6.6 /10 1 Votes6.6
5.4/10 TV Country United States Program creator Phillips Lord | 7.7/10 IMDb Running time 30 minuters Language(s) English First episode date 1951 Genre Drama Executive producer Frederick Ziv | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring Vicki VolaDwight WeistRaymond Edward JohnsonJay Jostyn Announcer Ed HerlihyMark HawleyFred Uttal Adaptations Mr. District Attorney (1947), Mr. District Attorney (1941) Similar Gang Busters, The Man Called X, Easy Aces, Cavalcade of America, The Aldrich Family |
Mr. District Attorney is a popular 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 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).
Contents

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. His techniques sometimes enabled Byron to predict major crime waves before the news broke.

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.
Cast and characters

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. 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).
