Small House of Everything

Small House of Everything

Thursday, October 10, 2019

BOX 13: THE FIRST LETTER (AUGUST 22, 1948)

Where do you get your ideas?

That may be the most asked question of mystery writers.

The answer, if you are reporter turned mystery novelist Dan Holiday, might be Box 13.  To seek inspiration, Holiday has placed a classified ad in his old newspaper:  "Adventure wanted, will go anywhere, do anything -- write Box 13, Star-Times."  The answers he received -- 52 of them, one a week -- were enough to keep this syndicated radio show going for a full year.

Dan Holiday was portrayed by Alan Ladd, whose production company created and produced the series.  Several attempts to move the series to television failed, although one radio episode was reworked for an outing on General Electric Theater in 1954.  Shortly before his death in 1964, Ladd announced plans for a Box 13 movie; the movie unfortunately died when Ladd did.  Luckily we are still left with the original radio programs.

To get a flavor of the series, see what happens in the premiere episode, when Holiday receives "The First Letter."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbMshRzPOZI


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