The Hermit's Cave became nationally known, spreading from its local origin through the syndication of its Detroit version to many large markets. "The Mummers" co-titled their show "The Little Theater of the Air," a rather literary moniker for such a blood-and-thunder spook show. The framework is memorable almost sixty years later: howling winds and the rusty-as-nails voice of the Hermit. Ghhhhhoooooosssssstttttt shories! … Weeeeeiiiiirrrrrddddd stories! …and murders, too! The Hermit knows of them all! Turn out your lights! TURN THEM OUT! … The show had a reputation for network quality and grisly sound effects. G. A. Richards, who owned WJR, later initiated the separate broadcast at his West Coast facility, KMPC. This was a training ground of sorts for young actors with network aspirations {William Conrad was 22; John Dehner 28}: Mel Johnson, who was playing the ancient Hermit when the show was at its peak in 1942, was only 24 years old.
( John Dunning )
[ On the Air: The Encyclopedia ]
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