O

Fourble

All podcasts   |   About   |   Support Fourble
edit this podcast

The Blue Beetle

Superhero radio serial from 1940 starring Frank Lovejoy
from archive.org

The exploits of Dan Garrett, a rookie patrolman who, by wearing bullet-proof blue chain mail, transformed himself into the mysterious Blue Beetle, a daring crusader for justice.

The Blue Beetle was created by Charles Nicholas. The character made his first appearance in August of 1939 in the comic book Mystery Men #1, published by Fox Features Syndicate.

The Blue Beetle radio serial aired from 05-15-40 to 09-13-40 as a CBS 30 minutes, syndicated series. Actor Frank Lovejoy provided the voice of the Blue Beetle for the first thirteen episodes. Later episodes were uncredited.


After his father was killed by a gangster's bullet, young Dan Garrett joined the New York Police Department, but soon tired of the slow pace and red tape of police work.

With the help of his friend and mentor, pharmacist and drug-store proprietor Dr. Franz, Dan acquired a costume of bullet-proof chain-mail-like cellulose material, and began a second life, fighting crime as The Blue Beetle.

His calling card was a small beetle-shaped marker that he left in conspicuous places to alert criminals to his presence, using their fear of his crime fighting reputation as a weapon against them. For this purpose he also used a "Beetle Signal" flashlight. The Blue Beetle's reputation was not his only weapon -- he carried a revolver in a blue holster on his belt, and was sometimes shown wearing a multi-pouched belt after the style set by Batman. Also in the Batman vein, the Blue Beetle had a "BeetleMobile" car and a "BeetleBird" airplane. In at least one radio adventure, he carries something called a "magic ray machine". The ray machine was a sort of super-scientific cutting device.


From the Old Time Radio Researchers Group. See "Notes" Section below for more information on the OTRR.

  1. Origin Story (13.2Mb)
  2. Smashing the Spy Ring (12.2Mb)
  3. Sabotage and Liquidation pt.1 (13.7Mb)
  4. Sabotage and Liquidation pt. 2 (12.1Mb)
  5. Murder for Profit pt. 1 (13.4Mb)
  6. Murder for Profit pt. 2 (12.4Mb)
  7. Blasting the Dynamite Ring pt. 1 (13.6Mb)
  8. Blasting the Dynamite Ring pt. 2 (13Mb)
  9. The Invisible Ghost pt. 1 (12.6Mb)
  10. The Invisible Ghost pt. 2 (13.4Mb)
  11. Death Rides on Horseback pt. 1 (12.7Mb)
  12. Death Rides on Horseback pt. 2 (12.9Mb)
  13. Death Strikes From the East pt. 1 (12.8Mb)
  14. Death Strikes From the East pt. 2 (13Mb)
  15. The Sea Serpent pt. 1 (13.8Mb)
  16. The Sea Serpent pt. 2 (12.2Mb)
  17. The Frame-Up pt. 1 (13.6Mb)
  18. The Frame-Up pt. 2 (11.6Mb)
  19. Spirits Don't Talk pt. 1 (14Mb)
  20. Spirits Don't Talk pt. 2 (12.8Mb)
  21. Thoroughbreds Always Come Through pt. 1 (13.8Mb)
  22. Thoroughbreds Always Come Through pt. 2 (11.9Mb)
  23. Smashing the Arson Ring pt. 1 (13.4Mb)
  24. Smashing the Arson Ring pt. 2 (12.5Mb)
  25. Rounding up the Payroll Bandits pt. 1 (12Mb)
  26. Rounding up the Payroll Bandits pt. 2 (12.1Mb)
  27. Crime Incorporated pt. 1 (12.3Mb)
  28. Crime Incorporated pt. 2 (12.1Mb)
  29. Saved by a Hair pt. 1 (12.1Mb)
  30. Saved by a Hair pt. 2 (12.2Mb)
  31. Finesse in Diamonds pt. 1 (12Mb)
  32. Finesse in Diamonds pt. 2 (12.2Mb)
  33. Sabotage Incorporated pt. 1 (12.4Mb)
  34. Sabotage Incorporated pt. 2 (12.5Mb)
  35. Smashing the Restaurant Racket pt. 1 (11.8Mb)
  36. Smashing the Restaurant Racket pt. 2 (12.2Mb)
  37. Two Rackets in One pt. 1 (11.9Mb)
  38. Two Rackets in One pt. 2 (12Mb)
  39. The Underworld Goes Underground pt. 1 (11.9Mb)
  40. The Underworld Goes Underground pt. 2 (11.8Mb)
  41. The Dancing Ghosts of Rocky Hill pt. 1 (11.8Mb)
  42. The Dancing Ghosts of Rocky Hill pt. 2 (11.9Mb)
  43. The Whale of Pirates Folly pt. 1 (11.8Mb)
  44. The Whale of Pirates Folly pt. 2 (11.7Mb)
  45. The Asylum of Dr. Drear pt. 1 (11.9Mb)
  46. The Asylum of Dr. Drear pt. 2 (11.9Mb)
  47. The Jewel Mystery of Channel Island pt. 1 (11.8Mb)
  48. The Jewel Mystery of Channel Island pt. 2 (12Mb)
  49. Drug Ring - Parts 1 & 2 (5.8Mb)
  50. Sabotage And Liquidation - Parts 1 and 2 (6.1Mb)
  51. Murder For Profit - Parts 1 and 2 (6.1Mb)
  52. Blasting The Dynamite Gang - Parts 1 and 2 (5.9Mb)
  53. Invisible Ghost - Parts 1and 2 (5.9Mb)
  54. Death Rides On Horseback - Parts 1 and 2 (6Mb)
  55. Death Strikes From The East - Parts 1 and 2 (6.2Mb)
  56. Sea Serpent - Parts 1 and 2 (6.1Mb)
  57. Frame-Up - Parts 1 and 2 (6.1Mb)
  58. Spirits Don't Talk - Parts1 and 2 (6.2Mb)
  59. Thoroughbreds Always Come Through - Parts 1 and 2 (6Mb)
  60. Smashing The Arson Ring - Parts 1 and 2 (6.2Mb)
  61. Rounding Up The Payroll Bandits - Parts 1 and 2 (5.7Mb)
  62. Crime Incorporated - Parts 1 and 2 (5.6Mb)
  63. Saved By A Hair - Parts 1 and 2 (5.9Mb)
  64. Finesse In Diamonds - Parts 1 and 2 (5.8Mb)
  65. Sabotage Incorporated - Parts 1 and 2 (5.6Mb)
  66. Smashing The Restaurant Racket - Parts 1 and 2 (6Mb)
  67. Two Rackets In One - Part 1 and 2 (6.1Mb)
  68. Underworld Goes Underground - Parts 1 And 2 (5.8Mb)
  69. Dancing Ghost Of Rocky Hill - Parts 1 and 2 (5.8Mb)
  70. Whale Of Pirates Folly - Parts 1 and 2 (5.7Mb)
  71. Asylum Of Doctor Drear - Parts 1 and 2 (6Mb)
  72. Jewel Mystery Of Channel Island - Parts 1 and 2 (5.9Mb)

MP3 files hosted by archive.org.