The Fat Man

During these strange times we're all experiencing across the globe, I hope your self-isolation isn't too tough, with lots of old time radio shows to keep you entertained.

I receive quite a lot of requests for peculiar and sometimes quite obscure shows, and even if it sometimes takes me a little while, I always try my best to bring you the shows you want, to make RUSC as enjoyable as possible. 

This year is no exception - no matter if we're on lockdown or not - so please do keep those requests coming, because Joy and I both love to receive your emails!

New for this year, by request, you can listen to a detective series with the oddest title I've ever known - The Fat Man.

The introduction to each show starts the same way, with the announcer appearing to let us in to a secret. “He’s walking in to that drugstore. He’s stepping on to the scales.” The sound of a coin dropping, and then a mechanical voice: “Weight 237 pounds. Fortune: Danger.” The music rises then fades. “Who is it? The Fat Man!”

Created by Dashiell Hammett, author of The Thin Man, The Fat Man was a popular radio show during the 1940s and early 1950s.

The success of the radio series led to a film noir crime movie of the same title in 1951, which also starred J Scott Smart in the same title role of the portly detective. 

I have found lots more shows in the RUSC archives, so I will be adding these over the coming weeks, but sadly, there are only about 12 of the US version still available. The others that you will hear on RUSC are the Australian version. 

These are superb quality, but I'm uncertain who the star was. It may have been Lloyd Berrell, but I can't be sure. If you know the answer to "Who is it?" then please do let me know.

Happy listening my friends,