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Old-time radio actor · 1914–1999

Betty Lou Gerson

Chicago radio soap operas and CBS's The Whistler.

We have her in 131 episodes of 27 series, 1945 to 1956, and 19 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

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About Betty Lou Gerson

Betty Lou Gerson in 1941
Betty Lou Gerson in 1941.Public domain in the United States (published without a copyright notice). Wikimedia Commons

Hear all 131 Betty Lou Gerson episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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She was born on April 20, 1914, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. Source: Wikipedia

Her family moved to Chicago when she was 16, and there she performed on The First Nighter Program before later working in New York. Source: Wikipedia

A 1938 Rural Radio profile says she won an audition at NBC's Chicago studios in 1934 and was then starring in the NBC daytime drama Arnold Grimm's Daughter. Source: Rural Radio (Oct. 1938), via Winnetoba Radio

Daytime serials were her mainstay: she played Constance in Arnold Grimm's Daughter (1938), worked on Road of Life and Women in White, played Charlotte Wilson on The Guiding Light in the mid-1940s, and was the regular romantic lead on the anthologies Curtain Time and Grand Hotel. Source: Wikipedia

After moving to Los Angeles in the 1940s she worked on The Whistler, Mr. President (as the President's secretary), Crime Classics, Escape and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Source: Wikipedia

On Lux Radio Theatre she played Glinda in a 1950 adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Source: Wikipedia

Episode logs credit her on at least six 1953 broadcasts of NBC's Dangerous Assignment with Brian Donlevy, from February to May of that year, and on the December 1948 audition of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Source: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

On film she voiced Cruella de Vil in Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961), and Disney named her a Disney Legend in 1996. Source: Wikipedia

She died of a stroke in Los Angeles on January 12, 1999, at 84. Source: Wikipedia

Listen live: the channels that play Betty Lou Gerson

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

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

The series' own channel

The Whistler

35 of her episodes: The Whistler (35)

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Larry Thor on a rain-slick Broadway at night

The series' own channel

Broadway Is My Beat

6 of her episodes: Broadway Is My Beat (6)

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

The series' own channel

Let George Do It

6 of her episodes: Let George Do It (6)

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Illustrated cover for Escape: a jungle trail at dusk, an old brass compass and a torn map on a rock, a rope bridge over a gorge

The series' own channel

Escape

4 of her episodes: Escape (4)

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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

3 of her episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (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

3 of her episodes: Suspense (3)

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Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

55 of her episodes: Dangerous Assignment (11), Let George Do It (6), Broadway Is My Beat (6), Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (5), Jeff Regan, Investigator (5), New Adventures of Nero Wolfe (5), Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (4), The Adventures of Philip Marlowe (4), Rocky Fortune (2), The Man Called X (2), This Is Your FBI (2), Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1), The Adventures of Frank Race (1), This is Your FBI (1)

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Ophelia Crane, the host of The Midnight Exchange

Mixed channel

The Midnight Exchange

44 of her episodes: The Whistler (35), Escape (4), Suspense (3), Crime Classics (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

16 of her episodes: Railroad Hour (5), Screen Directors Playhouse (4), Lux Radio Theatre (3), Cavalcade of America (2), Hallmark Playhouse (1), Family Theater (1)

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Marshal Ramrod, the host of Dry Gulch

Mixed channel

Dry Gulch

6 of her episodes: Tales of the Texas Rangers (6)

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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 her episodes: We Came This Way (1)

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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 her episodes: We Came This Way (1)

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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

1 of her episodes: We Came This Way (1)

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Betty Lou Gerson’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
The Whistler1946 to 195435
Dangerous Assignment1951 to 195311
Dangerous Assignment1951 to 19539
Broadway Is My Beat1950 to 19536
Let George Do It19486
Tales of the Texas Rangers1950 to 19526
Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator1954 to 19555
Jeff Regan, Investigator19485
New Adventures of Nero Wolfe1950 to 19515
Railroad Hour1948 to 19525
Escape1948 to 19504
Screen Directors Playhouse1949 to 19514
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe1949 to 19504
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar1949 to 19564
Lux Radio Theatre1950 to 19513
Suspense1948 to 19543
Cavalcade of America19472
Crime Classics1953 to 19542
Rocky Fortune19542
The Man Called X19512
This Is Your FBI1951 to 19522
Family Theater19531
Hallmark Playhouse19511
Richard Diamond, Private Detective19491
The Adventures of Frank Race1
This is Your FBI19521
We Came This Way19451

Betty Lou Gerson episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Betty Lou Gerson 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 she is named, and listens from any line.

  1. The Prodigal DaughterJeff Regan, Investigator · July 17, 1948 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  2. The Lady with the Golden HairJeff Regan, Investigator · July 31, 1948 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  3. The Man Who Came BackJeff Regan, Investigator · August 21, 1948 · Whole and free in the podcast
  4. Careless CleanerNew Adventures of Nero Wolfe · November 17, 1950 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  5. Anything GoesRailroad Hour · October 11, 1948 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast

Hear all 131 Betty Lou Gerson episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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All 131 Betty Lou Gerson episodes, by show

The 126 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

The Whistler 35 episodes, 1946 to 1954
  1. A Present for RickyOctober 7, 1946 · Potato Plus
  2. Deadly PennyNovember 11, 1946 · Potato Plus
  3. Lady and the KnifeMarch 24, 1947 · Potato Plus
  4. First YearDecember 31, 1947 · Potato Plus
  5. Boiling PointMarch 3, 1948 · Potato Plus
  6. Human CatalystMarch 17, 1948 · Potato Plus
  7. Bright FutureAugust 18, 1948 · Potato Plus
  8. Uncle Bens WidowSeptember 15, 1948 · Potato Plus
  9. WhirlpoolOctober 10, 1948 · Potato Plus
  10. ImpulseJanuary 23, 1949 · Potato Plus
  11. Grave SecretFebruary 27, 1949 · Potato Plus
  12. Final DecreeJune 26, 1949 · Potato Plus
  13. A Womans PrivilegeOctober 2, 1949 · Potato Plus
  14. Five Cent CallFebruary 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  15. Strange MeetingMarch 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  16. Lady in the SnowMarch 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  17. ReturnMay 21, 1950 · Potato Plus
  18. Fatal ActionOctober 8, 1950 · Potato Plus
  19. Lady With the KnifeDecember 3, 1950 · Potato Plus
  20. Trade MarkJanuary 28, 1951 · Potato Plus
  21. Spell in GreenFebruary 11, 1951 · Potato Plus
  22. Man in a CornerApril 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
  23. Custom-Made MurderMay 20, 1951 · Potato Plus
  24. Man in the Trench CoatJune 17, 1951 · Potato Plus
  25. Fateful ReminderAugust 12, 1951 · Potato Plus
  26. Two Smart PeopleSeptember 30, 1951 · Potato Plus
  27. Alias Mister AldenOctober 21, 1951 · Potato Plus
  28. Other HandDecember 9, 1951 · Potato Plus
  29. Christmas GiftDecember 23, 1951 · Potato Plus
  30. Little Red BookFebruary 10, 1952 · Potato Plus
  31. WhirlpoolMarch 2, 1952 · Potato Plus
  32. Determined TravelerMay 18, 1952 · Potato Plus
  33. Night FlightJune 29, 1952 · Potato Plus
  34. You Cant Trust a StrangerJuly 27, 1952 · Potato Plus
  35. Traveling CompanionAugust 22, 1954 · Potato Plus
Dangerous Assignment 11 episodes, 1951 to 1953
  1. MacauMarch 17, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. Pen Mightier Than The SwordApril 21, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. South America - A Countrys Democracy ThreatenedJuly 3, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. To Ask A Guy To Shoot YouOctober 15, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. A Nursery RhymeNovember 26, 1952 · Potato Plus
  6. Assignment Ellis ChandlerJanuary 7, 1953 · Potato Plus
  7. Family SquabbleFebruary 11, 1953 · Potato Plus
  8. Black Market In JewelsFebruary 25, 1953 · Potato Plus
  9. Stolen InformationMarch 18, 1953 · Potato Plus
  10. Assignment CaribbeanApril 1, 1953 · Potato Plus
  11. The Jade KnifeMay 13, 1953 · Potato Plus
Dangerous Assignment 9 episodes, 1951 to 1953
  1. Recover a Hospital Chart (Macau)March 17, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. Retrieve Gouczek (French Riviera)April 21, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. To Ask a Guy to Shoot You (Indonesia)October 15, 1952 · Potato Plus
  4. Italian Actress (Nice)December 3, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. Family Squabble (Belgian Congo)February 11, 1953 · Potato Plus
  6. Black Market in Jewels (France)February 25, 1953 · Potato Plus
  7. Stolen Information Group (Norway)March 18, 1953 · Potato Plus
  8. Rescue Rick Perez (Venezuela)April 1, 1953 · Potato Plus
  9. The Hired Assassin (Havana)May 27, 1953 · Potato Plus
Broadway Is My Beat 6 episodes, 1950 to 1953
  1. The Laura Burton Murder CaseNovember 3, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Kurt Bower Murder CaseOctober 20, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. The Mary Smith Murder CaseDecember 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. The Alice Mayo Murder CaseMay 24, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. The Mary Trevor Murder CaseOctober 25, 1952 · Potato Plus
  6. The Frank Dayton Murder CaseApril 11, 1953 · Potato Plus
Let George Do It 6 episodes, 1948
  1. The Murder of a MindApril 5, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. The SmugglersApril 5, 1948 · Potato Plus
  3. Mr. Korawski - American (aka-The Racket)June 28, 1948 · Potato Plus
  4. Cry MurderJuly 19, 1948 · Potato Plus
  5. Cry Murder (aka-A Deadman Who Was a Murderer)July 19, 1948 · Potato Plus
  6. Murder - It's a GiftNovember 8, 1948 · Potato Plus
Tales of the Texas Rangers 6 episodes, 1950 to 1952
  1. Hanging by a ThreadNovember 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Blow OffNovember 25, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. Little SisterMay 4, 1952 · Potato Plus
  4. Smart KillMay 18, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. Cover-UpAugust 17, 1952 · Potato Plus
  6. AlibiSeptember 7, 1952 · Potato Plus
Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator 5 episodes, 1954 to 1955
  1. Death Buys a BedroomJuly 27, 1954 · Potato Plus
  2. Blood MoneyAugust 24, 1954 · Potato Plus
  3. Ghosts Don't Die in BedSeptember 7, 1954 · Potato Plus
  4. The Sneak AssassinNovember 21, 1954 · Potato Plus
  5. Angel of DeathJanuary 5, 1955 · Potato Plus
Jeff Regan, Investigator 5 episodes, 1948
  1. The Prodigal DaughterJuly 17, 1948 · Episode guide · Free
  2. The Lady with the Golden HairJuly 31, 1948 · Episode guide · Free
  3. The Man Who Came BackAugust 21, 1948 · Free
  4. The Man in the DoorAugust 28, 1948 · Potato Plus
  5. The House by the SeaSeptember 4, 1948 · Potato Plus
New Adventures of Nero Wolfe 5 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. Careless CleanerNovember 17, 1950 · Episode guide · Free
  2. The Impolite CorpseDecember 8, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Killer CardsJanuary 12, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. Vanishing ShellsFebruary 2, 1951 · Potato Plus
  5. Room 304April 27, 1951 · Potato Plus
Railroad Hour 5 episodes, 1948 to 1952
  1. Anything GoesOctober 11, 1948 · Episode guide · Free
  2. Blossom TimeJanuary 24, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. The Pink LadyMay 8, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. I Married an AngelJanuary 14, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. A Waltz DreamOctober 13, 1952 · Potato Plus
Escape 4 episodes, 1948 to 1950
  1. 052- Dream of ArmageddonSeptember 5, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. 078- Wild Oranges -Van HeflinSeptember 28, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. 083- Flood on the Goodwins -Jack EdwardsNovember 1, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. 092- The PistolJanuary 3, 1950 · Potato Plus
Screen Directors Playhouse 4 episodes, 1949 to 1951
  1. Lets Live a LittleJanuary 16, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. Dont Trust Your HusbandSeptember 23, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Criss CrossOctober 10, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. JackpotApril 26, 1951 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe 4 episodes, 1949 to 1950
  1. The Unfair LadyJune 4, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Open WindowOctober 8, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. The Grim EchoFebruary 14, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. The Fifth MaskSeptember 8, 1950 · Potato Plus
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar 4 episodes, 1949 to 1956
  1. Dr Otto SchmedlichOctober 15, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. Bodyguard to Anne ConnellyDecember 3, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Haiti Adventure MatterDecember 17, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. The Mc Clain Matter - Ep 5February 10, 1956 · Potato Plus
Lux Radio Theatre 3 episodes, 1950 to 1951
  1. Little WomenMarch 13, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. Snake PitApril 10, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Cheaper by the DozenMay 7, 1951 · Potato Plus
Suspense 3 episodes, 1948 to 1954
  1. Song of the HeartAugust 26, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. The Long WaitNovember 24, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Sequel to MurderJune 22, 1954 · Potato Plus
Cavalcade of America 2 episodes, 1947
  1. The School for MenMay 5, 1947 · Potato Plus
  2. Of Such Is the KingdomOctober 6, 1947 · Potato Plus
Crime Classics 2 episodes, 1953 to 1954
  1. The Assassination of Abraham LincolnDecember 9, 1953 · Potato Plus
  2. Cesare Borgia - His Most Difficult MurderApril 21, 1954 · Potato Plus
Rocky Fortune 2 episodes, 1954
  1. One Husband Too ManyFebruary 16, 1954 · Potato Plus
  2. Psychological MurderMarch 16, 1954 · Potato Plus
The Man Called X 2 episodes, 1951
  1. Pirates off the Coast of IndiaFebruary 3, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. Treason at White SandsApril 14, 1951 · Potato Plus
This Is Your FBI 2 episodes, 1951 to 1952
  1. The Million Dollar QuestionNovember 2, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. The Seagull ShakedownSeptember 5, 1952 · Potato Plus
Family Theater 1 episode, 1953
  1. The UnknownSeptember 16, 1953 · Potato Plus
Hallmark Playhouse 1 episode, 1951
  1. Monsieur BeaucaireMarch 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
Richard Diamond, Private Detective 1 episode, 1949
  1. The Stolen PurseMay 22, 1949 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of Frank Race 1 episode,
  1. Frank Race ep40 The Adventure Of The Kettle DrumPotato Plus
This is Your FBI 1 episode, 1952
  1. The Hollywood ShakedownApril 4, 1952 · Potato Plus
We Came This Way 1 episode, 1945
  1. Poet Of LibertyJanuary 12, 1945 · Potato Plus

Who Betty Lou Gerson 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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