THE DIARY OF FATE

HERBERT LYTTON - "FATE"

"The Diary of Fate" was a hosted mystery and horror radio nathology series where "Fate" (Herbert Lytton) narrates and always wins by the end of the story. There are stories of femme fatale hitchhikers and their truck driver saviors committing joint murders, a stray dog that leads to the murderous accusation of an innocent man, and rich honkers in Mojave desert roach motels. The series ran from 1947 until 1948. Fate's voice sounds like that of a mobster: it is hard and unsympathetic. Yet his fatalistic metaphors get poetic at times. He also seems to enjoy making dire warnings to the hapless mortal audience, threats that he will not even bother to finish utterin. HERBERT LYTTON Born Herbert Lytton Cress on 9 December 1897 in Falmouth, Pendleton County, Kentucky, USA, Lytton was a screen, television and radio actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the headstrong General Knowland in "The Cosmic Man" (1959). After attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, New York, he began his career as a leading man on the Broadway stage. While attending a dinner party at the prestigious Russian Tea Room, he was introduced to director Michael Curtiz. Impressed by his slim physique, dark good looks, and distinctive voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing in a supporting role per his supervision in "Stolen Holiday" (1937). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 125 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, aristocrats, soldiers, sailors, cowboys, sheriffs, policemen, deputies, chauffeurs, waiters, butlers, retail clerks, businessmen, bartenders, doctors, psychologists, white-collared guys, educators, authority figures, eccentrics, curmudgeons, landlords, neighbors, detectives, reporters, sugar daddies, jurors, politicians, attorneys, mayors, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Captain America" (1944), "The Last Installment" (1945), "The Damned Don't Cry" (1950), "Navy Blonde" (1951), "Chained for Life" (1952), "The War of the Worlds" (1953), "It Should Happen to You" (1954), "The Big Combo" (1955), "Tension at Table Rock" (1956), "Top Secret Affair" (1957), "Voice in the Mirror" (1958), "The Gallant Hours" (1960), "Ada" (1961), and "Our Man Flint" (1966). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "I Married Joan," "The Lone Ranger," "Hopalong Cassidy," "Meet Corliss Archer," "I Led 3 Lives," "Medic," "I Love Lucy," "Big Town," "Chevron Hall of Stars," "Four Star Playhouse," "The 20th-Century Fox Hour," "Death Valley Days," "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon," "Zane Grey Theatre," "Cheyenne," "Maverick," "Whirlybirds," "Union Pacific," "The Gale Storm Show," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Bronco," "Mackenzie's Raiders," "The Restless Gun," "Tombstone Territory," "The Donna Reed Show," "This Man Dawson," "Laramie," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "The Loretta Young Show," "Whispering Smith," "87th Precinct," "Perry Mason," "The Untouchables," "Wagon Train," "Temple Houston," "McHale's Navy," "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," and "The Twilight Zone." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an honorary member of Actors Equity, served in the United States Army during World War II, had been a member of the Hollywood Republican Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the American Lung Association, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, and was the celebrity spokesman for BIC writing instruments. Upon his 1966 retirement, Lytton spent the remainder of his life being involved in charitable and religious ventures, as well as being a generous benefactor for several public libraries and hospitals, until his death. He passed away on 26 June 1981 in Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, USA. Below is the episode "Marvin Thomas" from the series:

LINKS

Internet Movie Data Base "Herbert Lytton"	Wikipedia "Herbert Lytton"	Radio Horror Hosts "The Diary of Fate"
Podomatic "The Diary of Fate"	Old Time Radio Downloads "The Diary of Fate"	Old Time Radio Catalog "The Diary of Fate"

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