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Big Town was a reporter-type crime drama series that aired from 1937 to 1952. It told the story of Steve Wilson and his search for truth and justice. The role was first given to Edward Robinson, who was in the show until 1942, then to Edward Pawley from 1943 to 1951, and finally to Walter Greaza. Wilson's leading lady Lorelei Kilbourne, on the other hand, was played by Claire Trevor. Ona Munson and Fran Carlon were also casted as Lorelei in the show's later episodes.

In its 15-year run, the show was able to attract as much as 20 million listeners, making it one of the best crime drama series ever heard on the radio. In fact, due to its success, television, film (there were four), and comic book adaptations were made, and all proved to be equally successful.

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Please enjoy these 42 old time radio episodes:

Air Date Title Synopsis Rating
 01.18.1949 big town (463) a date with death

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy, Rinso. The misguided sister of a sick boy finds herself behind the wheel o...
 01.25.1949 big town (464) the fatal fix

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso ("Tour The World" contest). "Willy The Weep" sees a young girl ...
 02.01.1949 big town (465) murder in the snow

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Snow, Rinso. Screen star Linda Lane is going to tell the grand jury what sh...
 02.08.1949 big town (466) death at the wheel

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap ("tour the world" premium), Rinso. Bill Smith was a reckless driver. A...
 02.15.1949 big town (467) the prisoner's song

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. Johnny Young's going to burn in the "chair" tonight. It's up t...
 02.22.1949 big town (468) the charity killers

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso ("Tour The World" contest). Two old ladies practice grand larce...
 03.01.1949 big town (469) the fatal joke

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. "Babe" Barton, the widow of "Joker" Barton, is fresh out of ja...
 03.08.1949 big town (470) the crooked eye (aka fatal eye )

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. An expose of the fake detective racket. A crooked private eye ...
 03.15.1949 big town (471) the shiny gun

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. A young boy shoots his friend while playing with his father's ...
 03.22.1949 big town (472) the deadly summons

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. Elizabeth Blake has been killed in an accidental fall down a f...
 03.29.1949 big town (473) chill of death

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. There's a chill wind of death coming down from the north...to ...
 04.05.1949 big town (474) the deadly gimmick of the squeaking rat (aka tcot squeaking rat; the singing rat)

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. Racketeer Lawler offers to give the Illustrated Press the scoo...
 04.12.1949 big town (475) tcot lonely heart

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. Aunt Agatha Adams disappears after joining a lonely hearts clu...
 04.19.1949 big town (476) tcot iron fist

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. Anton Broder, the editor of a small foreign language weekly in...
 04.26.1949 the hunter

+ Wealthy playboy George Martin has been killed while hunting, but it was no accident. AFRS program ...
 05.03.1949 big town (478) fatal alibi

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso. Rip Rawson has knifed a truck driver on the docks. Sam miller ...
 05.10.1949 big town (479) confession (bad rep nightclub owner offers steve wilson exclusive story & tape of a murder)

+ Sponsored by: Lifebuoy Soap, Rinso (sauce pan premium). Nightclub comic Mike Evans has been shot a...

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My father, Robert Winckler, worked in over 200 radio shows in the 1930's & '40's during the "Golden Age of Hollywood." Here's a photo from the Hollywood BIG TOWN radio show starring Edward G. Robinson. Dad was the Newsboy on the CBS show and he loved working with Mr. Robinson. My Dad, my Grandfather, and Mr. Robinson were very good friends.

Bill

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This program was broadcast from 1937 until 1952. From 1937 until 1942 Edward G. Robinson played Steve Wilson, the editor of the crusading newspaper called the Illustrated Press.

BIG TOWN

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The Big Town Radio Program
Arch Oboler, commissioned to script for Big Town, relocated from New York to Hollywood to write for the show.
Scene from November 29th 1938 episode, 'What Have We to Be Thankful For.'
Eddie Robinson and Claire Trevor entertain three young admirers after a performance of Big Town during January 1938.
Music director Fran Frey brings his two wire-haired terriers to the studio for a broadcast about a dog-stealing racket.
Clark Andrews, Producer-Director of Big Town, directs wife, Claire Trevor, the show's co-star.
Edward G. Robinson, as Steve Wilson, in publicity photo for Big Town.
Spot ad for the premiere of the 2nd Fall Season of Big Town on September 20th 1938
February 24th 1940 Movie Radio Guide caption reads -- 'Eddie 'Big Town' Robinson smashed a fraudulent missing heirs racket on a recent broadcast, but hastened to explain that the Missing Heirs broadcast to follow (CBS) was no phony but the real McCoy.
Caption reads -- 'Paula Winslowe, on Big Town tonight, is one of Hollywood's best acting talents.
Caption reads - 'Ona Munson studies the script over Boss Robinson's shoulder.
Eddie Robinson's preference was to sit perched on his chair at the CBS mikes with other actors surrounding, entering or leaving him at the mikes as the episode progressed.
The June 1941 issue of Popular Science magazine took an inside look into the signs and slang of Radio's 'secret language.' In this panel, Eddie Robinson places his finger on his nose to signal that the script timing came in within 5 seconds of its target. Ona Munson smiles in agreement.
Ona Munson, as Lorelei, reviews 'copy' one last time as her deadline approaches.
Movie-Radio Guide spot ad for a 1942 Big Town schedule change.
Fran Carlon and Ed Pawley at the NBC mike for the Fall 1950 season of Big Town.
Director William N. Robson discusses a script during a rehearsal with Eddie Robinson and Ona Munson (from The New York Times of March 3rd 1940)
Fran Carlon as Lorelei and Ed Pawley as Steve pose for a staged renactment of Big Town fare for Radio Mirror
Bob Dryden as 'Harry the Hack' is featured in the second featurette panel
Fran Carlon and Ed Pawley are featured in the final featurette panel
Spot ad for the 1946 CBS run of Big Town, with Ed Pawley and Fran Carlon
Premiere spot ad for the 1952 CBS run of Big Town, with Walter Greaza and Fran Carlon.
Edward G. Robinson circa 1927
Eddie Robinson peruses one of the hundreds of books in his library.
Though not a trained pianist, Robinson enjoyed experimenting with his own original pieces.
Robinson reads to his son, Manny (Eddie Jr.)
Eddie Robinson emerges from a white tie affair with his wife (the former Gladys Lloyd)
Early Latin-American fan magazine publicity photo of Edward G. Robinson.
Candid shot of Eddie Robinson running a comb through Eddie Jr.'s hair. ( Eddie Jr.'s nickname was Manny, after his father's real name)
Father Eddie Robinson helps Eddie Jr. with his equestrian instruction.
Announcement of Hello Marie from 1932.
Carlton KaDell circa 1934
Carlton KaDell circa 1936
April 3 1937 Carlton KaDell article.
Carlton KaDell article from September 1937
Carlton KaDell circa 1938
KaDell emceed United Air Lines' In Time To Come in 1943
Carlton KaDell's ''wide-stance'' moment from Jan 15 1949
Announcement of A Life In Your Hands episode of July 31 1952
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Fran Carlon
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Fran Carlon
Basketball fix
newyork12
Claire Trevor as Lorelei Kilbourne
Cy Kendall as various grafters
Edward Pawley & Fran Carlon as Steve Wilson & Lorelei Kilbourne
Edward G. Robinson as Steve Wilson
Hanley Stafford
Larry Haines as Mozart
Lawson Zerbe as Dusty Miller
Mason Adams as Harry The Hack
Paula Winslowe as Miss Foster
Ted Osborne
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Big Town Promo
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