Clock, The

The Clock was a radio suspense anthology series that aired from November 3, 1946, to May 23, 1948, on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network. Narrated by Father Time, the 30-minute program was created by Lawrence Klee.

The series was first broadcast from New York, with Clark Andrews as the director and featuring local radio talent. However, on March 4, 1948, ABC shifted the production to Hollywood, as director William Spier became available after leaving the popular radio drama Suspense on January 24 of that year. The first Hollywood-produced episode, titled “Nicky,” featured guest stars Cathy Lewis and Elliott Lewis, with William Conrad as the narrator. Other notable actors who appeared in The Clock included Jeanette Nolan and Hans Conried.

The Stars

While The Clock did not have any regular stars, it featured a rotating cast of talented radio actors who brought the various suspenseful stories to life. The shift in production to Hollywood allowed the series to tap into the wealth of acting talent in the Los Angeles area, leading to memorable performances from the likes of Cathy Lewis, Elliott Lewis, William Conrad, Jeanette Nolan, and Hans Conried.

Key Dates

• The Clock debuted on November 3, 1946, and ran for nearly two years, with the final episode airing on May 23, 1948.
• The series underwent a significant change in March 1948 when the production was moved from New York to Hollywood, with William Spier taking over as the new director.

Other Information

Despite the talent involved and the popularity of the suspense genre, The Clock struggled to find a consistent sponsor, and ABC ultimately cancelled the series after only twelve weeks of the Hollywood-produced episodes. William Spier, however, would go on to return as the producer of the long-running radio drama Suspense in 1949.

In 1955, a version of The Clock was produced in Australia by Grace Gibson Productions, though details about this adaptation are limited. The Clock remains an interesting footnote in the history of old-time radio, showcasing the versatility of the suspense anthology format and the skilled performers who brought these stories to life.