June 13, 2013: Happy Birthday Bob Bailey

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1913, Bob Bailey was a noted actor that did most of his career doing radio programs. Although his early years did catch him working films for 20th Century Fox, Bailey created a radio presence that attracted more attention for himself than film ever could. The early 40’s found him in Chicago handling radio programs that were on the air. It was not until 1946, that he became a regular on detective radio shows like, Let George Do It and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. His time as George Valentine on the first mentioned program was from 1946 until the 50’s. In 1955, Bailey became the legendary Johnny dollar. That program ran until 1962, although Bailey had left the program in 1960. Although this time of his life found Bailey ending his acting career; he did find room as a cameo reporter on the film the Birdman of Alcatraz. Irony played around with Bailey as one of the actors from the film, Edmund O'Brien had played the insurance detective Johnny Dollar in the early 1950’s. Bob Bailey died in 1983 in California at the age of 70 years old. Bailey made not have enjoyed the illustrious careers of many of his peers, he still became a name remembered due to the theatre of radio.

February 18, 1949 Johnny Dollar made its radio debut

On this day in 1949, Johnny Dollar made its debut.

March 6: Happy Birthday, Virginia Gregg

March 6: Happy Birthday, Virginia Gregg

She had gun and she traveled, even if Virginia Gregg didn't have one of the lead roles in the radio drama Have Gun--Will Travel. She played Miss Wong, the girlfriend of Hey Boy (Ben Wright), a booksmart, somewhat sophisticated gal.

Have Gun Will Travel was a rare beast that began as a television series and then went to radio. Both versions were wildly successful, and some of the credit for the success of the radio show goes to the quality of the cast. Gregg was already a big name in radio before the show began airing. As was the case with many performers of the day, she made the rounds of many different series such as The Adventures of Adventures of Sam Spade, Lux Radio Theatre, Johnny Dollar, and Dragnet.

Virginia Gregg was born on Mar. 6, 1916 in Harrisburg, Illinois, and died in Encino, CA on Sept. 15, 1986.