The summary at the NFSA website describes this show as a “series about Mr. Nicholas Lucifer
who carries on his age-old job to find work for idle hands. Some of his potential customers are
strong and noble and thwart his wickedness, but there is always someone who is weak enough to
keep his interest alive.” Similar to its American counterpart,Satan’sWaitin’(CBS, 1950), it was
not truly a horror series but instead presented crime-suspense dramas with a diabolical
embellishment (in the form of Lucifer’s goading temptations).
[Adelaide Mail, July 12, 1952—“Devil” by John Quinn] “They’re playing merry hell round at 5AD
these days. If you don’t believe me, then just tune in to the ‘Devil’s Holiday’ on Friday nights at
8:30. But before doing so, if ‘Frankenstein’ should be on at the local movies, pack the kids off to
see that. Beside this latest example of radio culture, the movie monster is as harmless as
Goldilocks.
“'Devil's Holiday' concerns itself with the activities of Mr. Nicholas Lucifer, heating expert, who
comes to earth to drum up a little business for himself. He has a gay old time prompting citizens
to indulge in all manner of mayhem and murder. The program treats homicide and skullduggery
with the cheery cynicism of 5DN’s ‘Inner Sanctum’ and, to a lesser degree, 5KA’s ‘Lives of Harry
Lime.’ The radio approach to this subject now appears to me ‘Crime May Not Pay—but Let’s Keep
It Gay.’”
2UW, Sydney, New South Wales
[
Electrical transcriptions of this series were distributed by Donovan Joyce.]
August 19, 1952-April 21, 1953.
Keith Eden (voice of “The Devil”), Frank Holmes (scriptwriter), Kendrick Hudson
(scriptwriter), Donovan Joyce (producer), John Saul (scriptwriter).
Lyndall Barbour, Douglas Kelly, Harp McGuire, Sheila Sewell.
“Lucifer Takes A Vacation And Meets A Client.”