Old-Time Rado

[kit]

Someone emailed me asking who played certain characters on the radio vs who played them on TV. They asked that I respond on Clipper's Corner and preferred not to be identified.

Here are the shows and actors in question:

"The Lone Ranger" was the first and longest running children's western on Radio and TV. It began on Jan 31, 1933 and was listened to by many adults as well until an adult western was introduced.
Radio: Earl Graser at first and then Brace Beemer for the remainder of the radio run. John Todd as Tonto.
TV: Clayton Moore as the masked man. Jay Silverheels as Tonto.

"Gunsmoke" was introduced on the radio in 1952 and was the first adult western. Because of its popularity it began a TV run in 1955. It ran for a total of 635 episodes and is the longest running show of its kind.
Radio: William Conrad as Matt Dillon
Parley Baer as Chester Proudfoot
Georgia Ellis as Miss Kitty Russel
Howard McNear as Doc Adams
TV: James Arness as Matt Dillon
Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode
Amanda Blake as Kitty Russel
Milburn Stone as Doc Adams

"Have Gun Will Travel": Paladin's home base was The Carleton Hotel in San Francisco in 1875. He was a professional gunman for hire, but although he wasn't a lawman he always fought for what was right, and often didn't charge for his services. It's the only show that premiered on television and later spun-off to radio.
TV: Richard Boone as Paladin
Kam Tong as Hey Boy
Lisa Lu as Hey Girl
Radio:
John Dehner as Palladin
Ben Wright as Hey Boy
Virginia Gregg as Missy Wong

"Superman" began as a CD Comics character and later as a radio serial. As the 'Golden Age of Radio' was declining, it began a television run, and also into motion pictures.
Radio:
Clayton "Bud" Collyer as Superman (Clark Kent)
Julian Noa as Perry White
Joan Alexander as Lois Lane
Jackie Kelk and later Jack Grimes as Jimmy Olsen
TV: George Reeve as Superman
Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill as Lois Lane
John Hamilton as Perry White
Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen
Modern movies:
Christopher Reeves (no relation to George) as Superman
Margot Kidder as Lois Lane
Jackie Cooper as Perry White
Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen

These were the shows mentioned. Anyone else have a question?

[dgriffin]

I'm not sure if this is true for Superman, but another aspect of the western TV shows was that none of the characters ever changed their clothes. And for Gunsmoke, that's a long time!

[bobbbiez]

Yeah, some things like this also. My Dad always said, "the good guys wore white hats and the bad guys wore black hats and in a fight their hats never fell off." ;D

[dgriffin]

That's true. The hats helped to see who was winning the gun fight. As we got older, we'd cheer the bad guys during the movie and one time got in a fight with a group of other kids over it at the Rialto's Sunday afternoon matinee.

[bobbbiez]

Ah, the truth comes out. You little trouble maker (with a tie on too.)

[Clipper]

That is why they originally invented clip on ties. So that those little Catholic kids wouldn't choke each other to death in school yard spats, ROFL.

[bobbbiez]

Gotta give you kudos for that, Clip. I'm still laughing at that one. ;D