The Man Called X (1944-45, 1946, 1947-48, 1950-52) aired “Race Against Death” on April 21, 1951, as the 28th episode of the 86 aired during the 1950-52 run. The only other episodes of this program we have showcased were from February of 2019, January and September of 2020, and April of 2021. Estimates are that there were 227 episodes from all years and that only 103 still exist, with 98 coming from the 1947-48 and 1950-52 runs. Well known and highly regarded British actor Herbert Marshall (1890-1966, photo at right) played Ken Thurston, known as the eponymous Man Called X. He was an intelligence agent for the British, much as Brian Donlevy played undercover intelligence operative Steve Mitchell for the Americans in Dangerous Assignment. Marshall would star in all but three or four episodes of what came to be known as his series, and that includes every episode from 1944 through 1952, during which time he could be seen in any number of Hollywood films, appearing in varying roles with stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, Fredric March, Tony Curtis, Rex Harrison, and others too numerous to mention. Of genre interest he appeared as Inspector Charas in 1958’s classic SF film The Fly, which starred Vincent Price. Marshall lost his right leg in World War I, and wishing to do his part but unable to fight in WWII, at his own expense he traveled to numerous military hospitals in the United States and encouraged other amputees to remain positive and not think of themselves as handicapped. He would also appear often on the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) as host of the popular war-time program The Globe Theater. From his other war-time projects as well as several films in which he starred, the proceeds went to several war charities. Marshall had not only worked in film since 1927 as both character actor and leading man, but along with his role in The Man Called X would have roles in at least a half dozen other radio programs, and would work in television in his later years, including two episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and a recurring role in 77 Sunset Strip (1958-64). For his achievements in all of these media Marshall received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

(The linked Radio Spirits CD cover at top features this week’s selection “Race Against Death.”)

“Race Against Death” takes Ken Thurston, the man simply called X, to Puerto Rico. Dangerous political machinations have been brewing and now threaten the small island country as the Nationalistas have resorted to force to gain their political ends, with the situation now so dangerous that Thurston has been called in to take care of the problem before it explodes, boiling over into our own affairs here in the United States. Plenty of fast-paced action, skullduggery, and murder mark this danger-filled episode of The Man Called X.

Play Time: 29:25

{Needing something to pass the time on a Saturday afternoon in anticipation of The Man Called X episode that evening, the neighborhood gang decided to pass the time at the nearby newsstand in the hope of getting a head start on the adventure to come. Imagination (1950-58) was another of Ray Palmer’s many publication efforts, many of which ended up sold to other publishers or folding altogether after a few issues due to various financial difficulties. Imagination, however, fell prey—as did many another pulp magazine—to the collapse of the distribution network facilitated by the liquidation of the American News Co. in the late 1950s. Imagination was a bi-monthly in 1951. Planet Stories, along with Startling Stories and Thrilling Wonder Stories, were three of the most beloved genre pulp magazines of SF’s early magazine days, when colorful, page-turning adventures on this and other more exotic worlds were the order of the day. Imagination reigned supreme, if logic or scientific accuracy did not, and when a beautiful female figure in various stages of undress was a sure fire way to sell copies to a younger male audience. These magazines, in retrospect, also told countless stories by favorite authors now regarded as classics (many finding new life and new generations of readers in endless themed collections over the succeeding decades), making issues of these magazines highly desirable at SF conventions in dealer rooms if they can be found at all. Both Planet Stories and Startling Stories were bi-monthlies in 1951 and saw their first issues in 1939 and their last in 1955.}

[Left: Imagination, April 1951 – Center: Planet Stories, May 1951 – Right: Startling Stories, May 1951]

To view the entire list of weekly Old Time Radio episodes at Tangent Online, click here.