30 minute horror/suspense show
The Whistler was one of American radio's most popular mystery dramas, with a 13-year run from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955.The Whistler was the most popular West Coast-originated program with its listeners for many years. It was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company: "That whistle is your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler."
Episodes of The Whistler began with the ominous narration:>br?
I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes ... I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak.
Those opening words were spoken along with the echo of footsteps and Wilbur Hatch's 13-note theme, whistled weekly by Dorothy Roberts for 13 years. Another whistle theme with footsteps was heard on The Saint which aired on CBS, Mutual and NBC between 1945 and 1951. Some sources say the theme for The Saint was by Leslie Charteris, while others credit RKO composer Roy Webb.
Bill Forman had the title role of host and narrator. Others who portrayed the Whistler at various times were Gale Gordon, Joseph Kearns (the first Mr. Wilson on TV's Dennis the Menace), Marvin Miller (announcer for The Whistler and The Bickersons and, later, Michael Anthony on TV's The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (who had the title role on radio's The Shadow from 1938 to 1943) and Everett Clarke.
The stories followed an effective formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically undone by either an overlooked but important detail or their own stupidity, except on some rare occasions when a curious twist of fate caused the story to end happily for the episode's protagonist. Ironic twist endings were a key feature of each episode of the series. The Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting the criminal from an omniscient perspective.
The Whistler seldom featured any major Hollywood stars, but the quality of writing and performance made it a radio mainstay. Regular members of the show's ensemble cast included Gerald Mohr, William Conrad, Joseph Kearns, Bill Johnstone, Hans Conried, Elliot Lewis and Betty Lou Gerson. Mercedes McCambridge, Jeanette Nolan, John Dehner, Virginia Gregg, Howard Duff, Lurene Tuttle, Frank Lovejoy, Willard Waterman and Jack Webb also made frequent appearances on the series.
Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson established the tone of the show during its first two years, and he was followed in 1944 by producer-director George Allen. Other directors included Sterling Tracy and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. A total of 692 episodes were produced, of which over 200 no longer have copies in existence. In 1946, a local Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer.
Text from Wikipedia
Purchase as a download, purchase as CD(s), or listen for free
All of our Old Time Radio Programs are in MP3 format. You can play them on your computer, you can transfer them to MP3 players (like the IPod), but, by and large, you cannot play them on stereos, walkmen, or car radios.
The sound quality of Old Time Radio Programs can vary greatly. Some episodes are excellent, others you have to turn up the volume a little and ignore the static. All of the episodes can be listened to and enjoyed. You can listen to our free samples to get a feel for how the programs sound.
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Episode List Set 1
Whistler_1942-06-13_0005_TheShrunkenHead.mp3
Whistler_1942-06-27_0007_NotesInTheNight.mp3
Whistler_1942-08-22_0015_DeathHasAThirst.mp3
Whistler_1942-08-29_0016_TheLetter.mp3
Whistler_1942-09-05_0017_HouseOfGreed.mp3
Whistler_1942-09-13_0018_Mirage.mp3
Whistler_1942-09-20_0019_TheFog.mp3
Whistler_1942-09-27_0020_Jealousy.mp3
Whistler_1942-10-04_0021_UrgeToKill.mp3
Whistler_1942-10-11_0022_Malice.mp3
Whistler_1942-10-18_0023_DeathComesAtMidnight.mp3
Whistler_1942-10-25_0024_TheAlibi.mp3
Whistler_1942-11-15_0027_Apparition.mp3
Whistler_1942-11-22_0028_TheOtherWoman.mp3
Whistler_1942-11-29_0029_Avarice.mp3
Whistler_1942-12-13_0031_TheAccounting.mp3
Whistler_1942-12-27_0033_TheDoubleCross.mp3
Whistler_1943-01-03_0034_TheWeakling.mp3
Whistler_1943-01-10_0035_TheNemesis.mp3
Whistler_1943-01-17_0036_TheThief.mp3
Whistler_1943-01-24_0037_MindOverMatter.mp3
Whistler_1943-01-31_0038_TheConfession.mp3
Whistler_1943-02-07_0039_InTheDark.mp3
Whistler_1943-02-14_0040_LegacyOfDeath.mp3
Whistler_1943-02-21_0041_FoolsGold.mp3
Whistler_1943-03-28_0046_ThePenalty.mp3
Whistler_1943-05-01_0050_TheKillers.mp3
Whistler_1943-05-08_0051_DeathHasAThirst.mp3
Whistler_1943-05-15_0052_ManWhoWaited.mp3
Whistler_1943-05-29_0054_FinalDecree.mp3
Whistler_1943-06-05_0055_ShadowOfAMind.mp3
Whistler_1943-06-12_0056_Justice.mp3
Whistler_1943-06-19_0057_HouseOfFear.mp3
Whistler_1943-06-26_0058_TheBlankWall.mp3
Whistler_1943-07-02_0059_TheAvengers.mp3
Whistler_1943-07-09_0060_EyeForAnEye.mp3
Whistler_1943-08-13_0065_DeathInTheAir.mp3
Whistler_1943-09-03_0068_Destiny.mp3
Whistler_1943-09-10_0069_TheTangledWeb.mp3
Whistler_1943-09-24_0071_BlindAlley.mp3
Whistler_1943-10-03_0072_Mirage.mp3
Whistler_1943-11-21_0079_PatientsForTheDoctor.mp3
Whistler_1943-12-19_0083_DeathDemandsAPayment.mp3
Whistler_1944-07-23_0114_LastOfTheDevereaux.mp3
Whistler_1944-09-03_0120_PracticallyFoolproof.mp3
Whistler_1944-09-10_0121_LocalStorm.mp3
Whistler_1944-09-18_0122_BlackMagic.mp3
Whistler_1944-09-25_0123_MarriedToMurder.mp3
Whistler_1944-10-02_0124_NotIfIKillYouFirst.mp3
Whistler_1944-10-09_0125_FindersWeepers.mp3
Whistler_1944-10-16_0126_TaleTheDeadManTold.mp3
Whistler_1944-10-23_0127_DeathCarriesALunchKit.mp3
Whistler_1944-10-30_0128_TheBelovedFraud.mp3
Whistler_1944-11-06_0129_TheTwin.mp3
Whistler_1944-11-13_0130_BewareTheBridegroom.mp3
Whistler_1944-11-20_0131_DeathSeesDouble.mp3
Whistler_1944-12-04_0133_TheDoctorOperatesInCrime.mp3
Whistler_1944-12-11_0134_LieOrConsequences.mp3
Whistler_1944-12-18_0135_Windfall.mp3
Whistler_1944-12-25_0136_LieForCircumstances_ChristmasBonus.mp3
Whistler_1945-01-01_0137_TwoForTheMoney.mp3
Whistler_1945-01-08_0138_TheBodyWouldntStayInTheBay.mp3
Whistler_1945-01-15_0139_MurderHasASignature.mp3
Whistler_1945-01-29_0141_MurderOnPaper.mp3
Whistler_1945-02-05_0142_MurderIsLegal.mp3
Whistler_1945-02-19_0144_TheDeadManLaughed.mp3
Whistler_1945-02-26_0145_GatewayToDanger.mp3
Whistler_1945-03-19_0148_MurderWillShout.mp3
Whistler_1945-04-02_0150_ReturnOfTheInnocent.mp3
Whistler_1945-04-16_0152_ToRentDanger.mp3
Whistler_1945-04-23_0153_MeetMrDeath.mp3
Whistler_1945-04-30_0154_TheMastersTree.mp3
Whistler_1945-05-07_0155_AccidentAccordingToPlan.mp3
Whistler_1945-05-14_0156_HitAndRun.mp3
Whistler_1945-05-21_0157_TheManWhoBoughtDeath.mp3
Whistler_1945-05-28_0158_EscapeToDanger.mp3
Whistler_1945-06-04_0159_MurderIsBlind.mp3
Whistler_1945-06-11_0160_DeathPaysAVisit.mp3
Whistler_1945-06-18_0161_BlueprintForSuicide.mp3
Whistler_1945-07-02_0163_TheDeadlyInnocent.mp3
Whistler_1945-07-09_0164_HighwayOfEscape.mp3
Whistler_1945-07-16_0165_PatternForTerror.mp3
Whistler_1945-07-30_0167_SummerThunder.mp3
Whistler_1945-08-06_0168_TheManWhoCameToMurder.mp3
Whistler_1945-08-13_0169_WhatMakesAMurderer.mp3
Whistler_1945-08-27_0171_IllTradeYouMurder.mp3
Whistler_1945-09-10_0173_PhoneCallFromDeath.mp3
Whistler_1945-09-17_0174_SingASongOfMurder.mp3
Whistler_1945-09-24_0175_TheManWhoDiedTwice.mp3
Whistler_1945-10-08_0177_DeathLaughsLast.mp3
Whistler_1945-10-15_0178_The House On Sycamore Road.mp3
Episode List Set 02
Whistler_1945-11-05_0181_HarvestOfDeath.mp3
Whistler_1945-11-12_0182_TheSeeingEye.mp3
Whistler_1945-11-19_0183_Coincidence.mp3
Whistler_1945-11-26_0184_TheStrayDream.mp3
Whistler_1945-12-03_0185_PoisonIsQuicker.mp3
Whistler_1945-12-10_0186_TheCistern.mp3
Whistler_1945-12-17_0187_Luckynight.mp3
Whistler_1946-01-07_0190_TheThinLine.mp3
Whistler_1946-01-14_0191_HitAndRun.mp3
Whistler_1946-01-21_0192_TreasureHunt.mp3
Whistler_1946-01-28_0193_TheStrangeSisters.mp3
Whistler_1946-02-04_0194_Panic.mp3
Whistler_1946-02-11_0195_SixLetterWordForDeath.mp3
Whistler_1946-02-25_0197_MurderInHaste.mp3
Whistler_1946-03-25_0201_Triggerman.mp3
Whistler_1946-04-01_0202_ThreeTimesASinner.mp3
Whistler_1946-04-08_0203_TerrorStricken.mp3
Whistler_1946-04-22_0205_TheWaterfordCase.mp3
Whistler_1946-06-03_0211_TheJudasFace.mp3
Whistler_1946-06-10_0212_AQuietSunday.mp3
Whistler_1946-06-17_0213_AffairAtStonyRidge.mp3
Whistler_1946-06-24_0214_TheBlindBet.mp3
Whistler_1946-07-01_0215_SolidCitizen.mp3
Whistler_1946-07-08_0216_Confession.mp3
Whistler_1946-07-15_0217_CustomBuiltBlonde(BillConrads1st).mp3
Whistler_1946-07-29_0219_MyLoveComesHome.mp3
Whistler_1946-08-05_0220_BulletProof.mp3
Whistler_1946-08-19_0222_DeliveryGuaranteed.mp3
Whistler_1946-08-21_0223_BrokenChain.mp3
Whistler_1946-09-09_0226_WitnessAtTheFountain.mp3
Whistler_1946-09-11_0227_ABriefPauseForMurder.mp3
Whistler_1946-09-16_0228_TheBrassRing.mp3
Whistler_1946-10-28_0234_Backfire.mp3
Whistler_1946-11-25_0238_TwoYearPlan.mp3
Whistler_1946-12-02_0239_BlindImpulse.mp3
Whistler_1946-12-09_0240_WithMyOwnEyes.mp3
Whistler_1946-12-23_0242_NextYearIsMine.mp3
Whistler_1947-01-20_0246_LastCurtain.mp3
Whistler_1947-02-03_0248_SevenStepsToMurder.mp3
Whistler_1947-02-10_0249_SafetyInNumbers.mp3
Whistler_1947-03-24_0253_TheLadyAndTheKnife.mp3
Whistler_1947-03-31_0256_TheBlankWall.mp3
Whistler_1947-04-07_0258_TheSheriffsAssistant.mp3
Whistler_1947-04-21_0260_Backlash.mp3
Whistler_1947-05-19_0264_HastyConclusion.mp3
Whistler_1947-06-23_0269_TheGentleWay.mp3
Whistler_1947-07-09_0271_TheTwoLivesOfColbyFletcher.mp3
Whistler_1947-07-16_0272_BeyondAReasonableDoubt.mp3
Whistler_1947-08-20_0277_TheGirlNextDoor.mp3
Whistler_1947-08-27_0278_CurtainCall.mp3
Whistler_1947-09-10_0280_BridgeOnBlackMountain.mp3
Whistler_1947-10-08_0284_CareerMan.mp3
Whistler_1947-10-15_0285_ManOfDistinction.mp3
Whistler_1947-10-22_0286_ACaseForMrCarrington.mp3
Whistler_1947-11-26_0291_BodyOffBillingsgate.mp3
Whistler_1947-12-03_0292_TheProfessorAndTheFox.mp3
Whistler_1947-12-10_0293_WeddingGift.mp3
Whistler_1947-12-24_0295_Decision.mp3
Whistler_1947-12-31_0296_TheFirstYear.mp3
Whistler_1948-01-28_0300_NightFinal.mp3
Whistler_1948-02-18_0303_QuietSuicide.mp3
Whistler_1948-03-03_0305_BoilingPoint.mp3
Whistler_1948-03-10_0306_ReturnEngagement.mp3
Whistler_1948-03-17_0307_TheCatalyst.mp3
Whistler_1948-03-24_0308_TheDarkRoom.mp3
Whistler_1948-03-31_0309_BirdOfPrey.mp3
Whistler_1948-04-07_0310_WhatMakesAMurderer.mp3
Whistler_1948-04-14_0311_TillDeathDoUsPart.mp3
Whistler_1948-04-21_0312_SilentCity.mp3
Whistler_1948-05-12_0315_ChainReaction.mp3
Whistler_1948-05-19_0316_MurderOnMargin.mp3
Whistler_1948-06-02_0318_StrangerInTheHouse.mp3
Whistler_1948-06-16_0320_ConcertoOfDeath.mp3
Whistler_1948-06-30_0321_SmallTownGirl.mp3
Whistler_1948-07-28_0324_LadyOfTheSea.mp3
Whistler_1948-08-04_0325_AQuestionOfMurder.mp3
Whistler_1948-08-11_0326_EnoughRope.mp3
Whistler_1948-08-18_0327_BrightFuture.mp3
Whistler_1948-09-01_0329_PaymentInFull.mp3
Whistler_1948-09-15_0331_UncleBensWidow.mp3
Whistler_1948-09-29_0333_Conspiracy.mp3
Episode List Set 3
Whistler_1948-10-31_0338_LetterFromYesterday.mp3
Whistler_1948-11-07_0339_Coverup.mp3
Whistler_1948-11-14_0340_Nightmare.mp3
Whistler_1948-11-28_0342_MurderInParadise.mp3
Whistler_1948-12-05_0343_HiredAlibi.mp3
Whistler_1948-12-12_0344_StormyWeather.mp3
Whistler_1948-12-26_0346_DelayedChristmasPresent.mp3
Whistler_1949-01-09_0348_TheTellTailBrand.mp3
Whistler_1949-01-16_0349_Shakedown.mp3
Whistler_1949-02-06_0352_TheCheat.mp3
Whistler_1949-02-13_0353_LastCurtain.mp3
Whistler_1949-02-20_0354_TicketToParis.mp3
Whistler_1949-02-27_0355_GraveSecret.mp3
Whistler_1949-03-27_0359_BeyondTheWall.mp3
Whistler_1949-04-03_0360_TheRawhideCoffin.mp3
Whistler_1949-04-10_0361_MurderAtTwinPines.mp3
Whistler_1949-04-17_0362_SleepMyPrettyOne.mp3
Whistler_1949-05-01_0364_SolidCitizen.mp3
Whistler_1949-05-08_0365_DangerIsABeautifulBlonde.mp3
Whistler_1949-05-15_0366_GoldenOpportunity.mp3
Whistler_1949-05-22_0367_FatalFraud.mp3
Whistler_1949-06-12_0370_PerfectAlibi.mp3
Whistler_1949-06-19_0371_ThatPhysicalFact(NoOpenOrClose).mp3
Whistler_1949-06-26_0372_FatalDecree.mp3
Whistler_1949-07-10_0374_Frontman.mp3
Whistler_1949-07-17_0375_DeathIn16mm.mp3
Whistler_1949-08-07_0378_TheTriggerMan.mp3
Whistler_1949-08-28_0381_TheEagerPigeon.mp3
Whistler_1949-09-04_0382_SmartGirl.mp3
Whistler_1949-09-11_0383_BriefPauseForMurder.mp3
Whistler_1949-09-18_0384_PoorHenry.mp3
Whistler_1949-09-25_0385_IncidentAtArroyoGrande.mp3
Whistler_1949-10-02_0386_TheWomansPrivilege.mp3
Whistler_1949-10-16_0388_BestMan.mp3
Whistler_1949-10-23_0389_DebtOfHonor.mp3
Whistler_1949-10-30_0390_TicketToMurder.mp3
Whistler_1949-11-27_0394_CleverMrFarley.mp3
Whistler_1949-12-04_0395_Impulse.mp3
Whistler_1949-12-25_0398_LetterFromCynthia.mp3
Whistler_1950-01-01_0399_EveningStroll.mp3
Whistler_1950-01-08_0400_ReturnToRiondo.mp3
Whistler_1950-01-15_0401_EscapeToScullIsland.mp3
Whistler_1950-01-22_0402_TheGoBetween.mp3
Whistler_1950-01-29_0403_BurdenOfGuilt.mp3
Whistler_1950-02-12_0405_DeadReckoning.mp3
Whistler_1950-02-19_0406_FiveCentToll.mp3
Whistler_1950-03-05_0408_ChineseElephantPuzzle.mp3
Whistler_1950-04-16_0414_MurderInMind.mp3
Whistler_1950-04-23_0415_ReturnedWithTheSpray.mp3
Whistler_1950-04-30_0416_Gratitude.mp3
Whistler_1950-05-07_0417_FatalError.mp3
Whistler_1950-05-14_0418_TheBlueAlibi.mp3
Whistler_1950-05-21_0419_TheReturn.mp3
Whistler_1950-06-11_0422_TheSucessfulMarriage.mp3
Whistler_1950-06-18_0423_Jessica.mp3
Whistler_1950-06-25_0424_TheManhunt.mp3
Whistler_1950-07-09_0426_DevotedCouple.mp3
Whistler_1950-07-16_0427_AttorneyForTheDefense.mp3
Whistler_1950-07-30_0429_WithMyOwnEyes.mp3
Whistler_1950-09-10_0435_TheGoldenPenny.mp3
Whistler_1950-10-01_0438_DearDiary.mp3
Whistler_1950-10-08_0439_FatalAction.mp3
Whistler_1950-12-24_0450_ThreeWiseGuys.mp3
Whistler_1950-12-31_0451_EveningStroll.mp3
Whistler_1951-01-07_0452_HitAndRun.mp3
Whistler_1951-01-21_0454_TreasureHunt.mp3
Whistler_1951-02-11_0457_SpellInGreen.mp3
Whistler_1951-03-11_0461_HighDeath.mp3
Whistler_1951-05-27_0472_SeattleTakeThree.mp3
Whistler_1951-06-10_0474_ALawOfPhysics.mp3
Whistler_1951-07-15_0479_AttemptedMurder.mp3
Whistler_1951-07-29_0481_DangerIsABeautifulBlonde.mp3
Whistler_1951-08-12_0483_TheFightGame.mp3
Whistler_1951-08-26_0485_TakenForARide.mp3
Whistler_1951-12-16_0501_CuriosityKilledTheCat.mp3
Whistler_1952-03-30_0516_TheHomecoming.mp3
Whistler_1952-04-06_0517_ElementX.mp3
Whistler_1952-04-27_0520_SaturdayNight.mp3
Whistler_1952-05-11_0522_AMatterOfOdds.mp3
Whistler_1952-05-25_0524_CharmingHostess.mp3
Whistler_1952-06-01_0525_ACaseForMrCarrington.mp3
Whistler_1952-06-15_0527_LastMessage.mp3
Whistler_1953-10-04_0593_DeathClaim.mp3
Whistler_1953-10-11_0594_TicketToNowhere.mp3
Whistler_1953-10-18_0595_GirlInBlack.mp3
Whistler_1953-11-08_0598_Impulse.mp3
Whistler_1953-11-15_0599_FadingStar.mp3
Whistler_1953-11-22_0600_PerilousMeeting.mp3
Whistler_1953-11-29_0601_LadyOnAYacht.mp3
Whistler_1953-12-06_0602_GenerousHost.mp3
Whistler_1953-12-20_0604_TheHuntress.mp3
Whistler_1953-12-27_0605_LonelyHighway.mp3
Whistler_1954-01-10_0607_FatalFraud.mp3
Whistler_1954-01-31_0610_TheDanceTeam.mp3
Whistler_1954-02-07_0611_TheManFromCalais.mp3
Whistler_1954-02-28_0614_FeatureStory.mp3
Whistler_1954-03-07_0615_HudsonBayIncident.mp3
Whistler_1954-03-14_0616_EscapeToDoom.mp3
Whistler_1954-03-28_0618_IncidentAtPebbleCove.mp3
Whistler_1954-04-25_0622_SpellInGreen.mp3
Whistler_1954-06-13_0629_DarkPatterns.mp3
Whistler_1955-03-10_0668_SevenStepsToMurder.mp3
Whistler_1955-04-21_0674_IncidentAtChalkPoint.mp3
Whistler_1955-05-05_0676_TheLovelyLook.mp3
Whistler_1955-06-16_0682_TwoLivesOfColbyFletcher.mp3
