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  • Drama

The Damon Runyon Theatre was an American radio show produced by Alan Ladd's Mayfair Transcription Company. Originally featuring Pat O'Brien, it was later voiced by John Brown as the recurring character 'Broadway'. The show aired between November 1948 and December 1951, adapting Damon Runyon's famous short stories about the colorful world of New York City. These tales were characterized by unique vernacular speech, blending overly formal language with slang, and focused on gamblers, hustlers, actors, and gangsters. The radio show became part of popular culture and played a role in shaping the world's image of 20th-century New York City. The show featured notable voice actors such as Gerald Mohr, Herb Vigran, Sheldon Leonard, Luis Van Rooten, Alan Reed, and Lionel Stander. The Damon Runyon Theatre is considered one of the finest contributions to the Golden Age of Radio and a valuable addition to any collector's library.