The Night Editor

Human Interest Melodrama (1934-1948)

As the editor of a large city news paper, you hear many, many touching stories. Late at night, when the morning edition is ready to be put to bed, it can be a happy time to unwind with a really good cup of coffee, and perhaps share a few of those stories, usually the ones that will never make it to the pages of the newspaper, with your young assistant.

This is the premise of Night Editor. The old time radio stories were written and performed by Hal Burdick, and originated in the mid 1940s. Burdick performs all of the voices in the program, except for the announcer's role which is taken by Bill Baldwin.

The radio program inspired a 1946 B-movie of the same title. The Henry Levin picture was much more of the "noir" genre than the radio program, and intended to become a series of films, but failed to generate enough interest. Burdick brought the show to television in 1956 on the DuMont Television Network.

Burdick shared "yarns" of war, adventure, crime, and an occasional ghost story, usually with his enthusiastic young assistant, Bobby. We wonder if they are enjoying Edwards Coffee, the sponsor's product. It is a pretty sure bet that the stories will be just as enjoyable over a cup of your favorite barista's product.