Theater of the Mind

Night Beat

77 episodes · 1950–1952 · NBC · Detective

Frank Lovejoy played Randy Stone, who covered the night beat for the Chicago Star, on NBC from February 6, 1950, to September 25, 1952. His stories were about crime, but also about people in trouble in the small hours, and each show ended with Randy typing up the story and calling for the copy boy. Radio historian John Dunning called it a superior series. Joan Banks, Parley Baer, William Conrad and Paul Frees were among the supporting players.

Sources: Night Beat, Wikipedia

Episodes

Tap a year to see its episodes, then a title to play it on Radio Days.

195042 episodes

Elevator Caper January 13, 1950 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Zero February 6, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
The first show: a man handed the wrong medical report believes he's dying and plans to end his life at midnight, and Randy races to find him.
The Night Is a Weapon (February 1950) February 13, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A man terrified of the dark is being pushed toward murder.
A World All His Own (February 1950) February 20, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A punch-drunk former champion wants one last meeting with his old love.
The Girl in the Park (February 1950) February 27, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy meets a nightclub singer in the park, and she has a big problem.
Number 13 March 6, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy is held up and shot by a seventy-year-old professor with a sure-fire roulette system.
Am I My Brother's Keeper? (March 1950) March 13, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
An escaped convict goes after the gang member who married his old girl, and a policeman is killed.
The Man Who Claimed to Be Dead March 20, 1950 · NBC · 29 min
On a sweltering night Randy meets a man in a heavy overcoat who says he is dead, and a doctor agrees.
Flowers on the Water March 27, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A dying woman wants only to see her husband again, and Randy searches for him.
The Night Is a Weapon (April 1950) April 9, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A repeat performance of the story of a man terrified of the dark. Brian Donlevy drops by to promote Dangerous Assignment.
I Know Your Secret April 10, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy pulls a woman out of the river. Someone has been sending her unsigned notes: I know your secret.
A World All His Own (April 1950) April 16, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A repeat performance of the story of a punch-drunk fighter and his lost love.
Tong War April 17, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy tries to stop a gang war in Chicago's Chinatown, with a surprise ending.
The Girl in the Park (April 1950) April 23, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A repeat performance, with a different cast, of the story of a nightclub singer Randy meets in the park. Dick Powell promotes Richard Diamond.
Am I My Brother's Keeper? (April 1950) April 30, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A repeat performance of the escaped convict's revenge. Jack Webb promotes Dragnet.
Mentallo the Mental Marvel May 1, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A carnival mind reader with a perfect memory tries to kill himself after someone asks what happened to him on the fifteenth of last month.
Elevator Caper aka Ted Carter Murder May 8, 1950 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Night Watchman May 15, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Did a night watchman with a cane set a string of warehouse fires?
I Wish You Were Dead May 22, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A meek little man Randy meets in the park says he can kill just by wishing someone dead.
The Stamp Dealer May 29, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A stamp dealer haunted by a murder he committed long ago turns desperate, and Randy and a psychiatrist try to help.
The Girl from Kansas June 5, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A girl from Kansas, arrested for grand theft, is bailed out by a stranger.
The Football Player and the Syndicate June 12, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A former football star is in deep with a crooked politician, who wants him to find a blind man and kill him.
Vincent and the Painter June 19, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A strange artist wants to kill a wealthy woman for the death of someone named Vincent.
Jimmy and Gus Reed June 26, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A thirteen-year-old in a mask holds up a delicatessen, and he turns out to be a gangster's son.
Loraing Adams Execution July 3, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A six-year-old running away from home with a $100 bill leads Randy to a race to stop an execution. Joel McCrea promotes Tales of the Texas Rangers.
Old King Death July 10, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A theater producer plots revenge on a down-and-out Shakespearean actor.
Molly Keller July 17, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A widowed scrubwoman is suddenly living in a fancy hotel. Who has the loot from a fourteen-year-old payroll robbery?
The Devil's Bible July 24, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A rare Bible in a bookshop leads Randy to murder.
The City at Your Finger Tips July 31, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy dials a number at random and reaches a woman whose husband is about to kill her.
Pop the Blind Musician August 7, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A blind street fiddler trades his violin for a gun, in a story borrowed from Damon Runyon.
Gunner's Last Fight August 14, 1950 · NBC · 29 min
A boxer is beaten up for refusing to throw a fight, and his own wife is helping the crooks.
The Doctor's Secret August 21, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Covering an execution at Joliet, Randy meets an alcoholic doctor who is guiltier than the condemned man.
Old Home Week September 4, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
On vacation at a lake, Randy pulls a young woman from the water, and her friends think she drowned.
The Hunted Becomes the Hunter September 11, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A condemned man escapes and kidnaps Randy to help prove his innocence.
Wanna Buy a Story September 18, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
A woman offers to sell Randy the story of a gambler's murder for $500. Frank Lovejoy is honored for his portrayal of a newsman.
A Case of Butter September 25, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy hunts for twenty tons of contaminated butter before typhoid hits Chicago.
Kenny Day Amnesia Case October 6, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
An ex-cop with amnesia steals Randy's car, and his wife is in danger, or already dead.
Einer Pierce and Family October 13, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy's fishing trip turns into a chase after an escaped killer, all the way to a small Minnesota town.
Judge Arnold's Daughter October 20, 1950 · NBC · 30 min
Randy helps a judge who's been beaten in an alley, and the judge's daughter has fallen in with a gangster.
The Doctor's Daughter October 27, 1950 · NBC · 29 min
A man with a bullet in his head will die unless a surgeon operates, and the surgeon refuses.
The Black Cat November 3, 1950 · NBC · 29 min
Who killed Nick Corby? His widow blames the black cat.
The Slasher November 10, 1950 · NBC · 29 min
A slasher is terrorizing the women of Chicago. The last show of the season.

195116 episodes

Big John McMasters March 4, 1951 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Julie the Jukebox Girl May 18, 1951 · NBC · 29 min
Randy looks into an unlikely romance between a newsdealer and a jukebox girl.
Fear May 25, 1951 · NBC · 29 min
Randy gets a threatening letter, and fear slowly builds.
The Will of Mrs. Orloff June 1, 1951 · NBC · 29 min
A poor scrubwoman dies with a $50,000 bankbook, and Randy goes looking for the man named in it.
The Search for Fred June 8, 1951 · NBC · 29 min
A man bitten by a rabid dog doesn't know it, and Randy has to find him somewhere in Chicago in time.
Otto the Musician June 15, 1951 · NBC · 29 min
What is the secret of a little bald man who plays red-hot jazz clarinet?
Sanctuary June 22, 1951 · NBC · 28 min
A five-year-old is held hostage in a church belfry.
Byline for Frank June 29, 1951 · NBC · 29 min
A dying reporter asks Randy to write the story that ruined his career.
Bill Perrin Amnesia Case July 6, 1951 · NBC · 30 min
A soldier with amnesia is looking for his missing wife.
Anton's Return July 13, 1951 · NBC · 29 min
In the subway a woman insists on calling Randy Anton, the name of her missing husband. A repeat of the March 27, 1950 story.
The City at Your Fingertips July 20, 1951 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists a broadcast on this date but gives no title.
They August 17, 1951 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Mr and Mrs Carothers October 26, 1951 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Lost Souls November 16, 1951 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Five Days off for Christmas December 21, 1951 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Expectant Father December 28, 1951 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

195219 episodes

Gusher James AFRS March 7, 1952 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists a broadcast on this date but gives no title.
Pay Up or Die May 1, 1952 · NBC · 28 min
A friend of Randy's owes a gambler $3,000, and it comes down to one hand of poker with their lives at stake.
Long Live the Clown May 8, 1952 · NBC · 29 min
A circus clown who is really a spy is murdered, and his shoes were the weapon.
Death of Riley May 15, 1952 · NBC · 29 min
A man is giving his factory to his workers while drinking himself to death. Why?
Randy Stone Target for a Week May 22, 1952 · NBC · 29 min
A rival columnist accuses Randy of murder.
Ben and Kenny Clark Jockeys May 29, 1952 · NBC · 30 min
Two brothers, both jockeys, and one of them will do anything to win.
The Marvelous Machines June 5, 1952 · NBC · 30 min
A professor building a mechanical brain gets mixed up in a murder at a bookie joint.
Railroaded June 19, 1952 · NBC · 30 min
Randy tries to help a woman framed for killing a state senator's wife.
The Reformer June 26, 1952 · NBC · 29 min
A man comes to Chicago to reform the city with love, and does.
The Old Itch July 3, 1952 · NBC · 28 min
Randy falls for a newswoman with an itch to travel.
The Taste of Peaches July 17, 1952 · NBC · 28 min
Out of prison after twenty years, a man is shadowed by two thugs after his hidden $100,000.
Flight from Fear July 31, 1952 · NBC · 28 min
Why did an old columnist cut part of a story, and what is his tie to a young champion swimmer?
Somebody Stop Ann August 7, 1952 · NBC · 28 min
A woman asks Randy to protect her children from her estranged husband.
His Name Was Luke August 14, 1952 · NBC · 28 min
A beautiful pickpocket needs a lot of money fast, and there's a man named Luke.
The Man with Red Hair August 21, 1952 · NBC · 28 min
Randy goes barhopping with a beautiful stranger. Beware the man with red hair.
Bomb on the Denver Plane September 4, 1952 · NBC · 30 min
A tip about a bomb on a plane to Denver saves the passengers, but the bomber is still loose.
Lary Wilson, Dancing Understudy September 11, 1952 · NBC · 30 min
A struggling dancer turns down her big chance at stardom.
Policy Will Racket September 18, 1952 · NBC · 30 min
Who beat up the organist at a Skid Row mission, and who threw a grenade into it?
The Bug Killings September 25, 1952 · 31 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.