''Box 13'' is a syndicated radio drama about the escapades of newspaperman-turned-mystery novelist Dan Holiday, played by film star

Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...

. Created by Ladd's company, Mayfair Productions, ''Box 13'' aired in different cities over different dates and times. It first aired in several United States radio markets in October 1947.

Synopsis

To seek out new ideas for his fiction, Holiday ran a classified ad in the ''Star-Times'' newspaper where he formerly worked: "Adventure wanted, will go anywhere, do anything – write Box 13, Star-Times". The stories followed Holiday's adventures when he responded to the letters sent to him by such people as a psycho killer and various victims.

Cast and Crew

Main Cast

as Dan Holiday * Sylvia Picker as Holiday's scatterbrained secretary, Suzy. *

Edmund MacDonald Edmund Francis MacDonald (May 7, 1908 – September 2, 1951) was an American actor. Early years MacDonald was born in Boston. He had one brother. Career MacDonald gained early acting experience in stock theater on Long Island. He made hi ...

as police Lt. Kling, Holiday's foil. Guest cast members included

Betty Lou Gerson Betty Lou Gerson (April 20, 1914 – January 12, 1999) was an American actress, predominantly active in radio but also in film and television and as a voice actress. She is best known as the original voice of Cruella de Vil from the Disney anima ...

Frank Lovejoy Frank Andrew Lovejoy Jr. (March 28, 1912 – October 2, 1962) was an American actor in radio, film, and television. He is perhaps best remembered for appearing in the film noir '' The Hitch-Hiker'' and for starring in the radio drama '' Night Beat ...

Lurene Tuttle Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 – May 28, 1986) was an American actress and acting coach, who made the transition from vaudeville to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's more versatile a ...

, Alan Reed,

Luis Van Rooten Luis d'Antin van Rooten (November 29, 1906 – June 17, 1973) was a Mexican-born American actor. He was sometimes credited as Louis Van Rooten. Van Rooten was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and emigrated to the United States with his parents when ...

, and John Beal.

Vern Carstensen Vern is a masculine given name, often a short form (hypocorism) of Vernon, Lavern or other names. People named Vern include: * Vernon Vern Bakalich (1929–2015), New Zealand rugby league player * Verdi Vern Barberis (1928–2005), Australian wei ...

, who directed ''Box 13'' for producer Richard Sanville, was also the show's announcer. The series featured music by Rudy Schrager. Russell Hughes, who had previously hired Ladd as a radio actor in 1935 at a $19 weekly salary, wrote most of the scripts, sometimes in collaboration with Ladd. The partners in Mayfair Productions were Ladd and Bernie Joslin, who had previously run the chain of Mayfair Restaurants. Raymond Burr appeared in some episodes.

Adaptations

At least one attempt to convert the series for television was tried when Ladd appeared in an adaptation of "Daytime Nightmare" (retitled "Committed") on CBS' '' General Electric Theater'' (December 5, 1954). Russell Hughes, who was then working at Columbia, reworked the script for the small screen. "We hope it comes off well", said Ladd. "If so, the other 51 scenarios are on the shelf, waiting." The show was produced by Jaguar, Ladd's own company. The TV show did not result in a series. In 1956, Ladd announced that Jaguar would still attempt to make a series, but Ladd would not star as Holiday. Ladd's wife Sue Carol was reported as being involved in casting. In 1958, Jaguar hired Charles Bennett to adapt the series into a television series. In 1959, it was reported Ladd was working on scripts for a TV series with

Aaron Spelling Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer and occasional actor. His productions included the TV series ''Family'' (1976–1980), '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976–1981), ''The Love Boat'' (1977–1986 ...

. Bill Leslie was to play the lead, opposite

Ann McRae Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

. Shortly before his death, Ladd announced plans to make a feature film version of the show. He said he would play the lead and the movie would feature 13 cameos from stars that Ladd had worked with in the past. Possible names included

William Bendix William Bendix (January 14, 1906 – December 14, 1964) was an American film, radio, and television actor, who typically played rough, blue-collar characters. He is best remembered for his role in ''Wake Island'', which earned him an Academy ...

, Veronica Lake, Brian Donlevy, and Macdonald Carey. ''Box 13'' was also re-imagined (rather than a straight adaptation or continuation) as a comic book series in 2010, by David Gallaher and Steve Ellis, and published by ComiXology. It is published digitally by comiXology and published in print by

Red 5 Comics Red 5 is an independent comic book publisher, known for producing a combination of creator-owned and internally developed titles, including their best known title, ''Atomic Robo''. Red 5 was one of the first comics publishers to jump into digital d ...

: http://www.red5comics.com/?p=668

Episodes

References

External links

*{{InternetArchiveOTR, id=OTRR_Box_13_Singles, title=Box 13
"Committed" for ''General Electric Theater''
at Internet Archive
Internet Archive: ''Box 13''OTR Net Library – all 52 episodes of ''Box 13''Zoot Radio, free ''Box 13'' old time radio show downloads, over 50 episodes
American radio dramas 1940s American radio programs Syndicated radio programs