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Aired 1952 - 1954 I Was a Communist for the FBI rode the coattails of the Red Scare, aired even though the FBI refused to cooperate with its production. Based on the book by the same name by Matt Cvetic, an undercover operative who joined the Communist Party to spy from within.

This series capitalized on the new Red scare of the early 1950s: 78 episodes were recorded, without any assistance from the FBI, which refused to cooperate.

It didn't matter: anti-Communist hysteria was at a peak, and by the end of 1952 I Was a Communist was scheduled on more than 600 stations. The show was based on the book (and subsequent movie) by Matt Cvetic and purportedly told of his adventures as an undercover operative who joined the Communist Party to spy from within. Many of the stories contained double-edged conflicts: Cvetic constantly jockeyed for information, walking a tightrope among suspicious Party officials while unable to reveal his true mission even to his family, who shunned him. Communists were stereotyped, much as Hitler's Nazis had been a few years before: they were seen as cold and humorless, with their single goal to enslave the world. Cvetic could never be sure who might be a Party spy. Dana Andrews gave it on air of Hollywood glamour, always closing with these words: "I was a Communist for the FBI. I walk alone." Click here to read more about I Was A Communist For The FBI

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Please enjoy these 74 old time radio episodes:

Air Date	Title	Synopsis
04.16.1952	iwcf (00) (audition) little red schoolhouse	+ Program #3. ZIV Syndication. "Little Red Schoolhouse". Plans are made to subvert a small America...
04.23.1952	iwcf (01) i walk alone	+ Program #1. ZIV Syndication. "I Walk Alone". The Party tries to trap Cvetic through his mother. ...
04.30.1952	iwcf (02) i can't sleep	+ Program #2. ZIV Syndication. "I Can't Sleep". The Party assigns a room-mate to Cvetic with a tap...
05.07.1952	little red school house	+ Program #3. ZIV Syndication. "Little Red Schoolhouse". Plans are made to subvert a small America...
05.14.1952	iwcf (04) red red herring	+ Program #4. ZIV Syndication. "Red, Red Herring". Cvetic frames a loyal party member to protect h...
05.21.1952	iwcf (05) pit viper	+ Program #5. ZIV Syndication. "The Pit Viper". Cvetic tries to prevent the Party from creating un...
05.28.1952	iwcf (06) traitors for hire	+ Program #6. ZIV Syndication. "Traitors For Hire". Cvetic is working in the U.S. Employment Offic...
06.04.1952	iwcf (07) card game in the clouds	+ Program #7. ZIV Syndication. "Card Game In The Clouds". A game of gin rummy en route to Buffalo ...
06.11.1952	iwcf (08) american kremlin	+ Program #8. ZIV Syndication. "The American Kremlin". After seeing a dead body at Party headquart...
06.18.1952	iwcf (09) tight wire	+ Program #9. ZIV Syndication. "Tight Wire". The FBI assigns Cvetic the job of bugging a Communist...
06.25.1952	iwcf (10) a riot made to order	+ Program #10. ZIV Syndication. "A Riot Made To Order". Cvetic uses a sprinkler system to foil the...
07.02.1952	iwcf (11) where the red men roam	+ Program #11. ZIV Syndication. "Where The Red Men Roam". "The Battle Of The Bowl" doesn't go quit...
07.09.1952	iwcf (12) the dangerous dollars	+ Program #12. ZIV Syndication. "The Dangerous Dollars". Cvetic visits the Skyline Rancho, a resor...
07.16.1952	iwcf (13) rich man, poor man	+ Program #13. ZIV Syndication. "Rich Man, Poor Man". The Party plans the downfall of a wealthy ma...
07.23.1952	iwcf (14) canadian crossfire	+ Program #14. ZIV Syndication. "Canadian Crossfire". Cvetic is in Canada foiling the Party's plan...
07.30.1952	iwcf (15) draw the red curtain	+ Program #15. ZIV Syndication. "Draw The Red Curtain". Cvetic is assigned to help the Party take ...
08.06.1952	iwcf (16) red clouds on the good earth	+ Program #16. ZIV Syndication. "Red Clouds On The Good Earth". Cvetic is ordered to pose as a far...
08.13.1952	iwcf (17) exit on the left	+ Program #17. ZIV Syndication. "Exit On The Left". A member may give up the Party, but the Party ...
08.20.1952	iwcf (18) the red record	+ Program #18. ZIV Syndication. "The Red Record". Cvetic travels to Chicago looking for a "black b...
08.27.1952	iwcf (19) burnt offering	+ Program #19. ZIV Syndication. "Burnt Offering". Cvetic is told to help smuggle a U.S. secret wea...
09.03.1952	iwcf (20) squeeze play	+ Program #20. ZIV Syndication. "Squeeze Play". The Party takes an interest in the Leo Bremmer tri...
09.10.1952	iwcf (21) violence preferred	+ Program #21. ZIV Syndication. "Violence Preferred". When the Party orders all incriminating pape...
09.17.1952	iwcf (22) the rat race	+ Program #22. ZIV Syndication. "The Rat Race". Cvetic drives a hearse that is smuggling a wanted ...
09.24.1952	iwcf (23) jump to the whip	+ Program #23. ZIV Syndication. "Jump To The Whip". Matt Cvetic is ordered to Chicago to bail out ...
10.01.1952	iwcf (24) pennies from the dead	+ Program #24. ZIV Syndication. "Pennies From The Dead". The Party instructs Cvetic to impersonate...

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Featuring all of the existing episodes of this crime drama starring Dana Andrews as the real life double agent Matt Cvetic who penned a novel on his adventures, which was made into a movie, and the radio and TV series. Cvetic was an FBI undercover agent that joined the Communist Party as a spy. The closing of the program was great, as Andrews said, "I was a Communist for the FBI. I walk alone." The series was syndicated by ZIV, and was broadcast from 1952 to 1954 by stations that bought it including WOR-Mutual-New York.

I WAS A COMMUNIST FOR THE FBI

One of the best OTR radio shows out there. Hopefully the 3 or so missing episodes get found so we can have the complete series. According to wikipedia- "At least two transcribed dramas, I Was a Communist for the FBI and Bold Venture, were distributed to more than 500 stations each." There has to be copies in the basement of some small town radio station.

Jim

I love this radio series, not for its political slant other than as an interesting reflection of the era in which it was produced, but as a highly suspenseful drama about an undercover agent. Ever since I was a kid I have loved stories about heroes who have to go undercover to ferret out the evildoers; they are inherently loaded with bated tension and nervous anticipation throughout. When they are as well written and produced and especially acted as this series was, it is quite the roller coaster ride listening to it. The actual person that this series was supposedly based on was no real life hero as it turns out, but that's really of no importance as the drama here is key and it's fantastic.

Glenn

Not on the top of my list (not a Dana Andrews fan), but I wouldn’t change the channel If it came on). Some of the stories have been as good as any detective or drama. As you note, an interesting slice of America back in the day.

Bob

Interesting ZIV never did a TV Series based on the radio show - it would have been a good companion to "I Led 3 Lives" - perhaps They were too similar in content...

Steve

Cvetic was a nutcase and created a lawsuit asking where his millions were... so ZIV went with Philbrick for the television rendition. Interestingly, two of the tv episodes of LIVES were adapted from the FBI radio rendition.

Marty

This is a really good show. A bit over the top and campy at times, but thoroughly entertaining.

Bryan

Entertaining even though like Cvetic, overblown.

Steve

I really like this show. It can get a bit silly but great premise and some really suspenseful situations. I'd give it a shot no matter what your politics.

Brett

It was the show that rekindled my interest in OTR. I had listened to Dragnet on the radio when I was in college in the early 90s in LA (KNX would rebroadcast them). Then I moved back to Seattle after graduation. I inherited my grandfather's library when he passed, and among the books was "The Big Decision" by Matt Cvetic. I found it a very interesting read. Later I saw "I Was a Communist for the FBI" in a cassette series at the local library and, recognizing Cvetic's name on the cover, checked it out. I've been avidly listening to OTR ever since.

Brian

The movie from 1951 is really over the top, but well acted, as always, by Frank Lovejoy and enjoyable enough once you get passed all the preaching.

Glenn

I like listening to the show. I am constantly amazed at how stupid the Communists are and how easily fooled they are dealing with Dana Andrews character.

Ken

Of course, in real life you know the Communists were not stupid at all. It's kind of like Hogan's Heroes. They made all the nazis look stupid and silly, and in fact most were quite brilliant. Evil, but very intelligent.

John

I saw him on a couple of old TV Shows...I found it odd how he would talk...he talked in a way to hide his teeth...After freeze-framing, I realized he had terrible looking teeth....great voice, just terrible looking teeth...things you could get away with on the Radio, but not on Television.

Earl

We were so scared of the Red Menace back then. During those years my father would never join any organization save for the Knights of Columbus or the VFW out of fear they’d be found to be a Communist front organization.

John

I like it too, even though the McCarthy like anti-communist stance is completely abhorrent to me, it’s full of intrigue and angst that works well on the radio.

Ian

Can't stand the show, either. Politics have nothing to do with it and I don't care if the real-life person was a hero or a schmuck. I don't like the stories or Dana Andrews (at least not in that role).

maggie

Love it. Listening to Dana Andrews in this led me to watch many of his movies. I also like Truman Bradley, the announcer. Very distinctive voice.

Trent

This was aired on WGN in Chicago a couple of years after it was syndicated. I too enjoy the series.

Henry

Yes these are some stories that in one way or another are true matters of record .Reasons out country still is here.

Marty

I just found the plots on it a little too silly - certainly some good acting and some good scenes here and there, but it sometimes stretches credibility in how some of the characters or organizations behave. I find it kind of average, as some of the 50s syndicated radio and tv material goes.

Randy

I enjoy the show - listened to several episodes last night. Much of it is so applicable to today!

Susan

OVE this fascinating show. Just listened to it on the way to work. I was riveted. I was at work before I knew it.

Rick

It's so intense it has me on the edge of my seat! This is a truly great show, and Dana Andrews is so poignant when he "walks alone."

Shelly

"I Was a Communist for the FBI" (1952-1953) starred Dana Andrews as an FBI agent who was undercover in a local Communist Party cell. As Russian intervention has been in the news lately, it may be worth a listen. I enjoyed many of the episodes.

Izzie

78 episodes, I believe. Syndicated. Was also a book and a 1951 Academy Award-nominated movie.

Dave

Anyone know if the stories are true? The opening monologue implies that Matt Sebetic (?) and the stories are factual. I did not realize the show only lasted a year...but 78 episodes is a lot for a year, isn't it?

Pete