(1942-1955)
The Whistler was one of radio's most popular mystery dramas, with a 13-year run from May 16, 1942 until September 22, 1955.The Whistler was the most popular West-Coast originated program with its listeners for many years. It was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company: "Let that whistle be your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler." The writing was first class for its genre, and it added a slightly macabre element of humor to its often-paranoid crime stories.
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. A total of 692 episodes were produced, yet despite the series' fame, over 200 episodes are lost today. In 1946, a local Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer.
At night, glowing car radios illuminated dashboards, and drivers traveled dark highways while the Whistler began his ominous narration:
I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets 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.
Whistler 420103 e000 The Weakling Whistler 420516 e001 Retribution Whistler 420613 e005 Shrunken Head Whistler 420627 e007 Notes in the Night Whistler 420822 e015 Death has a Thirst Whistler 420829 e016 The Letter Whistler 420905 e017 House of Greed Whistler 420913 e018 Mirage Whistler 420920 e019 Fog Whistler 420927 e020 Jealousy Whistler 421004 e021 Urge to Kill Whistler 421011 e022 Malice Whistler 421018 e023 Death Comes at Midnight Whistler 421025 e024 The Alibi October 12 2007 6:08:29 pm 6.61 MB Whistler 421115 e027 Apparition Whistler 421122 e028 The Other Woman Whistler 421129 e029 Avarice Whistler 421213 e031 The Accounting Whistler 421227 e033 Double Cross Whistler 430103 e034 The Weakling Whistler 430110 e035 The Nemesis Whistler 430117 e036 The Thief Whistler 430124 e037 Mind Over Matter Whistler 430131 e038 The Confession Whistler 430207 e039 In The Dark Whistler 430214 e040 Legacy of Death Whistler 430221 e041 Fools Gold Whistler 430328 e046 The Penalty Whistler 430501 e050 The Killers Whistler 430508 e051 Death Has A Thirst Whistler 430516 e052 The Man Who Waited Whistler 430529 e054 Final Decree Whistler 430605 e055 Shadow Of A Mind Whistler 430612 e056 Justice Whistler 430619 e057 House of Fear Whistler 430626 e058 The Blank Wall Whistler 430702 e059 Avengers Whistler 430709 e060 Eye For An Eye Whistler 430813 e065 Death In The Air Whistler 430903 e068 Destiny Whistler 430910 e069 Tangled Web Whistler 430924 e071 Blind Alley Whistler 431003 e072 Mirage Whistler 431121 e079 Patience For The Doctor Whistler 431219 e083 Death Demands A Payment Whistler 440611 e108 The Doctor Prescribes Death Whistler 440723 Last of the Devereaux Whistler 440903 e120 Practically Fool Proof Whistler 440910 e121 Local Storm Whistler 440918 e122 Black Magic Whistler 440925 e123 Married To Murder Whistler 441002 e124 Not If I Kill You First Whistler 441009 e125 Finders Weepers Whistler 441016 e126 Tale The Dead Man Told Whistler 441023 e127 Death Carries A Lunch Kit Whistler 441030 e128 The Beloved Fraud Whistler 441106 e129 The Twin Whistler 441113 e130 Beware The Bridegroom Whistler 441120 e131 Death Sees Double Whistler 441127 e132 Death Walks A Tight Rope Whistler 441204 e133 The Doctor Operates In Crime Whistler 441211 e134 Lie Or Consequences Whistler 441218 e135 Windfall Whistler 441225 e136 Christmas Bonus Whistler 450101 e137 Two For The Money Whistler 450108 e138 The Body Wouldnt Stay In The Bay Whistler 450115 e139 Murder Has A Signature Whistler 450122 e140 Seascape Whistler 450129 e141 Murder On Paper Whistler 450205 e142 Murder Is Legal Whistler 450219 e144 The Deadman Laughed Whistler 450226 e145 Gateway To Danger Whistler 450226 Murder Opens A Gate eposs. repeat Whistler 450312 e147 Death Marks the Double Cross Whistler 450319 e148 Murder Will Shout Whistler 450402 e150 Return of the Innocent Whistler 450416 e152 To Rent Danger Whistler 450423 e153 Meet Mr Death Whistler 450430 e154 The Masters Tree Whistler 450507 e155 Accident According To Plan Whistler 450514 e156 Hit And Run Whistler 450521 e157 The Man Who Bought Death Whistler 450528 e158 Escape To Danger Whistler 450604 e159 Murder Is Blind Whistler 450611 e160 Death Pays A Visit Whistler 450618 e161 Blueprint For Suicide Whistler 450625 e162 Death Watch Whistler 450702 e163 The Deadly Innocent Whistler 450709 e164 Highway Of Escape Whistler 450716 e165 Pattern For Terror Whistler 450723 e166 Let George Do It Whistler 450730 e167 Summerthunder Whistler 450806 e168 The Man Who Came To Murder Whistler 450813 e169 What Makes A Murderer Whistler 450820 e170 X Marks The Murder Whistler 450827 e171 I'll Trade You Murder Whistler 450910 e173 Phone Call From Death Whistler 450917 e174 Sing A Song Of Murder Whistler 450924 e175 The Man Who Died Twice Whistler 451001 e176 Death Wears A White Robe Whistler 451008 e177 Death Laughs Last Whistler 451015 e178 The House On Sycamore Road Whistler 451029 e180 Final Return Whistler 451105 e181 Harvest Of Death Whistler 451112 e182 The Seeing Eye Whistler 451119 e183 Coincidence Whistler 451126 e184 The Stray Dream Whistler 451203 e185 Poison Is Quicker Whistler 451210 e186 The Cistern Whistler 451217 e187 Lucky Night Whistler 451231 e188 Miracle On 49th Street Whistler 460104 e189 Decision Whistler 460107 e190 The Thin Line Whistler 460114 e191 Hit And Run Whistler 460121 e192 Treasure Hunt Whistler 460128 e193 The Strange Sisters Whistler 460204 e194 Panic Whistler 460211 e195 Six Letter Word for Murder Whistler 460225 e197 Murder in Haste Whistler 460304 e198 Decision Whistler 460311 e199 Boomerang Whistler 460318 e199 The Masters Touch Whistler 460325 e201 Triggerman Whistler 460401 e202 Three Times A Sinner Whistler 460408 e203 Terror Stricken Whistler 460415 e204 Smart Boy Whistler 460422 e205 The Waterford Case Whistler 460429 e206 My Love Comes Home Whistler 460520 e209 Broken Chain Whistler 460603 e211 The Judas Face Whistler 460610 e212 A Quiet Sunday Whistler 460617 e213 Affair at Stony Ridge Whistler 460624 e214 The Blind Bet Whistler 460701 e215 Solid Citizen Whistler 460708 e216 Confession Whistler 460715 e217 Custom Built Blonde Whistler 460724 e218 My Love Comes Home eEast Coast Ver. Whistler 460729 e219 My Love Comes Home Whistler 460805 e220 Bullet Proof Whistler 460812 e221 Stolen Murder Whistler 460819 e222 Delivery Guaranteed Whistler 460821 e223 Broken Chain Whistler 460902 e225 Stranger In The House Whistler 460909 e226 Witness At The Fountain Whistler 460911 e227 A Brief Pause For Murder Whistler 460916 e228 The Brass Ring Whistler 460923 e229 or 480602 e318 Stranger In The House Whistler 461007 e231 Present For Ricky Whistler 461014 e232 Weak Sister Whistler 461021 e233 Masquerade Whistler 461028 e234 Backfire Whistler 461111 e236 Deadly Penny Whistler 461125 e237 Two Year Plan Whistler 461202 e239 Blind Impulse Whistler 461209 e240 With My Own Eyes Whistler 461223 e242 Next Year Is Mine Whistler 461230 e243 Murder On Rouke Island Whistler 470106 e244 Dear Roger Whistler 470113 e245 The Choice Whistler 470120 e246 Last Curtain eXTalk Whistler 470127 e247 Night Melody Whistler 470203 e248 Seven Steps To Murder Whistler 470210 e249 Safety In Numbers Whistler 470217 e250 A Womans Privilege Whistler 470224 e251 Eight To Twelve Whistler 470303 e253 Blue Legend Whistler 470310 e254 Murder Of Byron Blake Whistler 470317 e254 Mavis Cameron Disappears Whistler 470324 e255 Lady With The Knife Whistler 470331 e256 The Blank Wall Whistler 470407 e258 The Sheriffs Assistant Whistler 470414 e259 Maid Of Honor Whistler 470421 e260 Backlash Whistler 470428 e261 The Black Book Whistler 470505 e262 Windfall Whistler 470512 e263 18 Bowden Lane Whistler 470519 e263 Hasty Conclusion Whistler 470526 e264 Fateful Friday Whistler 470602 e266 Caesars Wife Whistler 470609 e267 Juggernaut Whistler 470616 e268 Ambassador Of Death Whistler 470709 e271 The Lives Of Colby Fletcher Whistler 470806 e275 Dark Future Whistler 470813 e276 Whispered Verdict Whistler 470820 e277 The Girl Next Door Whistler 470827 e278 Curtain Call Whistler 470903 e279 The Eleventh Hour Whistler 470910 e280 Bridge On Black Mountain Whistler 470917 e281 Death And The Emperor Whistler 470924 e282 Sleep My Pretty One Whistler 471008 e284 Career Man Whistler 471015 e285 Man Of Distinction Whistler 471022 e286 Case For Mr Carrington Whistler 471029 e287 Back Door Whistler 471105 e288 Big Prison eNo Open Or Close Whistler 471105 e288 The Big Prison Whistler 471119 e289 Dark Moon Whistler 471126 e290 Body Of Billings Whistler 471203 e291 Proffessor And The Fox Whistler 471210 e292 Wedding Gift Whistler 471217 e293 Murder In Haste Whistler 471224 e295 Decision Whistler 471231 e296 The First Year Whistler 480107 e297 Comeback Whistler 480114 e288 Silent Partner Whistler 480121 e299 Twelve Portraits Of Marcia Whistler 480128 e300 Night Final Whistler 480204 e301 Undertow Whistler 480211 e302 Rosalind Whistler 480218 e303 Quiet Suicide Whistler 480225 e304 Meeting On Tenth Street Whistler 480303 e305 Boiling Point Whistler 480310 e306 Return Engagement Whistler 480317 e307 Human Catalyst Whistler 480324 e308 Dark Room Whistler 480331 e309 Bird Of Prey Whistler 480407 e310 What Makes A Murderer Whistler 480414 e311 Till Death Do Us Part Whistler 480421 e312 Silent City Whistler 480428 e313 Tough Guy Whistler 480508 e314 Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde Whistler 480512 e315 Chain Reaction Whistler 480519 e316 Murder On Margin Whistler 480602 e318 Stranger In The House Whistler 480616 e320 Concerto Of Death Whistler 480630 e321 Small Town Girl Whistler 480707 e322 Fatal Appointment Whistler 480721 e323 Farewell Party Whistler 480728 e324 Lady Of The Sea Whistler 480804 e325 A Question Of Murder Whistler 480811 e326 Enough Rope Whistler 480818 e327 Bright Future Whistler 480825 e328 Trio Of Rogues Whistler 480901 e329 Payment In Full Whistler 480915 e331 Uncle Ben's Widow Whistler 480922 e332 Still Death Whistler 480929 e333 Conspiracy Whistler 481003 e334 Big Gamble Whistler 481010 e335 Whrilpool Whistler 481017 e336 A Package For Emily Whistler 481024 e337 Search For An Unknown Whistler 481031 e338 Letter From Yesterday Whistler 481107 e339 Coverup Whistler 481114 e340 Nightmare Whistler 481121 e341 The Lovely Look Whistler 481128 e342 Murder In Paradise Whistler 481205 e343 Hired Alibi Whistler 481212 e344 Stormy Weather Whistler 481219 e345 Hangtree Affair Whistler 481226 e346 Delayed Christmas Present Whistler 490102 e347 Man On The Roof Whistler 490109 e348 The Tell Tale Brand Whistler 490116 e349 Shakedown Whistler 490123 e350 Impulse Whistler 490130 e351 All Damage Covered Whistler 490206 e352 The Cheat Whistler 490213 e353 Last Curtain er Whistler 490220 e354 Ticket To Paris Whistler 490227 e355 Secret Grave Whistler 490313 e357 Search For Maxine Whistler 490320 e358 Death Of Mister Penny Whistler 490327 e359 Beyond The Wall Whistler 490403 e360 The Wide Coffin Whistler 490410 e361 Murder At Twin Pines Whistler 490417 e362 Sleep My Pretty One er Whistler 490424 e363 Mask For Kinsella Whistler 490501 e364 Solid Citizen Whistler 490508 e365 Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde Whistler 490515 e366 Golden Opportunity Whistler 490522 e367 Fatal Fraud Whistler 490529 e368 Deal With Death Whistler 490605 e369 Letter To Melanie Whistler 490612 e370 Perfect Alibi Whistler 490619 e371 That Physical Fact Whistler 490626 e372 Fatal Decree Whistler 490703 e373 Panic On MulberryStreet Whistler 490710 e374 Front Man Whistler 490717 e375 Death In 16 Millimeter Whistler 490724 e376 The Hermit Whistler 490731 e377 Brotherly Hate Whistler 490807 e378 The Trigger Man Whistler 490814 e379 Best Friend Whistler 490821 e380 Confession Whistler 490828 e381 Eager Pigeon Whistler 490904 e382 Smart Girl Whistler 490911 e383 Brief Pause For Murder Whistler 490918 e384 Poor Henry Whistler 490925 e385 Incident At Arroyo Grande Whistler 491002 e386 Womans Privilege Whistler 491009 e387 Rose For Pamela Whistler 491016 e388 Best Man Whistler 491023 e389 Debt Of Honor Whistler 491030 e390 Ticket To Murder Whistler 491106 e391 New Mrs Devlin Whistler 491113 e392 Incident At Pebble Cove Whistler 491120 e393 Letters From Aaron Burr Whistler 491127 e394 Clever Mr Farley Whistler 491204 e395 Impulse Whistler 491211 e396 Swan Song Whistler 491218 e397 Patroness Of Murder Whistler 491225 e398 Letter From Cynthia Whistler 500101 e399 Evening Stroll Whistler 500108 e400 Return To Riondo Whistler 500115 e401 Escape To Skull Island Whistler 500122 e402 The Go Between Whistler 500129 e403 Burden Of Guilt Whistler 500205 e404 Ladies Man Whistler 500212 e405 Dead Reckoning Whistler 500213 e000 Last Curtain eposs. misdate Whistler 500219 e406 Five Cent Toll Whistler 500226 e407 Appointment For Murder Whistler 500305 e408 Chinese Elephant Puzzle Whistler 500312 e409 Strange Meeting Whistler 500319 e410 Oriana Afair Whistler 500326 e411 Lady In The Snow Whistler 500402 e412 Lady With A Key Whistler 500409 e414 Dark Voyage Whistler 500416 e414 Murder In The Mind Whistler 500423 e415 Returned With The Spray Whistler 500430 e416 Gratitude Whistler 500507 e417 Fatal Error Whistler 500514 e418 Blue Alibi Whistler 500521 e419 The Return Whistler 500604 e421 Caesars Wife Whistler 500611 e422 The Successful Marriage Whistler 500618 e423 Jessica Whistler 500625 e424 The Man Hunt Whistler 500702 e425 Quiet Sunday Whistler 500709 e426 Devoted Couple Whistler 500716 e427 Attorney For The Defense Whistler 500723 e428 The Cliffs at Weyrum Whistler 500730 e429 With My Own Eyes Whistler 500806 e430 Double Exposure Whistler 500820 e432 Finale Whistler 500827 e433 Undercurrent Whistler 500903 e430 Whirlwind Whistler 500910 e435 The Golden Penny Whistler 500917 e436 Deadly Rumor Whistler 500924 e437 That Hemsley Affair Whistler 501001 e438 Dear Diary Whistler 501008 e439 Fatal Action Whistler 501015 e440 Smart Boy Whistler 501022 e441 The Wall Whistler 501029 e442 The Intruder Whistler 501105 e443 Just Like A Man Whistler 501112 e444 Friendly Case of Blackmail Whistler 501119 e445 Warm Reception Whistler 501126 e446 Till Death Do Us Part Whistler 501203 e447 Lady with the Knife Whistler 501210 e448 Clock On The Tower Whistler 501217 e449 Flee From Evil Whistler 501224 e450 Three Wise Guys Whistler 501231 e451 Evening Stroll Whistler 510107 e452 Hit And Run Whistler 510114 e453 Little Things Whistler 510121 e454 Treasure Hunt Whistler 510128 e455 Trade Mark Whistler 510204 e456 Murder Over Burma Whistler 510211 e457 Spell In Green Whistler 510218 e458 Man In The Storm Whistler 510225 e459 Murder Arrangement Whistler 510304 e460 Helping Hand Whistler 510311 e461 High Death Whistler 510318 e462 Jackson Street Affair Whistler 510325 e463 His Own Reward Whistler 510401 e464 Man In The Corner Whistler 510408 e465 Trip to Aunt Sarahs AFRS Whistler 510415 e466 Triple Cross Whistler 510422 e467 Kind Thought Whistler 510429 e468 The Clayton Affair Whistler 510506 e469 Two And One Makes Murder Whistler 510513 e470 Matter Of Courtesy Whistler 510520 e471 Custom Made Murder Whistler 510527 e472 Seattle Take Three Whistler 510603 e473 Tall Thin Man Whistler 510610 e474 Law Of Physics Whistler 510617 e475 Man In The Trench Coat Whistler 510701 e477 House On Hainsley Blvd Whistler 510708 e478 Witness Whistler 510722 e480 Autumn Song Whistler 510729 e478 Danger Is A Beautiful Blonde Whistler 510805 e479 Design for Murder Whistler 510812 e483 Fateful Reminder Whistler 510826 e482 She Never Would Be Missed Whistler 510902 e486 Public Hero Whistler 510909 e000 Guilty Conscience Whistler 510916 e487 A Matter Of Patience Whistler 510930 e489 Two Smart People Whistler 511014 e491 Partners in Crime Whistler 511021 e000 Alias Mr Alden Whistler 511209 e500 The Other Hand Whistler 511216 e501 Curiosity Killed The Cat Whistler 511223 e502 Christmas Gift Whistler 511230 e503 Fatal Step Whistler 520106 e000 Episode At Thunder Mountain Whistler 520113 e505 disguise for murder MAYBE Whistler 520120 e506 Bad Penny Whistler 520127 e507 Borrowed Byline Whistler 520203 e508 Shakedown Whistler 520210 e509 Little Red Book Whistler 520217 e510 Rose for Pamela Whistler 520224 e511 A Matter of Time Whistler 520302 e512 Whirlpool Whistler 520309 e513 Break Away Whistler 520330 e516 Home Coming Whistler 520406 e517 Element X Whistler 520427 e520 Saturday Night Whistler 520504 e521 Lady in Waiting Whistler 520511 e522 A Matter Of Odds Whistler 520518 e523 Determined Traveler Whistler 520525 e524 Charming Hostess Whistler 520601 e525 A Case For Mr Carrington Whistler 520608 e526 Man in the Way Whistler 520615 e527 The Last Message Whistler 520629 e529 Night Flight Whistler 520727 e533 Never Trust a Stranger Whistler 521019 e546 The Prosecutor Whistler 521123 e550 The Calculator Whistler 521130 e000 So Soon Whistler 530607 e576 Blue Alibi Whistler 530705 e000 Glass Dime Whistler 531004 e593 Death Claim Whistler 531011 e594 Ticket To Nowhere Whistler 531018 e595 Girl In Black Whistler 531108 e598 Impulse Whistler 531115 e597 Fading Star Whistler 531122 e598 Perilous Meeting Whistler 531129 e599 Lady On A Yacht Whistler 531206 e600 Generous Host Whistler 531220 e602 The Huntress Whistler 531227 e603 Lonley Highway Whistler 540110 e605 Fatal Fraud Whistler 540124 e607 Garveys Folly Whistler 540131 e610 The Dance Team Whistler 540207 e611 The Man From Calais Whistler 540228 e614 Feature Story Whistler 540307 e615 Hudson Bay Incident Whistler 540314 e616 Escape To Doom Whistler 540321 e617 Perilous Weekend Whistler 540328 e618 Incident At Pebble Cove Whistler 540418 e620 Days Of Fear Bad Sound Whistler 540418 e621 Days of Fear Whistler 540425 e622 Spelling Green Whistler 540509 e624 Gentleman From Oxford Whistler 540516 e624 She Wanted Too Much Whistler 540530 e627 Culerville Affair Whistler 540606 e628 Round Trip Tickets Whistler 540613 e629 Dark Patterns Whistler 540718 e000 Mr Pettibones Last Journey Whistler 540725 e000 Anything For A Friend Whistler 540829 e640 Quadrangle Whistler 540919 e000 Song Team Whistler 541003 e645 Stolen Letter Whistler 541017 e647 Last Request Whistler 541212 e655 The Prosecutor Whistler 550123 e661 One Dark Night Whistler 550206 e663 Whirlpool Whistler 550220 e665 Undercurrent Whistler 550224 e666 Bright Boy Whistler 550310 e668 Seven Steps To Murder Whistler 550324 e670 Backfire AFRS Whistler 550331 e671 The Ambassador Whistler 550421 e674 Incident At Chalk Point Whistler 550428 e675 Letters From Aaron Burr Whistler 550505 e676 The Lovely Look Whistler 550512 e677 Night Melody Whistler 550519 e678 A Case for Mr Carrington Whistler 550616 e682 Two Lives Of Colby Fletcher Whistler 550707 e685 The Big Prison Whistler 550804 e689 The Havana Lee Whistler 550811 e690 Marked Man Whistler 550818 e691 A Present for Ricky Whistler 550825 e692 Little Red Book AFRS