1942-11-29 Death from the Sky

Broadcast November 29th 1942 on Mutual at 5:30 p.m. EST sponsored by D.L. & W. Coal Company "Blue Coal" and syndicated for the summer by Goodrich Tires

This is a lost episode and no recreation of it has yet been made. If you have a copy of the script please let me know.

Written by: Max Ehrlich

Announcer: Ken Roberts

Cast: Bill Johnstone (Lamont Cranston/The Shadow) Marjorie Anderson (Margot Lane)

Music: Elsie Thompson

Synopsis:

Professor Easton of the local observatory has perfected a new celestial telescope capable of reversing the science of the lens. A notorious arsonist known as The Torch, along with his two henchmen, murder the professor and use the machine for evil profit. Hidden in the telescopic tube is a special howitzer that fires Thermite shells. When the tube is sighted accurately using precision machinery, the arsonist commits his crime while staying a good distance from the scene. As Mr. Frawley, the owner of a fur company, is about to file bankruptcy The Torch makes him an offer to collect fire insurance that would clear his debts and in return, handsomely pay The Torch. Frawley, however, switched furs with imitations in the warehouse before the scheduled fire, giving Lamont and Margot reason to suspect foul play.Angry, The Torch uses his machine to burn a hole through Frawley’s chest. Realizing the power of the sun and a telescope would be needed to commit such a crime, Lamont investigates the nearby observatory. As The Shadow, he discovers The Torch is none other than Mr. Abbott, an employee of the insurance company, who was using his inside information for personal profit. Stealing The Torch’s gun, The Shadow holds the criminals at bay while Margot fetches Commissioner Weston.

Note:

This episode would later be rewritten as “The Torch” broadcast on April 19th 1953.