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The Blue Beetle

The Blue Beetle was an early comic book hero that tugged on the cape of Superman. Created by Charles Nicholas for the comic book Mystery Men, it first appeared in 1939.

Blue Beetle

24 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 10 hours, 10 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
12 Audio CDs


Choose your CD format
or order disks individually: Add to Cart
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Play a sample episode from July 10, 1940:

"Saved By A Hair"



... or click here to save the Mp3 file to your computer
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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Blue Beetle

Juvenile Super-Hero Serial (1940)

Blue Beetle CoverThe Blue Beetle was another early comic book hero that tugged on the cape of Superman. Created by Charles Nicholas for the comic book Mystery Men, it first appearedin 1939. The Blue Beetle was moved with his popularity to newspaper syndication and then the old time radio show in 1940, in addition to continued comic book adventures.Frank Lovejoy (middle) with Joan Banks and children
Actor Frank Lovejoy (middle)
with the actress Joan Banks and their children.
Frank Lovejoy appeared in several radio
programmes, including Nightbeat

On radio, Blue Beetle's career was rather short-lived, but it was exciting while it lasted. Fine radio and motion picture actor Frank Lovejoy (often on Suspense, and star of Nightbeat) was the Blue Beetle for the first 13 episodes, while for the rest of the shows the actor was uncredited. The Blue Beetle was a young police officer who saw the need for extra-ordinary crime fighting. He took the task on himself by secretly donning a superhero costume to create fear in the criminals who were to learn to fear the Blue Beetle's wrath. The 13-minute segments were usually only 2 parts…so the stories were simple and obvious in comparison to the many-parted Superman radio show.The Blue Beetle the distinction of being one of the few golden age characters to survive into to present, but the character has been through many changes and revisions, and the original character is quite different from the one that comic book readers know today.

There are many juvenile radio action and adventure serials to choose from. Some of the super heroes are Superman, Captain Midnight, and The Green Hornet. The aviation adventure shows include Hop Harrigan, Speed Gibson and The Air Adventures of Jimmy Allen. Jungle Jim and Tarzan roam the wilder regions of the Dark Continent, while Terry and the Pirates found adventure in the Orient. Our own Wild West gave us excitement aplenty, like Sky King or Straight Arrow, along with several famous cowpokes in their own half-hour shows. For more adventure, see also Dick TracyClick here for more information on comics and funny pages in old time radio.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    13
    12     1


    COMMENTS

    Well if you enjoy the whacky pre-code Fox Comics Blue Beetle you'll enjoy these shows. Captures golden-age superheroes better than Superman which wasn't easy. Put away your critical eye and seriousness and give a listen.

    Robert Verified Purchase

    Frank Lovejoy was a great radio actor. Blue Beetle was not his best but his performance made the show good. John southard

    John Verified Purchase

    I enjoyed the programs and as such 1939 a little bit over the top but a piece of history the sound was not that great at times I missed some of the programs. Loved the mystery programs and crime Bulldog Drummond

    Roger Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    24 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 10 hours, 10 min
    24 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 10 hours, 10 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 24 shows - total playtime 10 hours 10 minutes
    2. Blue Beetle 400515 01-02 Origin - Smashing Spy Ring.mp3
    3. Blue Beetle 400517 03-04 Sabatoge - Liquidation.mp3
    4. Blue Beetle 400522 05-06 Murder For Profit.mp3
    5. Blue Beetle 400524 07-08 Blasting Dynamite Gang.mp3
    6. Blue Beetle 400529 09-10 Invisible Ghost.mp3
    7. Blue Beetle 400531 11-12 Death Rides Horseback.mp3
    8. Blue Beetle 400605 13-14 Death Strikes From The East.mp3
    9. Blue Beetle 400607 15-16 Sea Serpent.mp3
    10. Blue Beetle 400612 17-18 Frame Up.mp3
    11. Blue Beetle 400614 19-20 Spirits Don't Talk.mp3
    12. Blue Beetle 400619 21-22 Thoroughbreds Always Come Through.mp3
    13. Blue Beetle 400621 23-24 Smashing The Arson Ring.mp3
    14. Blue Beetle 400626 25-26 Rounding Up The Payroll Bandits.mp3
    15. Blue Beetle 400703 27-28 Crime Incorportaed.mp3
    16. Blue Beetle 400710 29-30 Saved By A Hair.mp3
    17. Blue Beetle 400717 31-32 Finesse In Diamonds.mp3
    18. Blue Beetle 400725 33-34 Sabotage Incorporated.mp3
    19. Blue Beetle 400731 35-36 Smashing The Restaurant Racket.mp3
    20. Blue Beetle 400807 37-38 Two Rackets In One.mp3
    21. Blue Beetle 400814 39-40 Underworld Goes Underground.mp3
    22. Blue Beetle 400821 41-42 Dancing Ghost Of Rocky Hill.mp3
    23. Blue Beetle 400828 43-44 Whale Of Pirates Folly.mp3
    24. Blue Beetle 400904 45-46 Asylum Of Doctor Drear.mp3
    25. Blue Beetle 400911 47-48 Last Show Jewel Mystery.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    24 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 10 hours, 10 min
    24 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 10 hours, 10 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 24 shows - total playtime 10 hours 10 minutes
    2. Blue Beetle 400515 01-02 Origin - Smashing Spy Ring.mp3
    3. Blue Beetle 400517 03-04 Sabatoge - Liquidation.mp3
    4. Blue Beetle 400522 05-06 Murder For Profit.mp3
    5. Blue Beetle 400524 07-08 Blasting Dynamite Gang.mp3
    6. Blue Beetle 400529 09-10 Invisible Ghost.mp3
    7. Blue Beetle 400531 11-12 Death Rides Horseback.mp3
    8. Blue Beetle 400605 13-14 Death Strikes From The East.mp3
    9. Blue Beetle 400607 15-16 Sea Serpent.mp3
    10. Blue Beetle 400612 17-18 Frame Up.mp3
    11. Blue Beetle 400614 19-20 Spirits Don't Talk.mp3
    12. Blue Beetle 400619 21-22 Thoroughbreds Always Come Through.mp3
    13. Blue Beetle 400621 23-24 Smashing The Arson Ring.mp3
    14. Blue Beetle 400626 25-26 Rounding Up The Payroll Bandits.mp3
    15. Blue Beetle 400703 27-28 Crime Incorportaed.mp3
    16. Blue Beetle 400710 29-30 Saved By A Hair.mp3
    17. Blue Beetle 400717 31-32 Finesse In Diamonds.mp3
    18. Blue Beetle 400725 33-34 Sabotage Incorporated.mp3
    19. Blue Beetle 400731 35-36 Smashing The Restaurant Racket.mp3
    20. Blue Beetle 400807 37-38 Two Rackets In One.mp3
    21. Blue Beetle 400814 39-40 Underworld Goes Underground.mp3
    22. Blue Beetle 400821 41-42 Dancing Ghost Of Rocky Hill.mp3
    23. Blue Beetle 400828 43-44 Whale Of Pirates Folly.mp3
    24. Blue Beetle 400904 45-46 Asylum Of Doctor Drear.mp3
    25. Blue Beetle 400911 47-48 Last Show Jewel Mystery.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    24 recordings on 12 Audio CDs. Total playtime 10 hours, 10 min
    24 recordings on 12 Audio CDs
    total playtime 10 hours, 10 min

    Blue Beetle Disc A001

    1. Blue Beetle 400515 01-02 Origin - Smashing Spy Ring
    2. Blue Beetle 400517 03-04 Sabatoge - Liquidation

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A002

    1. Blue Beetle 400522 05-06 Murder For Profit
    2. Blue Beetle 400524 07-08 Blasting Dynamite Gang

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A003

    1. Blue Beetle 400529 09-10 Invisible Ghost
    2. Blue Beetle 400531 11-12 Death Rides Horseback

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A004

    1. Blue Beetle 400605 13-14 Death Strikes From The East
    2. Blue Beetle 400607 15-16 Sea Serpent

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A005

    1. Blue Beetle 400612 17-18 Frame Up
    2. Blue Beetle 400614 19-20 Spirits Don't Talk

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A006

    1. Blue Beetle 400619 21-22 Thoroughbreds Always Come Through
    2. Blue Beetle 400621 23-24 Smashing The Arson Ring

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A007

    1. Blue Beetle 400626 25-26 Rounding Up The Payroll Bandits
    2. Blue Beetle 400703 27-28 Crime Incorportaed

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A008

    1. Blue Beetle 400710 29-30 Saved By A Hair
    2. Blue Beetle 400717 31-32 Finesse In Diamonds

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A009

    1. Blue Beetle 400725 33-34 Sabotage Incorporated
    2. Blue Beetle 400731 35-36 Smashing The Restaurant Racket

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A010

    1. Blue Beetle 400807 37-38 Two Rackets In One
    2. Blue Beetle 400814 39-40 Underworld Goes Underground

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A011

    1. Blue Beetle 400821 41-42 Dancing Ghost Of Rocky Hill
    2. Blue Beetle 400828 43-44 Whale Of Pirates Folly

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Blue Beetle Disc A012

    1. Blue Beetle 400904 45-46 Asylum Of Doctor Drear
    2. Blue Beetle 400911 47-48 Last Show Jewel Mystery

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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