RUSC MAILING

Written by Ned Norris

This week on RUSC I’m turning the spotlight on one of radio’s great crime-fighting series, Mr. District Attorney.

If you enjoy courtroom drama, racketeers, con men, crooked politicians, and that grand old radio promise that justice will win out in the end, this is a fine time to revisit the show. There are currently 90 episodes of Mr. District Attorney on RUSC, and I’ve just added a particularly interesting one:

Mister District Attorney Promotional Show – April 2, 1939. What makes this broadcast especially fascinating is that it isn’t a regular adventure. Instead, it introduces the idea behind the series and the work of district attorneys across the country. You’ll hear actual District Attorneys speaking about crime, racketeering, juvenile delinquency, public cooperation, and the responsibility of enforcing the law.

It’s a real period piece, and a revealing glimpse into the concerns of America in 1939.

I’ll also be adding the last few extant episodes throughout the week, which will bring our collection to just over 100 episodes!

Mr. District Attorney made its regular debut in 1939, when crime dramas were a powerful part of radio entertainment. America had lived through the gangster era, and names like Dillinger, Capone, and “Baby Face” Nelson were still fresh in people’s minds. Newspapers were full of racketeering, corruption, confidence tricks, and organized crime. Radio answered with programs that offered order, authority, and reassurance.

And few did it better than Mr. District Attorney.

The title character was never given a personal name. He was simply “Mr. District Attorney,” standing not for one man, but for the office itself. The famous opening called him:

“The champion of the people, defender of truth, guardian of our fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

It may sound rather grand today, but it suited the program perfectly. This wasn’t a private detective working for a fee, or a hard-boiled fellow bending the rules in a back alley. This was the law itself, speaking on behalf of ordinary citizens.

For old time radio fans, Mr. District Attorney still makes for a stirring listen. The stories move briskly, the performances are strong, and the moral tone is unmistakable. It belongs to that wonderful radio age when a microphone, a few actors, some music, and sound effects could turn a studio into city hall, a police station, a courtroom, or a shadowy alley where justice was waiting just around the corner.

So if you haven’t heard Mr. District Attorney for a while, now’s a good time to dip back in. I’d suggest starting with the 1939 promotional show, then enjoying some of the dramatic cases that followed.

Happy listening,

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