Mr. District Attorney
Mr. District Attorney is a radio crime drama, produced by Samuel Bischoff, which aired on NBC and ABC from April 3, 1939, to June 13, 1952 (and in transcribed syndication through 1953). The series focused on a crusading district attorney (D.A.), initially known only as "Mister District Attorney," or "Chief", and was later translated to television. On television the D.A. had a name, Paul Garrett, and the radio version picked up this name in the final years when David Brian played the role. A key figure in the dramas was the D.A.'s secretary, Edith Miller (Vicki  Vola). History. Created, written, and directed by former law student Ed Byron, the series was inspired by the early years of New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. It was Dewey's public war against racketeering which led to his election as governor. Phillips H. Lord, creator of "Gang Busters", helped to develop the concept and coined the title. Byron lent an air of accuracy and immediacy to his scripts through close study of crime statistics, a library of criminology texts, following the newspapers, and even going around rough bars to gain tips, background, and color from crooks and police alike . Produced throughout its run in New York City, the series began as a 15-minute serial, becoming a half-hour, self-contained series three months later as a summer replacement for "The Bob Hope Show" beginning June 27, 1939. During 1942, Mr. District Attorney began battling Nazis, leading to conflicts with the FBI when the scripts reflected life too closely. The program was sponsored by Bristol-Myers. Film. Three films were released by Republic Pictures in the early 1940s. The DA was named P. Cadwallader Jones, and was assisted by journalist Terry Parker. Different actors portrayed them in each film . The trilogy consisted of: "Mr. District Attorney" (1941) starring Dennis O'Keefe with Florence Rice and Peter Lorre, "Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case" (1941) starring James Ellison and Virginia Gilmore, and "Secrets of the Underground" (1942) starring John Hubbard and Virginia Grey. A fourth film, again entitled "Mr. District Attorney" was released by Columbia Pictures in 1947. Dennis O'Keefe returned as the lead, now named Steve Bennett. Television. Near the end of the radio run, the series was transferred to television. The first incarnation ran on ABC from October 1, 1951, through June 23, 1952, airing on alternate Mondays , first with "The Amazing Mr. Malone" and then "Out of the Fog". The current radio cast reprised their roles: Jay Jostyn as Mr. District Attorney, Vicki Vola as Miss Miller, and Len Doyle as Harrington. 1954 Revival. In 1954, the show was revived in syndication by Ziv Television Programs, who had also handled the 1952–1953 radio syndication. David Brian reprised his role from that series, only now the D. A. had a name, Paul Garrett. Jackie Loughery was Miss Miller. Comic books. DC Comics published a "Mr. District Attorney" comic book series which ran for 67 issues (January–February 1948  to January–February 1959). In 1941, the Whitman Publishing Company published a Big Little Book, "Mr. District Attorney on the Job", that included a flip book.