1 9 5 0 – 1 9 5 6Β (USA)
249 x 30 minute episodes
This long-running melodrama, set in Big TownΒ USA, related the story-gathering assignments ofΒ Steve Wilson and Lorelei Kilbourne, reporters forΒ The Illustrated PressΒ –Β theΒ largest and most influential newspaper in Big Town.
Although Steve was the intrepidΒ crime reporter and Lorelei the society reporter, bothΒ often became involved in the same story as societyΒ and scandal (and murder) often walked hand-in-hand.
Steve’s concerns were thwarting the spread of organised crime, exposing political corruption, establishing various types of reforms, and any other case that seemed worthy.
The series, basedΒ on the radio show of the same title (1937 – 1948), ran on CBSΒ from October 1950 to SeptemberΒ 1954 and onΒ NBC from OctoberΒ 1954 to October 1956.
In April 1952, production moved from New York to Hollywood andΒ Big TownΒ thereafter became a recorded rather than live show.
Patrick McVey portrayed Steve Wilson throughout the CBS run, but Lorelei Kilbourne’s face kept changing. After the end of the first season on NBC, her part was dropped completely from the show and Steve’s love interest became Diane Walker, a commercial artist (Doe Avedon).
City editor Charlie Anderson (Barry Kelly) was also added as a regular cast member by NBC, as was ambitious young cub reporter, ‘Rush’ (Lyn Stalmaster).
TheΒ series has been syndicated under the titles: Byline Steve Wilson; City Assignment; CrimeΒ Reporter; Headline Story; and Heart of the City.
Steve Wilson
Patrick McVey (1)
Mark Stevens (2)
Lorelei Kilbourne
MargaretΒ Hayes (1)
Mary K. WellsΒ (2)
Jane Nigh (3)
Beverly Tyler (4)
Trudy Wroe (5)
JulieΒ Stevens (6)
Diane Walker
Doe Avedon
CharlieΒ Anderson
Barry Kelly
‘Rush’
Lyn Stalmaster
Lt. Tom Gregory
John Doucette