The celebration begins on the Radio Classics channel, broadcast over channel 148 on SiriusXM. From Monday, June 24, to Sunday, June 30, host Greg Bell shows his "Love for Laszlo" – referring to Peter's real name Laszlo Lowenstein – with two separate blocks of Lorre radio programs.
“Peter Lorre Birthday (1)” includes two episodes from Peter’s own 13-week summer series Mystery in the Air, “The Marvelous Barastro” (August 7, 1947) and “The Mask of Medusa” (September 4, 1947); an episode of the anthology series Suspense, “Nobody Loves Me” (August 30, 1945); and finally an episode of Peter’s series Mystery Playhouse, “The Dilemma”, originally broadcast over Mollé Mystery Theater (November 21, 1944).
“Peter Lorre Birthday (2)” includes guest appearances on Fred Allen’s show The Texaco Star Theater (January 3, 1943) and Duffy’s Tavern (October 19, 1943); an episode of the anthology series Inner Sanctum Mysteries, “The Black Seagull” (March 7, 1943); and finally, an episode of Suspense, “Of Maestro and Man” (July 20, 1944).
The birthday blocks will air these dates and times ~
Monday, June 24 ~
5 am Pacific, 8 am Eastern
Peter Lorre Birthday (1)
Wednesday, June 26 ~
1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern
Peter Lorre Birthday (2)
Wednesday, June 26 ~
7 pm Pacific, 10 pm Eastern
Peter Lorre Birthday (1)
Friday, June 28 ~
11 pm Pacific
Peter Lorre Birthday (1)
Saturday, June 29 ~
2 am Eastern
Peter Lorre Birthday (1)
Saturday, June 29 ~
11 pm Pacific
Peter Lorre Birthday (2)
Sunday, June 30 ~
2 am Eastern
Peter Lorre Birthday (2)
The party continues on the Turner Classic Movies channel on Wednesday, June 26, as TCM celebrates Peter’s birthday with a morning and afternoon of movies starring or featuring Peter Lorre. including ~
- 6 am – The Story of Mankind (1957)
- 8 am – Three Strangers (1946)
- 9:45 am – Hotel Berlin (1945)
- 11:30 am – They Met in Bombay (1941)
- 1:15 pm – The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
- 2:45 pm – The Beast with Five Fingers (1946)
- 4:15 pm – You'll Find Out (1940)
- 6 pm – M (1931)
The full schedule for the week of Monday, June 24, 2024, is available on 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 3-month trial is available for one dollar through the SiriusXM radio website.
In the pages of The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, Stephen D. Youngkin discusses the life and career of Peter Lorre. Beginning his research in the 1970s, he 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 Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre may be purchased from many brick-and-mortar shops, as well as these online merchants ~ Happy 120th birthday, Peter Lorre!