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Producer Bernard J. Prockter/ Narrated by Bob Sloane
Season
1 (NBC) (1949-50)
Episode Guide
compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox [Updated Jan 2021 RF]
references:
TV Guide /
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
################ The Big Story ###############
############## season 1 1949-50 ##############
##############################################
NBC Friday Nights WNBT 9:30-10:00pm New York
Alternated with several types of programs during the first year.
1.01 [--] The Big Story: FRANK SHENKEL OF THE PITTSBURGH SUN TELEGRAPH
[Premiere]
16Sep1949 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Bob Sloane
starring
Elliott Sullivan
Adelaide Klein
Roger Dekoven
Virginia Smith
Synopsis:
Frank Shenkel uncovers the murder of a woman shot in her sleep. [RF]
[--] Lights Out: The Whisper
23Sep1949
1.2 [--] The Big Story: HARRY REUTLINGER OF THE CHICAGO HERALD-AMERICAN
30Sep49 NBC Fri
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Adapted by Arnold Perl
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Richard McMurray ... Harry Reutlinger
William Lee ........ Dan Shaw
Joshua Shelley ..... The Horticulturist
Ivy Bethune ........ The Maid
Synopsis:
Detective Lieutenant Dan Shaw of the Chicago Police Homicide Squad calls
Reutlinger in when a maid discovers the occupants
of the house missing. The furniture is wrecked and flowers in the greenhouse are
splattered with blood. Reutlinger has to
learn about horticulture quickly to get first lead on the murder. [RF]
[--] Sports Show
07Oct1949
1.03 [--] The Big Story: JOHN ELLERT OF THE EVANSVILLE, INDIANA PRESS
14Oct1949 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
William Prince ........ John A. Ellert
Peggy Nelson ........ Ina
John Marley ............ Eddie Bannon
Dehl Berti ................ Tony Grimes
Lawrence Paquin .... Judge
John Adair ............... Sheriff
Nelson Olmstead .... Prosecutor
Marjory Redmond ... Nurse
and arresting officers Bob Bryden and Ken Kenneths
Synopsis:
The story of John Ellert of the Evansville Indiana Press, who forgot about his
vacation
when a new lead developed seven years after his friend Eddie Bannon was
sentenced
to life imprisonment for murder on circumstantial evidence. He was freed when
Ellert
finally located a man to whom the murderer had confessed. [RF]
[--] Believe It or Not
21Oct1949
1.4 [--] The Big Story: ANDREW J. VIGLIETTA OF THE LONG ISLAND STAR JOURNAL
28Oct49 NBC Fri
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Adapted by Arnold Perl
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Musical Direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Narrator, Bob Sloane
Guest Cast:
Owen Jordan ........ Andrew J. Viglietta
Joe de Santis ...... John Taine
Ann Sheperd ........ Ellen Prescott
Humphrey Davis ..... the City Editor
Synopsis:
Viglietta aids the FBI in capturing a criminal and freeing an innocent man in
prison. He receives a telephone
call from a supposed crank, who knows unpublished facts about the case of a man
arrested, tried and sentenced.
Viglietta contacts the FBI and meets the man in Times Square. The reporter is
kidnapped and, but for the arrival
of the FBI, might have been killed. [RF]
[--] Believe It or Not
04Nov1949
1.05 [--] The Big Story: JOSEPH CLARKE OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
11Nov1949 NBC Fri
02Dec1949 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Teleplay by Arnold Perl
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
William Quinn ......... Joseph Clarke
Somer Alberg .......... Paul Ringer (Natalie's father)
Ronny Liss .............. Teddy Ringer (her brother)
Bernard Hoffman .... Detective Lieutenant Harry Rich
Carl Don .................. Nick Matti
Billy Green ............... Sullivan
Synopsis:
When the girl's body was found by her father, a certified public accountant, it
was believed she was the victim
of a hit-and-run driver, but an autopsy revealed that she had been strangled,
then hit with a blunt instrument.
Joseph Clarke's investigation of the case turned up amazing leads which brought
one criminal to death in the
electric chair and an accessory to a life term in prison.[RF]
Synopsis 2:
The slaying of a 20-year-old Camden, N.J. girl and the work of Joseph Clarke,
reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer,
provides the plot for the "Big Story" on KNBH, channel 4, at 9:30 p. m. today.
At first the case seemed a hit-and-run
affair, but investigation disclosed it to be murder. Clarke goes to work sifting
the evidence and finds the killers.
Cases are based on actual news events.[RF]
[--] Drama: The Black Robe
18Nov1949
1.06 [--] The Big Story: JULIAN HOUSEMAN OF THE RICHMOND NEWS LEADER
25Nov1949 NBC Fri
16Dec1949 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Frank Silvera ............ Jamie Goodwin
Georgia Burke .......... Mrs. Goodwin
Synopsis:
Julian C. Houseman finds proof of Jamie Goodwin who has been sentenced to 40
years in jail for a murder committed by
Arthur Tinney. A reporter's persistence in helping an innocent man who was
sentenced to 40 years in prison because of his
resemblance to a murderer will be dramatized on "The Big Story" at 9:30 oxer
KNBH, channel 4.
Story is from Julian Houseman of the Richmond, Va., News Leader. [RF]
[--] TV Detective
02Dec1949 [Premiere] Drama
1.07 [-- The Big Story: WESLEY CHALK OF THE PENSACOLA NEWS JOURNAL
09Dec1949 NBC Fri
30Dec1949 NBC Fri [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Cameraman George Webber
Assistant Cameraman Mike Slifka
Assistants to the Director Bruce Ross and Edward Levine.
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Alan Manson ...... Wesley Chalk
Synopsis:
The brutal murder of a young hotel clerk in Pensacola, Florida
and the work of reporter Wesley Chalk for the News-Journal is told. [RF]
[--] Detective Mystery Drama
16Dec1949
1.08 [--] The Big Story: GEORGE GOODWIN OF THE ATLANTA JOURNAL
23Dec1949 NBC Fri [Akron Beacon Journal]
13Jan1950 NBC Fri [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Sydney Smith ...... George Goodwin
Synopsis:
The story of reporter George Goodwin of the Atlanta Georgia Journal whose sense
of justice
and fair play prompted him to clear an innocent man of suspicion of his wife's
murder after public
opinion had convicted the man without benefit of trial. [RF]
[--] Detective Mystery Drama
30Dec1949
1.09 [--] The Big Story: GERALD GUNTHRUP OF THE ONEONTA DAILY STAR
06Jan1950 NBC Fri [Akron Beacon Journal]
27Jan1950 NBC Fri [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Betty Garde
Ivy Bethune
William Lynn
and Frank Behrens.
Synopsis:
The experiences of Gerald Gunthrup of the Oneonta, N.Y. Daily Star in tracking
down a woman
who murdered her handyman for his insurance is dramatized. [RF]
[--] Life Begins at 80
13Jan1950 [Premiere]
with Jack Barry
1.10 [--] The Big Story: MARGRETE DANEY OF THE TOLEDO BLADE
20Jan1950 NBC Fri
10Feb1950 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Melba Rae ..... Margrete Daney
Milton Herman
Walter Greaza
Jimmy Little
Synopsis:
When Margrete Daney reporter of the Toledo (Ohio) Blade filled in as police
reporter one night, and helps
find a missing little girl. [RF]
[--] Life Begins at 80
27Jan1950
with Jack Barry
1.11 [--] The Big Story: GEORGE COX OF MOBILE ALABAMA PRESS-REGISTER
03Feb1950 NBC Fri [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
17Feb1950 [San Mateo Ca]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Martin Balsam
Dave Kerman
Athena Lorde
Synopsis:
Reporter George M. Cox of the Mobile, Ala. Press-Register was instrumental
during the manhunt
of a felon. [RF]
[--] Life Begins at 80
10Feb1950
with Jack Barry
1.12 [--] The Big Story: HERB MAYER OF THE NEW ORLEANS ITEM
17Feb1950 NBC Fri
10Mar1950 [San Mateo Ca][Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
Synopsis:
Herb Mayer of the New Orleans Louisiana Item
Mayer starting with a few meager clues is able to solve the mystery of the
unidentified corpse and
tracks down the murderer of a watchmaker. [RF]
[--] Life Begins at 80
24Feb1950
with Jack Barry
1.13 [--] The Big Story: HARRY MCCORMICK OF THE HOUSTON PRESS
a.k.a. "The Huntsville Prison Case".
03Mar1950 NBC Fri
24Mar1950 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Jesse White ...... Harry McCormick
Synopsis:
The manner in which reporter Harry McCormick of the Houston (Texas) Press solves
the daring
"Huntsville Prison Case" is told as McCormick had long worked to improve penal
conditions and
was regarded as a friend by many inmates. When three convicts escape by forging
a pardon from the
governor, he is the only one to whom the warden can turn for assistance. [RF]
[--] Life Begins at 80
10Mar1950
with Jack Barry
1.14 [--] The Big Story: NELLIE KENYON OF THE CHATTANOOGA NEWS
17Mar1950 NBC Fri
07Apr1950 [San Mateo CA]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Mary K. Wells ..... Nellie Kenyon
Synopsis:
Nellie Kenyon of the Chattanooga News
The play will reveal how Miss Kenyon by bulling in was able to solve a bank
robbery and capture the criminals. [RF]
Synopsis 2:
As a reporter on the Chattanooga ( Tenn.) News, Nellie Kenyon was on the beat
when the "Big Story" came about.
It involves a criminal who robbed a bank, leaving no clues . . . but with the
help of the newspaper and their reporters,
the crime was solved. [RF]
[--] Life Begins at 80
24Mar1950
with Jack Barry
1.15 [--] The Big Story: EUGENE TRAVIS OF THE MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL
APPEAL
31Mar1950 NBC Fri [Syracuse Herald Journal]
21Apr1950 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Alan Bunce .... Eugene Travis
Jack Hartley
William Lipton
Lew Herbert
John McLiam
Lee Marvin
Gerry Lock
Alvin Sullum
Naomi Lewis
Grace Valentine
Lamport Hill
George Britton
Synopsis:
Reporter Eugene Travis of the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper tells a tale
of tipping off the
post office department of an impending train robbery. [RF]
[--] Life Begins at 80
07Apr1950
with Jack Barry
1.16 [--] The Big Story: WOODY BARON OF THE WACO NEWS-TRIBUNE
14Apr1950 NBC Fri
05May1950 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
Vinton Hayworth .... Woody Baron
Joan Lazer
Lou Polan
Tessa Vinton
William Malten
Don Douglas
Francis DeSales
Mary Fanelle
Ronald Dawson
Helen Choat
Virginia Smith
Eleanor Swayne
Synopsis:
Twin killers are captured by police with the aid of reporter Woody Baron of
the Waco, Texas News-Tribune. [RF]
=============================================================
"The Big Story" alternates with
The Clock
NBC Fridays 9:30pm
from 21Apr1950
=============================================================
1.47 [--] The Clock: Rain in the Night
21Apr1950
1.17 [--] The Big Story: KATHRYN STEFFAN OF THE NORFOLK (VA) LEDGER-DISPATCH
28Apr1950 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Musical direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Narrator, Bob Sloane
starring
Jean Pugsley
Betty Bendyk
Jan Owen
Richard Shankland
Betty Garde
Bernard Burke
Marion Nobel
Synopsis:
Reporter Steffan disguises herself as a teenage delinquent and goes to jail in
order to expose the conditions to other
juveniles at the County Jail. [RF]
Synopsis:
Kathryn Steffan of Norfolk, Va. wins this weeks Big Story award with her story
of life in a juvenile ward. She purposely
was arrested and sent to a "farm" for 30 days and tells of the terror of her
life there. [RF]
1.48 [--] The Clock: Voyage West
05May1950
1.18 [--] The Big Story: C.A. PAUL, CHARLOTTE N.C. REPORTER
12May1950 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Musical direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Narrator, Bob Sloane
starring
Bernard Grant
Jim Moreno
Donald Keyes
Charles Jordan
Janet Paul
John Marley
Martin Greene
David Kerman
James Coots
Synopsis:
C.A. Paul, reporter for the Charlotte N.C. News with only a canary and an
insight into the human mind, captured the
psychopathic holdup-killer of two cab drivers. [RF]
1.49 [--] The Clock: Just a Minute
19May1950
with Helmut Dantine, Heywood Broun, Sid Paul and Sandy Rickart.
1.19 [--] The Big Story: JAMES FUSCO OF THE COLUMBUS CITIZEN
26May1950 NBC Fri
16Jun1950 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Teleplay by Arnold Perl
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Musical direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
John McQuade .... James Fusco
James Van Dyke
Drew Conklin
Charles Egelston
Charlotte Knight
Peggy Wagner
Albert Patterson
Joe Downing
Synopsis:
James Fusco reporter for the Columbus (Ohio) Citizen, was as puzzled as the
police when the body of a
pretty young girl was found in an old target range. However, he managed to solve
the case.. [RF]
1.50 [--] The Clock: I Keep Forgetting
02Jun1950
1.20 [--] The Big Story: HARRY ROMANOFF OF THE CHICAGO HERALD AMERICAN
aka "The Sausage King Murders His Wife"
09Jun1950 NBC Fri
30Jun1950 [Long Beach Independent]
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Teleplay by Arnold Perl
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Musical direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Narrator, Robert Sloane
Guest cast:
Norman McKay
Don Appell
Joy Geffen
Allan Stevenson
Jack Davis
Synopsis:
When a butcher's wife was murdered and a prowler was killed by the butcher and
accused of the crime,
Reporter Harry Romanoff thought things were too easy and didn't mesh until he
did some sleuthing and
came up with the truth. [RF]
1.51 [--] The Clock: The Caller
16Jun1950 NBC Fri
1.21 [--] The Big Story: HAROLD FRIEDENBERG OF THE BOSTON TRAVELER
23Jun1950 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Teleplay by Arnold Perl
Directed by Charles E. Skinner
Musical direction, Vladimir Selinsky
Narrator, Robert Sloane
starring
John Sylvester
Bill Lipton
Charles Penman
Bill Martel
Dorothy Francis
Humphrey Davis
Lamport Hill
Peggy Nelson
Synopsis:
Reporter Harold Friedenberg of the Boston Traveler hears a young girl tell the
eyewitness account
of an accident. He doesn't fall for it and when he gets through with his own
investigation he turns up
an insurance fraud scheme and murder. [RF]
1..52 [--] The Clock: Someone Must Die
30Jun1950 NBC Fri
1.22 [--] The Big Story: EDWARD GRIFFIN, SYRACUSE REPORTER
07Jul1950 NBC Fri
Synopsis:
Herald Journal reporter Eddie Griffin solves a 1936 Lacona Bank slaying.
1.53 [--] The Clock: A Grave Plot
14Jul1950 NBC Fri
1.23 [--] The Big Story: EDWARD FREEMAN, BALTIMORE REPORTER
21Jul1950 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
1.54 [--] The Clock: Jump, Elbert, Jump
28Jul1950 NBC Fri
1.24 [--] The Big Story: ROY J. BATTERSBY, NEW YORK REPORTER
04Aug1950 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
starring
Nat Polen ....... Roy J. Battersby
Donald Keyes
Bruno Wick
Walter Matthau
Marian Shockley
Rusty Lane
William Keene
Anne Ives
Victor Sutherland
Steven Gethers
Synopsis:
Reporter Roy J. Battersby of the New York Herald-Tribune helped police solve the
hammer slaying of a young bride. [RF]
1.55 [--] The Clock: The Checked Suit
11Aug1950 NBC Fri
1.25 [--] The Big Story: HOWARD BEAUFAIT, CLEVELAND REPORTER
18Aug1950 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Synopsis:
Howard Beaufait of the Cleveland News reopened a murder case and freed an
innocent man from jail.
1.56 [--] The Clock: Rumble in Manhattan
25Aug1950 NBC Fri
1.26 [--] The Big Story: EUGENE TRAVIS, MEMPHIS REPORTER
01Sep1950 NBC Fri
Produced by Bernard J. Prockter
Synopsis:
Eugene Travis reporter for a Memphis newspaper with his tale of tipping off the
post office department of an impending
train robbery. [RF]
################# The Big Story
##############
################ end of season 1 #############
##############################################
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