The week of June 21, 2021, the Radio Classics channel – Channel 148 on the SiriusXM radio dial – celebrates the 117th birthday of Peter Lorre with two different 2-hour blocks of Lorre radio programs, hosted by Greg Bell.
Beginning Monday, June 20, 2021, and continuing throughout the week until Sunday, June 27, Lorre fans can enjoy eight of Peter’s old-time radio performances – as well as a Lorre-hosted episode of the Armed Forces Radio Services series Mystery Playhouse.
“Peter Lorre Special” includes two episodes from Peter’s own 13-week summer series Mystery in the Air, “The Marvelous Barastro” (August 7, 1947) and “Crime and Punishment” (Sept. 25, 1947); an episode of the anthology series Suspense, “Nobody Loves Me” (Aug. 30, 1945); and finally a guest appearance on Jack Benny’s show The Lucky Strike Program, “I Stand Condemned” (Mar. 24, 1946).
“More Peter Lorre B-Day” includes guest appearances on Fred Allen’s show The Texaco Star Theater (Jan. 3, 1943) and Duffy’s Tavern (Oct. 19, 1943); an episode of the anthology series Inner Sanctum Mysteriesd, “The Black Seagull” (Mar. 7, 1943); and finally, an episode of Suspense, “Of Maestro and Man” (July 20, 1944).
The Lorre programs and tributes will air on these dates and times ~
Monday, June 21 ~
Peter Lorre Special ~
3 pm Pacific, 6 pm Eastern
Mystery in the Air, “The Marvelous Barastro”
Mystery in the Air, “Crime and Punishment”
Suspense, “Nobody Loves Me”
The Lucky Strike Program
Tuesday, June 22 ~
More Peter Lorre B-Day ~
5 am Pacific, 8 am Eastern
The Texaco Star Theater
Duffy’s Tavern
Inner Sanctum Mysteries, “The Black Seagull”
Suspense, “Of Maestro and Man”
Wednesday, June 23 ~
More Peter Lorre B-Day ~
9 pm Pacific
The Texaco Star Theater
Duffy’s Tavern
Inner Sanctum Mysteries, “The Black Seagull”
Suspense, “Of Maestro and Man”
Thursday, June 24 ~
More Peter Lorre B-Day ~
12 midnight Eastern
The Texaco Star Theater
Duffy’s Tavern
Inner Sanctum Mysteries, “The Black Seagull”
Suspense, “Of Maestro and Man”
Peter Lorre Special ~
3 am Pacific, 6 am Eastern
Mystery in the Air, “The Marvelous Barastro”
Mystery in the Air, “Crime and Punishment”
Suspense, “Nobody Loves Me”
The Lucky Strike Program
Saturday, June 26 ~
More Peter Lorre B-Day ~
3 pm Pacific, 6 pm Eastern
The Texaco Star Theater
Duffy’s Tavern
Inner Sanctum Mysteries, “The Black Seagull”
Suspense, “Of Maestro and Man”
Peter Lorre Special ~
7 pm Pacific, 10 pm Eastern
Mystery in the Air, “The Marvelous Barastro”
Mystery in the Air, “Crime and Punishment”
Suspense, “Nobody Loves Me”
The Lucky Strike Program
In addition to the Lorre birthday programs, the Radio Classics channel will also air Mr. and Mrs. North, “Frizby Klizby” (Jan 17, 1945). This episode survives as an installment of the Armed Forces Radio Service series Mystery Playhouse, a series of episodes originally broadcast on various mystery series, such as Mr. and Mrs. North, and specially-edited for American servicemen and women stationed overseas during World War II. Peter Lorre hosted many of these Mystery Playhouse episodes, including “Frizby Klizby”, which will air on the Radio Classics channel on the following dates and times –
- Tuesday, June 22 – 4:30 pm Pacific, 7:30 pm Eastern
- Friday, June 25 – 2:30 am Pacific, 5:30 am Eastern
Satellite radio provider SiriusXM airs Radio Classics over channel 148. Subscribers may also listen to the programs over the internet. Log-in with your User ID and password. Not a subscriber? A free 30-day trial is also available through the SiriusXM radio website.
The life and career of Peter Lorre is chronicled in the pages of The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre by Stephen D. Youngkin, who began his research in the 1970s and interviewed Peter’s brothers Andrew and Francis, his first wife Celia Lovsky, his sister-in-law Barbara through his second wife Karen Verne, his daughter Catherine Lorre, friends, fellow actors, and the directors, producers, and crew who worked with him throughout his career.
These interviews shed light on Peter’s birth on June 26, 1904, his childhood, his early days in theater, his career on film, radio, and television, and his sad final days.
The Appendix of The Lost One includes the most complete list available of Peter’s credits – radio, film, stage, and television.
The Lorre radio programs airing this week in honor of Peter’s birthday are available through many merchants. Many of Peter’s movies, as well as some of his television appearances, are also available on DVD.
The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre may be purchased from many brick-and-mortar shops, as well as these online merchants ~
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