Retropolis Podcasts

Novak is hired by a mysterious woman to retrieve the contents of a safe deposit box, which puts Novak in danger and leads to murder. Commentary on life on the waterfront and Novak's overly descriptive observation on the grisly. Plus the Top 5 Novak Zingers!By Radio Retropolis

In the past five weeks, an unidentified holdup man has robbed twelve drugstores stealing money and narcotics. Commentary on the script once again plying up the comedy with an offbeat Capra-esque scene in the first act.By Radio Retropolis

As Superman is taking care of business in Shanghai China, Lois and Horatio investigate a lead that takes them to a building adjacent to the vacant lot Kent discovered as a false lead. Inside Horatio discovers a secret panel leading to a warehouse where the duo are confronted by three men with machine guns. Commentary on an incident in the summer of…

This is the story of Ernest – a cataleptic who finds himself motionless on the morgue slab about to be embalmed because everyone thinks he’s dead-except for one person who found a letter in his coat stating what to do in case he was found in such a state. Yet she doesn’t know if he is even in trouble at all. Commentary on Real life cataleptics who …

Now that the International Scientific Society was discovered to be a phony organization that never existed, Kent and Henderson fret over losing the one clue they thought they had with the fear the atom bomb formula and its professor is now firmly in the hands of some very bad men who could destroy the world. Commentary on the misquoted quote "Lead …

A famous jockey hires Novak to find his missing racehorse, Fleet Lady. At the stables, Novak meets both the seductive owner of the horse as well as a dead body. Commentary on Webb and Burr's machine gun dialogue rhythm. Plus the Top 5 Novak Zingers!By Radio Retropolis

A man is reported missing by his wife. His drinking companion, knows...but isn't talking. Commentary on the funny opening sequence and its similarities to Don Knotts as Barney Fife.By Radio Retropolis

Although Lois and Horatio survived the crash, the duo are now fighting for their lives to river debris as they float down the current to the treacherous rocky falls ahead with them getting weaker by the moment. Commentary on Horn's phrase "By Gulliver!"By Radio Retropolis

In a bizarre tale, a man takes the train home and murders his wife with a poker. He hops back on the train to take it to work believing no one would remember he was on the train and therefore he could claim he was at work the whole time. In fact, that’s exactly what happened so what could go wrong? Commentary on what makes this a "black comedy".…

When the coded message sending Superman to a mountain lodge proved to be a false lead, the lodge caretaker provided a forwarding address in Metropolis where the abductors now reside. However, that address was nothing but an empty lot leaving Superman without a clue of where to go next to find the professor. Commentary on the bumbling duo of Lois an…

A woman who casually bumps into Novak one night claiming amnesia suddenly drops dead leaving Novak as the primary suspect in her murder. Commentary on Burr's Hellman, why characters have no emotional connection to violence and the Top 5 Novak Zingers!By Radio Retropolis

The department gets a call from a man who tells you his wife has failed to keep an appointment. There's no trace of her and is feared kidnapped, yet her husband seems to know who did it. Commentary on the tar and feathering done n this episode.By Radio Retropolis

Although Perry White completely dismisses Horn’s assumption that an American atomic scientist is to be kidnapped, Kent wisely decides to go the scientist’s house with Horn and Lois Lane to investigate. Commentary on the history of the Irish cop.By Radio Retropolis

A man still in love with a woman who doesn’t want him decides to kill her and has a surefire alibi guaranteed to not get caught. Commentary on murdering an already dead person and a very non-political political take on how perspective guides our emotions and life's convictions.By Radio Retropolis

One Horatio F, for French, Horn is desperate to reach Perry White with what he believes is a bombshell front page story for the Daily Planet. Commentary on the seriousness of this serial despite its comedic guest character.By Radio Retropolis

Jack Webb is back for the first of 19 episodes of the most classic era of Pat Novak For Hire. In tonight’s premiere episode Novak goes to the bank to deposit $100, only to find that someone else has deposited $1000 in his account. Commentary on The brief history with Jack Webb and this series. Plus the episode's Top 5 Novak Zingers!…

A tavern has been robbed and a couple shot. One of the bandits has also been shot and is dying, so Friday and Smith must get to the hospital and question him about the ringleader who put everything in motion. Commentary on Webb pushing the "verisimilitude" a little too far in this episode.By Radio Retropolis

In order to avoid jail for life, Matt Riggs decided to kill Perry White, his nephew, and Jimmy with a high-powered rifle at the Unity baseball game. Commentary on the history and impact of the Ku Klux Klan and why this Superman story was key in the fight against them.By Radio Retropolis

Matt Riggs filled with hate enters his home in order to kill Chuck for betraying him, comes across his sister-in-law who he threaten to kill as well. Commentary on the broadcast history of the Superman on radio.By Radio Retropolis

A photographer inadvertently takes a picture of a “hit” and before he can develop the negative, two mean dressed as cops pick him up. Commentary on star Michael O'Shea and what he and Lou Costello have in common.By Radio Retropolis

Matt Riggs, on the run, appears at the house of his Clan superior Cedric Wilson, Grand Imperial Mogul of the Clan of the Fiery Cross to engage his assistance to save the Clan. Commentary on what drives many membership organizations. Plus, one of Superman's weaknesses is mentioned here for the first time.…

Superman flies with Chuck to the clearing in the woods where Perry and Jimmy were taken yet no one is there although they did leave behind the hot tar and feathers. The race to find the duo now intensifies. Commentary on a missed opportunity.By Radio Retropolis

Through simple voice recognition, Kent was able to identify Chuck Riggs as the boy who called him. Now he has to convince the frightened boy that lives are in danger and he will do all he can to protect him if he will only tell him who the Clan is. Commentary on how this Superman story affected the Ku Klux Klan at the time.…

A man wakes up after being knocked out only to find he is being kidnapped and will soon be murdered by a hired assassin. Commentary on star Sheldon Leonard as well as what led to the Rural Purge of 1971.By Radio Retropolis

With the situation even more dire for Perry and Jimmy, Kent has a flash of hope as he said he knows how he can find the boy who phoned him if he’s not too late! Commentary on how this series maximizes its voice talent. Plus, the Rules of Three.By Radio Retropolis

A man is thought to have committed suicide when a gun is found in his hand. Commentary on the real crime forensic LAPD scientist Raymond Pinker who is front and center in this episode.By Radio Retropolis

With Perry and Jimmy’s lives hanging by a thread, Chuck Riggs, Matt’s nephew, is conflicted about whether he should come forward to expose his uncle and the Clan for fear that he too may suffer the same fate. Commentary on the undercurrents of brutality and deadly threats epitomizing the seriousness of this story.…

An overworked man who can never put his work aside decides to put aside his business and take a stroll around town. While out, he overhears a murder plot with a surprising victim. Commentary on the accelerated pacing of the episode making for great suspense. Plus, star Leon Ames.By Radio Retropolis

Matt Riggs, the Grand Scorpion of the Fiery Cross decides to go to extreme measures to silence Perry and Jimmy. Commentary on how racially progressive this episode was . On the flipside, Perry White just doesn't get the seriousness of his dire situation.By Radio Retropolis

A young man enters headquarters and confesses to stealing a truck and killing a man. Commentary on missing a key element from Friday's investigation. Plus, we look at being convicted of a murder one does not do.By Radio Retropolis

Defying Kent’s advice, Perry and Jimmy decided to drive back to Perry’s house when they were driven off the road by carloads of the Clan in white sheets descending upon them. Commentary on DC doing right by Henry Cavill and the Superman legacy.By Radio Retropolis

Four passengers on a bus had just left a mental hospital when the driver received word that an insane patient escaped. When the bus gets stuck in the snow, the driver realizes that one of them on the bus is the escaped patient. Commentary on the character layers in this episode in which everyone is set up as potentially guilty. Plus, star Elliot Re…

After Perry White blasted the Fiery Cross Clan in the Planet newspaper after their attempts on Tommy Lee’s life, Perry, upon arriving home that night was shocked to find a burning cross on his lawn. Commentary on why Perry White's petulance and how this episode betrayed the "style" of drama the story set forth.…

Novak is asked to watch an apartment. Hellman shows up at the apartment investigating a murder case with a $10,000 reward. Commentary on this being Ben Morris' last episode available as Pat Novak and why he didn't achieve the same greatness in the role as Jack Webb.By Radio Retropolis

A jewelry store was robbed of $5000. The only clue is blood left on the scene from broken glass. Commentary on what Jonathan Hole, Cecil Kellaway and Jim Backus have in common. Plus, we look at how history can devalue great performances.By Radio Retropolis

With Tommy throwing himself into the raging river rapids to escape the Clan, young Chuck Riggs, Tommy's former rival, has been desperately trying to reach Clark Kent to warn him of the Clan’s actions. Commentary on the similarities between the Clan of the Fiery Cross and the Ku Klux Klan.By Radio Retropolis

A wife is taking her mentally insane husband by train to a special clinic where he will be treated. But the husband wonders if she really wants him to get well. Commentary on star June Duprez.By Radio Retropolis

After Superman foils two attempts by the Fiery Cross to harm Tommy Lee, they decide on a nighttime ambush at to tar and feather him. Commentary on what tar and feathering really is and the purpose behind it.By Radio Retropolis

A woman hires Novak as a bodyguard, but when she leaves the car to make a phone call, he is carjacked by a thug who seems to know who she is and who he is. Commentary on how Ben Morris had to replace Jack Webb and the problems the series had going forward.By Radio Retropolis

A recently divorced woman is soon found murdered and stuffed in a trunk. Commentary on two ironic Star Trek connections with one of our guest stars.By Radio Retropolis

Matt Riggs and other members of the Clan of the Fiery Cross have appeared at the Unity House baseball field with a deadly plan to get their point across. Commentary on racial slurs and the one used in this episode referring to Chinese people.By Radio Retropolis

A man learns who will win a rigged contest and decides to make a deal with the soon to be winner-a Mr. Smith. Commentary on what makes for great "suspense". Plus, star Hume Cronyn.By Radio Retropolis

Jimmy shares the horrible news of the burning cross on the Lee front lawn with Kent who says he knows why they are being targeted. What he and Jimmy don’t know is that Jimmy is also being targeted. Commentary on why the writers chose the Lees as the racist target and why that even with a positive message, there was a level of hypocrisy in radio at …

As Inspector Hellman wraps up a murder investigation in which a bookkeeper is murdered by his landlady, someone approaches Novak about retrieving papers the bookkeeper was holding for him. Commentary regarding recent news about San Francisco flagship station KGO, the original home of Pat Novak, For Hire.…

Assigned to the Business Office, Friday and Smith work this special shift to help curtail the reported 170 crimes that are predicted to occur during the next 24 hours. Commentary on the reversal in the 'Defunding the Police' campaign in Minneapolis due to the astronomical violent crimes committed following defunding.…

Chuck and his Uncle Matt are headed to a big secret meeting in which Matt will use Chuck’s experience with Tommy to his advantage to incite a violent response from his constituents against Tommy and his family. Commentary on how this story came about and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in America beginning with DW Griffith's Birth of a Nation.…

A man wakes up in a hospital bed and finds himself locked away in an asylum for the criminally insane. Commentary on the tumultuous life of everybody's favorite TV father, Robert Young. Plus , George Zucco and the Mummy movies from Universal.By Radio Retropolis

Superman faces his most critical and dangerous opponent ever. It's his fight against a a white hooded group whose purpose is to eliminate any person or group in America who is of a different race, color and religion in what is considered the most infamous Superman serial of all time. Commentary on why they chose Jimmy Olsen to be the main protagoni…

In tonight’s first episode, Novak is hired as a bodyguard on a drive from Tahoe to San Francisco by a bookie. While stopped at a gas station, he meets a female hitchhiker who later turns up dead in the trunk of the car. Commentary on star Ben Morris taking over the role of Pat Novak and why Jack Webb was not part of the series in 1947.…

By Radio Retropolis