The Fat Man

Weight… 239 pounds. Fortune… Danger.”With those words — and the creak of a drugstore scale — 1940s radio audiences were introduced to one of the most distinctive sleuths of the Golden Age of Detective Drama: Brad Runyon, The Fat Man.Created (at least in name) by famed mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, The Fat Man premiered on ABC Radio in January 1946 and ran for five suspense-filled years. The title role was played by J. Scott Smart, whose deep, sardonic voice gave Runyon the perfect mix of toughness, intelligence, and dry humor. Beneath the tongue-in-cheek title was a detective every bit as capable as Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe — shrewd, streetwise, and always a step ahead of danger.Each week, listeners followed Runyon through smoky backrooms, city streets, and dark corners of post-war America as he solved murders, blackmail plots, and crimes of passion. The show’s hook — the detective’s size — became more than a gimmick; it was a symbol of confidence and self-possession. The Fat Man proved that courage and intellect, not appearance, were the real measures of a man.In 1951, Runyon made the leap to film in The Fat Man, directed by William Castle, with Smart reprising his role and circus legend Emmett Kelly appearing in a rare dramatic performance. Though only a handful of radio episodes survive, The Fat Man remains a classic example of American radio noir — a blend of wit, grit, and danger that still tips the scales of suspense.This Repertoire Radio Theatre production features the vocal talents of Jim Heffernan as the Brad Runyon,The Fat Man, Kenneth Wetcher, as Sloan, the painter, Eric Sivertson as Eddy, the police reporter, Vic Caroli as Maple, the interior decorator, Pam Dollak as Ariel, the dancer, and Betty Nordstrum as Eloise, the model. This audio file was recorded, mixed and mastered by Michael Troop.All music and sound effects were obtained through a special license from pond5.com and may not be copied or reproduced for any reasonThis performance is presented as a historical recreation of a classic radio broadcast. All rights to the original script and characters remain with their respective copyright holders. This production is non-commercial and for educational and entertainment purposes only. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit repertoireradiotheatre.substack.com