacock.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (16) Murder and The Undertaker.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (17) Murder Seeks a Lost Penny.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (18) Murder Makes a Statue.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (21) Murder Rings A Bell.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (22) Murder Repeats Itself.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (23) Murder Rides A Wheelchair.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (24) Murder Finds A Coffin.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (25) Murder For Sale.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (26) Murder By Mail.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (29) Murder Shows An Unfamiliar Face.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (30) Murder Makes a Kings Coffin.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (33) Murder Makes a Black Moon.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (34) Murder Shows A Phantom Face.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (35) Murder Makes a Silent Partner.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (36) Murder Makes Music.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (37) Murder Writes A Story.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (38) Murder Meets an Uncertain Lady.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (39) Murder Shows A Card.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (40) Murder Makes a Pay Off.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (45) Murder In The Dark.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (46) Murder Shows Eyes In The Dark (1).mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (46) Murder Shows Eyes In The Dark (2).mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (47) Murder Makes a Broken Heart.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (48) Murder Pays Dividends.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (49) Murder Appears Out Of The Past.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (50) Murder Made Stylish.mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (51) Murder Takes A Picture (1).mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (51) Murder Takes A Picture (2).mp3
- The Fat Man (AU) xx-xx-xx (52) Murder is Forecast (1).mp3
Replies
There was also a failed TV pilot for the US market made in 1959. I have a copy if anyone is interested.
Bob
Thank You Robert. I love this. I am reacquiring all my items that were in my foreign folder that got lost in my HD crash. I didn't think I had the chance of a snowball in Hell of ever getting them all back and now I am getting all plus more. Thanks again. -------------------------- R
Lloyd Burrell made a better Fat Man then the U.S one, his voice just sounds nicer some how. Sadly, J. Scott Smart just hurts my ears...
One of my all-time favorites. Many, many thanks!