20 Great Years of Radio, Part 11: 1948

1. Quiet, Please (Mutual/ABC): This was easily this program greatest year - the year in which the legendary episode The Thing on the Fourble Board was aired. Another phenomenal episode Whence Came You also aired this year. But there's so much more, and I think I love this series more than average OTR fan; I love Presto Change-o I'm Sure and I get the feeling it's not a hugely popular episode. But some other great episodes are Symphony in D Minor, My Son John and Let the Lilies Consider.
2. Escape (CBS): Another great year for Escape, with some of their best supernatural stories including Papa Benjamin, Ancient Sorceries and The Grove of Ashtaroth. But there's so much more to say, from legendary episodes like Leiningen vs. the Ants, Action and Snake Doctor. I also feel The Log of the Evening Star and S.S. San Pedro could use a little more love.
3. Suspense (CBS): This was an odd year for this show - William Spier stepped away and Robert Montgomery stepped in when the show switched to a 1-hour format. There was a neat 1-hour episode The Kandy Tooth with Sam Sapde and an adaptation of Crossfire, but it was mostly forgettable. Anton M. Leder took over as producer and eventually Auto-Lite stepped in as the new sponsor. Some great episodes from this year include Yellow Wallpaper, Hitchhike Poker and A Little Piece of Rope.
4. The Jack Benny Program (NBC): This was another good year for Jack Benny with a fun multiple-week story involving Jack borrowing then losing Ronald Colman's Oscar. This was the Christmas where Jack went shopping for a wallet for Don Wilson, thus establishing Don's presents were now an annual tradition.
5. The Whistler (CBS): Another good year for The Whistler with episodes like Delayed Christmas Present and Lady from the Sea.
6. The Damon Runyon Theater (syndication): This series was my introduction to Damon Runyon. Virtually all of his Guys and Dolls stories were adapted in this program and they're certainly different than anything else on radio - the bittersweet tales of The Lemon Drop Kid, mixed with the humourous Tobias the Terrible - it's a nice oddity.
7. Inner Sanctum Mysteries (CBS): Another good year of Inner Sanctum. At times the show was very formulaic but there strong entries such as Between Two Worlds and Death of a Doll.
8. The Mysterious Traveler (Mutual): Another good year of this show with the episodes Murder in Jazz Time and Murder Is My Business.
9. The Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show (NBC): This remains the best Jack Benny spin-off and had some fun situation comedy.
10. The Shadow (Mutual): Another decent year for the Shadow with some very unusual episodes such as The Nursery Rhyme Killer and The Wig Makers of Doom Street.