Damon Runyon Also known as Damon Runyan Theater

Damon Runyan
(1880 – 1946)

Lighthearted New York Gangster series (1948 - early 50s)

In his book "Glenn Miller & His Orchestra", George Simon wrote of Glenn Miller, "His favorite author was Damon Runyon." Damon Runyan? He created a little world of characters that live on even today in the classic movie "Little Miss Marker," with Shirley Temple, and the Broadway and movie hits Guys and Dolls, with Runyan's world as interpreted

"Broadway" takes the listener with him to the inside world of some the Big Apple's toughest, but yet charming perpetrators. John Brown is great as Broadway, playing him as both a narrator and friend. Solid radio professionals played the regular characters on the show with the strange sounding names. There was Harry the Horse, Dave the Dude (William Conrad, Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke), and Sorrowful Jones (Gerald Mohr, Philip Marlowe.) Anne Whitfield played Little Miss Marker. Occasional parts were taken by well-known actors like Frank Lovejoy (Nightbeat,) Jeff Chandler (Mr. Boynton on Our Miss Brooks), Hans Conried and Parley Baer (Chester on Gunsmoke.)

Damon Runyan was the master of the slang of this gangsterish style, wherein each sentence carries with it a formality that is often hilarious. Especially as we're dealing with gangsters instead of diplomats. Some stories are sweet and funny, some not so sweet, since these characters inhabit a world where the palooka sometimes get lucky, but as often takes the necessary dive.

If you like your crime with a grin, then you might want to call Sam Spade, Richard Diamond, or The Saint.