FBI in Peace and War

The Joe Hehn Memorial Collection

(4.5 stars; 2 reviews)

The FBI in Peace and War was a radio crime drama, but despite its name, did not have the official cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Instead, the producers carefully announced that it was inspired by a book of the same name by Frederick L. Collins. The show had a very long run, from November 1944 to September 1958. It was also one of the few primetime crime programs that had a woman as its producer for much of its run, Betty Mandeville. The theme may have been one of the most memorable aspects of the program. It was the March from Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges . The show had a meager budget compared to other prime time series, and was produced in New York with some of radio's most recognizable voices. This was in contrast to This is Your FBI which had a more generous production, was produced in Hollywood, had a big name star, a groundbreaking sponsor (Equitable Life was the first financial and insurance organization to ever sponsor a prime time broadcast program), and the cooperation of J. Edgar Hoover himself and the FBI organization, including meeting with agents and staff for story ideas. It was clear that This is Your FBI was the better production from a technical and an implementation standpoint. The FBI in Peace and War was simpler and a more basic production. The name "The FBI in Peace and War," however, resonated with the public because it was a more unique and memorable one, and the two programs were often confused by listeners... and also many newspaper radio page editors who would mix up the names in commentary and in their published timetables. Nonetheless, The FBI in Peace and War gave CBS a successful series in the category of national law enforcement. It became on of the golden age's longest running crime dramas, and among the last to leave the air. * * * These recordings are part of the Joe Hehn Memorial Collection. Mr. Hehn (1931-2020) was a pioneering collector of radio recordings when the hobby emerged in the 1960s. Digitizing his collection of reel tapes and discs is the effort of a wide range of North American volunteers, and includes assistance of some international collectors. The groups supporting this effort with their funds, time, technology and skills are the Old Time Radio Researchers and a small group of transcription disc preservationists who refer to themselves as the "The Knights of the Turning Table."

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.