Mr. District Attorney

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For the films, see Mr. District Attorney (1941 film) and Mr. District Attorney (1947 film).
Mr. District Attorney
Mr. District Attorney cast 1947.jpg
The cast in 1947. From left: Len Doyle (Harrington), Jay Jostyn (the District Attorney), and Vicki Vola (Edith Miller)
GenreCrime drama
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
SyndicatesNBC Blue
NBC Red
ABC
StarringVicki Vola
Dwight Weist
Raymond Edward Johnson
Jay Jostyn
AnnouncerEd Herlihy
Mark Hawley
Fred Uttal
Created byEd Byron
Written byBob Shaw
Directed byEd Byron
Produced byPhillips H. Lord

Mr. District Attorney is a radio crime drama, produced by Samuel Bischoff, which aired on NBC and ABC from April 3, 1939, to June 13, 1952 (and in transcribed syndication through 1953). The series focused on a crusading district attorney (D.A.), initially known only as "Mister District Attorney," or "Chief", and was later translated to television. On television the D.A. had a name, Paul Garrett, and the radio version picked up this name in the final years when David Brian played the role. A key figure in the dramas was the D.A.'s secretary, Edith Miller (Vicki Vola).

History[]

Created, written, and directed by former law student Ed Byron, the series was inspired by the early years of New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey.[1] It was Dewey's public war against racketeering which led to his election as governor. Phillips H. Lord, creator of Gang Busters, helped to develop the concept and coined the title. Byron lent an air of accuracy and immediacy to his scripts through close study of crime statistics, a library of criminology texts, following the newspapers, and even going around rough bars to gain tips, background, and color from crooks and police alike.[2]

Produced throughout its run in New York City, the series began as a 15-minute serial, becoming a half-hour, self-contained series three months later as a summer replacement for The Bob Hope Show beginning June 27, 1939.[3] During 1942, Mr. District Attorney began battling Nazis, leading to conflicts with the FBI when the scripts reflected life too closely.[2]

The program was sponsored by Bristol-Myers.[4]

Cast and characters[]

  • Mr. District Attorney – The nameless title role was played by several actors throughout the run, with the breakdown as follows:
  • Voice of the Law – The show's signature was the opening announcer, known as the "Voice of the Law," who defined the creed and duties of Mr. District Attorney. The role was played by and also Jay Jostyn, prior to taking over the lead role
  • Miss Miller – Edith Miller was the district attorney's faithful secretary, played throughout the run by Vicki Vola
  • Miss Rand – The D.A.'s receptionist was played by Eleanor Silver and Arlene Francis.[1]
  • Len Harrington – The D.A.'s chief investigator, a former cop; played by Walter Kinsella, who had been heard in various police roles during the early years, and by Len Doyle from 1940 onward.
  • Other supporting players and guests on the series included such noted actors as Paul Stewart and Frank Lovejoy.
  • Harry Salter conducted the music.[7]

Television[]

David Brian in the title role, 1954.

Near the end of the radio run, the series was transferred to television. The first incarnation ran on ABC from October 1, 1951, through June 23, 1952, airing on alternate Mondays, first with The Amazing Mr. Malone and then Out of the Fog. The current radio cast reprised their roles: Jay Jostyn as Mr. District Attorney, Vicki Vola as Miss Miller, and Len Doyle as Harrington.

Season 1 (1951–52)[]

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"The Case Of The Homecoming"TBATBAOctober 1, 1951 (1951-10-01)
22"The Case Of The Bindle Boy"TBATBAOctober 15, 1951 (1951-10-15)
33"The Case Of The Cop-Killer"TBATBAOctober 29, 1951 (1951-10-29)
44"The Case Of The Bird Brain"TBATBANovember 12, 1951 (1951-11-12)
55"The Case Of The Dangerous Clown"TBATBANovember 26, 1951 (1951-11-26)
66"The Case Of The Silent Victim"TBATBADecember 10, 1951 (1951-12-10)
77"The Case Of The Crooked Finger"TBATBADecember 24, 1951 (1951-12-24)
88"The Case Of The Big Day"TBATBAJanuary 7, 1952 (1952-01-07)
99"The Case Of The Three Ravens"TBATBAJanuary 21, 1952 (1952-01-21)
1010"The Case Of All But Two"TBATBAFebruary 4, 1952 (1952-02-04)
1111"The Case Of The Rain-Check"TBATBAFebruary 18, 1952 (1952-02-18)
1212"The Case Of The Powder Keg"TBATBAMarch 3, 1952 (1952-03-03)
1313"The Case Of The Golden Square"TBATBAMarch 17, 1952 (1952-03-17)
1414"The Case Of The Beetle"TBATBAMarch 31, 1952 (1952-03-31)
1515"The Case Of The Grand Old Man"TBATBAApril 14, 1952 (1952-04-14)
1616"The Case Of The Bag-Man"TBATBAApril 28, 1952 (1952-04-28)
1717"The Case Of The Promise"TBATBAMay 12, 1952 (1952-05-12)
1818"The Case Of The Junk Man"TBATBAMay 26, 1952 (1952-05-26)
1919"The Case Of The Empty House"TBATBAJune 9, 1952 (1952-06-09)
2020"The Case Of The High Note"TBATBAJune 23, 1952 (1952-06-23)

1954 Revival[]

In 1954, the show was revived in syndication by Ziv Television Programs, who had also handled the 1952–1953 radio syndication. David Brian reprised his role from that series, only now the D. A. had a name, Paul Garrett. Jackie Loughery was Miss Miller.[8]

Season 1 (1954)[]

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"Fire Insurance"Herbert L. StrockTeleplay by : Richard G. Taylor1954 (1954)
22"Hit and Run"Leon BensonTeleplay by : Stuart Jerome1954 (1954)
33"Numbers"Leon BensonTeleplay by : Ellis Marcus1954 (1954)
44"Wife Killer"TBATeleplay by : Gene Roddenberry1954 (1954)
55"The Art Forger"TBATeleplay by : Ellis Marcus1954 (1954)
66"Bad Cop"TBATBA1954 (1954)
77"Blow-Up"TBATBA1954 (1954)
88"College Story"TBATeleplay by : Frank Moss and Lee Berg1954 (1954)
99"Court Escape"TBATeleplay by : Gene Roddenberry1954 (1954)
1010"Court Room"TBATBA1954 (1954)
1111"D.A. Killer"TBATBA1954 (1954)
1212"Gambling"TBATeleplay by : Gene Roddenberry1954 (1954)
1313"Hi-Jack"TBATBA1954 (1954)
1414"Juvenile Gang"TBATBA1954 (1954)
1515"Narcotics"TBATBA1954 (1954)
1616"No Parole"TBATBA1954 (1954)
1717"Planned Murder"TBATBA1954 (1954)
1818"Police Academy"TBATeleplay by : Gene Roddenberry1954 (1954)
1919"Pollution"TBATeleplay by : Jack Rock1954 (1954)
2020"Protection"TBATBA1954 (1954)
2121"Reconciliation"TBATBA1954 (1954)
2222"Rehearsed Robbery"TBATeleplay by : Hendrik Vollaerts1954 (1954)
2323"Roy Ruby"TBATBA1954 (1954)
2424"Safe Cracking"TBATBA1954 (1954)
2525"State Politician"TBATBA1954 (1954)
2626"The Jewel Racket"TBATBA1954 (1954)
2727TBATBATBA1954 (1954)
2828TBATBATBA1954 (1954)
2929TBATBATBA1954 (1954)
3030TBATBATBA1954 (1954)
3131TBATBATBA1954 (1954)

Season 2 (1955)[]

No.
overall 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date
321"Man on the Edge"Lambert HillyerTeleplay by : Ellis Marcus1955 (1955)
332"Auto Racket"TBATBA1955 (1955)
343"The Kid"TBATBA1955 (1955)
354"Animal Poisoner"TBATBA1955 (1955)
365"Cameraman"TBATBA1955 (1955)
376"Cave-In"TBATBA1955 (1955)
387"Courtroom#2"TBATBA1955 (1955)
398"Courtroom#3"TBATBA1955 (1955)
409"Crime School"TBATBA1955 (1955)
4110"Executer"TBATBA1955 (1955)
4211"Hidden Witness"TBATBA1955 (1955)
4312"Kidnaped"TBATBA1955 (1955)
4413"Legit Business"TBATBA1955 (1955)
4514"Lost Case"TBATBA1955 (1955)
4615"Mob Rule"TBATBA1955 (1955)
4716"Patrol Boat"TBATeleplay by : Gene Roddenberry1955 (1955)
4817"Police Brutality"TBATeleplay by : Gene Roddenberry1955 (1955)
4918"Posed Pictures"TBATeleplay by : Kalman Phillips1955 (1955)
5019"Prisoners At Home"TBATBA1955 (1955)
5120"Professional Killer"TBATeleplay by : Jack Rock1955 (1955)
5221"Re-Model"TBATBA1955 (1955)
5322"The Search"TBATBA1955 (1955)
5423"Usary"TBATBA1955 (1955)
5524TBATBATBA1955 (1955)
5625TBATBATBA1955 (1955)
5726TBATBATBA1955 (1955)

Comic books[]

DC Comics published a Mr. District Attorney comic book series which ran for 67 issues (January–February 1948 to January–February 1959).[9][10] In 1941, the Whitman Publishing Company published a Big Little Book, Mr. District Attorney on the Job,[11] that included a flip book.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. p. 233.
  2. ^ a b Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. pp. 464–65. ISBN 978-0195076783.
  3. ^ "Bob Hope Replaced". Circleville, Ohio. The Circleville Herald. June 19, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved July 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. ^ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. p. 453.
  5. ^ "Mr. District Attorney". Circleville, Ohio. The Circleville Herald. July 10, 1939. p. 8. Retrieved December 23, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. ^ 1970 Tony Randall interview for "Those Were the Days", 11:00, speakingofradio.com
  7. ^ Grunwald, Edgar A., Ed. (1940). Variety Radio Directory 1940–1941. Variety, Inc. p. 316
  8. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. London: Penguin Books. p. 558. ISBN 978-0140249163.
  9. ^ Mr. District Attorney at the Grand Comics Database
  10. ^ Widener, Mike (September 17, 2010). "Lawyers in Comics: Mr. District Attorney". Lillian Goldman Law Library. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016.
  11. ^ "Mr. District Attorney on the Job". BigLittleBooks.com. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  12. ^ Ross E. Davies. "The Popular Prosecutor: Mr. District Attorney and the Television Stars of American Law". Retrieved 2018-06-29.

External links[]

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