Manhunt

Manhunt was a 15-minute syndicated radio series that aired from 1943 to 1944. The series followed the investigations of various murders and the subsequent manhunts for the killers. Each episode began with the discovery of a body and the police working to uncover the clues and identify the perpetrator. The series was produced by syndication pioneer Frederick Ziv and featured a rotating cast of actors, with Larry Haines as the lead performer.

The Stars

Larry Haines was the primary star of Manhunt, portraying the lead investigator in each episode. Haines had a long career in radio, appearing in shows like Gangbusters before taking on the starring role in Manhunt. After the decline of radio in the 1950s, Haines transitioned to television, starring in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow for 35 years and earning two Daytime Emmy Awards.

Key Dates

• Manhunt debuted on November 27th,1943.
• It ran in syndication until June 3rd, 1944, with a total of 28 episodes produced of which 20 are extant.
• The series aired on various local radio stations across the United States during its brief run.

Other Information

Manhunt was one of the many crime and detective series produced by Frederick Ziv, a pioneer in radio syndication. Ziv’s company was responsible for creating and distributing numerous popular old-time radio shows, including The Cisco Kid, Boston Blackie, and The Unexpected. The series’ focus on murder investigations and manhunts for killers was a common theme in many of Ziv’s productions, reflecting the public’s interest in crime dramas during the era.

While Manhunt was a relatively short-lived series, it was part of a larger trend of crime and detective shows that dominated the old-time radio landscape in the 1940s. The series’ format, with its focus on solving murders and apprehending suspects, was similar to other popular shows of the time, such as Dragnet, The Fat Man, and The Line Up.

Manhunt provided listeners with a quick-paced, suspenseful listening experience, showcasing the skills of the police and investigators in bringing criminals to justice.