DEAD RECKONING
[RADIO-SERIAL]
[Radio Times, April 2, 1937] “North Regional listeners are to have another serial thriller, starting
on Monday, April 2. It is called Dead Reckoning, and has been adapted by James R. Gregson, the
famous Yorkshire playwright and actor, from a film scenario written by himself. The blood-
curdling story of a man who tried to frighten three criminals into confessing their crime will be
unfolded in six weekly instalments.”
[Wireless Weekly] “Dead Reckoning is a serial specializing in thrills and horrors of the type
traditionally associated with gusty, uncompromising melodrama. It is written in six episodes. The
scene is Careless House, a lonely dwelling on the Yorkshire moors. Summoned by a mysterious
message which they dare not disobey, Monty Leetham, a theatrical impresario, Harvey Trent, an
Under-Secretary of State, and Simon Gryde, an unscrupulous millionaire, arrive at the house
within a few minutes of one another. Also to the house, following a breakdown to her car, comes
Jill Danvers. All four visitors are met by a masked and cowled figure, who gives them different
explanations as to the cause of his disfigured face. Jill is treated with consideration, but the three
men are trapped in turn in an underground room.”
[CHRONOLOGY]
DEAD RECKONING (NORTH REGIONAL SERVICE, MANCHESTER—BBC)
[Monday—6:35-7:00 PM]
April 12, 1937 [1] “The Dread Command”
[RADIO TIMES: “…The blood-curdling story of a man who tried to
frighten three criminals into confessing their crime will be unfolded in six
weekly instalments…”]
SCRIPT: James R. Gregson.
PERSONNEL: James R. Gregson (producer).
April 19, 1937 [2] “The Dead Unmasks”
[Monday—6:40-7:00 PM]
April 26, 1937 [3] “Murder at Carless”
May 3, 1937 [4] “Enter the Avenger”
[Tuesday—6:40-7:00 PM]
May 11, 1937 [5] “Death Calls Again”
[Tuesday—6:30-6:50 PM]
May 18, 1937 [6] “The Last Hazard”
DEAD RECKONING (4QG, BRISBANE)
[Friday—8:00-8:30 PM]
April 22, 1938 [1] “The Dread Command”
SCRIPT: James R. Gregson.
PERSONNEL: Dion Wheeler (producer).
April 29, 1938 [2] “The Dead Unmasks”
May 6, 1938 [3] “Murder at Careless”
May 13, 1938 [4] “Enter the Avenger”
May 20, 1938 [5] “Death Calls Again”
May 27, 1938 [6] “The Last Hazard”
DEAD RECKONING (3LO, MELBOURNE)
[Wednesday—9:10-9:40 PM]
April 27, 1938 [1] “The Dread Command”
SCRIPT: James R. Gregson.
PERSONNEL: John Cairns.
May 4, 1938 [2] “The Dead Unmasks”
May 11, 1938 [3] “Murder at Careless”
May 18, 1938 [4] “Enter the Avenger”
May 25, 1938 [5] “Death Calls Again”
June 1, 1938 [6] “The Last Hazard”
DEAD RECKONING (5CL, ADELAIDE)
[Friday—8:00-8:30 PM]
May 20, 1938 [1] “The Dread Command”
SCRIPT: James R. Gregson.
PERSONNEL: Paul O’Loughlin (producer).
May 27, 1938 [2] “The Dead Unmasks”
June 3, 1938 [3] “Murder at Careless”
June 10, 1938 [4] “Enter the Avenger”
June 17, 1938 [5] “Death Calls Again”
June 24, 1938 [6] “The Last Hazard”