''Key to the Missing'' is a documentary TV series that aired on the

DuMont Television Network The DuMont Television Network (also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont Television, simply DuMont/Du Mont, or (incorrectly) Dumont ) was one of America's pioneer commercial television networks, rivaling NBC and CBS for the distinction of being ...

from July 4, 1948, to September 23, 1949. Each 30-minute episode was hosted by Archdale Jones. Based on the radio program ''Where Are They Now'', ''Key to the Missing'' sought to find missing people. Techniques used included displaying pictures and samples of handwriting of missing people and interviewing their relatives and friends. Viewers who had insights into where any of the missing people might be were asked to call with relevant information. The program's schedule had it on Friday nights for most of its time on the air, but it was on Sunday nights August - October 1948 and Thursday nights March - April 1949. Its competition included '' Places Please'' on CBS.

Production

Jones was the producer and director, with James Caddigan as technical director. The program originated from

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in New York City and was sustaining.

Reception

A review of the June 27, 1948, episode in the trade publication ''

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'' noted a "phony and completely unnecessary build-up" to one segment of the program, and it summarized, "Production was poor, pace non-existent."

Episode status

As with most DuMont series, no episodes are known to survive.

Bibliography

*David Weinstein, ''The Forgotten Network: DuMont and the Birth of American Television'' (Philadelphia:

Temple University Press Temple University Press is a university press founded in 1969 that is part of Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). It is one of thirteen publishers to participate in the Knowledge Unlatched pilot, a global library consortium approach t ...

, 2004) *Alex McNeil, ''Total Television'', Fourth edition (New York:

Penguin Books Penguin Books is a British publishing, publishing house. It was co-founded in 1935 by Allen Lane with his brothers Richard and John, as a line of the publishers The Bodley Head, only becoming a separate company the following year.Ballantine Books Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1998 and remains ...

, 1964)

References

External links