The Whistler
Encyclopedia
The Whistler was an American
radio mystery drama
which ran from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955. It was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company: "That whistle
is your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler." The program was adapted into a film noir
series by Columbia Pictures
in 1944.
Each episode of The Whistler began with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. (The Saint
radio series with Vincent Price
used a similar opening.) The haunting signature theme tune was composed by Wilbur Hatch
and featured Dorothy Roberts whistling with an orchestra
.
The stories followed formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically undone either by an overlooked but important detail or by their own stupidity. On rare occasions a curious twist of fate caused the story to end happily for the episode's protagonist. Ironic twist endings were a key feature of each episode. The Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus
, taunting the criminal from an omniscient perspective.
Bill Forman had the title role of host and narrator. Others who portrayed the Whistler at various times were Gale Gordon
, Joseph Kearns
, Marvin Miller
(announcer for The Whistler and The Bickersons
and later as Michael Anthony on TV's The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (who had the title role on radio's The Shadow
from 1938 to 1943) and Everett Clarke. Cast members included Hans Conried
, Joseph Kearns
, Cathy Lewis
, Elliott Lewis
, Gerald Mohr
, Lurene Tuttle
and Jack Webb
.
Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson established the tone of the show during its first two years, and he was followed in 1944 by producer-director George Allen. Other directors included Sterling Tracy and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. Of the 692 episodes, over 200 no longer exist. In 1946, a local Chicago
version of The Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM
, sponsored by Meister Brau
beer.
series of eight films by Columbia Pictures
. The first seven featured actor Richard Dix
(playing a different character in each). The "Voice of the Whistler" was provided by an uncredited Otto Forrest.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio mystery drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
which ran from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955. It was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company: "That whistle
Whistle
A whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
is your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler." The program was adapted into a film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
series by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
in 1944.
Characters and story
I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes... I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. |
| Opening to The Whistler |
Each episode of The Whistler began with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. (The Saint
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
radio series with Vincent Price
Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...
used a similar opening.) The haunting signature theme tune was composed by Wilbur Hatch
Wilbur Hatch
Wilbur Hatch , was an American music composer who worked primarily in radio and television. He was born in Mokena, Illinois and died in Studio City, California.-Radio:...
and featured Dorothy Roberts whistling with an orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
.
The stories followed formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically undone either by an overlooked but important detail or by their own stupidity. On rare occasions a curious twist of fate caused the story to end happily for the episode's protagonist. Ironic twist endings were a key feature of each episode. The Whistler himself narrated, often commenting directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus
Greek chorus
A Greek chorus is a homogenous, non-individualised group of performers in the plays of classical Greece, who comment with a collective voice on the dramatic action....
, taunting the criminal from an omniscient perspective.
Bill Forman had the title role of host and narrator. Others who portrayed the Whistler at various times were Gale Gordon
Gale Gordon
Gale Gordon was an American character actor perhaps best remembered as Lucille Ball's longtime television foil—and particularly as cantankerously combustible, tightfisted bank executive Theodore J. Mooney, on Ball's second television situation comedy, The Lucy Show...
, Joseph Kearns
Joseph Kearns
Joseph Sherrard Kearns was an American actor, who is best remembered for his role as George Wilson in the CBS television series Dennis the Menace from 1959 until his death in 1962.-Biography:...
, Marvin Miller
Marvin Miller (actor)
Marvin Elliott Miller was an American film and voice-over actor. Possessing a deep, baritone voice, he began his career in radio in St. Louis, Missouri before becoming a Hollywood actor...
(announcer for The Whistler and The Bickersons
The Bickersons
The Bickersons was a radio comedy sketch series that began in 1946 on NBC, moving the following year to CBS where it continued until 1951...
and later as Michael Anthony on TV's The Millionaire), Bill Johnstone (who had the title role on radio's The Shadow
The Shadow
The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas, originally in pulp magazines, then on 1930s radio and then in a wide variety of media, that follow the exploits of the title character, a crime-fighting vigilante in the pulps, which carried over to the airwaves as a "wealthy, young man about town"...
from 1938 to 1943) and Everett Clarke. Cast members included Hans Conried
Hans Conried
Hans Georg Conried, Jr. was an American comedian, character actor and voice actor.-Early years:He was born on April 15, 1917 in Baltimore, Maryland to Hans Georg Conried, Sr. and Edith Beyr Gildersleeve. His mother was a descendant of Pilgrims, and his father was a Jewish immigrant from Vienna,...
, Joseph Kearns
Joseph Kearns
Joseph Sherrard Kearns was an American actor, who is best remembered for his role as George Wilson in the CBS television series Dennis the Menace from 1959 until his death in 1962.-Biography:...
, Cathy Lewis
Cathy Lewis
Cathy Lewis was an American actress remembered best for numerous radio appearances but making a number of film and television appearances in the last decade of her life....
, Elliott Lewis
Elliott Lewis
Sir Neil Elliott Lewis, KCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of Tasmania on three occasions. He was also a member of the first Australian federal ministry, led by Edmund Barton....
, Gerald Mohr
Gerald Mohr
Gerald Mohr was an American radio, film and television character actor who appeared in over 4,000 radio plays, 73 films and over 100 television shows....
, Lurene Tuttle
Lurene Tuttle
Lurene Tuttle was a character actress, who made transitions from vaudeville to radio, to films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's most versatile actresses...
and Jack Webb
Jack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
.
Writer-producer J. Donald Wilson established the tone of the show during its first two years, and he was followed in 1944 by producer-director George Allen. Other directors included Sterling Tracy and Sherman Marks with final scripts by Joel Malone and Harold Swanton. Of the 692 episodes, over 200 no longer exist. In 1946, a local Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
version of The Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM
WBBM (AM)
WBBM is an all-news CBS radio station in Chicago, Illinois broadcasting on the AM dial at 780 kHz. It is owned by CBS along with WBBM-TV....
, sponsored by Meister Brau
Miller Lite
Miller Lite is a 4.2% abv pale lager brand sold by MillerCoors of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life.-History:...
beer.
Films
The Whistler was adapted into a film noirFilm noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
series of eight films by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. The first seven featured actor Richard Dix
Richard Dix
Richard Dix was an American motion picture actor who achieved popularity in both silent and sound film. His standard on-screen image was that of the rugged and stalwart hero.-Early life:...
(playing a different character in each). The "Voice of the Whistler" was provided by an uncredited Otto Forrest.
- The Whistler (1944) (Directed by William CastleWilliam CastleWilliam Castle was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Castle was known for directing films with many gimmicks which were ambitiously promoted, despite being reasonably low budget B-movies....
) - The Mark of the WhistlerThe Mark of the WhistlerThe Mark of the Whistler is a 1944 American crime film noir based on the radio drama The Whistler. It was directed by William Castle and features Richard Dix and Janis Carter, among others. It is the second of eight Whistler films starring Richard Dix produced in the 1940s.-Synopsis:A drifter...
(1944) (Directed by William Castle and based on Cornell WoolrichCornell WoolrichCornell George Hopley-Woolrich was an American novelist and short story writer who sometimes wrote under the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley....
's story, "Dormant Account") - The Power of the Whistler (1945)
- Voice of the WhistlerVoice of the WhistlerVoice of the Whistle is a 1945 American crime film noir based on the radio drama The Whistler. It was directed by William Castle and features Richard Dix, Lynn Merrick, and Rhys Williams.-Plot:...
(1945) (Directed by William Castle) - Mysterious Intruder (1946) (Directed by William Castle)
- The Secret of the Whistler (1946)
- The Thirteenth Hour (1947)
- The Return of the Whistler (1948)