July 12
SAM SPADE DAY
One of literature’s most famous private eyes, Sam Spade, made his mark in The Maltese Falcon – first, in the 1930s in the pages of Dashiell Hammett’s book – and then, in the same titled film, the most famous version directed by John Huston, in 1941. But, it wasn’t until this day in 1946 that the gumshoe, Sam Spade became a household name.
Sam Spade hit the radio airwaves on this date with his own series, The Adventures of Sam Spade, Detective, sponsored by Wildroot Hair Oil. Taking on the persona of the wise-cracking detective was a young, fairly unknown actor, Howard Duff. Duff as Sam charmed audiences young and old with humor and tongue-in-cheek dialogue. The radio series, directed by William Spier, was a summer replacement for the Woody Herman Show. By summer’s end, the who-dun-it was a hit!
Howard Duff was fired from the role of the tough-talkin’ private eye when Duff got caught up in the McCarthy-era communist witch-hunt in 1950. Duff was replaced by actor Stephen Dunne. But the future did not bode well for one of radio’s most popular mystery programs. The author, Dashiell Hammett, met the same fate as Duff. And, in 1951, It was curtains for Sam Spade.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
No portion of these files may be reproduced without the express, written permission of 440 International Inc.
