Transmission
5 February
No. 50
1946
The Big Story
Feature Assignment (script date) The Majczek Case [James McGuire Chicago Times] (Script us
Network
NBC
Running time
27 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
← The Handover
1947–1955 on radio · NBC
The Big Story
A real reporter, a real case, and a five-hundred-dollar cheque every week.
The Big Story is the ancestor of every reconstruction show on television now, and it ran on both media at once for most of its life, with the Pall Mall sponsorship carried across. The format's honesty was its selling point — the reporter was named, the paper was named, the cheque was real — and it survived the transfer to pictures better than almost anything else here, because the appeal was the case rather than the voice.
- On radio
- Radio from 2 April 1947
- On television
- Television from 16 September 1949
- The overlap
- Both versions ran until 1955, and ended within months of each other
50 recordings · New York
NBC network broadcasts and transcriptions held by the Internet Archive; several carry the reporter and paper in the title. Public domain (US network broadcast, copyright not renewed); no Creative Commons or non-commercial terms apply.
19461
19474
Transmission
4 June
No. 49
1947
The Big Story
The Thirteenth Key [James Fusco, Columbus Citizen]UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
24 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
1 October
No. 48
1947
The Big Story
Counterfeit Coins [Jack Adams, Los Angeles Examiner] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
26 November
No. 47
1947
The Big Story
Unfinished Love Song [HowardBeaufait,ClevelandNews]UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
17 December
No. 46
1947
The Big Story
Ambitious Hobo [Russ Wilson, Des Moines Tribune] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
19484
Transmission
7 January
No. 45
1948
The Big Story
Manhunt In Manhattan [Ted Prager, NY Daily News] UPGRADE-2
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
12 May
No. 44
1948
The Big Story
Pt2ONLY COT Lucky Long Shot [Indianapolis Star, Robert Early] UPG
Network
NBC
Running time
14 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
30 June
No. 43
1948
The Big Story
Pt1ONLY HateBetweenBrother&Sister [StLouisGlobeDemocrat AlbertBHendry] UPG
Network
NBC
Running time
15 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
21 July
No. 42
1948
The Big Story
The Lottery [Keeler McCartney, Atlanta Constitution]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
19495
Transmission
5 January
No. 41
1949
The Big Story
16YrOldMisfitKillsOutOfFear [AlAaronson LouisvilleCourierJournal] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
26 January
No. 40
1949
The Big Story
Liquidating Partnership (Jigsaw Crime) [Joseph Werges, Arkansas Gazette]
Network
NBC
Running time
27 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
8 June
No. 39
1949
The Big Story
Bitterest Man On the Earth [JulianCHouseman, RichmondNewsLeader] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
12 October
No. 38
1949
The Big Story
The Loneliest Man On Earth [Ray Sprigle, Pittsburgh Post] #14 FROM DISC
Network
NBC
Running time
27 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
14 December
No. 37
1949
The Big Story
Three Gold Coins Spell Death #22 [Nolan Bulloch, Tulsa Tribune] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
19506
Transmission
4 January
No. 36
1950
The Big Story
Murder and a Frustrated Father [Sam Melnick, Kansas City, United Press]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
1 March
No. 35
1950
The Big Story
New Facts About a 26 Year Frameup [Ralph Goll, Detroit Free Press]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
12 July
No. 34
1950
The Big Story
Shot Gun & Fatal Accident [Bill Griffiths, Youngstown Vindicator] #52
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
18 October
No. 33
1950
The Big Story
Puritan Morality and Violent Death [Albert I Prince, Hartford Times] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
15 November
No. 32
1950
The Big Story
A Dead Certainty [Kenneth McCormick, Detroit Free Press] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
29 November
No. 31
1950
The Big Story
Killer With Mind Of Little Boy [TR Johnson, Salt Lake City Tribune]
Network
NBC
Running time
22 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
19513
Transmission
14 March
No. 30
1951
The Big Story
COT Cautious Killer [Edward Neumeier Humboldt CA Times]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
25 April
No. 29
1951
The Big Story
MoreTragicThanMurder #90 (dead mother in trunk) [VirgilHill,HiawathaKS]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
14 November
No. 28
1951
The Big Story
Man Who Wanted What He Couldn't Have [CNilsson SaltLakeTribune]
Network
NBC
Running time
26 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
19522
Transmission
9 January
No. 27
1952
The Big Story
520109 The Cord Around Her Neck [Stuart Whitehouse] 131)_RX8_(CBM)
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
8 October
No. 26
1952
The Big Story
Hot Lead Catches a Cold Blooded Killer [Miami Herald, William H Adams]
Network
NBC
Running time
24 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
19531
Transmission
1 April
No. 25
1953
The Big Story
The Miracle Phone Call [DorothyPatterson,PatersonNJMorningCall]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
19543
Transmission
27 January
No. 24
1954
The Big Story
Too Terrible to Be Believed [Arthur Mielke, Washington Times-Herald] UPGRADE
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
24 March
No. 23
1954
The Big Story
WitnessToDramaOfViolence&Death [LasVegasReviewJournal JohnFCahlan]
Network
NBC
Running time
24 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
6 October
No. 22
1954
The Big Story
The Ugly Story of a Man [CharlesGleeson,WillowsJournal]
Network
NBC
Running time
26 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Undated recordings21
Transmission
Undated
No. 21
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_47-06-04_010_The_Thirteenth_Key_[James_Fusco]
Network
NBC
Running time
24 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 20
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_47-10-15_029_The_Bobby-Sox_Kid_from_Bayonne_[Dorothy_Kilgallen]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 19
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_47-12-10_037_TCOT_Final_Curtain_[Aubrey_Maddock]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 18
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_47-12-17_038_TCOT_Ambitious_Hobo_[Russell_Wilson]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 17
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_48-05-05_058_Pillars_of_Society_[William_Miller]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 16
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_48-05-19_060_The_Deadline_Murder_[Rolf_K_Mills]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 15
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_48-07-07_067_The_Woman_Who_Was_a_Witch_[George_Cleveland_Bullette]_pt_2_onl
Network
NBC
Running time
14 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 14
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_49-01-05_093_Murderous_Kid_[Al_Aaronson]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 13
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_49-01-26_096_Jig_Saw_[Joseph_Wirges]
Network
NBC
Running time
27 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 12
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_49-06-08_115_The_Bitterest_Man_On_the_Earth_[Julian_C_Houseman]
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 11
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_49-10-12_133_The_Loneliest_Man_On_Earth_[Ray_Sprigle]
Network
NBC
Running time
27 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 10
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_50-01-04_145_Murder_and_a_Frustrated_Father_[Sam_Melnick]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 9
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_50-01-11_146_Gambling,_Divorce_and_Murder_[Frank_McCulloch]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 8
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_50-06-21_169_Death_In_the_Family_[William_Noble]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 7
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_50-10-18_186_Puritan_Morality_and_Violent_Death_[Albert_I_Prince]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 6
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_50-11-15_190_A_Dead_Certainty_[Kenneth_McCormick]
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 5
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_50-12-06_193_Paul_Grays_Missing_Wife_[Bernard_Beckwith]
Network
NBC
Running time
26 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 4
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_51-04-04_210_Poker_Game_Ends_In_Death_[William_E_Doherty]
Network
NBC
Running time
24 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 3
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_52-03-19_260_Friendly_Betrayal_[Alan_Cowperthwaite]_aka-To_Avenge_a_Murder
Network
NBC
Running time
29 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 2
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_53-02-04_299_The_Three_Gangsters_[Don_Morrisey]_aka-The_Biggest_Catch
Network
NBC
Running time
25 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;
Transmission
Undated
No. 1
The Big Story
Big_Story,_The_54-03-24_345_A_Witness_to_Violence_and_Death_[John_Cahlan]
Network
NBC
Running time
24 min
The Big Story, NBC. Recording held by the Internet Archive;