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Old-time radio actor · 1894–1955

Leo Cleary

Lux Radio Theatre stock player and Death Valley Days' Old Ranger.

We have him in 98 episodes of 11 series, 1941 to 1957, and 9 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

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About Leo Cleary

Leo Cleary, from Radio Life, February 17, 1946, page 31
Leo Cleary in Radio Life, February 17, 1946, page 31.Public domain in the United States: Radio Life 1946: copyright not renewed. Radio Life

Hear all 98 Leo Cleary episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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Leo Thomas Cleary was born on June 15, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts; his family moved to Pasadena, California, in 1909. Source: Wikipedia

He began as a vaudeville comedian and singer, working professionally by 1917, and from 1935 to 1938 was "Nuts" in the radio comedy team Nuts and Bolts with Ken Gillum, which went national on the NBC Blue Network in March 1937. Source: Wikipedia

He was the original Old Ranger on the radio series Death Valley Days. Source: Wikipedia

A former Billboard staffer, Dean Owen, described him as a pillar of the Lux Radio Theatre stock company. Source: Wikipedia

The RadioGOLDINdex lists him in Lux Radio Theatre broadcasts from "The Shop Around the Corner" on June 23, 1941, into 1950, usually credited with "doubles", meaning several small parts in one play. Source: RadioGOLDINdex

In Lux's April 20, 1942 version of One Foot in Heaven he played Preston Thurston, the part Gene Lockhart had in the film. Source: Wikipedia

The same index also lists him on Family Theatre in 1948 and 1949, Broadway Is My Beat in 1950, and shows such as Let George Do It, Meet Me at Parky's and The Amos 'n' Andy Show. Source: RadioGOLDINdex

In films he mostly played small supporting parts, among them the warden-narrator of State Penitentiary (1950) and Dizzy Dean's minor-league manager in The Pride of St. Louis (1952). Source: Wikipedia

He died of kidney failure on April 11, 1955, in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, at 60. Source: Wikipedia

Listen live: the channels that play Leo Cleary

Free 24/7 stations. These play the episodes below, in rotation with the rest of their shows.

Illustrated cover for Lux Radio Theatre: a 1930s Hollywood theatre stage before a closed gold curtain, a single ribbon microphone in a spotlight

The series' own channel

Lux Radio Theatre

67 of his episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (67)

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Larry Thor on a rain-slick Broadway at night

The series' own channel

Broadway Is My Beat

4 of his episodes: Broadway Is My Beat (4)

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Bob Bailey in a Los Angeles detective's office at night

The series' own channel

Let George Do It

3 of his episodes: Let George Do It (3)

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Illustrated cover for Suspense: a single desk lamp in a dark room, a revolver and a telephone off the hook on the desk, long shadows across the floor

The series' own channel

Suspense

2 of his episodes: Suspense (2)

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Illustrated cover for The Whistler: a lonely rain-slicked city street at night

The series' own channel

The Whistler

2 of his episodes: The Whistler (2)

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Illustrated cover for Opening Night: the front of a 1930s art-deco movie palace on premiere night, crossed searchlight beams in the sky

Mixed channel

Opening Night

80 of his episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (67), Family Theater (12), Screen Directors Playhouse (1)

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Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

8 of his episodes: Broadway Is My Beat (4), Let George Do It (3), Jeff Regan, Investigator (1)

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Buster Pratt, the host of Laugh Track

Mixed channel

Laugh Track

5 of his episodes: The Harold Peary Show (3), The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show (2)

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Ophelia Crane, the host of The Midnight Exchange

Mixed channel

The Midnight Exchange

5 of his episodes: Suspense (2), The Whistler (2), Strange Wills (1)

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Leo Cleary’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
Lux Radio Theatre1941 to 195167
Family Theater1948 to 195712
Broadway Is My Beat1950 to 19524
Let George Do It1948 to 19493
The Harold Peary Show19503
Suspense19512
The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show1949 to 19512
The Whistler1950 to 19512
Jeff Regan, Investigator19481
Screen Directors Playhouse19511
Strange Wills19461

Leo Cleary episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Leo Cleary on the air, in its cast list or in the show itself. Each title opens the episode’s page: what happens, the transcript from the moment he is named, and listens from any line.

  1. The Shop Around the CornerLux Radio Theatre · June 23, 1941 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  2. The Devil and Miss JonesLux Radio Theatre · January 19, 1942 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  3. SkylarkLux Radio Theatre · February 2, 1942 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  4. Blossoms in the DustLux Radio Theatre · February 16, 1942 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  5. I Wanted WingsLux Radio Theatre · March 30, 1942 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line

Hear all 98 Leo Cleary episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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All 98 Leo Cleary episodes, by show

The 93 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

Lux Radio Theatre 67 episodes, 1941 to 1951
  1. The Shop Around the CornerJune 23, 1941 · Episode guide · Free
  2. The Devil and Miss JonesJanuary 19, 1942 · Episode guide · Free
  3. SkylarkFebruary 2, 1942 · Episode guide · Free
  4. Blossoms in the DustFebruary 16, 1942 · Episode guide · Free
  5. I Wanted WingsMarch 30, 1942 · Episode guide · Free
  6. The Fighting 69thApril 6, 1942 · Potato Plus
  7. A Man to RememberMay 18, 1942 · Potato Plus
  8. Ball of FireJune 1, 1942 · Potato Plus
  9. Arise My LoveJune 8, 1942 · Potato Plus
  10. The ChampJune 29, 1942 · Potato Plus
  11. HM Pulham EsqJuly 13, 1942 · Potato Plus
  12. Morning GloryOctober 12, 1942 · Potato Plus
  13. My Favorite BlondeOctober 19, 1942 · Potato Plus
  14. Wake IslandOctober 26, 1942 · Potato Plus
  15. A Womans FaceNovember 2, 1942 · Potato Plus
  16. The Gay SistersNovember 23, 1942 · Potato Plus
  17. BroadwayNovember 30, 1942 · Potato Plus
  18. The Pied PiperDecember 21, 1942 · Potato Plus
  19. A Star Is BornDecember 28, 1942 · Potato Plus
  20. The Bugle SoundsJanuary 4, 1943 · Potato Plus
  21. This Gun for HireJanuary 25, 1943 · Potato Plus
  22. The Show-OffFebruary 1, 1943 · Potato Plus
  23. The Maltese FalconFebruary 8, 1943 · Potato Plus
  24. Are Husbands NecessaryFebruary 15, 1943 · Potato Plus
  25. Reap the Wild WindMarch 8, 1943 · Potato Plus
  26. Each Dawn I DieMarch 22, 1943 · Potato Plus
  27. CrossroadsMarch 29, 1943 · Potato Plus
  28. Once upon a HoneymoonApril 12, 1943 · Potato Plus
  29. A Night to RememberApril 19, 1943 · Potato Plus
  30. The Navy Comes ThroughMay 3, 1943 · Potato Plus
  31. The Talk of the TownMay 17, 1943 · Potato Plus
  32. Hitlers ChildrenMay 24, 1943 · Potato Plus
  33. The Philadelphia StoryJune 14, 1943 · Potato Plus
  34. The Great Mans LadyJune 28, 1943 · Potato Plus
  35. My Sister EileenJuly 5, 1943 · Potato Plus
  36. Air ForceJuly 12, 1943 · Potato Plus
  37. Pride of the YankeesOctober 4, 1943 · Potato Plus
  38. Slightly DangerousOctober 25, 1943 · Potato Plus
  39. So Proudly We HailNovember 1, 1943 · Potato Plus
  40. Hello Frisco HelloNovember 15, 1943 · Potato Plus
  41. DixieDecember 20, 1943 · Potato Plus
  42. Shadow of a DoubtJanuary 3, 1944 · Potato Plus
  43. His Butlers SisterFebruary 7, 1944 · Potato Plus
  44. Wake Up and LiveFebruary 21, 1944 · Potato Plus
  45. In Old OklahomaMarch 13, 1944 · Potato Plus
  46. The Hard WayMarch 20, 1944 · Potato Plus
  47. DestroyerApril 3, 1944 · Potato Plus
  48. Happy LandApril 10, 1944 · Potato Plus
  49. Action in the North AtlanticMay 15, 1944 · Potato Plus
  50. It Happened TomorrowJuly 3, 1944 · Potato Plus
  51. Lucky PartnersSeptember 25, 1944 · Potato Plus
  52. Standing Room OnlyOctober 30, 1944 · Potato Plus
  53. Dark WatersNovember 27, 1944 · Potato Plus
  54. Casanova BrownDecember 11, 1944 · Potato Plus
  55. LauraFebruary 5, 1945 · Potato Plus
  56. Bedtime StoryFebruary 26, 1945 · Potato Plus
  57. The Petrified ForestApril 23, 1945 · Potato Plus
  58. KentuckyMay 28, 1945 · Potato Plus
  59. Destry Rides AgainNovember 5, 1945 · Potato Plus
  60. Coney IslandSeptember 30, 1946 · Potato Plus
  61. CynthiaJune 23, 1947 · Potato Plus
  62. Two Years Before the MastSeptember 22, 1947 · Potato Plus
  63. Saratoga TrunkNovember 24, 1947 · Potato Plus
  64. The Farmers DaughterJanuary 5, 1948 · Potato Plus
  65. Body and SoulNovember 15, 1948 · Potato Plus
  66. High WallNovember 7, 1949 · Potato Plus
  67. Where the Sidewalk EndsApril 2, 1951 · Potato Plus
Family Theater 12 episodes, 1948 to 1957
  1. Farewell to Birdie Mc KeeslerOctober 14, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. Gentlemen, Be SeatedJanuary 12, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. The PromiseFebruary 27, 1952 · Potato Plus
  4. We Hold These TruthsJuly 2, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. Days of GraceOctober 1, 1952 · Potato Plus
  6. A Vacation for MomNovember 12, 1952 · Potato Plus
  7. The Adventures of Amy WilsonJanuary 14, 1953 · Potato Plus
  8. Another Catcher in the FamilyJune 10, 1953 · Potato Plus
  9. Medicine ManJuly 8, 1953 · Potato Plus
  10. The Dunbar ConspiracyJuly 22, 1953 · Potato Plus
  11. The Wise GuyAugust 26, 1953 · Potato Plus
  12. Mail Order MissusJuly 24, 1957 · Potato Plus
Broadway Is My Beat 4 episodes, 1950 to 1952
  1. The Harold Clark Murder CaseOctober 27, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Joey Macklin - John Howard Murder CaseNovember 10, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. The John Mooney Murder CaseMarch 22, 1952 · Potato Plus
  4. The Johnny Clark Murder CaseNovember 29, 1952 · Potato Plus
Let George Do It 3 episodes, 1948 to 1949
  1. Under the River (aka Tunnel Project)May 3, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. Lady in DistressApril 25, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Every Shot CountsOctober 31, 1949 · Potato Plus
The Harold Peary Show 3 episodes, 1950
  1. The Runaway BoyOctober 18, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. Harolds Campaign SpeechOctober 25, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Decides He Wants to Lose the ElectionNovember 1, 1950 · Potato Plus
Suspense 2 episodes, 1951
  1. The Gift of Jumbo BranniganMarch 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. The Mc Kay College Basketball ScandalSeptember 24, 1951 · Potato Plus
The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show 2 episodes, 1949 to 1951
  1. Alices BirthdayMarch 20, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. Selling Rca Victor Television SetsApril 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
The Whistler 2 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. Cliffs at WeyrumJuly 23, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. Fatal StepDecember 30, 1951 · Potato Plus
Jeff Regan, Investigator 1 episode, 1948
  1. The Guy from Gower GulchNovember 13, 1948 · Potato Plus
Screen Directors Playhouse 1 episode, 1951
  1. Remember the NightJuly 19, 1951 · Potato Plus
Strange Wills 1 episode, 1946
  1. The Miser's GoldOctober 5, 1946 · Potato Plus

Who Leo Cleary worked with most

Named in the same cast lists, counted across the episodes above.

The supporting cast of old-time radio: every actor · Every series, A to Z

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