Steven Knight - Criminologist

Steven Knight—Criminologist (1947)

According to the December 21, 1946 issue of The Billboard, the Kuttner & Kuttner advertising agency of Chicago was preparing a series of 13 half-hour detective dramas starring Hollywood actor Kent Taylor. Recording was scheduled to begin January 6, 1947, with distribution planned for approximately 35 radio markets by the fall of that year.

Produced for Crest Specialty Company of Chicago, the series was titled Steven Knight, Criminologist.

The Hand Built Films collection contains three original 16-inch Columbia electrical transcription discs featuring Programs #1, #2, #3, #4, #7, and #8.

Historical source: The Billboard, December 21, 1946, page 7, “Kent Taylor, Film Player, To Do ‘Knight’ Whodunit.”

View the original Billboard article

The series was sponsored by Crest Specialty Company of Chicago to promote Spiffy Invisible collar stays, a men's clothing accessory advertised for 25 cents. The product was marketed as a convenient way to keep shirt collar points neatly in place. Original Spiffy retail displays dating from 1946 have also survived.

An unusual feature of the broadcasts was the promotion of the Spiffy Steven Knight Mystery Book, a series of free, numbered mystery booklets associated with the radio episodes. Listeners were encouraged to obtain the next booklet from participating retailers, including cigar and clothing stores, read the mystery, and attempt to solve the case before the following broadcast. Although the recordings establish the existence of these booklets, no surviving examples have yet been identified in our research.

Program #1 — The Death of a Quiet Man 

Program #2 — Pay or Be Killed

Program #3 — Suicide Clause

Program #4 — The House in Willow Lane

Program #7 — The Man Who Died Twice

Program #8 — Formula; Murder