Espionage, Spies, and Secret Agents in Radio

"There's a man who leads a life of danger
To everyone he meets he stays a stranger
With every move he makes, another chance he takes
Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow ..."

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The spies and the detectives in old time radio shows have a lot in common on the surface. Both are forced to deal with some of humanities worst specimens, which makes a measure of cynicism part of their make-up. And in spite of the cynicism, both are essentially hopeful that their mission will make the world a better place.

What makes spies and the detectives such great characters in radio entertainment is the danger that is part of the air that they breathe. For the Detective, the danger comes from the Bad Guys that he is pursuing. We know that the Bad Guys motivation stems from evil; that is how they got to be Bad Guys in the first place. For the Spy, the enemy is a sovereign state, or a representative of that state.

Another essential difference between Espionage fiction and Crime Drama; the Crime story is a conflict between the Bad Guys in the form of criminals and the Good Guy Cops or Private Eyes. The Espionage Story, although it takes place on a personal level, is a competition between States, with the protagonist nation being the one the audience most identifies with.

The spy in fiction is often a loner, often with a loose hold on morality, often with a greater or lesser degree of ostentation. Fictional spies are of course, much more colorful than their real life counterparts. In reality, spies do all they can to prevent attracting any attention that could give away their identities. But audiences and producers would be lost without a showy shootout and a chase scene.

As players in the competition between states in real life, spies and their stories can be great fodder for propaganda. It is interesting and educational to see how the antagonists in Espionage stories change with the times.  In the late 30s, when rumors of War were swirling from Europe, the spies chased by Agent K-7 were European, and though enemies of democracy, generally not established as Nazi's.

As World War II descended on Paris, the couple in Lux Theater's "Winter in Paris" is hiding from not only German agents, but Russian as well. The Counter Spies deal mostly with Nazi's during the War Years, but after the War the enemy becomes drug smugglers, black-marketeers, and eventually Atomic competitors.  Cloak and Dagger's stories took place in both the European and Pacific theaters of WWII. The Soviet's and their minions were the very evil enemy in I Was a Communist for the F.B.I.

Radio came of age during WWII and the early years of the cold war. But Radio Spies have been around much longer than that. Espionage Radio between the World Wars was much more melodramatic than what we are used to today:

Dan Dunn, Secret Operative 48: Sabotage of the Giant Bomber

Dan Dunn, Secret Operative 48 was taken almost directly from the funny papers. Dunn was a copy of Dick Tracy in many ways, except for the bad guys he chased. Tracy fought fanciful inner city hoods, where as the enemies of Dan Dunn were after world domination, or at least sabotaging America's military might.

Secret Agent K7 Returns: Bombing Planes 1939

Secret Agent K7 Returns was being produced and broadcast at a time when rumors of war in Europe were swirling . Agent K-7 is a "former United States secret agent who operated in 22 countries." The stories themselves are the adventures of other agents, B-9 and Agent Z, and their lovely sidekicks, while K-7 narrates the tales. Poison gas, Sabotage, Defense secrets, and Suicide Ships are all part of the world of Secret Agent K-7. The stories seem somewhat simplistic, especially compared with modern espionage tales, but they are very effective in their 15 minute time frame.

Lux Radio Theater: British Agent (June 7, 1937)

Lux Radio Theater, the long running radio anthology series, was started by adapting Broadway plays for the radio, before turning to Hollywood movies. Espionage was a favorite of movie makers. The June 7, 1937 episode, "British Agent", tells the story of an agent who is left behind when the British Embassy in Moscow is abandoned during the Russian Revolution. Although frustrated with inactivity, the agent falls in love with a lovely Bolshevik.

Ned Jordan, Secret Agent: May 1941 Broadcast

Ned Jordan, Secret Agent was a short-lived, FBI inspired series from the pen of Fran Striker, the original writer of The Lone Ranger, and The Green Hornet. Jordan is a Federal Agent who foils the assassination plans of a secret society that tries to draw the US into war, works with a scientist developing a light for Blackouts, and protects Army plans from terrorists. Ned Jordan starred Jack McCarthy and featured future newsman, Mike Wallace as announcer. In another episode Jordan has to protect an Army Tank expert who is the target of the Fifth Column.

The Gulf Screen Guild Theater: Winter in Paris

The Gulf Screen Guild Theater present an adaptation of "Winter in Paris" on March 3, 1940. An American and Russian Spy fall in love while on the train in Europe. They are married and hide in Paris, knowing that they are doomed if they are found, all on the eve of the Second World War.

Counter Spy: Spy Submarine (Sept 14, 1942)

Counter Spy (produced by Philip H. Lord) fought enemy spies during WWII. In the Sept 14, 1942 broadcast a German Spy rows ashore to a small village in Maine. He is immediately recognized as a Spy by the locals, and David Harding, Counter Spy is brought in from Washington. With the aid of the local fisherman, the Spy's submarine is caught on the surface and forced to surrender. On Dec 14, 1942, a spy working in a defense plant kills his wife to throw off suspicion, but attracts Harding's attention. But Harding finds that the spy network is bigger than first suspected!

Fibber McGee and Molly : German Spy (April 18, 1944)

Fibber McGee and Molly even had their share of spy experiences. There may or may not be military secrets in Wistful Vista, but the Nation can rest assured that Fibber McGee and Molly are watching out for Nazi spies. On May 12, 1942, some one has been following Fibber around town and taking pictures, click-click-click! Or is it news photographer doing a story about a small town busy body? On April 18, 1944, Fibber is sure that his neighbor, Frank Schmaltz, is a Nazi Spy.

Douglas of the World: Double Trouble (1953)

Douglas of the World was a 1953 AFRS broadcast about "Brad Douglas , International Reporter" who manages to get in and out of trouble on a regular basis, and the listener can expect a pretty girl to be involved! The episode "Double Trouble" gets Brad involved in a kidnapping case that is also involved in a vote for the unification of Europe. The episode "Terrorists" investigates Iran's relationship with the West just prior to Premier Mossadegh's overthrow at the hands of the CIA. A disabled Korean War Vet threatens suicide by jumping off the UN building in "Judgment Day", until Douglas investigates the relationship between the Vet's service and the building.

Of course this just a small sample of the collection. Espionage and spies were so entrinched in popular culture that even comedy shows such as Amos and Andy were apt to meet a Nazi spy. There will be many happy hours of happy listening as the Spies of the Golden Age of Radio take you to worlds of mystery and intrigue. Just don't trust the attractive lady in the corner booth; was she the one in Tangiers? Or was it Singapore? And who has the Secret Formula now?!

See also: Article on Detectives in Old Time Radio.

See also: Old Time Radio Fights Nazi Spies Collection!

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