The Whisperer


 * [[Image:Carletong.jpg|right|thumb|Carleton G. Young]]
 * The Whisperer was an American old-time radio program which broadcast 13 episodes on late Sunday afternoons [5:00 p.m. Eastern] as a summer replacement from July 8 to September 30, 1951 on NBC.
 * It was based on stories by Dr. Stetson Humphrey (in collaboration with his wife, Irene).
 * The tone of the show was often tongue-in-cheek, and satirized the radio crime dramas of the day.
 * ==The plot==
 * Lawyer Philip Gault (Carleton G. Young), due to a college football injury, lost his voice and can only speak in an eerie whisper. Gault infiltrates "the syndicate" in his native Central City to bring down organized crime from within; to the underworld, he becomes known as the Whisperer. Later, his voice is restored through surgery, but he continues to lead a double life as the Whisperer, relaying instructions by telephone from the syndicate bosses in New York (who don't know he's a mole) to their lackeys in Central City, whom Gault is actually setting up.
 * In the prologue to the final episode from September 30, 1951 titled "Strange Bed Fellows", Philip Gault explains his history as follows:
 * "It all began ten years ago when I was kicked in the throat while playing college football.  After the bandages were removed I opened my mouth to speak and all that came out was this rattling hiss.  After a bakers dozen of women fainted when I spoke to them and countless babies went into paraclisms [sic] of crying, I disappeared from my usual haunts and went to work for a group which I later discovered were known as the crime syndicate.  I decided to stay with them and collect sufficient evidence to help destroy them.  Then one day I met Dr. Lee and through a miracle of surgery he restored my voice enabling me to resume my real identity as Philip Gault, Lawyer.  This dual identity makes life very interesting. For if the syndicate ever finds out that the Whisper, who passes on their orders, is really Philip Gault, the man who has wrecked so many of their plans, there'll be slow walking and low moaning.  But I won't be around to comment on it."
 * Betty Moran portrayed Gault's girlfriend, Ellen Norris, the only person who knows Gault's double identity, other than Dr. Lee. Paul Frees occasionally appeared as Gault's "friend on the force", Lt. Charles Denvers. William Conrad frequently appeared in different supporting roles under his alias, "Julius Krelboyne", as he was under exclusive contract to CBS radio at the time.
 * Bill Karn was the producer-director (and occasional writer), and organist Johnny Duffy supplied the background music.
 * The radio actor Carleton G. Young is sometimes confused with the film actor Carleton Scott Young.
 * THE WHISPERER Volume 7: "The Death Roses," "Murder Brotherhood" & "Afraid to Die"
 * Sanctum Books completes its reprinting of the original 1936-37 pulp series by DOC SAVAGE's Lawrence Donovan writing as "Clifford Goodrich" that inspired BATMAN's first supporting character! First, an ingeniously concealed map holds the answer Police Commissioner James Gordon needs to stop flower-festooned serial slayings in "The Death Roses." Then, The Whisperer invades China Hill to smash the weird "Murder Brotherhood." Finally, it's up to The Whisperer to discover why a philosophical Asian was "Afraid to Die" in a novelette by Alan Hathway from the back pages of THE SHADOW MAGAZINE! BONUS: Classic illustrated adventures of The Whisperer and Norgil the Magician from the Golden Age of Comics! This instant collector's item showcases the original color pulp covers by John Newton Howitt and Tom Lovell, the classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical commentary by Will Murray. (Sanctum Books) 978-1-60877-162-2  Softcover, 7x10, 128 pages, B&W, $14.95
 * THE WHISPERER #6: "The Satanic Seven," "The Lost Face Murders" & "Two Many Ghosts"
 * The double life of Police Commissioner James Gordon is revealed in a pair of two-fisted thrillers by Doc Savage ghost Lawrence Donovan writing as "Clifford Goodrich." First, Wildcat Gordon follows a trail of wholesale murder that begins with a prison break and leads to "The Satanic Seven." Then, The Whisperer must uncover the horrific mystery behind "The Lost Face Murders." BONUS: "Too Many Ghosts," a backstage adventure of Norgil the Magician by The Shadow's Maxwell Grant! This stunning collector's item showcases both original color pulp covers by Spider artist John Newton Howitt, the classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical commentary by Will Murray. (Sanctum Books) 978-1-60877-106-6 Softcover, 7x10, 112 pages, B&W, $14.95
 * THE WHISPERER Volume 5: "School for Murder" and "Murder on the Line" - "Commissioner Gordon before Batman!"
 * The double life of Police Commissioner James Gordon is explored in a pair of two-fisted thrillers that inspired classic Batman stories! First, The Whisperer goes undercover to close down a "School for Murder" that prepares teenagers for criminal careers! Then, Wildcat Gordon investigates corruption in the trucking industry in "Murder on the Line." BONUS: an adventure of Norgil the Magician by The Shadow's Maxwell Grant! This historic collector's item showcases both original color pulp covers by Spider artist John Newton Howitt, classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and golden-age great Creig Flessel, and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. (Sanctum Books) 978-1-60877-070-1  Softcover, 7x10, 112 pages, B&W, $14.95
 * THE WHISPERER Volume 4: "The Football Racketeers" & "Murders in Crazyland"
 * "He knows no law but Justice!" The secret life of Police Commissioner James Gordon is unmasked in two more hard-boiled thrillers by Doc Savage ghost Laurence Donovan writing as "Clifford Goodrich." First, Wildcat Gordon seeks to stop the corruption of college sports by "The Football Racketeers." Then, The Whisperer infiltrates an amusement park to uncover "Murders in Crazyland" in a classic thriller that inspired an early Batman story. BONUS: a magical tale of "prestidigitection" by The Shadow's Walter B. Gibson. This historic collector's item showcases both original color pulp covers including a knockout painting by Spider artist John Newton Howitt, plus classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. (Sanctum Books) Softcover, 7x10, 128 pages, b&w, $14.95
 * THE WHISPERER Volume 3: "Murder Queens" & "Kill Them First"
 * "He knows no law but Justice!" The secret life of Police Commissioner James Gordon is explored in a pair of two-fisted thrillers by Doc Savage ghost Laurence Donovan writing as "Clifford Goodrich." First, The Whisperer trumps the sinister schemes of four sultry "Murder Queens." Then, when the Black Hood¹s racketeers terrorize the city, Wildcat Gordon vows to "Kill Them First!" BONUS: a magical tale of "prestidigitection" by The Shadow's Walter B. Gibson. This historic collector's item showcases the original covers by Spider cover artist John Newton Howitt, classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. (Sanctum Books)  978-1-60877-020-5  Softcover, 7x10. B&W, $12.95
 * THE WHISPERER Volume 2: "Six Pyramids of Death" & "Mansion of the Missing"
 * "He knows no law but Justice!" The secret life of Police Commissioner James Gordon is revealed in two thrilling novels by Doc Savage ghost Laurence Donovan writing as "Clifford Goodrich." First, one by one, the possessors of "The Six Pyramids of Death" fall victim to a silent killer. Can The Whisperer solve this deadly riddle? Then, when the home of a prominent judge is turned into a house of horror, Wildcat Gordon decides that The Whisperer must return from the dead to haunt "The Mansion of the Missing." BONUS: a Norgil the Magician story by The Shadow's Walter Gibson. This historic collector's item showcases the original covers by legendary illustrator Tom Lovell and Spider cover artist John Newton Howitt, classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin. (Sanctum Books)
 * 978-1-60877-004-5   Softcover, 7x10, B&W, $12.95
 * THE WHISPERER Volume 1: "The Dead Who Talked" & "The Red Hatchets"
 * "He knows no law but Justice!" The Gray Wraith deals out bloody vengeance in two hardboiled pulp thrillers by Laurence Donovan writing as "Clifford Goodrich," in the most violent series ever published by Street & Smith. In "The Dead Who Talked," Police Commissioner James "Wildcat" Gordon is ordered to bring to justice the sinister super-villain known only as The Whisperer. Then, the Long Arm of the Law becomes ensnared in the crossfire of a bloody tong war between the Underworld and "The Red Hatchets." BONUS: From the pages of Crime Busters, the first Norgil the Magician story by The Shadow's Walter B. Gibson writing as "Maxwell Grant." This instant collector's item showcases the original color covers by legendary illustrator Tom Lovell and Spider cover artist John Newton Howitt, classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin.  (Sanctum Books)   978-0-9822033-5-4   0-9822033-5-7
 * Softcover, 7x10. B&W, $12.95
 * == Listen to ==
 * Internet Archives: The Whisperer
 * == External links ==
 * Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs: The Whisperer
 * 978-1-60877-004-5   Softcover, 7x10, B&W, $12.95
 * THE WHISPERER Volume 1: "The Dead Who Talked" & "The Red Hatchets"
 * "He knows no law but Justice!" The Gray Wraith deals out bloody vengeance in two hardboiled pulp thrillers by Laurence Donovan writing as "Clifford Goodrich," in the most violent series ever published by Street & Smith. In "The Dead Who Talked," Police Commissioner James "Wildcat" Gordon is ordered to bring to justice the sinister super-villain known only as The Whisperer. Then, the Long Arm of the Law becomes ensnared in the crossfire of a bloody tong war between the Underworld and "The Red Hatchets." BONUS: From the pages of Crime Busters, the first Norgil the Magician story by The Shadow's Walter B. Gibson writing as "Maxwell Grant." This instant collector's item showcases the original color covers by legendary illustrator Tom Lovell and Spider cover artist John Newton Howitt, classic interior illustrations by Paul Orban and historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin.  (Sanctum Books)   978-0-9822033-5-4   0-9822033-5-7
 * Softcover, 7x10. B&W, $12.95
 * == Listen to ==
 * Internet Archives: The Whisperer
 * == External links ==
 * Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs: The Whisperer
 * == External links ==
 * Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs: The Whisperer