db/migrations/005-descriptions.sql

@@ -1506,13 +1506,51 @@ The Tenth Man was a short-lived radio series created by the National Mental Heal
 From stories of activist Dorothea Dix's efforts to improve the treatment of the mentally ill to explorations of depression, loneliness, and social phobias, The Tenth Man provided an educational and altruistic platform to discuss mental health issues. Despite its ambitious mission, the series remains lesser-known in the realm of old-time radio shows.
 
 - The Unexpected [the-unexpected]
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+The Unexpected was an Old Time Radio show that aired in a fifteen-minute format, perfect for delivering quick, weird, and scary tales with twist endings. The show featured top-notch actors such as Barry Sullivan, Marsha Hunt, Lurene Tuttle, and Virginia Gregg, who added depth to the swift storytelling. Directed by Frank Danzig, The Unexpected followed in the footsteps of thrilling and suspenseful programs like Suspense, Lights Out, and Quiet Please, providing listeners with a sudden shock and an ending they didn't see coming.
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 - The Weird Circle [the-weird-circle]
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+The Weird Circle was a syndicated supernatural/fantasy radio series that aired from 1943 to 1945, with a total of 78 episodes. The show focused on adapting stories from famous authors of the Victorian era or older, including Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo, Guy de Maupassant, and Hans Christian Anderson. Based in New York City, the series featured local acting talent but did not use recognizable voice actors. One unique aspect was its lack of music, which some argue helps the show remain timeless.
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+The show's niche was its adaptations of classic horror and supernatural tales, offering a more refined and literary experience compared to contemporaneous programs like Suspense, Inner Sanctum, and Lights Out. Themes explored in the series were fear of the unknown, retribution for past mistakes, and manifestations of darker parts of human psyche through supernatural elements such as ghosts, living objects, and other apparitions. Despite its low production budget and relative obscurity, The Weird Circle remains notable for its dedication to honoring the works of great literary figures.
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 - The Whistler [the-whistler]
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+The Whistler was an American radio mystery drama series that aired from May 16, 1942, to September 22, 1955, on the west-coast regional CBS radio network. The eerie show followed a mysterious character known as the Whistler, an unseen observer and narrator of crimes and fateful events. The stories typically revolved around criminal acts being revealed by overlooked details or the criminal's own folly, with an ironic and often grim ending. Bill Forman played the title role for the longest period, with actors like Gale Gordon, Joseph Kearns, Marvin Miller, and Bill Johnstone also portraying the Whistler. The series was possibly inspired by The Shadow and was also adapted into a film noir series by Columbia Pictures in 1944 and a brief syndicated TV version in 1954.
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 - Theater Five [theater-five]
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+Theater Five was a radio drama series by ABC, aired between 1964 and 1965, aiming to revive radio drama in the early 1960s. The show was an anthology of short stories that were about 20 minutes long, covering various genres, including science fiction and contemporary topical issues. It was broadcast Monday through Friday at 5:00 PM, with news programs and commercials filling the remaining time. The series featured a wide range of writers and actors, with a principal cast such as George O. Petrie, Brett Morrison, Jackson Beck, Robert Dryden, Elliott Reid, Court Benson, Cliff Carpenter, and Bryna Raeburn. Notable guest stars included James Earl Jones, Alan Alda, and Ed Begley. Theater Five was produced by ABC staff announcer Fred Foy, who was also known for his work on The Lone Ranger.
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 - Theatre Royal [theatre-royal]
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+Theatre Royal was a renowned British anthology series that showcased plays based on the best works from literature, films, and English theater. Featuring two series, the program involved hosts and notable actors, such as Sir Lawrence Olivier and Sir Ralph Richardson. Olivier's career spanned over 50 years, and he continues to have a lasting impact on the industry. Richardson is well-known for playing Dr. John Watson in a Sherlock Holmes radio series opposite Sir John Gielgud.
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+Produced and directed by Harry Alan Towers for his Towers of London company, the show was aired internationally in Europe, South Africa, and Australia, while the episodes included in this distribution are from the initial US run on NBC. The series featured various prominent actors of the British stage and screen and music by the acclaimed British organist and arranger, Sidney Torch.
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+Theatre Royal remained in active syndication in the United States until the 1970s, with some episodes modified to fit the time constraints of local radio stations. The series offered a varied mix of famous and lesser-known masterpieces, proving that classic stories presented by talented actors never truly go out of style.
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 - This is Your FBI [this-is-your-fbi]
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+This Is Your FBI was a radio crime drama that aired on ABC from April 6, 1945, to January 30, 1953, totaling 409 episodes. The show was endorsed by FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover and was based on true cases from the FBI told from an agent's perspective. The episodes covered everything from crackdowns on organized crime to stories of individual lawbreakers, with cases involving fraud, petty crime, and professional criminals.
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+The show initially featured a fictitious agent, Jim Taylor, played by Stacy Harris. Producer-director Jerry Devine was given access to FBI closed case files by Hoover to dramatize the stories, and the narration was handled by Frank Lovejoy, Dean Carleton, and William Woodson. The cast included famous stars like Betty White, William Conrad, Herb Ellis, and many others.
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+This Is Your FBI was sponsored by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and is considered a pioneer in authentic crime-drama storytelling. The show laid the foundation for later crime dramas such as Dragnet and Tales of the Texas Rangers.
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 - Truth or Consequences [truth-or-consequences]
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+Hosted by Ralph Edwards, Truth or Consequences was a popular and wildly entertaining game show that aired during the golden age of radio. Sponsored by brands like Duz soap, Ivory soap, Philip Morris, and Pet Milk, the show captivated audiences with its challenging questions and hilarious consequences for wrong answers.
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+Originating as a parlor game that Edwards and his wife adapted for radio, Truth or Consequences quizzed contestants with questions sent in by listeners, who earned $10 for each aired question. The show's real draw, however, were the wacky consequences contestants faced after failing to answer a question correctly. Examples included a man being asked to make love to a skunk, a woman proposing to her date, and a soldier phoning his girlfriend while another woman flirted with him. These zany consequences led Life Magazine to describe the show as "the nearest thing to insanity in radio today."
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+The writers on the show spent weeks, even months, preparing creative and outrageous gags to delight the audience, such as having a contestant woo a real seal on stage. So tune in for a listen, but be prepared to be in stitches from the unbridled hilarity that is Truth or Consequences!
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 - Vic and Sade [vic-and-sade]
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+"Vic and Sade" was an American radio program created and written by Paul Rhymer that first aired in 1932 and continued, intermittently, until 1946. The show followed the lives of Victor Rodney Gook, his wife Sade, and their adopted son Rush, as they navigated daily life in a small Midwestern town. Often considered a classic of old-time radio, the program was characterized by its wit and warm portrayal of American life. The show's innovative format included 15-minute episodes without a continuing storyline, focusing on the interactions of its core ensemble. "Vic and Sade" was adapted twice for television, first in 1949 and again in 1957.
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 - Vox Pop [vox-pop]
 - We Came This Way [we-came-this-way]
 - Whitehall 1212 [whitehall-1212]