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Children's comic-strip dramatization · Mutual (syndicated by Hearst newspapers)

Comic Weekly Man

April 27, 1947 – November 21, 1954 · 396 broadcasts

Comic Weekly Man (1947-1954) brought the Sunday funnies to life on the radio. Every week the host read and acted out the comic strips from Hearst's "Puck, the Comic Weekly" newspaper supplement -- Flash Gordon, Blondie, Beetle Bailey, Prince Valiant, Little Iodine, Roy Rogers and the rest -- turning the printed panels into a half-hour of skits full of voices, music, and sound effects, and stitching it together with riddles for the kids at home. A girl assistant, "Little Miss Honey," kept asking for jokes and nudging him on to the next strip, while families followed along with the newspaper open in their laps. The lovely secret of the show is its host. He went unnamed on the air -- you only heard "the Comic Weekly Man," who opened each week by singing his own jaunty theme -- but he was Lon Clark, who at the very same time was starring as the hard-boiled sleuth of Nick Carter, Master Detective on the same network, Mutual. Clark voiced all the male parts himself and wrote the scripts too, so the same man cracking murder cases on a weeknight was reading Blondie to children on Sunday. An earlier 1936 version, "Gus, the Funny Paper Man," had been hosted by Gus Mack. A pure Hearst marketing creation for its comics page, syndicated to stations coast to coast, the show survives today through collectors' transcription discs -- more than a hundred episodes preserved online, all from Clark's 1950-1953 seasons.

Collection status: 109 of 396 held (28% complete)
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Episode Spine

Grouped by year. Jump to the full list below, or open a season on its own page.

1947

April 27, 1947 (untitled)
May 4, 1947 (untitled)
May 11, 1947 (untitled)
May 18, 1947 (untitled)
May 25, 1947 (untitled)
June 1, 1947 (untitled)
June 8, 1947 (untitled)
June 15, 1947 (untitled)
June 22, 1947 (untitled)
June 29, 1947 (untitled)
July 6, 1947 (untitled)
July 13, 1947 (untitled)
July 20, 1947 (untitled)
July 27, 1947 (untitled)
August 3, 1947 (untitled)
August 10, 1947 (untitled)
August 17, 1947 (untitled)
August 24, 1947 (untitled)
August 31, 1947 (untitled)
September 7, 1947 (untitled)
September 14, 1947 (untitled)
September 21, 1947 (untitled)
September 28, 1947 (untitled)
October 5, 1947 (untitled)
October 12, 1947 (untitled)
October 19, 1947 (untitled)
October 26, 1947 (untitled)
November 2, 1947 (untitled)
November 9, 1947 (untitled)
November 16, 1947 (untitled)
November 23, 1947 (untitled)
November 30, 1947 (untitled)
December 7, 1947 (untitled)
December 14, 1947 (untitled)
December 21, 1947 (untitled)
December 28, 1947 (untitled)

1948

January 4, 1948 (untitled)
January 11, 1948 (untitled)
January 18, 1948 (untitled)
January 25, 1948 (untitled)
February 1, 1948 (untitled)
February 8, 1948 (untitled)
February 15, 1948 (untitled)
February 22, 1948 (untitled)
February 29, 1948 (untitled)
March 7, 1948 (untitled)
March 14, 1948 (untitled)
March 21, 1948 (untitled)
March 28, 1948 (untitled)
April 4, 1948 (untitled)
April 11, 1948 (untitled)
April 18, 1948 (untitled)
April 25, 1948 (untitled)
May 2, 1948 (untitled)
May 9, 1948 (untitled)
May 16, 1948 (untitled)
May 23, 1948 (untitled)
May 30, 1948 (untitled)
June 6, 1948 (untitled)
June 13, 1948 (untitled)
June 20, 1948 (untitled)
June 27, 1948 (untitled)
July 4, 1948 (untitled)
July 11, 1948 (untitled)
July 18, 1948 (untitled)
July 25, 1948 (untitled)
August 1, 1948 (untitled)
August 8, 1948 (untitled)
August 15, 1948 (untitled)
August 22, 1948 (untitled)
August 29, 1948 (untitled)
September 5, 1948 (untitled)
September 12, 1948 (untitled)
September 19, 1948 (untitled)
September 26, 1948 (untitled)
October 3, 1948 (untitled)
October 10, 1948 (untitled)
October 17, 1948 (untitled)
October 24, 1948 (untitled)
October 31, 1948 (untitled)
November 7, 1948 (untitled)
November 14, 1948 (untitled)
November 21, 1948 (untitled)
November 28, 1948 (untitled)
December 5, 1948 (untitled)
December 12, 1948 (untitled)
December 19, 1948 (untitled)
December 26, 1948 (untitled)

1949

January 2, 1949 (untitled)
January 9, 1949 (untitled)
January 16, 1949 (untitled)
January 23, 1949 (untitled)
January 30, 1949 (untitled)
February 6, 1949 (untitled)
February 13, 1949 (untitled)
February 20, 1949 (untitled)
February 27, 1949 (untitled)
March 6, 1949 (untitled)
March 13, 1949 (untitled)
March 20, 1949 (untitled)
March 27, 1949 (untitled)
April 3, 1949 (untitled)
April 10, 1949 (untitled)
April 17, 1949 (untitled)
April 24, 1949 (untitled)
May 1, 1949 (untitled)
May 8, 1949 (untitled)
May 15, 1949 (untitled)
May 22, 1949 (untitled)
May 29, 1949 (untitled)
June 5, 1949 (untitled)
June 12, 1949 (untitled)
June 19, 1949 (untitled)
June 26, 1949 (untitled)
July 3, 1949 (untitled)
July 10, 1949 (untitled)
July 17, 1949 (untitled)
July 24, 1949 (untitled)
July 31, 1949 (untitled)
August 7, 1949 (untitled)
August 14, 1949 (untitled)
August 21, 1949 (untitled)
August 28, 1949 (untitled)
September 4, 1949 (untitled)
September 11, 1949 (untitled)
September 18, 1949 (untitled)
September 25, 1949 (untitled)
October 2, 1949 (untitled)
October 9, 1949 (untitled)
October 16, 1949 (untitled)
October 23, 1949 (untitled)
October 30, 1949 (untitled)
November 6, 1949 (untitled)
November 13, 1949 (untitled)
November 20, 1949 (untitled)
November 27, 1949 (untitled)
December 4, 1949 (untitled)
December 11, 1949 (untitled)
December 18, 1949 (untitled)
December 25, 1949 (untitled)

1950

January 1, 1950 (untitled)
January 8, 1950 (untitled)
January 15, 1950 (untitled)
January 22, 1950 (untitled)
January 29, 1950 (untitled)
February 5, 1950 (untitled)
February 12, 1950 (untitled)
February 19, 1950 (untitled)
February 26, 1950 (untitled)
March 5, 1950 (untitled)
March 12, 1950 (untitled)
March 19, 1950 (untitled)
March 26, 1950 (untitled)
April 2, 1950 (untitled)
April 9, 1950 (untitled)
April 16, 1950 (untitled)
April 23, 1950 (untitled)
April 30, 1950 (untitled)
May 7, 1950 (untitled)
May 14, 1950 (untitled)
May 21, 1950 (untitled)
May 28, 1950 (untitled)
June 4, 1950 (untitled)
June 11, 1950 (untitled)
June 18, 1950 (untitled)
June 25, 1950 (untitled)
July 2, 1950 (untitled)
July 9, 1950 (untitled)
July 16, 1950 (untitled)
July 23, 1950 (untitled)
July 30, 1950 (untitled)
August 6, 1950 Very Hot Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Snookums strip.
August 13, 1950 Man With Bread in His Mouth Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Snookums.
August 20, 1950 Anxious about Flash Gordon Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Snookums.
August 27, 1950 Riddle about Chimney Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Snookums.
September 3, 1950 (untitled)
September 10, 1950 (untitled)
September 17, 1950 (untitled)
September 24, 1950 (untitled)
October 1, 1950 (untitled)
October 8, 1950 (untitled)
October 15, 1950 (untitled)
October 22, 1950 (untitled)
October 29, 1950 Fine Time Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Flash Gordon strip.
November 5, 1950 Riddle about River Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Snookums.
November 12, 1950 (untitled)
November 19, 1950 (untitled)
November 26, 1950 (untitled)
December 3, 1950 (untitled)
December 10, 1950 Man Who Doesn't Do a Day of Work Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Snookums.
December 17, 1950 Christmas in One Week Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Snookums.
December 24, 1950 Wishing a Merry Christmas Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Flash Gordon strip.
December 31, 1950 Did You Have a Wonderful Christmas Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Flash Gordon.

1951

January 7, 1951 (untitled)
January 14, 1951 (untitled)
January 21, 1951 Use Mississippi in a Sentence Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
January 28, 1951 Snow is Two Feet Deep Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
February 4, 1951 Horse Riddle Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
February 11, 1951 Valentines Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
February 18, 1951 Pen Riddle Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
February 25, 1951 Dog Got Diploma Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
March 4, 1951 (untitled)
March 11, 1951 (untitled)
March 18, 1951 Hello from Four Friends Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
March 25, 1951 Easter Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
April 1, 1951 April Fools Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
April 8, 1951 Eager and Anxious Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
April 15, 1951 Birthday Party Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
April 22, 1951 Animal Similes Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
April 29, 1951 At Sea Riddle Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
May 6, 1951 Spring is Here Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
May 13, 1951 (untitled)
May 20, 1951 (untitled)
May 27, 1951 Friends Michael and Christopher Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
June 3, 1951 Full of Joy Bubbles Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
June 10, 1951 Alarm Clock Riddle Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
June 17, 1951 School Is Over Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
June 24, 1951 (untitled)
July 1, 1951 (untitled)
July 8, 1951 Riddle About A Stork Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
July 15, 1951 Riddle About Pair of Shoes Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
July 22, 1951 (untitled)
July 29, 1951 (untitled)
August 5, 1951 Stork Brings Baby Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
August 12, 1951 New Shoes Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
August 19, 1951 Circus Visit Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
August 26, 1951 Anxious Day for Honey Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
September 2, 1951 (untitled)
September 9, 1951 (untitled)
September 16, 1951 Remembering Alice Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
September 23, 1951 Back at School Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
September 30, 1951 (untitled)
October 7, 1951 (untitled)
October 14, 1951 (untitled)
October 21, 1951 (untitled)
October 28, 1951 Halloween Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
November 4, 1951 After Halloween Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
November 11, 1951 Spelling Tennessee Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
November 18, 1951 Thanks for Coming Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
November 25, 1951 Thanksgiving Rhyme Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
December 2, 1951 Umbrella Riddle Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
December 9, 1951 Sliding in the Snow Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
December 16, 1951 Christmas is Coming Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
December 23, 1951 Christmas Rhyme Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
December 30, 1951 Christmas Surprises Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.

1952

January 6, 1952 New Years Party Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
January 13, 1952 Birds Nest Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
January 20, 1952 Bread Crumbs for Pigeons Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
January 27, 1952 Keeping New Year Resolutions Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
February 3, 1952 February Starts Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
February 10, 1952 Valentines Day Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
February 17, 1952 Girlfriends Father Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
February 24, 1952 A New Baby Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
March 2, 1952 Train Riddle Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
March 9, 1952 Tree Riddle Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
March 16, 1952 Baby Rhyme Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
March 23, 1952 Hummingbirds Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
March 30, 1952 April Fools Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
April 6, 1952 Mr Bigger Riddle Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Hopalong Cassidy.
April 13, 1952 Wet Coat Riddle Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Hopalong Cassidy strip.
April 20, 1952 School Poem Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Hopalong Cassidy.
April 27, 1952 Special Announcement Coming Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Hopalong Cassidy.
May 4, 1952 (untitled)
May 11, 1952 (untitled)
May 18, 1952 (untitled)
May 25, 1952 (untitled)
June 1, 1952 (untitled)
June 8, 1952 (untitled)
June 15, 1952 (untitled)
June 22, 1952 (untitled)
June 29, 1952 (untitled)
July 6, 1952 (untitled)
July 13, 1952 (untitled)
July 20, 1952 (untitled)
July 27, 1952 (untitled)
August 3, 1952 (untitled)
August 10, 1952 (untitled)
August 17, 1952 (untitled)
August 24, 1952 (untitled)
August 31, 1952 (untitled)
September 7, 1952 (untitled)
September 14, 1952 (untitled)
September 21, 1952 (untitled)
September 28, 1952 (untitled)
October 5, 1952 (untitled)
October 12, 1952 (untitled)
October 19, 1952 (untitled)
October 26, 1952 Costume for Halloween Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
November 2, 1952 Rusty Riley Rides in Races Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
November 9, 1952 Rusty to Finish Race Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
November 16, 1952 Rusty Won Race Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Prince Valiant.
November 23, 1952 Gobble the Gobbler Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
November 30, 1952 Lazy After Thanksgiving Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
December 7, 1952 Making Christmas Card List Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
December 14, 1952 Eleven Days Before Christmas Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Little Iodine.
December 21, 1952 Four Days Before Christmas Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
December 28, 1952 Tinkerbell Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.

1953

January 4, 1953 Start of Peter Pan Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
January 11, 1953 New School Year Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Beetle Bailey.
January 18, 1953 (untitled)
January 25, 1953 (untitled)
February 1, 1953 Peter Pan Taught Children to Fly Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
February 8, 1953 What Famous American Has a Birthday Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
February 15, 1953 Thanks for Valentine Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
February 22, 1953 George Washington Never Shook Hands Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Beetle Bailey.
March 1, 1953 A Cat and a Match Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
March 8, 1953 Canary Bit Finger Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
March 15, 1953 Coronation for Queen Elizabeth Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
March 22, 1953 Eager to Know About Boys in Peter Pan Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Beetle Bailey.
March 29, 1953 (untitled)
April 5, 1953 (untitled)
April 12, 1953 Rusty Riley to Live on Farm Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
April 19, 1953 Why Is a Dogs Tail Like the Center of a Tree Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
April 26, 1953 (untitled)
May 3, 1953 (untitled)
May 10, 1953 Captain Hook Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
May 17, 1953 Are You Working Hard in School Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Beetle Bailey.
May 24, 1953 (untitled)
May 31, 1953 (untitled)
June 7, 1953 Riddle Nose Twelve Inches Long Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
June 14, 1953 Few Days of School Left Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
June 21, 1953 Sword and the Rose Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
June 28, 1953 Why Do We Celebrate Independence Day Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Beetle Bailey.
July 5, 1953 Lighting Firecrackers Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
July 12, 1953 Sit on a Cake of Ice Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Prince Valiant strip.
July 19, 1953 Swimming to Cool Off Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
July 26, 1953 Flash Captured by Giants Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Bringing Up Father.
August 2, 1953 Butterflies Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
August 9, 1953 Why Did the Little Boy Throw the Alarm Clock Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
August 16, 1953 Boy Wears Pants Out Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
August 23, 1953 Riddle Riding Bicycle Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Bringing Up Father.
August 30, 1953 Why is a Pig in the Parlor Like a House on Fire Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
September 6, 1953 Starting School Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
September 13, 1953 (untitled)
September 20, 1953 (untitled)
September 27, 1953 Truman in American Weekly Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Sword and the Rose.
October 4, 1953 Flash Traveling Alone to Another Planet Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Flash Gordon.
October 11, 1953 Riddle Add Ten to Nothing Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Bringing Up Father.
October 18, 1953 Will You Give Me a Room With a Bath Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Beetle Bailey strip.
October 25, 1953 Halloween Costume Listen (MP3)
Lon Clark performs the week's Hearst comics for the kids at home, leading off with Beetle Bailey.
November 1, 1953 Halloween Listen (MP3)
A half-hour of the Sunday comics brought to life; the featured strip up first is Beetle Bailey.
November 8, 1953 (untitled)
November 15, 1953 (untitled)
November 22, 1953 (untitled)
November 29, 1953 (untitled)
December 6, 1953 What Two Animals Do You Always Go to Bed With Listen (MP3)
The Comic Weekly Man reads and acts out the funnies, opening this installment with Beetle Bailey.
December 13, 1953 St. Nick is Coming Listen (MP3)
The Sunday funnies read aloud with voices, music, and sound effects -- this half-hour opens with the Ben and Me strip.
December 20, 1953 (untitled)
December 27, 1953 (untitled)

1954

January 3, 1954 (untitled)
January 10, 1954 (untitled)
January 17, 1954 (untitled)
January 24, 1954 (untitled)
January 31, 1954 (untitled)
February 7, 1954 (untitled)
February 14, 1954 (untitled)
February 21, 1954 (untitled)
February 28, 1954 (untitled)
March 7, 1954 (untitled)
March 14, 1954 (untitled)
March 21, 1954 (untitled)
March 28, 1954 (untitled)
April 4, 1954 (untitled)
April 11, 1954 (untitled)
April 18, 1954 (untitled)
April 25, 1954 (untitled)
May 2, 1954 (untitled)
May 9, 1954 (untitled)
May 16, 1954 (untitled)
May 23, 1954 (untitled)
May 30, 1954 (untitled)
June 6, 1954 (untitled)
June 13, 1954 (untitled)
June 20, 1954 (untitled)
June 27, 1954 (untitled)
July 4, 1954 (untitled)
July 11, 1954 (untitled)
July 18, 1954 (untitled)
July 25, 1954 (untitled)
August 1, 1954 (untitled)
August 8, 1954 (untitled)
August 15, 1954 (untitled)
August 22, 1954 (untitled)
August 29, 1954 (untitled)
September 5, 1954 (untitled)
September 12, 1954 (untitled)
September 19, 1954 (untitled)
September 26, 1954 (untitled)
October 3, 1954 (untitled)
October 10, 1954 (untitled)
October 17, 1954 (untitled)
October 24, 1954 (untitled)
October 31, 1954 (untitled)
November 7, 1954 (untitled)
November 14, 1954 (untitled)
November 21, 1954 (untitled)
The Story

Comic Weekly Man (1947-1954) brought the Sunday funnies to life on the radio. Every week the host read and acted out the comic strips from Hearst's "Puck, the Comic Weekly" newspaper supplement -- Flash Gordon, Blondie, Beetle Bailey, Prince Valiant, Little Iodine, Roy Rogers and the rest -- turning the printed panels into a half-hour of skits full of voices, music, and sound effects, and stitching it together with riddles for the kids at home. A girl assistant, "Little Miss Honey," kept asking for jokes and nudging him on to the next strip, while families followed along with the newspaper open in their laps. The lovely secret of the show is its host. He went unnamed on the air -- you only heard "the Comic Weekly Man," who opened each week by singing his own jaunty theme -- but he was Lon Clark, who at the very same time was starring as the hard-boiled sleuth of Nick Carter, Master Detective on the same network, Mutual. Clark voiced all the male parts himself and wrote the scripts too, so the same man cracking murder cases on a weeknight was reading Blondie to children on Sunday. An earlier 1936 version, "Gus, the Funny Paper Man," had been hosted by Gus Mack. A pure Hearst marketing creation for its comics page, syndicated to stations coast to coast, the show survives today through collectors' transcription discs -- more than a hundred episodes preserved online, all from Clark's 1950-1953 seasons.

Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
Gallery
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