HOLLYWOOD RADIO THEATER ("THE ZERO HOUR") compiled by Dick Judge Updated: Mar 6, 2005 First show: Sep 3, 1973 Number of shows: 130 Last show: Jul 26, 1974 Host: Rod Serling This ambitious series of shows, said to be a year in the making, premiered on Sep 3, 1973. The Mutual Broadcasting System offered the shows to their member stations on a syndicated basis, allowing the programs to be aired during a time period that was convenient, and at a date that was suitable. For this reason in some areas the series did not begin until late Fall or early Winter of 1973. However, this was not true for the second 13 week of programs. All stations began airing the show on Apr 29, 1974 with the final program broadcasted on Jul 26, 1974. At the beginning the shows ran for 30 minutes but on the 14th week they ran 25 minutes a day until the end. ZERO HOUR was hosted by the famed Rod Serling who offered comments before and after each show. He wrote some of the scripts but for the most part they were done by a group of young Hollywood writers. Since the CBS Radio Mystery Theater began its run on Jan 6, 1974, some comparison should be made between the two offerings. ZERO HOUR used Hollywood film stars who appeared for a week at a time; the stories were exciting and action-packed. The prime mover behind the ZERO HOUR was Mutual. The CBS Radio Mystery Theater, on the hand, had the capable E. G. Marshall, as host. The casts consisted of experienced old-time radio actors and actresses, with an occasional TV or film star. The writing of the Mystery Theater more closely resembled the Suspense and Inner Sanctum plots of old; the script writers being people who wrote in the style of old-time radio. In both the series most of the stories were original in nature but the Mystery Theater did adapt suspense and mystery tales from Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, Sir Conan Doyle and other well known authors. There were two distinct 13 week series. During the first of these there was one story line that was broadcast in 5 daily episodes featuring the same cast of characters. The second 13 week series featured one star in five different stories and a different supporting cast each night. The Mutual network suggested the following weekly alignment but some of their affiliates may have aired the first 13 weeks in a different order. ******************************************************************************* WEEK TITLE CAST ------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 01 Wife of the Red-Haired Man Patty Duke, John Astin, Howard Duff, 02 Someone's Death George Kennedy, Robert Reed 03 Fourth of Forever John Dehner, Susan Oliver 04 Face of the Foe Jessica Walters, Joe Campanella, Judy Carne 05 Blessing Way Ed Nelson, Barbara Anderson, Tige Andrews 06 Princess Stakes Murder Howard Duff, Julie Adams, Ray Danton 07 Queen in Danger Juliet Mills, Robert Brown, Murray Mathieson 08 Desperate Witness Dick Crenna, Keenan Wynn, Julie Adams 09 If Two of Them Are Dead Earl Holliman, Katherine Burns, Nina Foch 10 But I Wouldn't Want to Die There Nehemiah Persoff, Brock Peters, Marge Redman 11 Heir Hunters Ken Berry, Joanne Worley, Edgar Bergen 12 Die in the Country Peter Marshall, Susan Strasberg, Andrew Dugan 13 Deadman's Tale George Maharis, Craig Stevens, Charles McGraw The affiliates had to air the next 13 week period of the shows in the order designated below. NO. DATE TITLE CAST ---- ------------ -------------------------------------- ------------------ 66. Apr 29, 1974 Bye-Bye Narco Mel Torme 67. Apr 30, 1974 Terror in the Night Mel Torme 68. May 1, 1974 Scream of the Hawk Mel Torme 69. May 2, 1974 Extortionist Mel Torme 70. May 3, 1974 Price of Admission Mel Torme 71. May 6, 1974 Shortage Story Jackie Cooper 72. May 7, 1974 Escape to Nowhere Jackie Cooper 73. May 8, 1974 Fair's Fair You Know Jackie Cooper 74. May 9, 1974 Housecall Jackie Cooper 75. May 10, 1974 Violation Jackie Cooper 76. May 13, 1974 Arm's Length Dick Sargent 77. May 14, 1974 Some People Die Only Once Dick Sargent 78. May 15, 1974 Reward Dick Sargent 79. May 16, 1974 Villainous Verdict Dick Sargent 80. May 17, 1974 Strange Odyssey of Sandy Mitchell Dick Sargent 81. May 20, 1974 White Flame Burning Bright Lyle Waggoner 82. May 21, 1974 Mind of the Beholder Lyle Waggoner 83. May 22, 1974 Why Is Ted Marcosi Driving Aunt Lyle Waggoner Sally Insane? 84 May 23, 1974 There's a Man in 211 Lyle Waggoner 85. May 24, 1974 Death Is a Puppeteer Lyle Waggoner 86. May 27, 1974 Doctor Rivington, Presumably William Shatner 87. May 28, 1974 Wanted: A Willing Companion William Shatner 88. May 29, 1974 Pigs Could Put You in the Pen William Shatner 89. May 30, 1974 Sky Lab, Are You There? William Shatner 90. May 31, 1974 Favor You Can't Refuse William Shatner 91. Jun 3, 1974 Death at Half a Length Greg Morris 92. Jun 4, 1974 Floating Down the River Greg Morris 93. Jun 5, 1974 Once a Thief Greg Morris 94. Jun 6, 1974 Other Sins Only Speak, Murder Shrieks Out Greg Morris 95. Jun 7, 1974 Rehabilitation of Citizen Fimple Greg Morris 96. Jun 10, 1974 Bonnie and Clyde Are Alive Lee Meriwether and Living as Mary and Bill 97. Jun 11, 1974 Sisters of Satan Lee Meriwether 98. Jun 12, 1974 Mannequin Sham Lee Meriwether 99. Jun 13, 1974 Double Date to Destiny Lee Meriwether 100. Jun 14, 1974 Clay Pigeons Lee Meriwether 101. Jun 17, 1974 Past Is Always Present Peter Lupus 102. Jun 18, 1974 Woman in Black Peter Lupus 103. Jun 19, 1974 Come Light My Fire Peter Lupus 104. Jun 20, 1974 Riders Wanted: Share Expenses Peter Lupus 105. Jun 21, 1974 Death on Canvas Peter Lupus 106. Jun 24, 1974 House That Clemont Built Shelley Berman 107. Jun 25, 1974 Joint Account Shelley Berman 108. Jun 26, 1974 Tiger Cages Shelley Berman 109. Jun 27, 1974 Violence Takes a Curtain Call Shelley Berman 110. Jun 28, 1974 Children Are Dying Shelley Berman 111. Jul 1, 1974 Bend, Spindle and Mutilate Bob Crane 112. Jul 2, 1974 Murder Is a Work of Art Bob Crane 113. Jul 3, 1974 Edwards Tug and Salvage Bob Crane 114. Jul 4, 1974 Larceny on the Lake Bob Crane 115. Jul 5, 1974 OLAM aka On the Lam aka The Lamb(s) Bob Crane 116. Jul 8, 1974 Corpse Takes a Sleigh Ride Monte Markham 117. Jul 9, 1974 Marionettes Monte Markham 118. Jul 10, 1974 Ghost of the Black Plague Monte Markham 119. Jul 11, 1974 Trunkful of Trouble Monte Markham 120. Jul 12, 1974 Grand Prize Monte Markham 121. Jul 15, 1974 Welcome Home Denny Shackleford Joe Campanella 122. Jul 16, 1974 Death of a Genius Joe Campanella 123. Jul 17, 1974 Remember Me? Joe Campanella 124. Jul 18, 1974 Lost in Time Joe Campanella 125. Jul 19, 1974 Once Upon a Truck Joe Campanella 126. Jul 22, 1974 Corpse Takes the Stand Ross Martin 127. Jul 23, 1974 Carnival of Menace Ross Martin 128. Jul 24, 1974 Chicago John and the Glitter People Ross Martin 129. Jul 25, 1974 Smoke Screen Ross Martin 130. Jul 26, 1974 Holdout (LAST SHOW IN SERIES) Ross Martin ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is an alphabetical listing of the THE ZERO HOUR No. Date or Week Title --- ------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- 76. May 13, 1974 Arm's Length 111. Jul 1, 1974 Bend, Spindle and Mutilate 21. Week 5 Blessing Way, Part 1 22. Week 5 Blessing Way, Part 2 23. Week 5 Blessing Way, Part 3 24. Week 5 Blessing Way, Part 4 25. Week 5 Blessing Way, Part 5 96. Jun 10, 1974 Bonnie and Clyde Are Alive and Living as Mary and Bill 46. Week 10 But I Wouldn't Want to Die There, Part 47. Week 10 But I Wouldn't Want to Die There, Part 48. Week 10 But I Wouldn't Want to Die There, Part 49. Week 10 But I Wouldn't Want to Die There, Part 50 Week 10 But I Wouldn't Want to Die There, Part 66. Apr 29, 1974 Bye-Bye Narco 127. Jul 23, 1974 Carnival of Menace 128. Jul 24, 1974 Chicago John and the Glitter People 110. Jun 28, 1974 Children Are Dying 100. Jun 14, 1974 Clay Pigeons 103. Jun 19, 1974 Come Light My Fire 116. Jul 8, 1974 Corpse Takes a Sleigh Ride 126. Jul 22, 1974 Corpse Takes the Stand 61. Week 13 Deadman's Tale, Part 1 62. Week 13 Deadman's Tale, Part 2 63. Week 13 Deadman's Tale, Part 3 64. Week 13 Deadman's Tale, Part 4 65. Week 13 Deadman's Tale, Part 5 91. Jun 3, 1974 Death at Half a Length 85. May 24, 1974 Death Is a Puppeteer 122. Jul 16, 1974 Death of a Genius 105. Jun 21, 1974 Death on Canvas 36. Week 8 Desperate Witness, Part 1 37. Week 8 Desperate Witness, Part 2 38. Week 8 Desperate Witness, Part 3 39. Week 8 Desperate Witness, Part 4 40. Week 8 Desperate Witness, Part 5 56. Week 12 Die in the Country, Part 1 57. Week 12 Die in the Country, Part 2 58. Week 12 Die in the Country, Part 3 59. Week 12 Die in the Country, Part 4 60. Week 12 Die in the Country, Part 5 86. May 27, 1974 Doctor Rivington, Presumably 99. Jun 13, 1974 Double Date to Destiny 113. Jul 3, 1974 Edwards Tug and Salvage 72. May 7, 1974 Escape to Nowhere 69. May 2, 1974 Extortionist 16. Week 4 Face of the Foe, Part 1 17. Week 4 Face of the Foe, Part 2 18. Week 4 Face of the Foe, Part 3 19. Week 4 Face of the Foe, Part 4 20. Week 4 Face of the Foe, Part 5 73. May 8, 1974 Fair's Fair You Know 90. May 31, 1974 Favor You Can't Refuse 92. Jun 4, 1974 Floating Down the River 11. Week 3 Fourth of Forever, Part 1 12. Week 3 Fourth of Forever, Part 2 13. Week 3 Fourth of Forever, Part 3 14. Week 3 Fourth of Forever, Part 4 15. Week 3 Fourth of Forever, Part 5 118. Jul 10, 1974 Ghost of the Black Plague 120. Jul 12, 1974 Grand Prize 51. Week 11 Heir Hunters, Part 1 52. Week 11 Heir Hunters, Part 2 53. Week 11 Heir Hunters, Part 3 54. Week 11 Heir Hunters, Part 4 55. Week 11 Heir Hunters, Part 5 130. Jul 26, 1974 Holdout (Last show) 106. Jun 24, 1974 House That Clemont Built 74. May 9, 1974 Housecall 41. Week 9 If Two of Them Are Dead, Part 1 42. Week 9 If Two of Them Are Dead, Part 2 43. Week 9 If Two of Them Are Dead, Part 3 44. Week 9 If Two of Them Are Dead, Part 4 45. Week 9 If Two of Them Are Dead, Part 5 107. Jun 25, 1974 Joint Account 114. Jul 4, 1974 Larceny on the Lake 124. Jul 18, 1974 Lost in Time 98. Jun 12, 1974 Mannequin Sham 117. Jul 9, 1974 Marionettes 82. May 21, 1974 Mind of the Beholder 112. Jul 2, 1974 Murder Is a Work of Art 115. Jul 5, 1974 OLAM aka On the Lam aka The Lamb(s) 93. Jun 5, 1974 Once a Thief 125. Jul 19, 1974 Once Upon a Truck 94. Jun 6, 1974 Other Sins Only Speak, Murder Shrieks Out 101. Jun 17, 1974 Past Is Always Present 88. May 29, 1974 Pigs Could Put You in the Pen 70. May 3, 1974 Price of Admission 26. Week 6 Princess Stakes Murder, Part 1 27. Week 6 Princess Stakes Murder, Part 2 28. Week 6 Princess Stakes Murder, Part 3 29. Week 6 Princess Stakes Murder, Part 4 30. Week 6 Princess Stakes Murder, Part 5 31. Week 7 Queen in Danger, Part 1 32. Week 7 Queen in Danger, Part 2 33. Week 7 Queen in Danger, Part 3 34. Week 7 Queen in Danger, Part 4 35. Week 7 Queen in Danger, Part 5 95. Jun 7, 1974 Rehabilitation of Citizen Fimple 123. Jul 17, 1974 Remember Me? 78. May 15, 1974 Reward 104. Jun 20, 1974 Riders Wanted: Share Expenses 68. May 1, 1974 Scream of the Hawk 71. May 6, 1974 Shortage Story 97. Jun 11, 1974 Sisters of Satan 89. May 30, 1974 Sky Lab, Are You There? 129. Jul 25, 1974 Smoke Screen 06. Week 2 Someone's Death, Part 1 07. Week 2 Someone's Death, Part 2 08. Week 2 Someone's Death, Part 3 09. Week 2 Someone's Death, Part 4 10. Week 2 Someone's Death, Part 5 77. May 14, 1974 Some People Die Only Once 80. May 17, 1974 Strange Odyssey of Sandy Mitchell 67. Apr 30, 1974 Terror in the Night 84 May 23, 1974 There's a Man in 211 108. Jun 26, 1974 Tiger Cages 119. Jul 11, 1974 Trunkful of Trouble 79. May 16, 1974 Villainous Verdict 75. May 10, 1974 Violation 109. Jun 27, 1974 Violence Takes a Curtain Call 87. May 28, 1974 Wanted: A Willing Companion 121. Jul 15, 1974 Welcome Home Denny Shackleford 81. May 20, 1974 White Flame Burning Bright 83. May 22, 1974 Why Is Ted Marcosi Driving Aunt Sally Insane? 01. Week 1 Wife of the Red-Haired Man, Part 1 02. Week 1 Wife of the Red-Haired Man, Part 2 03. Week 1 Wife of the Red-Haired Man, Part 3 04. Week 1 Wife of the Red-Haired Man, Part 4 05. Week 1 Wife of the Red-Haired Man, Part 5 102. Jun 18, 1974 Woman in Black For any comments on this log contact dickjudge@juno.com.