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Rocky Fortune

1953–1954 · 25 episodes · 71 listens

Rocky Fortune is an American radio drama that aired weekly on NBC Radio beginning in October 1953. The series ended its run in March 1954 after 25 episodes. Created by George Lefferts and Frank Sinatra voiced the title role of Rocky Fortune for the entire series.

Rocky Fortune was a young man of several talents constantly in need of employment who accepted odd jobs from the fictitious Gridley Employment Agency, often referred to simply as “the Agency”. During the course of the series, he would work as a process server, museum tour guide, cabbie, bodyguard, chauffeur, truck driver, social director for a Catskills resort and a carny, in addition to various musical jobs.

These assignments typically led Rocky into situations where he would track down criminals, often rescuing people (especially women) in need of help, and ultimately needing to find yet more work. Rocky made many wise remarks, using “hep” slang of the times, and seemed to attract trouble wherever he went.

The Stars

Frank Sinatra portrayed Rocco Fortunato, also known as Rocky Fortune, and infused the role with a witty, tongue-in-cheek quality that acknowledged Sinatra’s own career.

Aside from Sinatra, the only other recurring role on the series was that of Hamilton J. Finger, a solid and dependable (though not very intelligent) police sergeant played by Barney Phillips.

Other guest roles on Rocky Fortune were filled by actors such as Raymond Burr, Ed Begley and Jack Kruschen.

Key Dates

  • Rocky Fortune premiered on October 6, 1953.
  • The final episode, “Boarding House Doublecross”, aired on March 30, 1954, less than a week after Sinatra won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Private Angelo Maggio in the 1953 film, From Here to Eternity.
  • As a running gag towards the end of the show’s run, Sinatra would work the phrase “from here to eternity” into the script as a reference to his film role in almost every episode.

Other Information

Rocky Fortune was a sustaining series, meaning that NBC presented the program without corporate sponsorship. The show aired Tuesday nights on NBC at 9:35 pm Eastern, immediately following Dragnet (and a five-minute John Cameron Swayze newscast).

Creator George Lefferts and writer Ernest Kinoy had previously collaborated on other radio programs such as X Minus One and Dimension X, and would go on to become award-winning writers and producers in the years that followed.

The show’s narrator, Edward “Eddie” King, began each episode by stating, “NBC presents Frank Sinatra, starring as that footloose and fancy-free young gentleman, Rocky Fortune” (though it was “footloose and frequently unemployed” for the first two episodes).

Cast & Crew

FFrank SinatraActorFFred WeiheDirector · ProducerGGeorge LeffertsWriterEErnest KinoyWriter

Ratings & reviews

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Episodes

Dec 1, 1953 · 23:52
You never really know when you start, just how a job's gonna turn out. Sometimes the ones that look like the tamest…
Dec 15, 1953 · 23:52
Ever had somebody try to make a monkey out of you? I did. Not that I really minded so much, until I found out that it…
Dec 22, 1953 · 23:53
This is the story of how Fortune got mixed up in a plot to murder Santa Claus. It all began when Rocky answered a…
Dec 29, 1953 · 23:29
Rocky is having a cup of coffee and minding his own business when two heavies come up to his table and make him an…
Dec 8, 1953 · 22:53
Have you ever seen a magician pull a disappearing act on somebody? Well, a guy tried to pull it on me at a carnival…
Feb 16, 1954 · 23:29
Rocky has met a beautiful blonde woman, Lou, from New Orleans. Lou seemingly has acquired herself two husbands, Perry…
Feb 2, 1954 · 23:31
It started one night at Arty’s pool palace. As Rocky heads towards the cue rack he sees a monster type guy moving…
Feb 23, 1954 · 23:58
Did you ever wonder what a bull must feel like when it runs into the ring? The bars are up he thinks I’m free I’ve…
Feb 9, 1954 · 23:44
Up in the Catskill mountains Mama Greenspan runs Greenspan Villa, which was the place to go until her son Larry started…
Jan 12, 1954 · 23:29
Rocky is instructed to report to the ninth avenue arena and when he gets there he finds the horse follies of 1954 is…
Jan 19, 1954 · 23:42
Fortune has landed himself a job again – inside talk man on the Manhattan sightseeing tour, China Town the Empire state…
Jan 26, 1954 · 23:28
Rocky needs a job real bad, which lead him to answer an ad for a truck driver. Hazardous work it had said and they…
Jan 5, 1954 · 23:54
Ellie is the sister of one of Rocky’s friends and she’s pushing 40 and unmarried having spent her youth raising her…
Mar 16, 1954 · 23:37
Rocky visits Perry Shane at his Law office. He wants Rocky to be a witness for Mrs. Biggolo's Will. Whilst they are…
Mar 2, 1954 · 23:51
Rocky has landed himself a job in the 14-carat law factory of Perry Shane. Shane, a Park Avenue legal Eagle was saved…
Mar 23, 1954 · 23:45
Rocky agrees to go for an interview to Zenith Foundations. They are wanting an adventurous young man with no family…
Mar 30, 1954 · 30:00
Rocky decided to find a new pad and the only problem he had was with the new landlady. She wanted to collect his first…
Mar 9, 1954 · 23:48
According to the insurance guys, an average joker like Rocky can expect to show up on the census for about 66 years…
Nov 10, 1953 · 23:53
Rocky narrates: When it comes to losing jobs, I've got the best batting average in town, something always happens. I…
Nov 17, 1953 · 23:59
Rocky narrates: When I was a kid, a couple of maiden aunts made me practice the bow fiddle to strengthen my character.…
Nov 24, 1953 · 24:23
I heard it said once that a rolling stone never gathers moss. In my case, it's not only moss that I don't gather, it's…
Nov 3, 1953 · 23:38
We find Rocky working as a night counter man at an all night hamburger diner located on the lower west side right…
Oct 13, 1953 · 23:34
Once again Rocky is in search of work. This time he gets sent off to be a chauffeur, but when he rolls up at 159 Euston…
Oct 20, 1953 · 23:59
Rocky gets a job as a steward on a luxury liner from Bermuda to New York. Everything seems to be go well until a jewel…
Oct 6, 1953 · 24:52
Rocky gets a job at the 50 Fathoms Clam House shucking oysters. At first he thinks his luck is in. Not only is he…
Ned, your old-time-radio guide
Ned · your guide to the archive

Ah, Rocky Fortune — a fine choice. Let me set a few more down beside it that I think you'll take to.

Richard Diamond Private Detective
Both are crime dramas with a quick-talking, charming, witty male lead navigating a dangerous urban world
Pat Novak for Hire
Both feature a street-smart, cynical male protagonist narrating his way through dangerous criminal situations
Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator
Both are hard-boiled crime dramas with a resourceful, wisecracking male lead
Broadway Is My Beat
Both are atmospheric urban crime dramas featuring a lone male protagonist in a dangerous city
Rogue's Gallery
Both feature a quick-witted, resourceful male lead who encounters crime and danger with sardonic good humour