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Captain Midnight

Aviation adventure radio serial, 1938-49
from otrrlibrary.org, archive.org

From Wikipedia:

Captain Midnight (later rebranded on television as Jet Jackson, Flying Commando) is a U.S. adventure franchise first broadcast as a radio serial from 1938 to 1949. The character's popularity throughout the 1940s and into the mid-1950s extended to serial films (1942), a television show (1954–1956), a syndicated newspaper strip (1942-late 1940s), and a comic book title (1942–1948).

Sponsored by the Skelly Oil Company, the Captain Midnight radio program was the creation of radio scripters Wilfred G. Moore and Robert M. Burtt, who had previously scored a success for Skelly with their boy pilot adventure serial The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen.

Developed at the Blackett, Sample and Hummert advertising agency in Chicago, Captain Midnight began as a syndicated show in 1938, airing through the spring of 1940 on a few Midwest stations, including Chicago's WGN. In 1940, Ovaltine, a product of The Wander Company, took over sponsorship. With Pierre Andre as announcer, the series was then heard nationally on the Mutual Radio Network where it remained until 1942. It moved to the Merchandise Mart and the NBC Blue Network in September 1942. When the U.S. Government broke up the NBC Red and Blue Networks, Ovaltine moved the series back to Mutual, beginning September 1945, where it remained until December 1949.

The title character, originally Captain Jim "Red" Albright, was a World War I U.S. Army pilot. His Captain Midnight code name was given by a general who sent him on a high-risk mission from which he returned at the stroke of 12. When the show began in 1938, Albright was a private aviator who helped people, but his situation changed in 1940. When the show was taken over by Ovaltine, the origin story explained how Albright was recruited to head the Secret Squadron, an aviation-oriented paramilitary organization fighting sabotage and espionage during the period prior to the United States' entry into World War II. The Secret Squadron acted both within and outside the United States.

When the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor, which curiously was foreshadowed in the program, the show shifted the Secret Squadron's duties to fight the more unconventional aspects of the war. Besides the stock villain, Ivan Shark, the war years introduced Axis villains Baron von Karp, Admiral Himakito and von Schrecker. The Secret Squadron wartime activities were usually outside the continental United States, with adventures in Europe, South America, the Pacific, and continental Asia. War-related subject matter included the theft of an experimental Flying Wing aircraft, radar coupled antiaircraft guns, jet aircraft and other weapons.

After the war, some of the newer villains used war surplus equipment to carry out their activities. Secret Squadron activities shifted to contending with criminals as well as spies. The action continued to operate internationally, with adventures in South America and Africa as well as within the United States.

The show was extremely popular, with an audience in the millions. Just under half the listeners were adult, and it was a favorite of World War II United States Army Air Force crews when they were stationed in the US. Radio premiums offered by the series (usually marked with Midnight's personal symbol of a winged clock with the hands pointing to midnight) included decoders. These Code-O-Graphs were used by listeners to decipher encrypted messages previewing the next day's episode, usually broadcast once a week. Other premiums included rings, telescopes, and World War II items. (The broadcast messages were encrypted with relatively trivial monoalphabetic substitution ciphers with word division.)

The scripts depicted women who were treated as equals, not just characters waiting to be rescued. Both Joyce Ryan of the Secret Squadron and Fury Shark, daughter of villain Ivan Shark, pulled their own weight in the adventures. Joyce went on commando raids and became involved in aerial dogfights during World War II.

  1. Captain Midnight Promo #1 (unknown file size)
  2. Captain Midnight Promo #2 (unknown file size)
  3. Captain Midnight Promo #3 (unknown file size)
  4. Captain Midnight Promo #4 (unknown file size)
  5. Captain Midnight Promo #5 (unknown file size)
  6. Captain Midnight Promo #6 (unknown file size)
  7. Captain Midnight Promo #7 (unknown file size)
  8. Captain Midnight Promo #8 (unknown file size)
  9. Captain Midnight Promo #9 (unknown file size)
  10. Captain Midnight Promo #10 (unknown file size)
  11. Photographic Mission (1939-03-29) (unknown file size)
  12. Establishing a Hidden Airfield (1939-04-21) (unknown file size)
  13. Steve Has Crashed (1939-05-23) (unknown file size)
  14. Questions for Perada (1939-10-17) (unknown file size)
  15. Under Attack from One of Shark's Planes (1939-10-18) (unknown file size)
  16. Patrick and Pinky Search Grounds, and See Something! (1939-10-19) (unknown file size)
  17. Our Friends Rest (1939-10-20) (unknown file size)
  18. Shark and Fury Search Major Steele's Cabin (1939-10-23) (unknown file size)
  19. The Perada Treasure (1939-10-24) (unknown file size)
  20. Chuck Responds to the Signal (1939-10-25) (unknown file size)
  21. Sharks' Pilot Escapes (1939-10-26) (unknown file size)
  22. Captain Midnight and Chuck Return to Juan's Lodge (1939-10-27) (unknown file size)
  23. One of Shark's Planes Razzes Captain Midnight (1939-10-30) (unknown file size)
  24. The Mexican Supper is Interrupted (1939-11-06) (unknown file size)
  25. Shark Tries to Discover the Location of the Treasure (1939-11-07) (unknown file size)
  26. Juan Gets Good News (1939-11-08) (unknown file size)
  27. Pablo's Mexican Jumping Beans (1939-11-09) (unknown file size)
  28. Delores Tries to Kill Ivan Shark (1939-11-10) (unknown file size)
  29. Patsy and Chuck Explore the Cave (1939-11-13) (unknown file size)
  30. Shark Searches for Delores (1939-11-14) (unknown file size)
  31. Chuck Falls into Underground River (1939-11-15) (unknown file size)
  32. Plans to Rescue Delores (1939-11-16) (unknown file size)
  33. At Last - the Hacienda (1939-11-17) (unknown file size)
  34. Trying to Break Thru a Cave-In (1939-11-20) (unknown file size)
  35. An Unlikely Alibi (1939-11-21) (unknown file size)
  36. Shark Prepares a Deadly Trap (1939-11-22) (unknown file size)
  37. Captain and Chuck Avoid the Trap, and Death! (1939-11-23) (unknown file size)
  38. Escape, But Now Under Fire (1939-11-24) (unknown file size)
  39. Chuck and Delores Escape, But Are Being Followed (1939-11-27) (unknown file size)
  40. Forced to Make a Sudden Landing (1939-11-28) (unknown file size)
  41. The Perada Treasure (1939-11-29) (unknown file size)
  42. Shark Questions One of His Pilots (1939-11-30) (unknown file size)
  43. Senor Lutro Informs Shark of Change of Plans (1939-12-01) (unknown file size)
  44. Successful Takeoff! (1939-12-04) (unknown file size)
  45. Captain and Juan Take Off on a Night Flight (1939-12-05) (unknown file size)
  46. Captain and Juan Tangle With Shark's Chief Pilot (1939-12-06) (unknown file size)
  47. Pinky and Slim Are Missing (1939-12-07) (unknown file size)
  48. The Cattle Drive (1939-12-08) (unknown file size)
  49. A Forced Landing in the Path of Cattle (1939-12-11) (unknown file size)
  50. Chuck and Patsy Escape (1939-12-12) (unknown file size)
  51. Shark's Sinister Plans (1939-12-13) (unknown file size)
  52. Shark's Men Take Over the Valley (1939-12-14) (unknown file size)
  53. Captain Explains His Signal to Patsy (1939-12-15) (unknown file size)
  54. After Parachuting, Chuck is Attacked by Guardo (1939-12-18) (unknown file size)
  55. Refuse in an Aztec Temple (1939-12-19) (unknown file size)
  56. Footprints (1939-12-20) (unknown file size)
  57. Captain Meets Lutro and Von Grif (1939-12-21) (unknown file size)
  58. Lutro and Von Grif Watch as Shark and Fury Plan (1939-12-22) (unknown file size)
  59. Falling into Shark's Deadly Plan (1939-12-25) (unknown file size)
  60. A Plan to Thwart a Plan (1939-12-26) (unknown file size)
  61. Juan and Patsy Voice Concern over Captain and Chuck (1939-12-27) (unknown file size)
  62. Taken Prisoner by Lutro and Von Grif (1939-12-28) (unknown file size)
  63. Captain Midnight Leads Attack of Hacienda (1939-12-29) (unknown file size)
  64. The Hacienda is Ours! (1940-01-02) (unknown file size)
  65. An Amazing Discovery (1940-01-03) (unknown file size)
  66. The Treasure Has Disappeared (1940-01-05) (unknown file size)
  67. Shark's Secret Landing Field (1940-01-08) (unknown file size)
  68. An Early Morning Talk (1940-01-10) (3.2Mb)
  69. A Mysterious Cry for Help (1940-01-12) (3.3Mb)
  70. Where's the Voice Coming From? (1940-01-15) (unknown file size)
  71. Patsy Spots a Broken Airplane Wing (1940-01-17) (unknown file size)
  72. Bud Must Go to the Hospital - Now! (1940-01-19) (unknown file size)
  73. Captain Has a Plan (1940-01-22) (unknown file size)
  74. Smoke Floating over a Nearby Ridge (1940-01-24) (unknown file size)
  75. Chuck Asks Mr Gillis for Dynamite (1940-01-26) (unknown file size)
  76. Dynamiting the Trees (1940-01-29) (unknown file size)
  77. Chuck Successfully Takes Off (1940-01-31) (unknown file size)
  78. After a Good Night's Sleep - Surprise! (1940-02-02) (unknown file size)
  79. On Their Way to See Chuck (1940-02-05) (unknown file size)
  80. Captain and Patsy Discuss Chuck's Disappearance (1940-02-07) (unknown file size)
  81. Chuck Last Seen with Mysterious Stranger (1940-02-09) (unknown file size)
  82. What Did Chuck Do? (1940-02-12) (unknown file size)
  83. Chuck Arrested by Government Man (1940-02-14) (unknown file size)
  84. Chuck and Frank Land to Investigate Strange Plane (1940-02-16) (unknown file size)
  85. Plans to Search for Chuck (1940-02-19) (unknown file size)
  86. Imprisoned in Shark's Plane (1940-02-21) (unknown file size)
  87. A Smuggler's Shack (1940-02-23) (unknown file size)
  88. Captain Believes No One is in Charge of Chuck's Plane (1940-02-26) (unknown file size)
  89. Chuck Learns Shark's Sinister Plan (1940-02-28) (unknown file size)
  90. Shark Sends a Telegram to Captain Midnight (1940-03-01) (unknown file size)
  91. The Telegram (1940-03-04) (unknown file size)
  92. Chuck Talks to Shark Aboard Shark's Plane (1940-03-06) (unknown file size)
  93. Captain Demands to Hear Chuck's Voice (1940-03-08) (unknown file size)
  94. Chuck Will Talk to Captain Midnight Tonight (1940-03-11) (unknown file size)
  95. Shark Issues an Ultimatum (1940-03-13) (unknown file size)
  96. Shark Tells Fury His Plans (1940-03-15) (unknown file size)
  97. Shark Demands Answer Within 24 Hours (1940-03-18) (unknown file size)
  98. Chuck Gets Disturbing News (1940-03-20) (unknown file size)
  99. Flying to Point of Shark's First Broadcast (1940-03-22) (unknown file size)
  100. Chuck Transmits Secret Message (1940-03-25) (unknown file size)
  101. Captain Midnight Finds Shark's Hideout (1940-03-27) (unknown file size)
  102. Origin show (First Mutual broadcast) (1940-09-30) (5.9Mb)
  103. Shark Tries to Destroy the Group (1940-10-01) (unknown file size)
  104. The Secret Squadron Attacks Shark's Submarine (1941-06-09) (unknown file size)
  105. Chuck and Joyce Are Prisoners of the Tiger Tong (1941-10-24) (unknown file size)
  106. Assignment Under the Sea (1942-10-08) (unknown file size)
  107. Fighting with Commandos (1942-11-24) (unknown file size)
  108. Destruction of the Nazi Submarine Base (1942-12-30) (unknown file size)
  109. Trapped by the Nazis (1943-02-16) (unknown file size)
  110. Challenge of the Crossed Swords (1943-02-22) (unknown file size)
  111. The Silver Dagger Strikes (1943-04-09) (unknown file size)
  112. The Silver Dagger Strikes (1943-04-12) (unknown file size)
  113. The Secret Squadron Strikes (1943-05-26) (unknown file size)
  114. The Philippines Fight On (1943-10-09) (unknown file size)
  115. Signal from the Sky (1943-12-02) (unknown file size)
  116. East of Formosa (1943-12-08) (unknown file size)
  117. Japanese Bombers Shot Down (1944-01-17) (unknown file size)
  118. The Dive Bombers Fight (1944-01-20) (unknown file size)
  119. Captain Midnight Shot Down (1944-01-21) (unknown file size)
  120. Prisoner of the Japs (1944-01-24) (unknown file size)
  121. Mountain Battle (1944-04-20) (unknown file size)
  122. Dangerous Flight (1944-11-01) (unknown file size)
  123. Double Cross (1946-08-14) (unknown file size)
  124. The Slave Smugglers (1947-03-12) (unknown file size)
  125. The Map of Mystery (1947-04-07) (unknown file size)
  126. We Who Are About to Die (1947-04-21) (unknown file size)
  127. Stolen Star (1947-05-14) (unknown file size)
  128. The Jewels of the Queen of Sheba (1948-03-26) (unknown file size)
  129. The Return of Ivan Shark (1948-12-08) (unknown file size)
  130. Secret Submarine Base (1949-01-10) (unknown file size)
  131. Phantom Rustler (1949) (unknown file size)
  132. The Flying Ruby (1949) (unknown file size)

MP3 files hosted by otrrlibrary.org, archive.org.