This is a comprehensive encyclopaedia to the more than 100 radio programmes portraying the American West, in fact and fiction, to generations of listeners from the Great Depression through the Cold War era. Both the popular and lesser known series, as well as would-be offerings that never made it past the audition stage, are included. Each entry describes the series, the extent to which it was based on actual facts, the audience it was written for, and its broadcast history. The descriptions also examine how the programs reflected society's changing social and cultural attitudes towards racial and ethnic minorities and the role of women. The availability of surviving audio copies and original scripts is noted. An extensive bibliography and several appendices provide additional sources of information about Western programming during the Golden Age of Radio.

This book examines radio and mystery drama from about 1932 to the genre's final appearance in the late 1950's. While its focus is on women detectives, French provides minute and fascinating details about dozens of mystery programs and includes a comprehensive listing of source material ranging from magazine articles, to dime detective novels, to film noir. Each lady detective appearing under one of eight cleverly conceived categories gets handsome, multi-page treatment. The author traces the chronological appearance of the subject's show, examines the program's history and origins, and details with substantial documentation the manner of the show's presentation and production. He intersperses the text with actual dialogue taken directly from the program scripts. Winner of the Agatha Award!

Sherlock Holmes is once again after the game which is afoot, but in the West of Tom Mix. Captain Midnight takes to the air and the virtual airwaves for us to solve a spy case. Mr. District Attoney solves a historic crime. Johnny Dollar adds a page to his expense account. Chandu the Magician lifts the veil on another mystery. These beloved characters from the world of old time radio are not gone forever, but live again in these pages in brand new stories, especially prepared for this edition. These short stories are in standard reading form, not re-tread scripts. Using you own imagination you can not only read them but hear those voices and sounds in your mind. Those who loved the "Theatre of Imagination" will love these stores pertaining to it from well-known authors including William F. Nolan, Jack A. French, Richard Lupoff, Jon Swartz, Steve Kallis, and Jim Harmon.