''Confession'' is an American

old-time radio The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the early ...

crime drama

anthology series An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a differ ...

. It was broadcast on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

from July 5, 1953, to September 13, 1953, as a summer replacement for '' Dragnet''.

Format

''Confession'' dramatized material from files of corrections departments from across the United States. Radio historian John Dunning compared ''Confession'' to ''Dragnet'', writing, "''Confession'' had a texture and sound not unlike ''Dragnet''; indeed, the ''Dragnet'' influence was evident throughout." Although both programs featured crimes taken from real life, he added, "''Dragnet'' began with the crime while ''Confession'' unfolded in reverse order." Each episode of the program began with the following dialog:

Criminal: I make this confession of my own free will because it is true. There wasn't any force or violence used upon my person to induce me to make these statements. Without promise of immunity or gratuity, I confess. Announcer: You understand, of course, your statements will be made public to the radio program ''Confession''? Criminal: I do. Announcer: You are listening to ''Confession''. This confession is a matter of documented record. You will hear the story of this crime experience in the person's own words. This is ''Confession''.

Personnel

The only regular character on ''Confession'' was Richard A. McGee, director of the California State Department of Corrections. He was portrayed by

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. Other actors heard frequently in supporting roles were

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, Joyce McCluskey,

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, and

Barney Phillips Bernard Philip Ofner (October 20, 1913 – August 17, 1982), better known by his stage name Barney Phillips, was an American film, television, and radio actor. His most prominent roles include that of Sgt. Ed Jacobs on the 1950s '' Dragnet' ...

. The real Richard McGee appeared midway through each program to remind listeners, "Crime does not pay." John Wald was the announcer. Homer Canfield and Warren Lewis were producers, and Canfield was the director. Music was by J. Frederick Albech. Writers were Lou Rusoff and Don Brinkley, and Warren Lewis was the script supervisor.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Logs

Log of episodes of ''Confession'' from Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs

Log of episodes of ''Confession'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group

Log of episodes of ''Confession'' from radioGOLDINdex

Streaming

Episodes of ''Confession'' from Internet Archive

Episodes of ''Confession'' from Old Time Radio Researchers Group Library
1953 radio programme debuts 1953 radio programme endings NBC radio programs American radio dramas 1950s American radio programs