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div.yiv8760684745WordSection1 {}#yiv8760684745 I've been doing some research on
Frank's only dramatic role in a radio series. The September 5, 1953 Billboard
has an article on Frank's new show "Frankie Galahad, Private Detective." The
new series was set for an NBC debut
on Tuesday evenings in early October. Discovered AP articles detailing the
"audition" tapes of that proposed show and
an "Erle Stanley Gardner detective series. Obviously neither concept generated
much excitement and the footloose,
fancy free Rocky Fortune was developed very quickly for an October 6th
beginning at 9:35 PM. Frank lead-in was the
very popular "Dragnet," with Jack Webb, and a five-minute newscast with John
Cameron Swayze. Rocky's surname
was Fortunato. The Italian name was anglicized for assimilation purposes. Rocco
( Rocky ) was not a detective but a fellow
who took on odd jobs and somehow fell into all kinds of misadventures involving
murder, kidnapping, swindles,
blackmail and bigamy. The show ran 25 minutes and never acquired a sponsor.
There were 26 episodes. The 10-13
show was never aired. The 11-3 show was broadcast despite claims it was
pre-empted for election coverage. I checked listings for 10-13 and a few
papers list it as the debut episode. For example, here’s one from the Tampa
Times October 13, 1953: I would guess they were broadcasting the show
heard the previous week throughout the land.The Variety review gives a date of
10-6 for the first show. NYT has an NBC ad and they spotlight theshow, 10-6. I
don't understand why it failed to get a sponsor. Frank was a hot property in
the fall of 53.Ed
Scott