On This Day, October 17: The Adventures of Superman (The Atom Man) and Edgar Bergen

October 17 Update & Historical Discoveries

This report records the historical discoveries, verified cast roles, sanitized titles, contemporary radio logs, and serial story arcs across all old-time radio broadcasts transmitted on October 17.

1. Archival Forensics & Crucial Historical Resolutions

A. The Adventures of Superman: "The Atom Man", Part 6 of 20 (1945-10-17)

Archival broadcast 49aa551e preserves Mutual's October 17, 1945 installment of the legendary 20-part Atom Man serial storyline. Clayton "Bud" Collyer performs his dynamic rapid vocal transition from mild-mannered Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent into the Man of Steel. When the Atom Man vents lethal synthetic kryptonite gas from his subterranean laboratory, Lois Lane (Joan Alexander) and an analytical chemist are overcome, forcing Superman to race them to Metropolis General Hospital under intense radio drama tension. Jackson Beck introduces and announces the program for Kellogg's Pep. Contemporary listings in The New York Times (Oct 17, 1945, Radio Section, p. 28) and The Washington Post (Oct 17, 1945, Radio Dial, p. 12) confirm the 5:15 PM EST network transmission.

B. The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show: Deduplication and Standard Re-Mapping (1948-10-17)

A major archival deduplication milestone was completed for the October 17, 1948 broadcast (b1b092c4). Two redundant download entries (614cfc1a and 35903ffc) under the series variant "The Charlie McCarthy Show" were formally retired with withdrawn: true and consolidated onto the standard parent program "Edgar Bergen And Charlie McCarthy" (ea9ab7ce-9630-4121-9bac-57158f609f61). In this broadcast, Charlie panics after accidentally putting a baseball through a neighbor's window, while screen idol Don Ameche guest-stars to banter with Edgar, Charlie, and Pat Patrick (in his beloved bumpkin character Ercil Twing). The broadcast was sponsored nationally by Royal Gelatin Puddings and Tender Leaf Tea (Standard Brands). Contemporary radio timetables: Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct 17, 1948, pt. 3, p. 10; Los Angeles Times, Oct 17, 1948, pt. II, p. 8; The New York Times, Oct 17, 1948, Sec. X, p. 11.

C. Gunsmoke: William Conrad and Richard Beals in "Yorky" (1953-10-17)

In Norman Macdonnell's taut, adult radio western masterpiece "Yorky" (c4bf4307), William Conrad delivers an unforgettable performance as Marshal Matt Dillon. Patroling the desolate prairie outside Dodge City, Dillon discovers ten-year-old Yorky Kelly (masterfully voiced by 26-year-old voice prodigy Richard Beals) dutifully guarding his dying father, whose homestead has been violently invaded by ruthless claim jumpers. Supported by Parley Baer as Chester, Georgia Ellis as Kitty, John Dehner as Mr. Brant, and Lawrence Dobkin as Moss Grimmick, the episode stands as one of writer John Meston's most poignant scripts. Sponsored nationally by Post Toasties (General Foods). Contemporary documentation: The New York Times, Oct 17, 1953, Radio Guide, p. 18; Los Angeles Times, Oct 17, 1953, pt. II, p. 6.

D. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: "The Phantom Chase Matter", 9-Part Serial Arc (1956-10-17)

Broadcast on October 17, 1956 (fb52aa3a), Part 3 of The Phantom Chase Matter exemplifies the peak 15-minute weekday serialized era of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar starring Bob Bailey. Investigating maritime insurance fraud along the San Diego waterfront, Johnny crosses paths with mysterious heiress Lola Chase (Virginia Gregg) and elusive dockworker Freddy Quintana (Don Diamond), under the tight direction of Jack Johnstone. All 9 parts of this serialized storyline (October 15–26, 1956) were systematically indexed into catalog/story/index.json under yours-truly-johnny-dollar--the-phantom-chase-matter, complete with chronological sequencing, part tracking, and primary star portrait attribution. Contemporary documentation: The Washington Post, Oct 17, 1956, Radio Programs, p. 42; The New York Times, Oct 17, 1956, Radio Section, p. 67.

E. The Shadow: Bret Morrison in "Dead Man's Ride" (1948-10-17)

In "Dead Man's Ride" (f06fa596), broadcast live over the Mutual Broadcasting System on October 17, 1948, Bret Morrison stars as Lamont Cranston and The Shadow opposite Grace Matthews as Margo Lane. Cranston and Lane investigate the sinister death of an heiress reportedly terrified into a fatal heart attack by the nocturnal phantom of her newly deceased husband, uncovering a deadly inheritance scheme orchestrated by Dr. Stark (George Petrie) and Peter Warren (Santos Ortega). Written by Michael Cramoy and directed by John Cole, with Andre Baruch announcing for Carey Salt. Contemporary logs: The New York Times, Oct 17, 1948, Sec. X, p. 11; Chicago Daily Tribune, Oct 17, 1948, pt. 3, p. 10.

2. Broadcasts