The program's plots progressed through three phases. During World War II they involved "threats from the Axis powers."[5] After the war ended, Cold War threats took precedence. In the third phase, "they addressed all manner of illegal activities.[5]
Scriptwriters for the series included Milton J. Kramer, Emile C. Tepperman and Stanley Niss.[1]
An unsuccessful pilot for a television version of Counterspy was produced in England in 1958, with Don Megowan as David Harding.[3] The trade publication Broadcasting also reported on plans of Bernard L. Schubert Inc. to produce 39 episodes of David Harding, Counterspy with Reed Hadley in the title role[6] and Telestar Films' releasing of Counterspy for syndication.[7]
A Spanish version of Counterspy was transmitted to South America via shortwave radio in 1942. An article in Broadcasting reported that commercial were deleted and that the effort was "in cooperation with the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs."[8]
References
^ a bDunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. p. 181.
^Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8108-7616-3. pp. 69–70.
^ a bErickson, Hal (2014). From radio to the big screen: Hollywood films featuring broadcast personalities and programs. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-7757-9. pp. 253–255.
^Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920–1950. The Viking Press. SBN 670-16240-x. p. 62.
^ a b cBlottner, Gene (2012). Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926–1955: The Harry Cohn Years. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3353-7. pp. 80–83.
^"Program Notes" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 7, 1959. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
^"Three New Series Syndicated To Stations by Telestar Films" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 16, 1958. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
^"'Counterspy' in Spanish" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 26, 1942. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
External links
Logs
Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs: Counterspy
Episodic log of Counterspy from RadioGOLDINdex Archived 2014-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
Episodic logs of Counterspy (and more) from The Digital Deli Too
Audio
Times Past Old Radio: Counterspy
Script of "Case of the Framed Congressman" episode of Counterspy Archived 2014-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
Zoot Radio, free old time radio show downloads of "David Harding Counter Spy"
TV pilots
Pilot of TV version of David Harding, Counterspy, starring Reed Hadley
Pilot of TV version of Counterspy starring Don Megowan
Magazine article
Radio and Television Mirror article "by David Harding" with information from "actual cases from the Counterspy files."