GREAT DETECTIVES & PEOPLE OF MYSTERY #48

MR. DICTRICT ATTORNEY


"Mr. District Attorney" was a radio crime drama produced by Samuel Bischoff, a movie producer, that aired on NBC and ABC from April 3, 1939 to June 13, 1952 (and in syndication through 1953).  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 when he was the crusading District Attorney of NYC who successfully went after Lucky Luciano, Waxey Gordon of the mob, and Jimmy Hines, the corrupt political boss of Tammany Hall.  At one point Dewey was closing in on Dutch Schultz, who was feeling the heat.  The Dutchman decided to assassinate the crusading D.A., but Luciano, head of the underworld then, knew that the murder of Dewey would result in a ton of trouble descending upon the mob, and Lucky had Dutch killed.  Dewey's public war against racketeering led to his election as governor and a two-time presidential candidate.

Dewey was extremely popular with the public and the radio series proved successful as well.  Phillips H. Lord, creator of the radio drama "Gang Busters", helped to develop the concept and came up with the show's title.  Writer Ed Byron lent an air of accuracy to his scripts through the close study of crime statistics, a library of criminology textbooks, by following the newspaper headlines, and gaining background and color from the police and crooks alike.  On the radio show the lead character had no name and was only referred to as Mr. District Attorney or Chief, but when the television version began airing in 1951 the writers of both media decided to give him the name of Paul Garrett.  

RADIO

The show was produced in New York City throughout its entire run and began as a 15-minute daily serial on NBC Red on April 3, 1939.  Pepsodent sponsored the show initially and the lead character was played by Dwight Weist.  Three months later the show was expanded to a half-hour weekly series on June 27, 1939 as a summer replacement for "The Bob Hope Show".  Raymond Edward Johnson then assumed the role of the District Attorney.  Pepsodent moved the show to NBC Blue for 26 weeks and the ratings dipped, causing Pepsodent to want out.  Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers (makers of Vitalis hair tonic, Ipana toothpaste, and Sal Hepatica laxative) was shopping for a replacement for its "For Men Only" radio show that was hosted by George Jessel.  Pepsodent cancelled "Mr. District Attorney" on NBC Blue, Sunday, April 7, 1940...and Bristol-Myers introduced "Mr. District Attorney" four nights later on Thursday, April 11, 1940 on NBC Red.  Ratings jumped 50%.  Jay Jostyn took over the portrayal of the D.A. for the remainder of the series through 1952, with Tony Randall filling in for Jostyn upon occasion because he did "a good Jay Jostyn impression".

Other key characters on the show was the D.A.'s secretary Edith Miller, played by Vicki Vola.  Arlene Francis had a continuing role as Miss Rand, the receptionist, and Walter Kinsella played Len Harrington, a former cop turned D.A.'s chief investigator.  In 1942, "Mr. District Attorney" began battling Nazis, leading to real-life conflicts with the FBI who felt that the storylines were too factual.  The radio drama soon became a Top-Ten show and the weekly production went from $5000 to $12,500.  Bristol-Myers moved the show to ABC in 1951.  The show became a syndicated series from June 13, 1952 to October 18, 1953 with David Brian as the D.A., ending its long run on the Mutual network.

COMICS

"Mr. District Attorney" was a feature in the comic book title "The Funnies" by Dell Comics, from issue #35 (September 1939) through #54 (April 1941), with art by Maurice Kashuba.  Dell then produced an issue of "Mr. District Attorney" in 1942 as part of its Four Color line, in issue #13, with art by Kashuba again.

Whitman Publishing produced a Big Little Book (#1408) titled "Mr. District Attorney on the Job" in 1941, based on the radio series with art by Erwin L. Hess.  The book contained two stories and had a flip-it feature - you flipped the pages and an image in the corner moved like an animated cartoon.

DC Comics published a "Mr. District Attorney" title for 67 issues, from January 1948 - January 1959.  Artwork was provided by such notable cartoonists as Gil Kane, Irwin Hasen, Dan Barry, Howard Nostrand, John Prentice, Leonard Starr, Nick Cardy, and Ramona Fradon.

FILMS

Republic did a series of three films with a different actor in the lead role in each of the three features.  And they gave the D.A. a name - P. Cadwallader Jones.

"Mr. District Attorney" Republic, 1941.  Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, Peter Lorre, Stanley Ridges, Minor Watson, Charles Arnt.  Director: William Morgan.  A well-connected and well-educated young lawyer (O'Keefe) gets an appointment as deputy district attorney through the influence of his uncle.  After embarrassing his superior in court he is punished by being assigned a seemingly unsolvable cold case concerning a notorious embezzler who has been missing for four years.  However, with the assistance of a streetwise young female journalist he soon begins to unravel the mystery.

"Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case" Republic, 1941.  James Ellison, Virginia Gilmore, Franklin Pangborn, Paul Harvey.  Director: Bernard Vorhaus.  The assistant district attorney (Ellison) and his sweetheart newspaper reporter (Gilmore) are about to be wed when they learn that newspaper publisher Elliott Carter has been murdered.  The marriage is postponed and Ellison is assigned the case.

"Secrets of the Underground" Republic, 1942.  John Hubbard, Virginia Grey, Lloyd Corrigan, Robin Raymond, Miles Mander.  Director: Morgan.  With the help of a WAAC unit (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps), Mr. District Attorney smashes a Nazi spy ring that is selling counterfeit War Stamps and Bonds.

"Mr. District Attorney" Columbia, 1947.  Dennis O'Keefe (returning to the role, now named Steve Bennett), Adolphe Menjou, Marguerite Chapman, Michael O'Shea, George Coulouris, Jeff Donnell, Steven Geray.  Director: Robert B. Sinclair.  An assistant D.A. becomes involved with a woman who works for the group that he is investigating.

TELEVISION

Near the end of the radio run the show transferred to TV on ABC with the same actors on radio and TV.  Jay Jostyn as the unnamed district attorney, Vicki Vola as Miss Miller, and Len Doyle as Len Harrington.  The show ran October 1, 1951 through June 23, 1952, alternating with "The Amazing Mr. Malone" on Monday evenings.

The series was revived in 1954 as a syndicated show with David Brian as Paul Garrett, the district attorney, in a role he also played on the syndicated Mutual radio series.  Jackie Loughery played Miss Edith Miller.  The series ran for two seasons with stories written by Gene Roddenberry.  The show aired March 25, 1954 until September 23, 1955.


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