The Man Called X

The Man Called X is an espionage radio drama that aired on CBS and NBC from July 10, 1944, to May 20, 1952.[1] The radio series was later adapted for television and was broadcast for one season, 1956–1957.

People

Herbert Marshall had the lead role of agent Ken Thurston/"Mr. X", an American intelligence agent[2] who took on dangerous cases in a variety of exotic locations.[1] Leon Belasco played Mr. X's comedic sidekick, Pegon Zellschmidt,[1] who always turned up in remote parts of the world because he had a "cousin" there. Zellschmidt annoyed and helped Mr. X.

Jack Latham was an announcer for the program,[2] and Wendell Niles was the announcer from 1947 to 1948.[1][3] Orchestras led by Milton Charles, Johnny Green, Felix Mills,[2] and Gordon Jenkins supplied the background music.[1] William N. Robson was the producer and director. Stephen Longstreet was the writer.[4]

Production

The Man Called X replaced America — Ceiling Unlimited on the CBS schedule.[5]

Television

Main article: The Man Called X (TV series)

The series was later adapted to a 39-episode syndicated television series (1956–1957) starring Barry Sullivan as Thurston for Ziv Television.[6]

Episodes

Season 1 (1956)

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"For External Use Only"Eddie DavisStory by : Ladislas Farago
Teleplay by : Stuart Jerome, Harold Swanton, and William P. Templeton		January 27, 1956 (1956-01-27)
22"Ballerina Story"Eddie DavisLeonard HeidemanFebruary 3, 1956 (1956-02-03)
33"Extradition"Eddie DavisEllis MarcusFebruary 10, 1956 (1956-02-10)
44"Assassination"William CastleStuart JeromeFebruary 17, 1956 (1956-02-17)
55"Truth Serum"Eddie DavisHarold SwantonFebruary 24, 1956 (1956-02-24)
66"Afghanistan"Eddie DavisLeonard HeidmanMarch 2, 1956 (1956-03-02)
77"Embassy"Herbert L. StrockLaurence Heath and Jack RockMarch 9, 1956 (1956-03-09)
88"Dangerous"Eddie DavisGeorge CallahanMarch 16, 1956 (1956-03-16)
99"Provocateur"Eddie DavisArthur WeissMarch 23, 1956 (1956-03-23)
1010"Local Hero"Leon BensonEllis MarcusMarch 30, 1956 (1956-03-30)
1111"Maps"Eddie DavisJack RockMay 4, 1956 (1956-05-04)
1212"U.S. Planes"Eddie DavisWilliam L. StuartApril 13, 1956 (1956-04-13)
1313"Acoustics"Eddie DavisOrville H. HamptonApril 20, 1956 (1956-04-20)
1414"The General"Eddie DavisLeonard HeidemanApril 27, 1956 (1956-04-27)

Season 2 (1956–1957)

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
151"Missing Plates"Eddie DavisJack RockSeptember 27, 1956 (1956-09-27)
162"Enemy Agent"Eddie DavisStory by :
Teleplay by : Gene Levitt		October 4, 1956 (1956-10-04)
173"Gold"Eddie DavisJack LairdOctober 11, 1956 (1956-10-11)
184"Operation Janus"Eddie DavisStory by :
Teleplay by : Jack Rock and Art Wallace		October 18, 1956 (1956-10-18)
195"Staff Headquarters"Eddie DavisLeonard HeidemanOctober 25, 1956 (1956-10-25)
206"Underground"Eddie DavisWilliam L. StuartNovember 1, 1956 (1956-11-01)
217"Spare Parts"Eddie DavisJack LairdNovember 8, 1956 (1956-11-08)
228"Fallout"Eddie DavisStory by :
Teleplay by : Arthur Weiss		November 15, 1956 (1956-11-15)
239"Speech"Eddie DavisStory by :
Teleplay by : Ande Lamb		November 22, 1956 (1956-11-22)
2410"Ship Sabotage"Eddie DavisJack RockNovember 29, 1956 (1956-11-29)
2511"Rendezvous"Eddie DavisEllis MarcusDecember 5, 1956 (1956-12-05)
2612"Switzerland"Eddie DavisLeonard HeidemanDecember 12, 1956 (1956-12-12)
2713"Voice On Tape"Eddie DavisStory by :
Teleplay by : Leonard Heideman		December 19, 1956 (1956-12-19)
2814"Code W"Eddie DavisArthur WeissDecember 26, 1956 (1956-12-26)
2915"Gas Masks"Eddie DavisStory by :
Teleplay by : Jack Rock		January 3, 1957 (1957-01-03)
3016"Murder"Eddie DavisLee BergJanuary 10, 1957 (1957-01-10)
3117"Train Blow-Up"Eddie DavisEllis MarcusFebruary 6, 1957 (1957-02-06)
3218"Powder Keg"Jack HerzbergLes Crutchfield and Jack RockFebruary 13, 1957 (1957-02-13)
3319"Passport"Eddie DavisNorman JolleyFebruary 20, 1957 (1957-02-20)
3420"Forged Documents"Eddie DavisCharles MergendahlFebruary 27, 1957 (1957-02-27)
3521"Australia"Lambert HillJack RockMarch 6, 1957 (1957-03-06)
3622"Radio"Eddie DavisGeorge CallahanMarch 13, 1957 (1957-03-13)
3723"Business Empire"Leslie GoodwinsHerbert Purdum and Jack RockMarch 20, 1957 (1957-03-20)
3824"Hungary"Eddie DavisFritz Blocki and George CallahanMarch 27, 1957 (1957-03-27)
3925"Kidnap"Eddie DavisGeorge CallahanApril 4, 1957 (1957-04-04)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 431–432. ISBN 978-0195076783. man called x espionage.
  2. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (2015). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland. p. 215. ISBN 978-1476605289. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Wilk, Ralph (January 2, 1948). "Los Angeles" (PDF). Radio Daily. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  4. ^ Little, Mary (July 24, 1944). "Airglances". The Des Moines Register. p. 9. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "Herbert Marshall Stars in Dramatic Series Starting July 10th on WHP". Harrisburg Telegraph. July 8, 1944. p. 15. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947–1987'. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 35. ISBN 0786411988.