SPY-HUNTING IN AMERICA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 96, 24 April 1941, Page 12

SPY-HUNTING IN

AMERICA

New Radio Drama For ZEB Stations OT since the days of. the first Great War, when Von Rintelen, Germany’s " Dark Invader," sabotaged .and spread alarm through American industry and commerce, have the people of the U.S. been as "spy-conscious" as they are to-day. It started before the war, with the film Confessions of a Nazi Spy, which, based on a book by an official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, dealt a heavy blow at Nazi activities in America. Since the war, the cabled news has frequently featured the American authorities’ battle against German agents. "G-Men" have been set to investigate frequent mysterious explosions and other suspected acts of sabotage; a 500-page White Book on the activities of German societies in America was placed

_ before Congress; even in Hollywood, and movie capital, enemy agents have been uncovered. One of the most successful -radio dramas dealing with German spy activity immediately before America’s entry into the last war is'Spy Exchange, which is claimed to be as challenging and as factual as the movie Confessions of a Nazi Spy. It was recently produced in Australia by the B.A.P. studios, and will be released in serial form over the ZB Stations. Authentic Details The script of Spy Exchange was written by Tom Curtin, who during the Great War, was a secret agent for Lord Northcliffe, Britain’s propaganda minister. Further authenticity was added by technical .assistance from Major Herbert Yardley, chief of America’s spy hunting department, the Cryptograph Bureau in Washington. The scene of most of: the serial is Washington, and its scheme is the in-

‘side workings of the Cryptograph Bureau, known as "the black chamber." It describes the sabotaging of factories supplying war materials to the Allies, the methods used by German agents, and the counter steps taken by the U.S. Government. The American script was bought by B.A.P., who also engaged Jack Arthur, a radio star who played the main role in the American production, Arthur has 15 years of radio, stage and»screen experience. He appeared in the first commercial dramatic show broadcast in'the U.S., and has since been through every phase of radio. One of his biggest assignments was his entertaining compéring of Ziegfeld Follies of ‘the Air. As. would be expected after so many yeafs’ experience of the exact science which is American radio, his microphone ‘technique has been developed: to’ an ‘acute degree. The Cast Jack Arthur plays the part of Bradley Drake, chief of the U.S. Cryptograph Bureau, and he is supported by. a cast of well known Australian. radio players, many of whom..have been heard over the air in New Zealand. Frank Bradley plays the part of Gus Kramer, secret ink expert;' Queenie Ashton plays Roudana Cortez, international spy; Harvey Adams -is "Barker the Hunchback"; Ronald "Morse is the sinister Stanislaw Prail; "Lola Kelly is Betty Lee Andrews; Hora’ Howard Craven is Steve, Bradley 'Drake’s’ righthand man; Lou Vernon is Sergeant Olin, kidnapper; and Lyndal Barbour is Elissa, an enemy agent, Lola Kelly is a New Zealand girl who has done well in Australian radio, and has featured in many familiar. serials, including Mutiny on the: Bounty. .and East Lynne. In Four. Parts Spy Exchange -is divided into four separate sets of episodes. "Secret’ Ink" (21 episodes), ’ concerns’ the discovery that there is a traitor somewhere in the Cryptograph © Department, ° and . that secrets are leaking out. There is an exciting search for a spy known’ as H.19. The action of "Black, Chamber Calling" (22 episodes), takes place several years after the war, with German, spies. apparently as active as ever, this time, trying to steal the plans of .a new radio. tor(Continued on next page)

"SPY EXCHANGE" (Continued trom previous page) pedo. "The Girl from Soho" (30 episodes), is a story laid in the year 1917, toward the time when America was considering a declaration of war on Gesmany. Returning in haste from Berlin, Bradley Drake has his work cut out to frustrate a daring plan to refuel U-boats in American waters. "The Eagle’s Claw," a five-episode story, involves Drake in a brief but desperate battle with an enemy ‘agent who plans to wreck an American freight steamer, carrying 6000 tons of dynamite, in New York Harbour, _ Spy Exchange has been commended by the Australian military authorities, who presumably believe that it contains many timely lessons regarding the need for secrecy and discretion in wartime. _. ,The serial will start from 1ZB on . April 29, 2ZB on May 6, 3ZB on May : 13, and. 4ZB on May 20. It will be heard every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.15 p.m.