[Pittsburgh Press, January 26, 1932—“Wilbur Hopes Radio Will Present Drama” by S. H.
Steinhauser] “Crane Wilbur, playwright, author and dramatist who dies at 9:30 in ‘Mourning
Becomes Electra’ and calls it a day, hopes the day will come when radio will be able to pay for real
dramatizations of plays. Wilbur was the creator of the famous ‘Haunted Violin,’ which vanished
from the air, just as mysteriously as it was first heard.
“Wilbur discloses that he penned the ‘Haunted Violin’ episodes at the behest of John F. Royal,
program director of NBC and for years a noted theater man. Wilbur also portrayed the lead role in
the cast. Radio fans thrilled at the presentation, because of its perfection, but it seems sponsors do
not care to pay for such presentations and ‘The Haunted Violin’ left the air.”