Firefighters

The Joe Hehn Memorial Collection

Firefighters was a syndicated series that aired in more than 200 markets from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. It followed the adventures of rookie firefighter Tim Collins (Lyle Sudrow) and Fire Chief Bob Cody (Cameron Prud’Homme). It was written by Frank Jones. While this appears to be Jones’ only radio credit, both Sudrow and Prud’Homme had long careers in radio soap operas, prime time radio programs, television, and movies. Sudrow’s steady gig was on both the radio and television series The Guiding Light starting in 1952. Prud’Homme acted in radio, television, and on Broadway (he was nominated for a supporting actor Tony award in 1958).  Firefighters was conceived by a Cincinnati ad agency, with the production recording of the syndicated series in NBC Radio’s studios in New York City. The program based its dramatized stories on real-life cases of fire departments. It covered forest fires, city fires, and those in industrial settings. The stories also explored accidental and arson fires. The goal of the program was to reduce the incidence of fires, and it appears it did, and also inspired the kids who listened to consider firefighting careers. Tim Collins, the hero of the story, became a firefighter after returning from the war. Fire Chief Bob Cody was the mentor of Collins and had a message for listeners about fire safety at the end of each episode. * * * These recordings are part of the Joe Hehn Memorial Collection. Mr. Hehn (1931-2020) was a pioneering collector of radio recordings when the hobby emerged in the 1960s. Digitizing his collection of reel tapes and discs is the effort of a wide range of North American volunteers, and includes assistance of some international collectors. The groups supporting this effort with their funds, time, technology and skills are the Old Time Radio Researchers and a small group of transcription disc preservationists who refer to themselves as the "The Knights of the Turning Table."

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.