Books by Martin Grams

Soon after Duffy's Tavern premiered over the radio in 1941, Hollywood celebrities flocked to the microphone for a guest appearance and accepted what was rarely heard of in network broadcasting: celebrities were roasted in the form of insults that were praised by critics and raved by radio listeners. Duffy's Tavern was so popular it helped spawn a hit song, "Leave Us Face It," an attempted newspaper comic strip, a number of premiums, and a U.S.O. Tour. Convicts at San Quentin voted it their favorite radio program.This book (700 plus pages) documents the entire history of the radio program, the 1945 motion-picture, the short-lived television program, the lawsuits, Ed Gardner's personal life, contract negotiations and much more.

This book will make you want to look back at the episodes once again, whether you are a casual fan or serious enthusiast of the series. Unlock the door to a television classic by reading about the in-jokes, bloopers, and other trivia associated with the behind-the-scenes production of . . . THE TWILIGHT ZONE!

This is the HARDBACK version. When Dashiell Hammett's THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE made its debut over CBS in August of 1946, the series became an instant success. Howard Duff, a virtual unknown among Hollywood circles, found himself bombarded with movie offers. The early broadcasts of the series revealed a dark side of Spade: stealing money out of a dead man's wallet to sleeping with a married woman. Over time, the script writers cut down on the dark side and added an emphasis of humor. Spade's romantic relationship with his secretary Effie was more obvious. While many recordings exist from the radio broadcasts of the forties and fifties, a large percentage of the SAM SPADE programs are considered "lost" -- due to the lack of preservation. Today, fans of the program seek out those "lost" adventures, especially the earliest broadcasts that shed light on just what kind of character Sam Spade is and the explanation for the popularity during the late forties. Thanks to Bear Manor Media and editor Martin Grams Jr., this book offers reprints of thirteen scripts from THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE. Almost every script originates from a "lost" episode that fans cannot otherwise listen via recording. Some of the earliest episodes are included, revealing the darker side of Sam. A holiday offering from the Steve Dunne season is included, as well as an episode revealing Sam's affections for another woman so strong he was willing to lose his secretary for her. A lengthy essay revealing background concerning each of these scripts is included.

This is the HARDBACK version. CAR 54, Where Are You? is considered one of the best television comedies ever produced. From 1961 to 1963, Officers Toody and Muldoon were among the most unlikely patrol-car partners ever seen on a police force. Toody was short, stocky, and just a it nosy, a marked contrast to the tall, quiet Muldoon. Although they were assigned to New York's fictional 53rd precinct -- a run down area of the Bronx not generally considered a hotbead of hilarity -- they always seemed to encounter more comedy than crime. From the episode "Something Nice for Sol" to the classic Christmas episode of 1961, this light-hearted comedy offered a heart-warming approach to our police force at work. The comedy was invariably of the broad slapstick variety reminiscent of Mack Sennett -- and one episode even saluted the Keystone Cops! Created by Nat Hiken, this television program now receives a superb review including biographies on the lead actors, the creation of the series, detailed listings of all 60 television episodes, broadcast history, cast list, plot summaries and lots of behind-the-scenes stories.

The Time Tunnel was by no means a superb product of Friday night entertainment. If the plot holes were not as large as the tunnel itself, viewers noticed the same props from Allen'sother television programs popping up on the show.Fan boys to this day still debate whether the futuristic episodes involving space aliens were better than the historic adventures, but few would deny that Lee Meriwether made a lab coat look sexy. Meriwether herself recalled how the cast received letters from school teachers who used The Time Tunnel to stimulate interest in history in the classroom.This 546 page book documents the entire history of the program, the origin and conception of the series, why it never ran a second season, almost 200 never-before-published behind-the-scenes photographs, and a detailed episode guide including dates of production, music cues, episode budgets, salary costs, deleted scenes that were filmed, memories from cast and crew, bloopers, trivia and much more!

Soon after Duffy's Tavern premiered over the radio in 1941, Hollywood celebrities flocked to the microphone for a guest appearance and accepted what was rarely heard of in network broadcasting - celebrities were roasted in the form of insults that were praised by critics and raved by radio listeners.Duffy's Tavern was so popular it helped spawn a hit song, "Leave Us Face It," an attempted newspaper comic strip, a number of premiums and a U.S.O. Tour. Convicts at San Quentin voted it their favorite radio program.This book (700 plus pages) documents the entire history of the radio program, the 1945 motion-picture, the short-lived television program, the lawsuits, Ed Gardner's personal life, contract negotiations and much more!

The Time Tunnel was by no means a superb product of Friday night entertainment. If the plot holes were not as large as the tunnel itself, viewers noticed the same props from Allen'sother television programs popping up on the show.Fan boys to this day still debate whether the futuristic episodes involving space aliens were better than the historic adventures, but few would deny that Lee Meriwether made a lab coat look sexy. Meriwether herself recalled how the cast received letters from school teachers who used The Time Tunnel to stimulate interest in history in the classroom.This 546 page book documents the entire history of the program, the origin and conception of the series, why it never ran a second season, almost 200 never-before-published behind-the-scenes photographs, and a detailed episode guide including dates of production, music cues, episode budgets, salary costs, deleted scenes that were filmed, memories from cast and crew, bloopers, trivia and much more!

CAR 54, Where Are You? is considered one of the best television comedies ever produced. From 1961 to 1963, Officers Toody and Muldoon were among the most unlikely patrol-car partners ever seen on a police force. Toody was short, stocky, and just a it nosy, a marked contrast to the tall, quiet Muldoon. Although they were assigned to New York's fictional 53rd precinct -- a run down area of the Bronx not generally considered a hotbead of hilarity -- they always seemed to encounter more comedy than crime.From the episode "Something Nice for Sol" to the classic Christmas episode of 1961, this light-hearted comedy offered a heart-warming approach to our police force at work. The comedy was invariably of the broad slapstick variety reminiscent of Mack Sennett -- and one episode even saluted the Keystone Cops!Created by Nat Hiken, this television program now receives a superb review including biographies on the lead actors, the creation of the series, detailed listings of all 60 television episodes, broadcast history, cast list, plot summaries and lots of behind-the-scenes stories.

Foreword - Jim HarmonVic and Sade (The Stembottom Situation) - William F. NolanRadio Detectives - Jim Harmon Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Duplicate Daughter The Avenger and the Maker of WerewolvesBaby Snooks (Out with Mommy) - Ben OhmartThe Whistler (For I Walk by Night) - Mel GildenJimmie Allen (In World War II) - Jon D. Swartz, Ph.D.House of Mystery (The Ghastly Dream) - Tony AlbarellaRichard Diamond (Fall from Grace) - Joe CromartyMy Friend Irma (Jane's Side) - Barbara GratzColumbia Workshop (A Drink for the Damned) - Martin Grams, Jr.Bobby Benson and His B Bar B Riders (The Adventure of the Lady Prospector) - Jack FrenchRed Ryder (Little Beaver's Schooling) - Frank BreseeThe Man Called X (Crisis in Cairo) - Charles A. BeckettNightbeat (A Dancer, a Soldier, a Villain) - Bryan PowellThe Jack Benny Program (The Fred Allen Murder Case) - Laura WagnerLum and Abner (Murder in Pine Ridge) - Donnie PitchfordHarold Lloyd Comedy Theatre (Maltese Omelet) - Michael KurlandHermit's Cave (Last of the Legares) - T. Wayne ClayA Witch's Tale (The Peltonville Horror) - Richard A. LupoffLights Out (Later Than You Think) - Christopher ConlonThe Great Gildersleeve (Saturday Morning Paper) - Justin FelixBiographical Notes

From 1955 to 1957, Science Fiction Theatre, a semi-documentary series, explored the "what ifs" of modern science. Placing an emphasis on science before fiction, television viewers were treated to a variety of complex challenges from mental telepathy, robots, man-eating ants, killer trees, man's first flight into outer space and the possibility of visitation from outer space. Hosted by Truman Bradley, a former radio news commentator, Science Fiction Theatre became an influential program for the time, courtesy of Ivan Tors, a man with a healthy regard for science and nature. Hollywood actors Gene Barry, Ruth Hussey, Gene Lockhart, Basil Rathbone, Howard Duff, William Lundigan and Vincent Price are but a few who lent their talents.For the first time ever, this 530-page book documents the entire history of the television program with biographies about Fred Ziv, Ivan Tors and Truman Bradley; behind-the-scenes production details; over 150 exclusive never-before-published photographs; and an episode guide for all 78 episodes including dates of production, fake science props, cast list, salary fees, location shooting, and much more!