THE WHISTLER

WILLIAM (BILL) FORMAN - "THE WHISTLER"
GALE GORDON- "THE WHISTLER"
JOSEPH KEARNS - "THE WHISTLER"
MARVIN MILLER - "ANNOUNCER" & "THE WHISTLER"
WILLIAM JOHNSTONE - "THE WHISTLER"
EVERETT CLARK - "THE WHISTLER"

William (Bill) Forman

From Wikipedia: The Whistler is a USA radio mystery drama which ran from May 16, 1942, until September 22, 1955, on the west-coast regional CBS radio network. The show was also broadcast in Chicago and over Armed Forces Radio. On the west coast, it was sponsored by the Signal Oil Company: "That whistle is your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler." Each episode of The Whistler began with the sound of footsteps and a person whistling. The haunting signature theme tune was composed by Wilbur Hatch and featured Dorothy Roberts whistling with an orchestra. A character known only as the Whistler was the host and narrator of the tales, which focused on crime and fate. He often commented directly upon the action in the manner of a Greek chorus, taunting the characters, guilty or innocent, from an omniscient perspective. The stories followed a formula in which a person's criminal acts were typically revealed either by an overlooked but important detail or by the criminal's own stupidity. An ironic ending, often grim, was a key feature of each episode. But on rare occasions, such as "Christmas Bonus" broadcast on Christmas Day 1944, the plot's twist of fate caused the story to end happily for the protagonist. Bill Forman, a veteran radio announcer, had the title role of the Whistler for the longest period of time. Gale Gordon, Joseph Kearns, Marvin Miller, Bill Johnstone Others who portrayed the Whistler at various times were Gale Gordon, Joseph Kearns, Marvin Miller (announcer for the show, who occasionally filled in for Forman and played supporting roles), and Bill Johnstone (who had the title role on radio's The Shadow from 1938 to 1943). Everett Clarke In 1946, a local Chicago version of The Whistler with local actors (including Everett Clarke as the Whistler) aired Sundays on WBBM, sponsored by Meister Brau beer. The Whistler was parodied in a 1964 episode of "The Jack Benny Program" titled "I Am the Fiddler" (season 14, episode 28). In the 1990 film "The Two Jakes", set in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, the opening narrative of "The Whistler" can be heard on the car radio as private detective J.J. Gittes (played by Jack Nicholson) cruises the streets. One opening to The Whistler I...am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes... I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak! There was a television series of "The Whistler" and 8 movies featuring "The Whistler".

Some of the episode scripts were used in the last 13 episodes of the radio series "The Clock".

Some episodes were also used in "Mystery Playhouse".

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