Milligan and Mulligan: Don Ameche Again Ryan Ellett WGN, radio station of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, replaced the former WJAZ in 1924 and would become one of the city's most prominent stations as Chicago moved to broadcasting prominence during the 1930s. Among the historic series which got started on the station were Freeman Gosden's and Charles Correll's Sam 'n' Henry, the forerunner of Amos 'n' Andy, the pioneering serials Painted Dreams and Clara, Lu, 'n' Em, and the premium-laden childrens' programs Little Orphan Annie and Captain Midnight. In addition, both Irma Phillips and Marlin Hurt began their radio careers on WGN.
One little-remembered series from the station's early years was Milligan and Mulligan, a humorous detective program which featured up-and-coming actor Don Ameche and the young writer/actor Bob White. Don Ameche (born Dominic Felix Amici), a native of Kenosha, WI, is most widely remembered by old time radio fans for the role of John Bickerson alongside Frances Langford as Blanche Bickerson in the late 1940s series of Bickersons sketches. However, Ameche's first work in radio came on a number of programs in the early 1930s which originated from Chicago. Among these early efforts were The Empire Builders, The First Nighter Program, Grand Hotel, Jack Armstrong, Rin-Tin-Tin, and the early soap opera Betty and Bob. Co-star Bob White is credited with directing responsibilities on Dick Tracy, writing duties on the original Fu Manchu, acting parts on Fu Manchu and Rin Tin Tin, and the creation of Deadline Dramas, an early-40s “improvisational drama” according to John Dunning.
Unfortunately, no recordings of Milligan and Mulligan are known to be in circulation, thus our knowledge of the show comes from Chicago Tribune accounts. It's not known when WGN staff began developing the program, but the first scripts were not registered until late December, 1932, just before its debut. The series premiered January 2, 1933, at 10:15 p.m. and aired nightly for a quarter-hour Monday through Saturday. Ameche starred as Ed Milligan, owner of the Milligan Detective Agency, and White played Mickey Mulligan, Ameche's “goofy assistant.” Tom Shirley, who had credits in over 30 films and earlier had served as an assistant to Cecil B. DeMille, played the part of a snooping reporter and Betty White, Bob's wife, played the leading lady. Each week a new mystery was introduced on Monday night and wrapped up on the Saturday night broadcast. At heart a serialized whodunnit, Milligan and Mulligan contained plenty of humor for the listeners.
The first week's thriller was called “Back Stage Murder” and revolved around the murder of one Ronald Fortescue, a motion picture star. The next adventure, “The Haunted Yacht,” began on January 9 and told the story of a quirky scientist who had supposedly invented a yacht which required no human effort to run. Because of the mysterious cry of a young child, some think the boat is haunted. Norman MacDonald was a guest on the second week's adventure. During week three Milligan and Mulligan, frequently referred to as “the demon detectives,” solve the mysterious disappearance of a small-town mayor.
After a successful month of broadcasts Milligan and Mulligan won a slot on CBS' Midwest chain beginning February 6. For their hook-up over stations KMOX, WCCO, WFH, KOMA, and WHT, the series' starting time was moved to 6:00 p.m. This sixth adventure was entitled “Blind Man's Bluff” and followed the detectives' efforts to track down a husband who had been missing for thirteen years. Joining the show for its network run were Frances Woodbury, Earl Jamison, and Katherine Avery.
It's not clear why Milligan and Mulligan returned to its original 10:15 timeslot on February 20 over its home station WGN. CBS appeared to like the show and kept it on the regional web at the earlier 6:00 time. There's no indication that WGN aired the series twice a day, so a few possibilities exist to explain how this was handled. Possibly the program was transcribed in advance and both daily broadcasts were recordings. Perhaps Ameche and White did their show live for CBS from the WGN studios (the studio was a CBS affiliate at the time, leaving the network in the fall), a recording of which may have been made and then replayed at 10:15. Or, just as likely, the cast did two live performances each day, the first picked up only by the regional web and the second aired only in Chicago.
In any case, “Honeymoon Horror,” the eighth six-part story, featured former silent screen idol Francis X. Bushman who was beginning to renew his acting career via radio. He played Clyde Barrington, a sportsman, who was newly married to one of the Maryin twins, played by Betty MacLean. The new bride was formerly the girlfriend of a Mexican gangster, which caused trouble for Barrington. The following week found the duo investigating “The Water Rat.”
By March the nightly installments featured a cast of seven; Ameche, White, Woodbury, MacLean, Marie Diehl, Mildred Mark, and Albert McCleary. McCleary was the director of the Georgian Players, a troupe based in suburban Evanston. Milligan and Mulligan may represent his radio debut. “Murder for Love” began March 6 and told the tale of a murdered woman and her husband (McCleary). On March 13 “The Red Racketeer” got underway with Kurt Kepfer, Jeanne Juvelier (who later appeared on Arnold Grimm's Daughter), and Isabel Randolph (in a pre-Fibber McGee & Molly role).
The concept was changed up a bit with the weekly adventure which debuted on March 20. Eddie and Fanny Cavanaugh, a husband and wife team who had their own gossip program on Chicago's WIBO, brought their routine to Milligan and Mulligan. The duo appeared as themselves on the week's story about some threat letters. Writer Bob White claimed the solution to the mystery was so strange that “a week after these episodes were finished the author was still amazed.” If only modern fans could hear it.
The first story aired in April was entitled “Buried Alive” and told of a reputed Hindu fakir who roamed from small town to small town claiming to predict the future of the town's prominent citizens, all while trying to sell them stocks. Milligan and his sidekick get involved when a small town belle disappears from her grave after insisting on being buried alive. Woodbury continued to appear and Charner Batson and Henrietta Tedro (then playing Mrs. Silo in Little Orphan Annie) were also cast.
“Buried Alive” appears to have been the final week of Milligan and Mulligan broadcasts. Despite starring Don Ameche and featuring future radio regular Isabel Randolph, the series left little mark on the annals of radio history. We can only hope some recordings may turn up and give us further insight into this forgotten series.
Picture from the January 1, 1933, Chicago Tribune.
Don Ameche as Ed Milligan and Bob White as Mickey Mulligan, the demon detectives of the new mystery sketch "Milligan and Mulligan," which will have its premiere over W-G-N at 10:15 tomorrow night, are shown studying clews in the murder of Ronald Fortescue, matinee idol, their first radio puzzler. [Maurice Seymour Photo]