Old-time radio programs — and their comics connections… — Welcome to the second “episode” of FOUR COLOR RADIO, our new, ongoing feature by PETER BOSCH that looks at old-school radio shows and their comics connections. For more info on this fancy new series, click here! (And dig that Walt Grogan banner!) — Dan — By PETER BOSCH The Blue Beetle — created by Charles Wojtkoski (under the name Charles Nicholas) — made his debut on the printed page in Mystery Men Comics #1 (Aug. 1939, Fox). In his initial appearance (seen below), he was clearly a copy of the Green Hornet, including wearing a regular suit, hat, and face mask, plus he had a special car, and he pretended to be a criminal in order to infiltrate the underworld. And the name itself! Oh, come on — Green Hornet? Blue Beetle? No one was fooled. His more familiar blue tights started to come together soon after, though, and his popularity was enough that his publisher, Victor Fox, thought he had radio potential. The Blue Beetle made the jump May 15, 1940, and the programs were available in two 15-minute episodes per storyline, or in a half-hour segment with them combined. There were a total of 48 15-minute episodes (or 24 half-hour storylines) between May 15 and August 2, 1940. Playing patrolman Dan Garret (which would later be spelled “Garrett”) and the Blue Beetle was Frank Lovejoy for approximately the first half of the series and then by an unidentified actor for the second half. It has been speculated that Lovejoy left the program because Fox, also the producer of the series, didn’t pay him (as he didn’t with many people). It was actually a good move for Lovejoy because there were to be many other roles on radio (including starring in the dramatic series, Nightbeat), plus parts on television, and acting in movies such as The Hitch-Hiker, In a Lonely Place, I Was a Communist for the FBI, and Goodbye, My Fancy. Lovejoy would also be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Victor Fox was very gung-ho on the radio series and he was determined to make The Blue Beetle a big success by publicizing it everywhere he could. Despite Fox’s efforts, though, the series just didn’t make it and only lasted those...