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"The Big Story"
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Producer Bernard J. Prockter/ Narrated by Bob Sloane
Season
5 (NBC) (1953-54)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
TV Guide /
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
################ The Big Story ###############
############## season 5 1953-54 ##############
##############################################
NBC Fridays 9:00-9:30pm Eastern (Weekly)
5.01 [--] The Big Story: REX NEWMAN: REPORTER OF
THE GLOBE AND NEWS
11Sep53 NBC (original version) / 4Jan57 NBC (revised version)
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Star:
James Dean ......... Rex Newman
John Kerr
Wendy Drew
Carl Frank
Donald McKee
Ken Walken
Bobby Nick
Susan Harris
Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Rex Newman of the Joplin (Mo.) Globe and News-Herald helped authorities
uncover a trail of robbery and murder crimes by a trio of reckless teenagers. [RF]
5.02 [--] The Big Story: THE CAT
18Sep53 NBC Fri (rerun 02Nov57)
Producer Stuart Rosenberg
Director Will Jason
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
starring
George Petrie ......... Walter Winchell
Russell Hardie ........ J. Edgar Hoover
Robert Middleton ....... "The Cat"
Synopsis:
Walter Winchell drives alone to a remote area to meet with a dangerous mobster
and negotiate for the man's surrender.
Synopsis 2:
The story of the surrender of a public enemy to newsman Walter Winchell.
Singled out to be the go-between in the surrender of one of gangland's most dangerous
criminals, Winchell set out to go to a remote spot to
meet his man. [RF]
5.03 [--] The Big Story: WILLIAM GRAVES: THE SPRINGFIELD LEADER AND PRESS OF
MISSOURI
25Sep53 NBC
Director, Richard Schneider
Script by Gail Ingram
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Executive producer, Everett Rosenthal
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Wallace Rooney ..... William Graves
James Holden
Bart Burns
Dortha Duckworth
Humphrey Davis
Tom Gorman
Helen Warnow
Synopsis:
William Graves takes an interest in three youths who are accused
of the brutal slaying of a man and wife in Birch Tree, Missouri.
His thorough investigation proves their innocence and leads to the
conviction of the murdered couple's son. [RF]
5.04 [--] The Big Story: BERT MURRAY OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
02Oct1953
Written by Norman Lessing
Directed by Richard Schneider
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Executive producer, Everett Rosenthal
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Leslie Nielsen ..... Bert Murray
Dan Morgan ......... Sam Petrie
Perry Wilson ....... Jean Wilson
Addison Richards ... Bainbridge
Synopsis:
Bert Murray believes that a man who has a murder rap against
him is innocent. Sam Petrie comes to the attention of the police
in an car accident. On investigating, they find that Petrie had
been in trouble many years before, although during past years, he
has been a good citizen. Murray learns that Petrie was a victim
of circumstances in a stabbing and was not actually guilty. He
works on the case with Petrie's many friends in the community
until all charges against him are removed. [RF]
5.05 [--] The Big Story: WILLIAM B. MOORHEAD OF THE
KANSAS CITY STAR
09Oct53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
William B. Moorhead of the Kansas City (Mo.) Star interviewed witnesses of a
bank robbery to such good effort that he helped find
the robbers and murderer. [RF]
5.06 [--] The Big Story: CRIME SCHOOL: DON KELLERMAN OF THE GARDEN CITY
NEWSDAY
16Oct53 NBC Fri (rerun 30Nov57)
Producer Stuart Rosenberg
Directed by Lawrence Doheny
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
cast:
James Broderick ........ Don Kellerman
Robert Yuro ............ Steve
Albert Lewis ........... Willie
Harry Bergman .......... Finch
Synopsis:
Reporter Don Kellerman's expose of shocking prison conditions was revealed in
the Garden City Newsday. Don Kellerman staged a tavern holdup, then spent seven
weeks in jail. His subsequent report on prison conditions resulted in appointment of
a bipartisan commission to work with the New York State Department of Correction
in making recommendations for reform. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Crusading reporter Don Kellerman poses as a hoodlum to get the
inside story on Long Island prisons. [RF]
*NOTE: In order to get the inside story on conditions in Long Island prisons, reporter
Don Kellerman of Newsday, Long Island, N.Y. poses as a teenage delinquent.
5.07 [--] The Big Story: MARVIN SLEEPER OF THE NEW YORK JOURNAL-AMERICAN
23Oct53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
starring
Robert Pastene ........ Marvin Sleeper
Synopsis:
Reporter Marvin Sleeper of the New York Journal-American is assigned to make
the life of a 10-year-old boy a little happier, following the diagnosis that the boy
has but 80 days to live. Sleeper offered assistance and encouragement to the boy
and arranged a series of tests by specialists which
showed that the child's life might be saved. [RF]
5.08 [--] The Big Story: ROBERT L. CHASE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
30Oct53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
starring
Les Damon ......... Robert L. Chase
Synopsis:
News editor Robert L. Chase of the Rocky Mountain News of Denver, Colorado
persuaded a woman to reveal the details of a murder committed 21 years earlier.
A Denver woman sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her 10-year-old
stepdaughter in 1930 and she finally spoke out in her defense after
being persuaded by Chase in 1951. [RF]
5.09 [--] The Big Story: BERT MURRAY L.A. REPORTER
06Nov53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Bert Murray (former L.A. newspaperman) tells how he solved a murder
that wasn't one.
5.10 [--] The Big Story: JACK SETTERS OF NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN NEWSPAPER
13Nov53 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Peter Hobbs ........ Jack Setters
Synopsis:
The brutal murder of Miss Emily Abernathy, Bryan Libraian on a September
evening in 1946 where she was slain by a army veteran (21 years old) who
stabbed her repeatedly with a pen knife.
Story contributed by Jack Setters of Nashville Tennessean Newspaper.
*This episode info supplied by:
Ken Wortkoetter, 125 S Lebanon St, Bryan, Ohio 43506
phone 419-636-5881 / fax 419-636-8338 / email <kenwrtkr@cityofbryan.net>
October 2002
5.11 [--] The Big Story: ROBERT BILLETER OF THE PENDLETON TIMES OF FRANKLIN,
WEST VIRGINIA
20Nov53 NBC
Director, Richard Schneider
Script by Gail Ingram
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Joe Maross ......... Robert Billeter
Anthony Perkins .... Ralph Darrow
Larry Robinson ..... Les
Mac McLeod ......... Reporter
Viola Frayne ....... Mrs. Darrow
Melville Ruick ..... Washington Times Reporter
Norman MacKaye ..... Police Officer
Paul Larson ........ Police Officer
Synopsis:
When an old car with its doors locked is reported to have been in
front of a cave entrance
for a couple of days, Billeter is concerned and persuades the news editor
to run a piece in the newspaper with the headline "Washington boy
believed trapped in cave." After this news item is run, a search of the cave
with a guide is instituted and two teenage boys are found lost in the cave in
a state of collapse from cold and hunger. [RF]
5.12 [--] The Big Story: SAM JAFFE OF THE SAN
FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
27Nov53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Sam Jaffe was on night beat duty with the San Francisco Chronicle
bureau,
he received word of a shooting and later found a witness vital to the solution of the murder.
5.13 [--] The Big Story: DOUGLAS WILDEY OF THE YONKERS HERALD STATESMAN OF
NEW YORK
04Dec53 NBC
Director, Richard Schneider
Script by Gail Ingram
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Frank Overton ...... Douglas Wildey
John Lehne ......... Nick Kyles
Joy Geffen ......... Sue Kyles
Charles Mendrick ... Laundry Owner
John Gibson ........ Editor Parker
Synopsis:
Douglas Wildey pursues a former laundry night guard after the laundry is robbed
three times.
The former guard believes that he is too slick for the police. He watches for articles
on robbery in the newspaper. When he finds nothing, he calls the newspaper each time
and asks why they did not print the story. They look for a former laundry employee who has an
infant at home, having heard a baby during the calls. They find their man, Nick Kyles.
5.14 [--] The Big Story: Unknown
11Dec53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
An abandoned car near the entrance to a cave sent an alert reporter.
5.15 [--] The Big Story: Title unknown
18Dec53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
A Denver reporter receives the Big Story award for solving the murder of a coed.
5.16 [--] The Big Story: J. HAROLD BRESLIN
25Dec53 NBC Fri
Announcer Ernest Chappell
Narrator Bob Sloane
5.17 [--] The Big Story: THOMAS C. GALLAGHER OF THE LOWELL SUN
04Jan1954 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Philip Abbot ........... Thomas C. Gallagher
Synopsis:
Reporter Thomas C. Gallagher of the Lowell, Mass. Sun investigates the case of
a jobless young man who held up a bank, and then surrendered to police. [RF]
5.18 [--] The Big Story: NYE BEAMAN OF THE
WATERBURY CONNECTICUT AMERICAN
08Jan1954 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Nye Beaman of the Waterbury American, sought and found a hit-and-run driver. [RF]
5.19 [--] The Big Story: LEE FUHRMAN OF THE ATLANTA
GEORGIA CONSTITUTION
15Jan1954 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest cast:
Paul Trip ............... Lee Fuhrman
Synopsis:
Lee Fuhrman of the Atlanta Constitution traced a murderer with a small sample of
rope as his only clue. [RF]
5.20 [--] The Big Story: ALFRED E. CLARK OF THE NEW
YORK TIMES
22Jan1954 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Sponsored by Pall Mall
Guest cast:
Nelson Olmstead .......... Alfred E. Clark
Synopsis:
Alfred E. Clark of the New York Times helped trap a diamond thief after a
pretty model dumped a bag of diamonds on his desk. [RF]
5.21 [--] The Big Story: ED ENGLEDOW OF THE LAMESA
(TEXAS) DAILY REPORTER
29Jan54
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Sponsored by Pall Mall
Synopsis:
Ed Engledow, editor of the Lamesa (Texas) Daily Reporter helped solve an amnesia
case. [RF]
5.22 [--] The Big Story: FRED WEINBERG OF THE DULUTH, MINNESOTA NEWS
TRIBUNE
05Feb54
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Sponsored by Pall Mall
Synopsis:
Reporter Fred Weinberg of the Duluth, Minn Tribune who helped identify and
capture a murderer will be honored when his experience is dramatized. [RF]
5.23 [--] The Big Story: LINSEY WHITTEN OF THE LAWTON CONSTITUTION OKLAHOMA
12Feb1954 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
The story of reporter Linsey Whitten of the Lawton (Oklahoma) Constitution who
investigated
the claim of an old man that he was Jesse James, and over 100 years old. [RF]
5.24 [--] The Big Story: PAUL QUICK OF THE COLUMBUS
OHIO CITIZEN
19Feb1954 NBC
Sponsor Pall Mall
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest cast:
John Harvey ............ Paul Quick
Synopsis:
Reporter Paul Quick exposes a suspicious rest home for alcoholics. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
A reporter from the Columbus (Ohio) Citizen exposes malpractice
and worse in an alleged rest home for alcoholics. [RF]
5.25 [--] The Big Story: Title unknown
26Feb54
no details
5.26 [--] The Big Story: VERN LECHLITER OF THE WYOMING EAGLE
05Mar54 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
A reporter's persistent suspicion that a death attributed to natural causes
was actually murder leads to a crime solution. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
Reporter Vern Lechliter of the Wyoming Eagle in Cheyenne was convinced that a
woman found dead in a hotel room had been murdered. The coroner said no but
the reporter's theory was eventually proven. [RF]
5.27 [--] The Big Story: SIDNEY CAVANAUGH OF THE
BINGHAMTON PRESS
12Mar1954 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Sidney Cavanaugh exposes swindlers. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
New York reporter Cavanaugh heard a lot about the operations of a pair of stock
swindlers,
but none of their victims would file a suit, for various personal reasons. The reporter decided
to make his own case and although he took a beating from the criminals, he produced
the evidence that convicted them. [RF]
5.28 [--] The Big Story: MISS EDNA WRIGHT OF THE
CHICAGO DAILY NEWS
19Mar54 NBC Fri
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Edna Wright of the Chicago Daily News reunited a mother and
daughter, separated for 22 years thru her efforts. [RF]
5.29 [--] The Big Story: WALLACE BEENE OF THE ALEXANDRIA, LA. TOWN TALK
26Mar54 NBC Fri
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Wallace Beene of the Alexandria (Louisiana) Town Talk had only
a meager description of one of the forgers and he was able to identify
both and aided authorities in apprehending them. [RF]
5.30 [--] The Big Story: CHARLES G. CLAYTON OF THE
ST. LOUIS, MO. GLOBE-DEMOCRAT
02Apr1954 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest cast:
Royal Dano
Synopsis:
A reporter tries to make a dying man's wishes come true. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
A dying man wishes to leave his estate to a woman who had
befriended him 25 years earlier. Reporter Charles G. Clayton of the
St. Louis, Missouri Globe-Democrat traces the missing
woman. [RF]
5.31 [--] The Big Story: GRADY BENNETT OF THE BLOOMINGTON HERALD-TELEPHONE OF
INDIANA
09Apr1954 NBC
Written by Norman Lessing
Directed by Richard Schneider
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
starring
Richard Carlyle .... Grady Bennett
Russell Hardie ..... Chief Drago
Philip Foster ...... Mr. Truesdale
Perry Wilson ....... Mrs. Rausch
Joseph Sweeney ..... Burnsie
Tony Brande ........ Sikora
Winifred Cushing ... Woman in the Crowd
Synopsis:
Mr. Truesdale, the husband of a woman who is found dead along with her married
secret
lover, is thought to be guilty of the crime. Grady Bennett presses for a fair trial, uncovers
evidence--a plaster cast of an unknown footprint at the scene of the crime--and prints it in
his newspaper. A woman spots it and phones in that she saw a man with that type of
marking on the heel of his boot. The police are able to trap the killer, Sikora.
5.32 [--] The Big Story: JEAN BARRETT OF THE
PHILADELPHIA EVENING BULLETIN
16Apr54 NBC Fri
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Jean Barrett of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin saved a woman from
imprisonment by probing the facts of a knifing. [RF]
5.33 [--] The Big Story: ROBERT COUR OF THE DENVER, COLORADO POST
23Apr54 NBC Fri
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Robert Cour of the Denver, Co. Post covered the story of the murder of
a restaurant owner and the disappearance of his two employees, one a weakling
and the other a braggart. Because Cour knew both suspects by sight, he was able
to help police identify and capture them. [RF]
5.34 [--] The Big Story: WALLACE B. MCCOLLUM OF THE
ALBUQUERQUE N.M. TRIBUNE
30Apr54 NBC Fri
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Wallace B. McCollum of the Albuquerque, N.M. Tribune suspects something
is wrong when a farmer tells him that his wife and his eight step-children have left for
Oklahoma where he will join them later. The
reporter persuades local authorities to investigate. [RF]
5.35 [--] The Big Story: CHET HOLCOMBE OF THE SANTA BARBARA (CALIF.)
NEWS-PRESS
07May54 NBC Fri
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Chet Holcombe of the Santa Barbara News-Press learned of a
Chinese-American
couple whose infant son was barred from this country because of immigration law
technicalities. The new law, which he was instrumental in getting passed after two years
of effort, grants Orient born minor children of American citizens the same
immigration status as those of any other race. [RF]
5.36 [--] The Big Story: C.E. ROUSE OF THE LAS CRUCES (N.M.) SUN-NEWS
14May54 NBC Fri
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Rouse not only helped authorities in tracking down the murderer
of a deputy sheriff but also testified for the prosecution. [RF]
5.37 [--] The Big Story: HAL WILSON OF THE MEMPHIS
PRESS-SCIMITAR
21May54 NBC
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Reporter Hal Wilson, of the Memphis Press-Scimitar, seeks a feminine
hitchhiker in order to obtain clues about the slaying
of a truck driver. [RF]
5.38 [--] The Big Story: VIRGIL PIERSON OF THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD OF
ALABAMA
29May54 NBC
Script by Max Ehrlich
Director, Richard Schneider
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Cast:
Murray Hamilton .... Virgil Pierson
Joseph Leon ........ Ed Burroughs
Gale Page .......... Mrs. Kane
Maurice Wells ...... J.C. Whitney
Virginia Vincent ... Luella
Barbara Townsend ... Doctor's Assistant
Scott Moore ........ Police Sergeant
John J. Martin ..... Alex Kirby
Hank Gillen ........ Police Officer
Synopsis:
An anonymous letter causes Virgil Pierson to investigate a case of allegedly
accidental death
which proves to be murder. A woman dies in a Birmingham hospital after having slipped in a
bathtub, or so her husband claims. Pierson receives a
tip that it is murder. He explores
the case, which is then reopened. As a result of this case, autopsies become
required
following any accidental death. [RF]
5.39 [--] The Big Story: JEROME L. SMITH OF THE
KNICKERBOCKER NEWS OF ALBANY
04Jun54 NBC
Producer, Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Announcer, Ernest Chappell
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Synopsis:
Residents of Albany, N.Y. are terrorized by a series of
apparently unmotivated shootings. Reporter Jerome L. Smith of
the "Knickerbocker News" of Albany is assigned to the case. [RF]
################# The Big Story
##############
################ end of season 5 #############
##############################################
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