The Best of the Whistler

You can find plenty of synopses online for episodes of the Whistler but very few recommendations on what the program's best episodes were. I feel it's important for fans of the series (such as myself) to discuss which episodes are the best because even if you've heard every episode, it's hard to recall which episode is which. Unlike, say, Suspense, there are no episodes with major Hollywood stars that are easy to identify. There are almost no adaptations of works by famous authors. The titles themselves are frequently a one-word statement that tells the uninitiated very little. Consequently, it becomes very hard to remember which episode is which; which episode is "the one where ______ happened at the end?" You're not liable to get the surprise endings spoiled for you online. And many synopses tell you little more than "in this one a man embezzles from his employer; in this one, a man plots to murder his wife" which are stock premises on the Whistler.

My pick for the best episode of the Whistler is "Letter from Cynthia" (December 25, 1949). This to me is an excellent instance which showcases what makes the Whistler different from other shows that boast of having a "surprise ending." The story ends with the protagonist choosing against committing a crime - which is itself unusual for a mystery-crime series - but then he receives a surprise he didn't anticipate.

But there are many other episodes from the 13-year run which are worth celebrating. Here's the rest of my picks for the best of the Whistler (all links lead to YouTube videos from the Old-Time Radio Researchers' collection):

• "Practically Foolproof" (September 3, 1944) The owners of a community lending library plot a theft and intend to force a midget to become their accomplice.
• "Danger Is a Beautiful Blonde" (March 5, 1945) A man is forced to assist a woman in disposing of her husband's body and later finds himself accused of the crime!
• "What Makes a Murderer?" (August 13, 1945) A man escapes from his life and creates a new identity, but then his wife turns up in pursuit.
• "Sing a Song of Murder" (September 17, 1945) A pop singer schemes to eliminate his greedy manager and give himself a perfect alibi.
• "Death Laughs Last" (October 8, 1945) A man sends a letter to a newspaper confessing his crimes but after changing his plans has a difficult time retrieving the letter.
• "Murder in Haste" (February 25, 1946) A killer on the run chooses to assume the identity of a mystery author.
• "Boomerang" (March 11, 1946) As the "doorbell killer" terrorizes a neighborhood, one woman's husband seems to be continually incriminating himself as the perpetrator.
• "Quiet Sunday" (June 10, 1946) A man murders his wife, puts her body in the trunk of his car then sets off for their cabin to dispose of her.
• "Brief Pause for Murder" (August 26, 1946) A radio announcer schemes to kill his wife without missing a broadcast, thanks to blackmailing a sound engineer into substituting a recording of his live broadcast.
• "A Present for Ricky" (October 7, 1946) A dancer who knows his career is coming to an end is resolved to eliminate his dance partner and implicate the man who's been trying to woo her away from him.
• "The Two Lives of Colby Fletcher" (July 9, 1947) A man schemes to fake his death by supplying a substitute body.
• "The Girl Next Door" (August 20, 1947) A movie star clashes with her boyfriend's sister, then has to cover up murdering the sister.
• "Curtain Call" (August 27, 1947) An actor plans to arrange a perfect alibi for murder by placing himself on a train trip.
• "The Big Prison" (November 5, 1947) A man in Alaska murders his hunting party then attempts to flee back south before he's discovered.
• "Conspiracy" (September 29, 1948) As a flood nears his wife's home, a reporter murders her, thinking the flood waters will cover up all evidence; unfortunately for him, there's an eyewitness.
• "Whirlpool" (October 10, 1948) A woman rescues a man from the ocean and asks him to impersonate her husband in a scheme to steal a fortune. He agrees but plans to be the only one collecting.
• "Murder in Paradise" (November 28, 1948) A piano player can't resist his new employer's wife, which prompts him into committing murder.
• "Fatal Fraud" (May 22, 1949) An actor is recruited to impersonate an executive's voice as part of a heist but his doubts about his accomplice lead to tragedy.
• "Man in the Storm" (February 18, 1951) A crooked municipal employee fears that if a building is destroyed in a flood his insurance scam will be revealed.
• "Seattle, Take Three" (May 27, 1951) A crook tries to flee town by taking a ride with a motorist but his girlfriend insists on joining them.

We don't seem to have a complete archive of the Whistler all in one place. You can find most existing episodes in the Old Time Radio Researchers Group's Internet Archive collection. However, there are a few more out there, such as this collection of USAFE recordings.

Good night and good whistling.