T H E F A T M A N
----- ----- -----
US Version: 1946 - 1951?
First Show: Jan 21, 1946 Last Show: Sep 26, 1951
Number Shows: ?? Audition Show: none known
Australian Version: 19?? - 19??
First Show: ??-??-?? Last Show: ??-??-??
Number Shows: 52? Audition Show: none known
Series Description:
"There he goes across the street into the drugstore, steps on the
scale, height: 6 feet, weight: 290 pounds, fortune: Danger. Who is
it? THE FAT MAN." Brad Runyon was the Fat Man, played by Jack Scott
Smart. The series was created by Dashall Hammott and was first heard
on the ABC network Jan. 21, 1946.
J. Scott Smart fit the part of the Fat Man perfectly, weighing in at
270 pounds himself. When he spoke, there was no doubt that this was
the voice of a big guy. Smart gave a witty, tongue-in-cheek
performance and helped make THE FAT MAN one of the most popular
detective programs on the air.
Smart also appeared in The March Of Time (early 1930s), the Theater
Guild On The Air, Blondie, The Fred Allen Show, and The Jack Benny
Program.
There was also an version made in Australia, syndicated on the
Artansa lable, about 1954. There are at least 36 shows available
from vendors. The Australian Fat Man was played possibly by Lloyd
Berrell. Although not featuring J. Scott Smart, who really fit the
part, the series is quite good.
Log Comments:
There are two lists below. Since there are only 10 surviving FAT MAN
shows done in the US (except for a few half shows) the first list
shows only those complete shows, as offered by various vendors.
The second list is the Australian version. Broadcast dates and
actual number of shows are not known. There were believed to be 52
shows in this series. Unknown shows will have "... title not known"
in the Title field.
The SPERDVAC catalog listed one CBC show, "Murder is the Medium".
Jay Hickerson's "Ultimate History" was used to verify data used in
this log. (See "References" section).
Chronological Logs:
US Version:
Date Num Title
------------ --- -------------------------------
Jan 21, 1946 1 "19th Pearl, The"
Feb ??, 1946 "Twice Told Secret"
Jul 08, 1946 "Black Angel, The"
Sep 09, 1946 "Crooked Horse, The"
Oct 03, 1947 "A Window for Murder"
??? ??, 1947 "Murder Plays Hide and Seek"
Apr 01, 1949 "Murder Wins The Draw"
Jul 22, 1949 "Murder is the Medium"
Jan 17, 1951 "Nightmare Murder, The"
Sep 05, 1951 "Order For Murder"
Australian Version:
Num Title
--- -------------------------------
1 Murder Squares the Triangle
2 Murder Plays the Horses
3 Murder Sends a Christmas Card
4 Murder Runs a Want Ad
5 Murder Wears a False Face
6 Murder Stalks the Dead
7 ... title not known ...
8 ... title not known ...
9 ... title not known ...
10 ... title not known ...
11 Murder Murder through a Crystal
12 Murder Makes a Ham
13 ... title not known ...
14 ... title not known ...
15 Murder and the Peacock
16 Murder Calls the Undertaker
17 Murder Seeks a Lost Penny
18 Murder Makes a Statue
19 ... title not known ...
20 ... title not known ...
21 Murder Rings a Bell
22 Murder Repeats Itself
23 Murder Rides a Wheelchair
24 Murder Finds a Coffin
25 Murder for Sale
26 Murder by Mail
27 ... title not known ...
28 ... title not known ...
29 Murder Shows an Unfamiliar Face
30 Murder Makes the King's Coffin
31 ... title not known ...
32 ... title not known ...
33 Murder Makes a Black Moon
34 Murder Shows a Phantom Face
35 Murder Makes a Silent Partner
36 Murder Makes Music
37 Murder Writes a Story
38 Murder Meets an Uncertain Lady
39 Murder Shows a Card
40 Murder Makes a Pay-off
41 ... title not known ...
42 ... title not known ...
43 ... title not known ...
44 ... title not known ...
45 Murder in the Dark
46 Murder Shows Eyes in the Dark
47 Murder Makes a Broken Heart
48 Murder Pays Dividends
49 Murder Appears Out of the Past
50 Murder Made Stylish
51 Murder Takes a Picture
52 Murder is Forecast
... unknown episode numbers ...
?? Murder Makes A Silent Partner
?? Murder Rejects Itself
References:
* "The Ultimate History of Network Radio Programming and Guide To All
Circulating Shows", by Jay Hickerson, Box 4321, Hamden, CT 06514
* Biography of the Life of J. Scott Smart by Charles Laughlin,
available from Three Faces East Press.
* OTR club and vendor catalogs or web sites:
* Great American Radio, Gary Kramer, PO Box 504, Genesee, MI 48437
* Crabapple Sound, Henry Hinkel, 254 Florida Ave., Amsterdam, NY
12010
* Radio Showcase, Steve Kelez, PO Box 4357, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
* Society to Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety And
Comedy, PO Box 7177, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7177
* Radio Historical Association of Colorado, PO Box 1908,
Englewood, CO 80150
* Erstwhile Radio, PO Box 2284, Peabody, MA 01960
* Vintage Broadcasts, Andy Blatt, PO Box 50065, Staten Island, NY
10305
* McCoy's Recordings Inc., Pat McCoy, PO Box 1069, Richland, Wash.
99352
Last Update: May 20, 2004
This log is informational only. It does not imply that I or my
references have these shows for trade or sale. The shows may still
be protected under copyright law and should be obtained only from
authorized dealers.
The log may be freely reproduced and published on a no-profit basis.
Please send error corrections or additional information to Frank M.
Passage, 109 Elmwood Road, Verona, NJ 07044 (email: wb2ntp@arrl.net).