@Reverend Ruthledge Thank you so much. This is amazing in details that I have never read before. Hopefully you can continue into 1941.

The thing is most of this could play today with some tweaking.

TGL should be relaunched using these stories and a multi ethnic cast.

Thanks @Reverend Ruthledge this is a treat. Thanks for helping GL to live on and on.

4 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @Reverend Ruthledge this is a treat. Thanks for helping GL to live on and on.

You're very welcome. I'm just happy that there are others who are interested in the golden years of the show.

The Perry Mason radio show seems to receive little attention even though it was a unique daytime show and ran successfully for years. Even among mystery fans and devotees of Gardner, it is given short shrift compared to the TV series.

Perhaps due to a lack of available episodes or the perception that it was too soapy. Not sure if that was the case.

Each case/storyline seemed to last many months from what I can gather.

OGDENSBURG JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1950

Erle Stanley Gardner Talks About Radio, Perry Mason And The Wheels Of Justice

The world's best selling mystery writer talks like a social philosopher — at least on the banks of the St. Lawrence.

YESTERDAY, sitting outside Harry Hoff's camp near Merry's Point, Erie Stanley Gardner didn't say two words about the 12,000,000 words of mystery fiction he has written in the past 17 years. Instead, he talked about radio justice, parole systems, and soap.

Gardner is here with 14 friends not to write books but to discuss the daily radio show involving his famous fictional lawyer-detective Perry Mason. . This explains Gardner's interest in radio and soap since the Perry Mason show has been running successfully for seven years under the sponsorship of the Proctor and Gamble Co.

GARDNER, is somewhat impatient with critics of radio's "daytime continuity programs" — i.e. "soap operas." He says the soap opera has raised the intellectual level of America in the past 10 to 15 years. And he insists the Perry Mason type of entertainment gives a pretty honest interpretation of human emotions.

To prove his point, Gardner cites the case of a witness who testified 25 years ago that a Michigan man was a murderer. Gardner began investigating the case this year and got the witness to admit he was not sure of the man's identity. He even admitted the police had roughed him up to make him testify. Yesterday Gardner played. a record of the man's statement. In it, be said a radio mystery show started him thinking about his testimony and how he had sent a man to prison for 25 years. " I got to thinking about it and it just didn't seem right/' he declared.

'THAT'S WHAT radio can do," Gardner remarked as he switched off the record. Gardner's interest in the Michigan case is only one of many instances in which he has helped free innocent men from prison. He and three other criminologists work as an investigating board for a national magazine. The magazine conducts a "court of last resort" which Gardner, insists is simply "the people." Through the "court of last resort" the magazine seeks to have state authorities review cases where there is doubt about a prisoner's guilt.

Gardner says the court has saved two men from execution and has aided many others to freedom'. Gardner, who was a California lawyer years before he started writing whodunits, is greatly concerned with the problem of justice. Last year he and Dr. Lemoyne Snyder, a world-famous, criminologist, sailed to Europe and studied crime detection methods in Scotland, England, 3Tran.ce and Italy. He has also taken part in crime seminars at Harvard University and has made an intensive study of several cases.

THROUGH HIS association with courts and police methods Gardner has come to appreciate the problems of parole boards. "The newspapers necessarily make a play of the cases in which a parolee has gone wrong," Gardner points out. "but it doesn't give the whole picture and it doesn't show the true problems of parole." "What are you going to do with a man who has served 10 years for forgery?" Gardner asks. "If you turn him loose with a prison suit of clothes and $10 in his pocket, what do you think, his chances are?"

THE MAN WHO have a tough time finding a job with only a 10-year prison record for a reference, Gardner points out. 'What's the solution? Why you let him out a couple of years early for good behavior and fry to help him along," Gardner declares. "Some of them go wrong, but in most cases it works." "We've got a long way to go in our system of justice," the ex lawyer concludes. The Perry Mason creator says he likes to keep the principles of justice foremost in Mason's radio show, and that is particularly the reason for the annual conference on the St. Lawrence.

GARDNER DOES NOT write the radio show. Instead, Irving Vendig, one of radio's top script writers, does the job with a little technical advice on legal wrinkles from Gardner. Vendig, who is also the author of radio's Judy and Jane show, is proud to point out with Gardner that the Perry Mason show is the only successful daytime mystery program. A few others have struggled along for a time, but none can equal the thriving 5-day-a-week, 7-year pace of Perry Mason. Gardner and his friends attribute some of this success to their informal conferences every year. Two years ago they met in California, but for the last two years they have met at Harry Hoff's camp on the St. Lawrence. The conferences include, beside Gardner, Vendig, and Hoff, the producer: William Ramsey, director of radio and television for Proctor and Gamble; Al Morrison, P&G program supervisor; Walter Craig, vice president in charge of radio and television for¥ the Bentpn and Bowles advertising agency of New York; and .Gardner's two secretaries, Lili MacLean arid Jean Bethel .

ALSO ALONG AS CRITICS .and vacationers are Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Hoff, Mrs. Ramsey and Bill Ramsey Jr., Mrs. Vendig and Laurie Ann Vendig. The clan has gathered from all corners of the U. S. California, Florida, Ohio, New Jersey, and New York — and they seem to be enjoying life on the river immensely. As Gardner himself puts it: "It is a salubrious climate devoid of gnats, flies, mosquitoes, and other disturbing influences." Gardner and his party plan to remain in the salubrious North Country until Sunday.

On 12/28/2025 at 11:32 AM, Reverend Ruthledge said:

You're very welcome. I'm just happy that there are others who are interested in the golden years of the show.

I merely skimmed the post so far and can't wait for a little time to give it the read it deserves. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of those bygone years in GL's history!

The ESG article was a great read, @Paul Raven !

Ratings for the soaps 1944/45 season. Title/number of seasons/network/timeslot/rating.

Not sure if this is of interest but I can post more if you request.

When a Girl Marries S6 NBC 5pm 9.2

Portia Faces Life S5 NBC 5.15 8.3

Ma Perkins S12 CBS 1.15 8.3 NBC 3.15 8.3 The only soap to get a twice daily airing on each network.

Our Gal Sunday S8 CBS 12.45 7.6

Backstage Wife NBC S10 4pm 7.4

Big Sister CBS S9 12.15 7.4

Pepper Young's Family S9 NBC 3.30 7.3

Lorenzo Jones S8 NBC 4.30 7.2

Young Widder Brown S8 NBC 4.45 7.2

Stella Dallas S8 NBC 4.15 7.0

Today's Children S6 NBC 2.15 6.9

Aunt Jenny's Stories S9 CBS 11.45 6.6

Life Can Be Beautiful S7 CBS 1pm 6.6

Right to Happiness S6 NBC 3.45 6.4

Romance of Helen Trent S11 CBS 12.30 6.1

Just Plain Bill S13 NBC 5.30 5.6

Front Page Farrell S4 NBC 5.45 5.5

, The Guiding Light S6 NBC 2pm 5.4

Woman in White S6 NBC 2.30 5.4

The Goldbergs S13 CBS 1.45 5.0

Road of Life S8 NBC 11.00 4.9

Bachelors Children S9 CBS 10.45 4.6

Woman of America S2 NBC 3.00 4.6

Bright Horizons S4 CBS 11.30 4.5

Joyce Jordan MD S7 CBS 2pm 4.4

Two on a Clue S1 CBS 2.15 4.3

Tena and Tim S1 CBS 2.45 4.0

Story of Mary Marlin S11 CBS 3pm 3.8

Perry Mason S@ CBS 2.30 3.6

Rosemary S1 NBC 11.15 3.5

Amanda of Honeymoon Hill S5 CBS 11.00 3.3

Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters S1 CBS 10.30 3.0

Second Husband S8 CBS 11.15 3.4

Valiant Lady S7 CBS 10.00 3.3

Light of the World S5 CBS 10.15 2.9

Lora Lawton S2 NBC 2pm 10.00 2.9

David Harum S9 NBC 11.45 2.3

This Life is Mine S2 CBS 9.45 no rating as the show had no sponsor.

The Guiding Light 1947

-6/2/47 thru 6/6/47. First week back after second cancellation. Ned Holden takes Reverend Ruthledge’s friendship lamp to the reverend’s old seminary friend, Rev. Thomas Andrews, in Selby Flats. They discuss Reverend Ruthledge’s death and his wish that Thomas have the lamp. Reverend Andrews gives a sermon at the state prison and an inmate, Roger Barton, takes bitter notice. Roger is released from prison and changes his name to Ray Brandon, setting out to get revenge on the man who set him up to go to prison. Ray stops by Rev. Andrews’ parsonage first. Ray angrily confronts the Reverend, calling him a fraud, and knocks the friendship lamp off the table. Reverend Andrews (who suddenly, inexplicably is now called Reverend Charles Matthews) tries to ease his live-in sister Winifred’s concerns after Ray’s visit. She feels Charles is in danger in the neighborhood they live in. A bitter Ray looks at the parsonage from the window of his new apartment, continuing to vow revenge on Martin McClain, the man who set him up.

-6/9/47 thru 8/28/47. Ray tries to rebuild his post-prison life and has trouble looking for work. Ray’s ex-wife, Julie, stops by to see him. Frank, Julie’s current husband, thinks Julie could still be in love with Ray. Roger goes to meet with Rev. Matthews since they will both be speaking at Roger’s graduation ceremony and Charles realizes that Roger is Ray’s son. Charlotte Wilson, a woman who lives at the same boarding house as Ray, comes to him to bum a cigarette and they get to know each other. Ray goes to Roger’s graduation ceremony to see his son graduate, unknown to Roger who thinks Ray is dead. Charlotte’s ex, Larry Lawrence, shows back up at the boarding house which throws Charlotte into a fury. Larry goes to see Dr. McNeill for the cut in his head that Charlotte gave him during their fight and Jonathan realizes that Larry is Tim Lawrence’s brother. Knowing of Larry’s existence and noting the physical similarities of the brothers brings out long-held doubts in Jonathan about whether Clare really loves him or is still in love with Tim. Charlotte starts to leave the boarding house and Selby Flats permanently but is stopped by Ray who reaches her emotionally and who shares with her that he hates somebody and has plans to do something about it. Lost and confused, Charlotte enters the Church of the Good Samaritan where Reverend Matthews finds her and counsels her. Ray learns that Martin will be out of the country for another month but vows to wait till then to get his revenge. After a parole officer comes to the boarding house and asks Charlotte for Roger Barton, Ray confesses to Charlotte that his real name is Roger Barton and that he’s an ex-convict. Charlotte tells him it doesn’t matter to her. Reverend Matthews’ niece, Pamela, comes back to town and goes to work with Jonathan at the Selby Flats Clinic where she meets Larry Lawrence for the first time. Larry calls the McNeill home and leaves a message for Jonathan with Clare. Hearing the caller’s identical voice to Tim’s and hearing him call himself Mr. Lawrence, stuns Clare. Larry turns out to be an opportunist who, upon learning about the McNeills, sees dollar signs. Larry pulls a snow job on Rev. Matthews in order to get in his good graces and score points with Jonathan and Clare. Larry cons Clare by giving her a sob story and acting like he wants to get close to his nephew and the McNeills. Charles and Frank try to persuade Julie to tell Roger the truth about Ray but she refuses. Ray and Roger have a chance encounter and talk, Roger unaware that he’s talking to his father. Julie is horrified to learn that Ray and Roger met but Charles is hopeful that the meeting might stop Ray’s thirst for revenge against Martin. Larry starts to date Pam, which concerns her Uncle Charles. Winifred is even more concerned. Jonathan is jealous of Larry but Clare thinks his true jealousy lies with Tim’s memory. After Charlotte threatens to go to the police if Ray doesn’t drop his plans to kill Martin, Ray lies to her and says he’s changed his mind thanks to her. Ray tries to pull the wool over Charlotte’s and Rev. Matthews’ eyes by saying he’s given up his plans on revenge. Charlotte buys it, Charles doesn’t. Ned goes to the airport to meet Martin and Susan as they land back home after their tour of South America. Martin is warned that Ray’s out of prison, still bitter and claiming that Martin framed him. Martin blows it off. Ray reads the article and learns Martin is back, leaving the interview at a law office Rev. Matthews had set up for him. Ray packs up and moves out of the boarding house. Charles is worried and goes to warn Martin while defending Ray and insinuating that he believes Ray. Frank is left to go pick up Michael and Betty from summer camp as Julie tells him she wants to stay another week in San Francisco with Roger. Upon reading that Martin McClain is back in town, Julie quickly changes her mind and she and Roger catch the first plane back home. Julie is determined to stop Ray from killing Martin. Julie tells Charlotte that she’s decided she wants Ray back and plans to divorce Frank. Charlotte blasts Julie by saying she abandoned Ray and Charlotte is the one that really loves Ray, not Julie. Martin hires a bodyguard because his guilt doesn’t allow him to go to the police.

-9/1/47 thru 9/30/47. Ray hangs outside Martin’s bedroom, waiting for the opportune time to kill him. Martin says goodnight to his bodyguard as he leaves and is shocked to find Ray in his bedroom upon his return. Martin pleads for his life while Rev. Matthews prays for Ray at his parsonage. Rev. Matthews tells Julie that if a missing Ray doesn’t appear in a few hours, he’s going to the police because Ray has a gun and has promised to kill Martin for revenge. Julie tells the reverend that she’s decided to leave her husband and children to be with Ray and will tell them as soon as they get back into town. Pam interrupts to tell Rev. Matthews that Ray has shown up at the church. Reverend Matthews counsels Ray Brandon as he has come back to God and stopped himself before he killed Martin McClain. Ray says he wants a new life and is going to give up pursuing a relationship with his ex-wife Julie so she can stay with her husband Frank Collins. Julie, ready to leave her husband and children for Ray, is devastated when Ray tells her he doesn’t want a relationship with her. Julie is even more devastated when Reverend Matthews interrupts with news that Frank and their children, Michael and Betty,  have been in a serious car accident. Charles takes Julie to the hospital where Jonathan breaks the news to her that Michael and Betty have died. Charles and Jonathan try to calm Julie. Frank is asking for Julie but Julie can’t face him. Ray is laying down his plans of vengeance on Martin. Ray and Charlotte argue about his involvement with his ex-wife Julie and her current problems. Reverend Matthews talks a reluctant Roger, who blames his mother for the accident, into going to visit Julie at the hospital. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and nurse Pamela Hale try to keep the news from Frank as he lies in his hospital bed that his children were killed in the car accident that put him there. As Pamela tries to dodge Frank’s questions about Michael and Betty, his hysterical wife Julie bursts into Frank’s room yelling that it’s her fault the children were killed. Ray and Charlotte fight when Ray tells her he’s going over to the hospital to see his ex-wife, Julie, who is in the hospital for a nervous breakdown after finding out her children were killed. Roger visits with Frank. Ray and Roger run into each other at the hospital and Roger tells Ray that Frank will be an invalid for life if he survives. Ray decides not to go see Julie. Claire is reminded of Tim as she talks with his brother Larry. Larry figures out that Ray is Roger’s father and that there’s a lot more to Julie’s nervous breakdown. Roger tries to give Frank the will to live. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and Rev. Matthews discuss the car crash that left Frank Collins paralyzed and killed Betty and Michael Collins. Rev. Matthews visits Julie in her hospital room and reminds her that she had planned to leave Frank and the kids to remarry Ray Brandon. He then tells Julie that Frank will be an invalid for life. After Frank Collins’ car accident, Reverend Matthews gives a talk at the high school warning against reckless driving. Roger Collins, the brother of Michael and Betty and adopted son of Frank, is in the audience and stays behind, alone and distraught,  after the talk is over. He is approached by Susan McClain and the two meet. A guilty Julie asks Frank for forgiveness and Franks says she should go back home so Roger can join her there. Roger tells Julie he doubts she really cares about Frank. Charlotte tells Ray she got a radio gig. Ray tells Julie that he’s no longer Roger Barton and doesn’t want anything to do with her anymore. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father and isn’t dead. Charlotte thinks Ray is still hung up on Julie and Ray tries to prove to Charlotte his love for her.

-10/1/47 thru 10/31/47. Julie tells Ray that she had decided before the accident to leave Frank for him and still wants that. Ray is disgusted and tells her she needs to stop being selfish and be there for Frank. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father. Ray tells Julie that he’s seen Julie for how she really is, in a new light, and is no longer in love with her. Charlotte doesn’t believe that he’s no longer in love with his ex-wife. Charlotte gets counsel from the reverend and tells him that, even though she’s in love with Ray, she believes he’s still in love with Julie and she won’t be second-best. Frank invites Pamela to be his private nurse at his and Julie’s seaside home called Trail’s End. Roger is starting to resent Julie for her possessiveness over him. Julie slaps Roger, projecting her frustration at not being able to control Ray onto his son. Martin McClain is upset that his daughter Susan has started seeing Roger Collins, the son of Ray Brandon who had tried to kill him. Ray gets jealous of Charlotte’s new agent, Sid Harper. Jonathan gives Frank the news that he’ll be in a wheelchair the rest of his life. Charles tells Frank that Ray doesn’t want to be with Julie but Frank is still willing to step aside. Rev. Matthews tells Ray not to marry Charlotte if he doesn’t love her and Ray tells him to keep out of it. Julie lies to Frank, who is back at Trail’s End now, that she loves him and not Ray. Frank asks Ray to come to him to talk about Julie. Ray lies and says he doesn’t have feelings for Julie anymore. Clare tells Julie that Larry’s appearance has made her confused about her feelings for Larry, Jonathan and her deceased husband Tim. Julie tells Clare that she can’t forget about the man in her past either, says Ray and Charlotte mustn’t marry and insinuates that it might be better if Frank died. Charlotte has a radio audition. Sid thinks she’ll be a star. Ray and Charlotte go to Las Vegas to get married.

-11/3/47 thru 11/28/47. The residents of the boarding house throw a reception for Ray and Charlotte when they return from Las Vegas. Charlotte is upset when Larry crashes the party which, in turn, makes Ray angry at Charlotte. Talking to Julie while he waits for Pam to get ready for their date, Larry drops the bomb to Julie that Ray and Charlotte got married. Charles warns Pam that Larry is a user but Pam is defiant and won’t hear it. Frank is depressed and spends all his time cliffside at Trail’s End, staring out over the ocean. Roger is suspicious of Larry’s intentions toward Julie. Roger and Frank both fight with Julie over her trying to make Roger stop seeing Susan. Frank tells Julie he knows she doesn’t want to be tied to a man in a wheelchair and wishes he was dead. Julie tries to use Roger as an excuse to get to Ray. Charlotte heads straight to Trail’s End and reads Julie for filth, letting her know she’s on to her and won’t allow her to try and steal Ray away from her. Charlotte reveals to Rev. Matthews that she has had a history of nervous breakdowns and ended up in a sanitarium twice. Ray gets mad at Charlotte when he learns she went out to the Collins home. Charlotte has a radio audition which allows viewers to write in and vote for her if they want her as a regular. Roger and Susan dream of getting away from her father and his mother and being together. Reverend Matthews gives a Thanksgiving Day sermon. Jonathan suggests Pam stop being Frank’s private nurse so that Frank can become more independent and hopefully snap out of his depression. Frank and Pam, who have become close, say goodbye to each other.

-12/1/47 thru 12/31/47. Ray has lunch with Julie and is confused about his past versus his future. Charlotte gets her own radio show and is angry when Ray seems nonchalant about it. Larry Lawrence comes to Land’s End and comforts a distraught Julie. Roger witnesses their interaction, assuming that they’re having an affair. A depressed Frank tells a visiting Jonathan that he wants to be alone in a sanitarium and away from Land’s End. Roger blasts Julie for the way she’s treating Frank and accuses her of having an affair with Larry. Julie goes out to get Frank who is alone in his wheelchair, looking at the view of the ocean. Julie returns, hysterical, saying that Frank had gone off the cliff in his wheelchair. Roger finds Frank’s smashed wheelchair and then his dead body. Roger claims he saw it happen from his upstairs window and claims Julie pushed Frank. Reverend Matthews and Jonathan believe there is no way Julie pushed Frank. Larry stops by Trail’s End and, while the coroner is present, Roger angrily accuses Larry and Julie of plotting to kill Frank and tries to throw Larry out of the house. Charlotte insinuates Julie might have killed Frank to Ray and he slaps her. Pam feels like Larry has been leading her on and is really in love with Julie. She then starts to question a lot more. People are starting to question whether Julie and Larry were having an affair but Rev. Matthews tells Ray that Larry is just an opportunist and he knows that Julie is really in love with Ray. Roger takes off to get away from Julie. Martin calls Julie to look for a missing Susan. Julie tells him Roger is gone too. The police are suspicious that Frank’s death wasn’t an accident. Reverend Matthews gives a Christmas Day sermon. The inquest into Frank’s death is held. Roger and Susan have run off to Mexico and gotten married. Susan talks Roger into going back to Los Angeles. The votes come in in Charlotte’s favor and she has her first radio show on New Year’s Eve. 

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by Reverend Ruthledge

9 minutes ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

The Guiding Light 1947

-6/2/47 thru 6/6/47. First week back after second cancellation. Ned Holden takes Reverend Ruthledge’s friendship lamp to the reverend’s old seminary friend, Rev. Thomas Andrews, in Selby Flats. They discuss Reverend Ruthledge’s death and his wish that Thomas have the lamp. Reverend Andrews gives a sermon at the state prison and an inmate, Roger Barton, takes bitter notice. Roger is released from prison and changes his name to Ray Brandon, setting out to get revenge on the man who set him up to go to prison. Ray stops by Rev. Andrews’ parsonage first. Ray angrily confronts the Reverend, calling him a fraud, and knocks the friendship lamp off the table. Reverend Andrews (who suddenly, inexplicably is now called Reverend Charles Matthews) tries to ease his live-in sister Winifred’s concerns after Ray’s visit. She feels Charles is in danger in the neighborhood they live in. A bitter Ray looks at the parsonage from the window of his new apartment, continuing to vow revenge on Martin McClain, the man who set him up.

-6/9/47 thru 8/28/47. Ray tries to rebuild his post-prison life and has trouble looking for work. Ray’s ex-wife, Julie, stops by to see him. Frank, Julie’s current husband, thinks Julie could still be in love with Ray. Roger goes to meet with Rev. Matthews since they will both be speaking at Roger’s graduation ceremony and Charles realizes that Roger is Ray’s son. Charlotte Wilson, a woman who lives at the same boarding house as Ray, comes to him to bum a cigarette and they get to know each other. Ray goes to Roger’s graduation ceremony to see his son graduate, unknown to Roger who thinks Ray is dead. Charlotte’s ex, Larry Lawrence, shows back up at the boarding house which throws Charlotte into a fury. Larry goes to see Dr. McNeill for the cut in his head that Charlotte gave him during their fight and Jonathan realizes that Larry is Tim Lawrence’s brother. Knowing of Larry’s existence and noting the physical similarities of the brothers brings out long-held doubts in Jonathan about whether Clare really loves him or is still in love with Tim. Charlotte starts to leave the boarding house and Selby Flats permanently but is stopped by Ray who reaches her emotionally and who shares with her that he hates somebody and has plans to do something about it. Lost and confused, Charlotte enters the Church of the Good Samaritan where Reverend Matthews finds her and counsels her. Ray learns that Martin will be out of the country for another month but vows to wait till then to get his revenge. After a parole officer comes to the boarding house and asks Charlotte for Roger Barton, Ray confesses to Charlotte that his real name is Roger Barton and that he’s an ex-convict. Charlotte tells him it doesn’t matter to her. Reverend Matthews’ niece, Pamela, comes back to town and goes to work with Jonathan at the Selby Flats Clinic where she meets Larry Lawrence for the first time. Larry calls the McNeill home and leaves a message for Jonathan with Clare. Hearing the caller’s identical voice to Tim’s and hearing him call himself Mr. Lawrence, stuns Clare. Larry turns out to be an opportunist who, upon learning about the McNeills, sees dollar signs. Larry pulls a snow job on Rev. Matthews in order to get in his good graces and score points with Jonathan and Clare. Larry cons Clare by giving her a sob story and acting like he wants to get close to his nephew and the McNeills. Charles and Frank try to persuade Julie to tell Roger the truth about Ray but she refuses. Ray and Roger have a chance encounter and talk, Roger unaware that he’s talking to his father. Julie is horrified to learn that Ray and Roger met but Charles is hopeful that the meeting might stop Ray’s thirst for revenge against Martin. Larry starts to date Pam, which concerns her Uncle Charles. Winifred is even more concerned. Jonathan is jealous of Larry but Clare thinks his true jealousy lies with Tim’s memory. After Charlotte threatens to go to the police if Ray doesn’t drop his plans to kill Martin, Ray lies to her and says he’s changed his mind thanks to her. Ray tries to pull the wool over Charlotte’s and Rev. Matthews’ eyes by saying he’s given up his plans on revenge. Charlotte buys it, Charles doesn’t. Ned goes to the airport to meet Martin and Susan as they land back home after their tour of South America. Martin is warned that Ray’s out of prison, still bitter and claiming that Martin framed him. Martin blows it off. Ray reads the article and learns Martin is back, leaving the interview at a law office Rev. Matthews had set up for him. Ray packs up and moves out of the boarding house. Charles is worried and goes to warn Martin while defending Ray and insinuating that he believes Ray. Frank is left to go pick up Michael and Betty from summer camp as Julie tells him she wants to stay another week in San Francisco with Roger. Upon reading that Martin McClain is back in town, Julie quickly changes her mind and she and Roger catch the first plane back home. Julie is determined to stop Ray from killing Martin. Julie tells Charlotte that she’s decided she wants Ray back and plans to divorce Frank. Charlotte blasts Julie by saying she abandoned Ray and Charlotte is the one that really loves Ray, not Julie. Martin hires a bodyguard because his guilt doesn’t allow him to go to the police.

-9/1/47 thru 9/30/47. Ray hangs outside Martin’s bedroom, waiting for the opportune time to kill him. Martin says goodnight to his bodyguard as he leaves and is shocked to find Ray in his bedroom upon his return. Martin pleads for his life while Rev. Matthews prays for Ray at his parsonage. Rev. Matthews tells Julie that if a missing Ray doesn’t appear in a few hours, he’s going to the police because Ray has a gun and has promised to kill Martin for revenge. Julie tells the reverend that she’s decided to leave her husband and children to be with Ray and will tell them as soon as they get back into town. Pam interrupts to tell Rev. Matthews that Ray has shown up at the church. Reverend Matthews counsels Ray Brandon as he has come back to God and stopped himself before he killed Martin McClain. Ray says he wants a new life and is going to give up pursuing a relationship with his ex-wife Julie so she can stay with her husband Frank Collins. Julie, ready to leave her husband and children for Ray, is devastated when Ray tells her he doesn’t want a relationship with her. Julie is even more devastated when Reverend Matthews interrupts with news that Frank and their children, Michael and Betty,  have been in a serious car accident. Charles takes Julie to the hospital where Jonathan breaks the news to her that Michael and Betty have died. Charles and Jonathan try to calm Julie. Frank is asking for Julie but Julie can’t face him. Ray is laying down his plans of vengeance on Martin. Ray and Charlotte argue about his involvement with his ex-wife Julie and her current problems. Reverend Matthews talks a reluctant Roger, who blames his mother for the accident, into going to visit Julie at the hospital. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and nurse Pamela Hale try to keep the news from Frank as he lies in his hospital bed that his children were killed in the car accident that put him there. As Pamela tries to dodge Frank’s questions about Michael and Betty, his hysterical wife Julie bursts into Frank’s room yelling that it’s her fault the children were killed. Ray and Charlotte fight when Ray tells her he’s going over to the hospital to see his ex-wife, Julie, who is in the hospital for a nervous breakdown after finding out her children were killed. Roger visits with Frank. Ray and Roger run into each other at the hospital and Roger tells Ray that Frank will be an invalid for life if he survives. Ray decides not to go see Julie. Claire is reminded of Tim as she talks with his brother Larry. Larry figures out that Ray is Roger’s father and that there’s a lot more to Julie’s nervous breakdown. Roger tries to give Frank the will to live. Dr. Jonathan McNeill and Rev. Matthews discuss the car crash that left Frank Collins paralyzed and killed Betty and Michael Collins. Rev. Matthews visits Julie in her hospital room and reminds her that she had planned to leave Frank and the kids to remarry Ray Brandon. He then tells Julie that Frank will be an invalid for life. After Frank Collins’ car accident, Reverend Matthews gives a talk at the high school warning against reckless driving. Roger Collins, the brother of Michael and Betty and adopted son of Frank, is in the audience and stays behind, alone and distraught,  after the talk is over. He is approached by Susan McClain and the two meet. A guilty Julie asks Frank for forgiveness and Franks says she should go back home so Roger can join her there. Roger tells Julie he doubts she really cares about Frank. Charlotte tells Ray she got a radio gig. Ray tells Julie that he’s no longer Roger Barton and doesn’t want anything to do with her anymore. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father and isn’t dead. Charlotte thinks Ray is still hung up on Julie and Ray tries to prove to Charlotte his love for her.

-10/1/47 thru 10/31/47. Julie tells Ray that she had decided before the accident to leave Frank for him and still wants that. Ray is disgusted and tells her she needs to stop being selfish and be there for Frank. Julie threatens to tell Roger that Ray is his father. Ray tells Julie that he’s seen Julie for how she really is, in a new light, and is no longer in love with her. Charlotte doesn’t believe that he’s no longer in love with his ex-wife. Charlotte gets counsel from the reverend and tells him that, even though she’s in love with Ray, she believes he’s still in love with Julie and she won’t be second-best. Frank invites Pamela to be his private nurse at his and Julie’s seaside home called Trail’s End. Roger is starting to resent Julie for her possessiveness over him. Julie slaps Roger, projecting her frustration at not being able to control Ray onto his son. Martin McClain is upset that his daughter Susan has started seeing Roger Collins, the son of Ray Brandon who had tried to kill him. Ray gets jealous of Charlotte’s new agent, Sid Harper. Jonathan gives Frank the news that he’ll be in a wheelchair the rest of his life. Charles tells Frank that Ray doesn’t want to be with Julie but Frank is still willing to step aside. Rev. Matthews tells Ray not to marry Charlotte if he doesn’t love her and Ray tells him to keep out of it. Julie lies to Frank, who is back at Trail’s End now, that she loves him and not Ray. Frank asks Ray to come to him to talk about Julie. Ray lies and says he doesn’t have feelings for Julie anymore. Clare tells Julie that Larry’s appearance has made her confused about her feelings for Larry, Jonathan and her deceased husband Tim. Julie tells Clare that she can’t forget about the man in her past either, says Ray and Charlotte mustn’t marry and insinuates that it might be better if Frank died. Charlotte has a radio audition. Sid thinks she’ll be a star. Ray and Charlotte go to Las Vegas to get married.

-11/3/47 thru 11/28/47. The residents of the boarding house throw a reception for Ray and Charlotte when they return from Las Vegas. Charlotte is upset when Larry crashes the party which, in turn, makes Ray angry at Charlotte. Talking to Julie while he waits for Pam to get ready for their date, Larry drops the bomb to Julie that Ray and Charlotte got married. Charles warns Pam that Larry is a user but Pam is defiant and won’t hear it. Frank is depressed and spends all his time cliffside at Trail’s End, staring out over the ocean. Roger is suspicious of Larry’s intentions toward Julie. Roger and Frank both fight with Julie over her trying to make Roger stop seeing Susan. Frank tells Julie he knows she doesn’t want to be tied to a man in a wheelchair and wishes he was dead. Julie tries to use Roger as an excuse to get to Ray. Charlotte heads straight to Trail’s End and reads Julie for filth, letting her know she’s on to her and won’t allow her to try and steal Ray away from her. Charlotte reveals to Rev. Matthews that she has had a history of nervous breakdowns and ended up in a sanitarium twice. Ray gets mad at Charlotte when he learns she went out to the Collins home. Charlotte has a radio audition which allows viewers to write in and vote for her if they want her as a regular. Roger and Susan dream of getting away from her father and his mother and being together. Reverend Matthews gives a Thanksgiving Day sermon. Jonathan suggests Pam stop being Frank’s private nurse so that Frank can become more independent and hopefully snap out of his depression. Frank and Pam, who have become close, say goodbye to each other.

-12/1/47 thru 12/31/47. Ray has lunch with Julie and is confused about his past versus his future. Charlotte gets her own radio show and is angry when Ray seems nonchalant about it. Larry Lawrence comes to Land’s End and comforts a distraught Julie. Roger witnesses their interaction, assuming that they’re having an affair. A depressed Frank tells a visiting Jonathan that he wants to be alone in a sanitarium and away from Land’s End. Roger blasts Julie for the way she’s treating Frank and accuses her of having an affair with Larry. Julie goes out to get Frank who is alone in his wheelchair, looking at the view of the ocean. Julie returns, hysterical, saying that Frank had gone off the cliff in his wheelchair. Roger finds Frank’s smashed wheelchair and then his dead body. Roger claims he saw it happen from his upstairs window and claims Julie pushed Frank. Reverend Matthews and Jonathan believe there is no way Julie pushed Frank. Larry stops by Trail’s End and, while the coroner is present, Roger angrily accuses Larry and Julie of plotting to kill Frank and tries to throw Larry out of the house. Charlotte insinuates Julie might have killed Frank to Ray and he slaps her. Pam feels like Larry has been leading her on and is really in love with Julie. She then starts to question a lot more. People are starting to question whether Julie and Larry were having an affair but Rev. Matthews tells Ray that Larry is just an opportunist and he knows that Julie is really in love with Ray. Roger takes off to get away from Julie. Martin calls Julie to look for a missing Susan. Julie tells him Roger is gone too. The police are suspicious that Frank’s death wasn’t an accident. Reverend Matthews gives a Christmas Day sermon. The inquest into Frank’s death is held. Roger and Susan have run off to Mexico and gotten married. Susan talks Roger into going back to Los Angeles. The votes come in in 

Charlotte’s favor and she has her first radio show on New Year’s Eve. 

Thank you for sharing; a wonderful synopsis, as always. You are invaluable when it comes to clarifying and preserving vintage soap history.

If I were ever blessed with getting my hands on any artifacts/memorabilia from film and television history, I'd want to possess (okay, I'd kill to possess) Reverend Ruthledge's Friendship Lamp, Dorothy Gale's Ruby Slippers, and Mary Richards' "M" that hung on the wall in her apartment.

As far as we know, where was the last place the Friendship Lamp ended up? Since its ultimate fate was never concretely established (as far as I remember/know), I've always daydreamed about it somehow winding up with Papa Bauer. That thought is curiously comforting.

2 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

Thank you for sharing; a wonderful synopsis, as always. You are invaluable when it comes to clarifying and preserving vintage soap history.

If I were ever blessed with getting my hands on any artifacts/memorabilia from film and television history, I'd want to possess (okay, I'd kill to possess) Reverend Ruthledge's Friendship Lamp, Dorothy Gale's Ruby Slippers, and Mary Richards' "M" that hung on the wall in her apartment.

As far as we know, where was the last place the Friendship Lamp ended up? Since its ultimate fate was never concretely established (as far as I remember/know), I've always daydreamed about it somehow winding up with Papa Bauer. That thought is curiously comforting.

Thanks! The lamp was last seen with Reverend Paul Keeler who faded away and I assume he took the lamp with him.

3 hours ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Thanks! The lamp was last seen with Reverend Paul Keeler who faded away and I assume he took the lamp with him.

Okay, that is the last time I knew of the lamp's whereabouts too. I'm going to continue daydreaming about ways it could have ended up with Papa Bauer!

@Reverend Ruthledge Many thanks. Really interesting read. I could imagine listeners were hooked from Day 1. By Jan 48 TGL was in the Top 10 daytime serials.