Mr District Attorney

Mr. District Attorney is a radio crime drama produced by Samuel Bischoff that aired on NBC and ABC from April 3, 1939 to June 13, 1952 (and in transcribed syndication through 1953). The series focused on a crusading district attorney initially known only as Mister District Attorney or Chief, and was later translated to television.

On television, the attorney’s name was Paul Garrett, and the radio version adopted the name in its final years when David Brian played the role. A key figure in the dramas was secretary Edith Miller.

Created, written, and directed by former law student Ed Byron, the series was inspired by the early years of New York governor Thomas E. Dewey. Dewey’s public war against racketeering led to his election as governor. Phillips H. Lord, creator of Gang Busters, helped to develop the concept and coined the title. Byron lent an air of accuracy and immediacy to his scripts through close study of crime statistics, a library of criminology texts, following the newspapers and even visiting rough bars to gain tips, background and color from crooks and police.

Produced throughout its run in New York City, the series began as a 15-minute serial, becoming a half-hour, self-contained series three months later as a summer replacement for The Bob Hope Show on June 27, 1939. During 1942, Mr. District Attorney began battling Nazis, leading to conflicts with the FBI when the scripts reflected life too closely. In December 1949, Mr. District Attorney returned to live broadcasts after 13 weeks of using tape-recorded transcriptions. The program was sponsored by Bristol-Myers.

The Stars

The nameless title role was played by several actors throughout the series: Dwight Weist (1939 serials), Raymond Edward Johnson (1939 half-hour shows), Jay Jostyn (1940 through 1952; Jostyn also guest-starred in the role in mystery sketches for the game show Quick as a Flash), and David Brian (1952–1953 syndication).

The show’s signature was the opening announcer known as the Voice of the Law, who defined the creed and duties of Mr. District Attorney. The role was played by Maurice Franklin and also Jay Jostyn prior to taking the lead role. Edith Miller, the district attorney’s faithful secretary, was played throughout the series run by Vicki Vola. Miss Rand, the D.A.'s receptionist, was played by Eleanor Silver and Arlene Francis.

Key Dates

• Mr. District Attorney debuted on April 3, 1939.
• It ran until June 13, 1952, with additional syndicated episodes airing through 1953.
• The series was briefly adapted for television, airing on ABC from October 1, 1951 through June 23, 1952.
• In 1954, the show was revived in syndication by Ziv Television Programs, with David Brian reprising his role from the radio series but the D.A. was named Paul Garrett.

Other Information

In the early 1940s, Republic Pictures released a trilogy of Mr. District Attorney films, with the district attorney named P. Cadwallader Jones and assisted by journalist Terry Parker. Different actors portrayed them in each film.

DC Comics published a Mr. District Attorney comic book series that ran for 67 issues from 1948 to 1959. In 1941, Whitman Publishing Company also released a Mr. District Attorney on the Job Big Little Book that included a flip book.

The radio series was popular enough to spawn several films, a television adaptation, and a long-running comic book series, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the crusading district attorney character.

Mr. District Attorney remains an iconic example of the classic American radio crime drama.