Join Potato Plus

Old-time radio actor · 1915–1998

Ralph Bell

Villain roles on 1940s crime radio; later Suspense and X Minus One.

We have him in 68 episodes of 18 series, 1947 to 1962, and 10 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

About Ralph Bell

Ralph Bell, from Radio and Television Mirror, December 1948, page 18
Ralph Bell in Radio and Television Mirror, December 1948, page 18.Public domain in the United States: Radio Mirror December 1948: copyright not renewed. Radio and Television Mirror

Hear all 68 Ralph Bell episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

Join Potato Plus

Ralph Bell was born Ralph Scognamiglio in New York City on November 27, 1915. Source: RUSC

He grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, earned an A.B. at the University of Michigan in 1937, took small Broadway parts, and was typecast as a criminal as soon as he moved into radio. Source: TIME, August 11, 1947

TIME reported in 1947 that he often played the villain on as many as 16 shows a week, with a record of seven in one day; he told the magazine, "I figure I just have a talent for murder." Source: TIME, August 11, 1947

He was married to actress Pert Kelton, with whom he had two sons, Brian and Stephen. Source: Wikipedia (Pert Kelton)

RadioGOLDINdex lists him in seven Cloak and Dagger broadcasts from July to September 1950. Source: RadioGOLDINdex

He appeared on Suspense from 1950 to 1960 and is credited as both writer and performer of the episode "The Last Trip" (November 8, 1959). Source: RadioGOLDINdex

He was in nine CBS Radio Workshop programs in 1956 and 1957, narrating "Adopting A Dog" (March 31, 1957). Source: RadioGOLDINdex

He also worked in radio science fiction, on Dimension X (1950-51) and X Minus One (1956-57). Source: RadioGOLDINdex

He played Lieutenant Travis Rogers on NBC's Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator, and his longest radio run was The CBS Radio Mystery Theater (1974-1982); he died in New York City on August 2, 1998. Source: RUSC

Listen live: the channels that play Ralph Bell

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

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

13 of his episodes: Suspense (13)

Now Tuning in…

Illustrated cover for X Minus One: a rocket on a launch gantry at night under a sky full of stars, searchlights

The series' own channel

X Minus One

7 of his episodes: X Minus One (7)

Now Tuning in…

Ophelia Crane, the host of The Midnight Exchange

Mixed channel

The Midnight Exchange

23 of his episodes: Suspense (13), The Mysterious Traveler (6), Molle Mystery Theatre (3), Murder By Experts (1)

Now Tuning in…

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

13 of his episodes: CBS Radio Workshop (10), Stroke Of Fate (2), Cavalcade of America (1)

Now Tuning in…

Rivet, the host of Signal From Tomorrow

Mixed channel

Signal From Tomorrow

11 of his episodes: X Minus One (7), 2000 Plus (2), Dimension X (2)

Now Tuning in…

Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

7 of his episodes: Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (6), The Adventures of the Falcon (1)

Now Tuning in…

Illustrated cover for This Just In: a 1940s network radio newsroom at night, a ribbon microphone beside a teletype machine

Mixed channel

This Just In

2 of his episodes: You Are There (1), The Big Show (1)

Now Tuning in…

Illustrated cover for The Press Box: an empty 1940s stadium press box at dusk, a vintage microphone on the ledge beside binoculars and a scorecard

Mixed channel

The Press Box

1 of his episodes: The Big Show (1)

Now Tuning in…

Illustrated cover for The Variety Hour: a 1940s network radio studio stage with a big band's empty music stands, a grand piano

Mixed channel

The Variety Hour

1 of his episodes: The Big Show (1)

Now Tuning in…

Ralph Bell’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
Suspense1959 to 196213
CBS Radio Workshop1956 to 195710
Cloak and Dagger19508
X Minus One1956 to 19577
The Mysterious Traveler1949 to 19526
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar1961 to 19626
Molle Mystery Theatre19473
2000 Plus19502
Dimension X1950 to 19512
Stroke Of Fate19532
Under Arrest19492
Cavalcade of America19471
Crime and Peter Chambers19541
Murder By Experts19501
The Adventures of the Falcon19521
The Big Show19511
Top Secret19501
You Are There19501

Ralph Bell episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Ralph Bell 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. Re-EntrySuspense · November 1, 1959 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  2. The Last TripSuspense · November 8, 1959 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  3. Lt Langer's Last CollectionSuspense · February 28, 1960 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  4. Sleep Is for ChildrenSuspense · March 6, 1960 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line
  5. A Shipment of Mute FateSuspense · April 3, 1960 · Episode guide · 60-second listens from any line

Hear all 68 Ralph Bell episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

Join Potato Plus

All 68 Ralph Bell episodes, by show

The 63 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

Suspense 13 episodes, 1959 to 1962
  1. Re-EntryNovember 1, 1959 · Episode guide · Free
  2. The Last TripNovember 8, 1959 · Episode guide · Free
  3. Lt Langer's Last CollectionFebruary 28, 1960 · Episode guide · Free
  4. Sleep Is for ChildrenMarch 6, 1960 · Episode guide · Free
  5. A Shipment of Mute FateApril 3, 1960 · Episode guide · Free
  6. Sixty Grand MissingJune 19, 1960 · Potato Plus
  7. Memorial BridgeJuly 17, 1960 · Potato Plus
  8. The Big DiveAugust 7, 1960 · Potato Plus
  9. A Rest for EmilySeptember 4, 1960 · Potato Plus
  10. Death of an Old FlameOctober 29, 1961 · Potato Plus
  11. Man TrapNovember 26, 1961 · Potato Plus
  12. The Man Who Went Back to Save LincolnFebruary 11, 1962 · Potato Plus
  13. Memory of a MurderMarch 25, 1962 · Potato Plus
CBS Radio Workshop 10 episodes, 1956 to 1957
  1. Sounds of a NationNovember 18, 1956 · Potato Plus
  2. The Day the Roof Fell InDecember 2, 1956 · Potato Plus
  3. The Big Event - The Law of AveragesDecember 16, 1956 · Potato Plus
  4. Space Merchants Part 1February 17, 1957 · Potato Plus
  5. Space Merchants Part 2February 24, 1957 · Potato Plus
  6. The Endless RoadMarch 17, 1957 · Potato Plus
  7. Light ShipApril 28, 1957 · Potato Plus
  8. I Have Three HeadsMay 26, 1957 · Potato Plus
  9. You Could Look It UpJuly 7, 1957 · Potato Plus
  10. Grief Drives a Black SedanSeptember 1, 1957 · Potato Plus
Cloak and Dagger 8 episodes, 1950
  1. The Eyes of BuddhaJuly 2, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The TrapJuly 9, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Recommendation from RommelAugust 6, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. The Roof of the WorldAugust 13, 1950 · Potato Plus
  5. Norwegian IncidentAugust 20, 1950 · Potato Plus
  6. War of WordsSeptember 1, 1950 · Potato Plus
  7. The Last MissionSeptember 29, 1950 · Potato Plus
  8. Wine of FreedomOctober 15, 1950 · Potato Plus
X Minus One 7 episodes, 1956 to 1957
  1. Star BrightApril 10, 1956 · Potato Plus
  2. Sea LegsMay 1, 1956 · Potato Plus
  3. The Last MartianAugust 7, 1956 · Potato Plus
  4. Soldier BoyOctober 17, 1956 · Potato Plus
  5. The TrapFebruary 13, 1957 · Potato Plus
  6. Something For NothingApril 10, 1957 · Potato Plus
  7. Inside StoryJune 20, 1957 · Potato Plus
The Mysterious Traveler 6 episodes, 1949 to 1952
  1. The Last SurvivorOctober 11, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Man Who Tried to Save LincolnFebruary 7, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. S O SMay 2, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. Killer at LargeJune 6, 1950 · Potato Plus
  5. The Planet ZeviusMay 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
  6. Key WitnessJanuary 15, 1952 · Potato Plus
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar 6 episodes, 1961 to 1962
  1. The Informer MatterMarch 19, 1961 · Potato Plus
  2. The Latrodectus MatterApril 16, 1961 · Potato Plus
  3. The Takes A Crook MatterFebruary 18, 1962 · Potato Plus
  4. The Grand Canyon MatterApril 29, 1962 · Potato Plus
  5. The Wayward Gun MatterJune 3, 1962 · Potato Plus
  6. The Oldest Gag MatterAugust 12, 1962 · Potato Plus
Molle Mystery Theatre 3 episodes, 1947
  1. Kenny Angles and the Queen of DiamondsApril 18, 1947 · Potato Plus
  2. Talk Them to DeathJune 27, 1947 · Potato Plus
  3. Two Men in a Furnished RoomNovember 28, 1947 · Potato Plus
2000 Plus 2 episodes, 1950
  1. Alone ( #39)November 15, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. 0 Plus 1950-xx-xx (xx) The Flying Saucers1950 · Potato Plus
Dimension X 2 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. The Roads Must RollSeptember 1, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Last ObjectiveJune 3, 1951 · Potato Plus
Stroke Of Fate 2 episodes, 1953
  1. Alexander the GreatDecember 13, 1953 · Potato Plus
  2. Norman Conquest of EnglandDecember 27, 1953 · Potato Plus
Under Arrest 2 episodes, 1949
  1. Van Gogh's Paris RoadJune 26, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Case of the Evil WitnessJuly 10, 1949 · Potato Plus
Cavalcade of America 1 episode, 1947
  1. Us PilgrimsNovember 24, 1947 · Potato Plus
Crime and Peter Chambers 1 episode, 1954
  1. And Peter Chambers54-06-1509Stoney CarterJune 15, 1954 · Potato Plus
Murder By Experts 1 episode, 1950
  1. Two Can Die as Cheaply as OneApril 17, 1950 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of the Falcon 1 episode, 1952
  1. The Case of the Menacing MamselleJune 29, 1952 · Potato Plus
The Big Show 1 episode, 1951
  1. 04 ep14 Fred Allen Robert Cummings1951 · Potato Plus
Top Secret 1 episode, 1950
  1. The Poison Hand of FriendshipSeptember 25, 1950 · Potato Plus
You Are There 1 episode, 1950
  1. Stamp Act RebellionMarch 19, 1950 · Potato Plus

Who Ralph Bell worked with most

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

The weekly note

New channels, the best find from the archive, and what is coming up. One email a week.

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

LIVE
Sleep Open