Avenger, The

The Avenger was an old-time radio crime drama that aired in the United States in two separate runs. The first version was broadcast weekly on WHN in New York City from July 18, 1941, to November 3, 1942. The second version was syndicated nationally from October 25, 1945, to April 18, 1946.

The series centered around the character of Richard Henry Benson, a crime-fighter with superhuman strength known as “the Avenger.” Benson was accompanied by his sidekick, Fergus “Mac” MacMurdie, and was described as a blend of elements from the popular pulp fiction characters The Shadow and Doc Savage. The 1941-1942 version was written by Paul Ernst (writing as Kenneth Robeson) and Henry Ralston, while the 1945-1946 version was written by Gil Braun, Ruth Braun, and Walter B. Gibson.

The Stars

In the 1941-1942 version, the main character of Richard Henry Benson was played by an unknown New York actor, while Humphrey Davis portrayed the sidekick Fergus “Mac” MacMurdie. The 1945-1946 version featured James Monks and Dick Janaver in the lead role, with Helen Adamson as the assistant Fern Collier.  George Ansbro was the announcer, and Doc Whipple provided the music.

Key Dates

The first version of The Avenger aired weekly on WHN in New York City from July 18, 1941, to November 3, 1942.  The second version was syndicated nationally from October 25, 1945, to April 18, 1946. 

Other Information

The Avenger was the first program distributed by the WHN Transcription Service, which had previously only distributed commercials.  The 1941-1942 version was promoted with large red cardboard posters in WHN’s listening area that emphasized the connection between the radio program and the The Avenger pulp magazine published by Street and Smith.

Radio historian John Dunning described the 1945-1946 version as a “poor man’s version of The Shadow,” noting similarities between the two characters such as having a “drop-dead gorgeous subordinate” who knew the hero’s true identity and the ability to interpret “thought flashes” of other people.  These similarities can be explained by the fact that both The Avenger and The Shadow were created by writer Walter B. Gibson and appeared in magazines published by Street and Smith.