The Adventures of Christopher Wells
 Vicki Vola portrayed Stacy McGill, assistant to Christopher Wells. | |
| Genre | Crime drama |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Syndicates | CBS |
| Original release | September 28, 1947 – June 22, 1948 |
The Adventures of Christopher Wells is a 30-minute radio crime drama broadcast on CBS from September 28, 1947, to June 22, 1948.[1]
It debuted at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday[2] and remained there through January 1948. Beginning on February 3, 1948, it aired on Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. E. T. The move was part of a CBS "mood programming" strategy, which put dramatic programs on Tuesday evenings, comedy shows on Friday nights, and musical offerings on Sunday afternoons.[3] The shift to Tuesday was fatal, as it placed the drama opposite Fibber McGee and Molly on NBC.[4]
Sponsored by DeSoto-Plymouth, the program was created and directed by Ed Byron, who also created the more successful Mr. District Attorney.[5]
Myron McCormick had the title role of globe-trotting journalist Wells, and Charlotte Lawrence portrayed Stacy McGill, Wells' assistant. Les Damon and Vicki Vola took over those lead roles in February 1948. Edward A. Byron was producer-director. Peter Van Streeden furnished the background music.[6]
Robert Shaw's scripts usually placed Wells in a different country each week. For Newsweek, Byron offered a back story on Wells, noting that he was born September 28, 1912, sold newspapers and worked as a $16-a-week cub reported on a New York daily newspaper before becoming a featured columnist with traits of Nellie Bly, Richard Harding Davis and Walter Winchell.[4]
In its original time slot, the show's competition included Take It or Leave It.[5]
Critical response
[edit]A review in the trade publication Variety said that the premiere episode had "an unbelievable situation" in which "All the old cliches and pat quips were yanked out and strung together."[5] The review found fault with McCormick's acting as well as with the scripts and said that Byron's direction did not match the quality of his work on Mr. District Attorney.[5]
Jack Gould wrote in a review in The New York Times that the premiere episode "was produced with Mr. Byron's usual eclat and assurance".[7] He complimented McCormick's performance and predicted that the program should fare well in ratings.[7]
A review in the trade publication Billboard called the program "straight escapist stuff" with "no attempt to adhere to realism".[8] It said that the show succeeded in "building considerable tension" and complimented the dialog, the production, and the acting.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 9.
- ^ "Premiere in Fall for 'Christopher Wells' -- New Panel for 'Pursuit of Happiness'". The New York Times. July 4, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ "The News of Radio; ' Christopher Wells' and 'Studio One' Moved to Tuesday Night Spots on CBS Chain". The New York Times. January 20, 1948. p. 46. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ^ a b c d "Christopher Wells". Variety. October 1, 1947. p. 24. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ "Wells Cast". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg Telegraph. January 10, 1948. p. 19. Retrieved August 24, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Gould, Jack (October 5, 1947). "Programs in Review: Documentary Shows Cover War Babies And Housing -- "Christopher Wells'". The New York Times. p. X 11. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Franken, Jerry (October 25, 1947). "Christopher Wells". Billboard. p. 12. Retrieved December 15, 2024.