Lugosi Birthday Block Includes Lorre

Halloween is on the way, and during the week of October 16 to October 22, 2023, Greg Bell will host the birthday of horror legend Bela Lugosi on the Radio Classics channel, airing over the satellite radio provider SiriusXM.

And the Lugosi celebration has a treat for Lorre fans, too – an episode of Peter’s 1947 summer series Mystery in the Air.

The Lugosi birthday block includes ~

• Suspense, “The Doctor Prescribed Death” – February 2, 1943
• Mystery in the Air, “The Mask of Medusa” – September 4, 1947
• The Abbott and Costello Show, with guest Bela Lugosi – May 5, 1948
• The Mel Blanc Show – March 18, 1947

The programs will air on these dates and times ~

Monday, October 16 ~
3 am Pacific, 6 am Eastern

Friday, October 20 ~
5 pm Pacific, 8 pm Eastern

Saturday, October 21 ~
9 pm Pacific

Sunday, October 22 ~
12 midnight Eastern

The full schedule of the week’s programming is available on host Greg Bell’s website.

Satellite radio provider SiriusXM airs Radio Classics over channel 148. Subscribers may also listen to the programs over the internet or through the SiriusXM app on a Smart Phone or Smart Speaker. Not a subscriber? A three-month trial is also available for one dollar, plus fees and taxes, through the SiriusXM radio website.

Peter Lorre worked with Bela Lugosi in the horror-comedy You’ll Find Out (1940), starring bandleader Kay Kyser. With Boris Karloff, Lorre and Lugosi played villains out to murder a young debutante before her 21st birthday in order to get control of her aunt’s estate. Hired to entertain at the debutante’s birthday party, Kay and his Kollege of Musical Knowledge band foil the trio’s plans.

On September 25, 1940, Kay Kyser hosted Peter Lorre, Bela Lugosi, and Boris Karloff on his weekly radio show, Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge.

Sadly, that program has apparently been lost – but You’ll Find Out is available on DVD, as well as occasional showings on the Turner Classic Movies channel.