Prior to exploring the creation of “Gangbusters” it is prudent to explore the lives of the men who created it. Phillips Haynes Lord, who was born in New England. He was seen as far to flamboyant and would move to New York in 1927 in hope to become a writer When he first started he produced a radio show called “Old Fashioned Singing School” which aired in Hartford Connecticut. However, his first apparent successes of radio fame came from NBC’s support of his writing, and the show “Seth Parker”. Lord would become famed for this show and many others, but none so has “Gangbusters”. J. Edgar Hoover was born and raised in the District of Colombia. He would live and work there his entire life. When appointed as the Director of the Federal Bureau
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In the first production of the show, J. Edgar Hoover allowed Lord to have nearly unlimited access to FBI files, to promote the show. However, Hoover seemed uncertain about his participation in the show, because of Lord’s flamboyant broadcasting style. Hoover maintained his role, but only if Lord used “only the material provided by the FBI and nothing more. Moreover, all scripts had to be approved by Hoover or one of his aides and all had to show that every criminal was punished either with death or a long jail sentence.” Lord followed these guide line because he felt his new radio show was a new genre of radio entertainment and it would prolong his career. He knew his whole career was based on the success of the show. It is probable that Hoover wanted to utilize the radio show for his own personal work agenda rather than a means to educate people about the notorious villains in their cities. According to Elena Razlogova, author of The Listener’s Voice: Early Radio and the American Public, “Hoover waged a “war on crime” media campaign to promote federal agents and counter public admiration for urban mobsters and Midwestern bandits” . Lord, on the other hand most likely saw the use of FBI documents as a way to draw in more listeners and gain support for his show. He probably played on, the public’s interest in current events and fears to gain this momentum of popularity. However, the two men were destined to
In the first production of the show, J. Edgar Hoover allowed Lord to have nearly unlimited access to FBI files, to promote the show. However, Hoover seemed uncertain about his participation in the show, because of Lord’s flamboyant broadcasting style. Hoover maintained his role, but only if Lord used “only the material provided by the FBI and nothing more. Moreover, all scripts had to be approved by Hoover or one of his aides and all had to show that every criminal was punished either with death or a long jail sentence.” Lord followed these guide line because he felt his new radio show was a new genre of radio entertainment and it would prolong his career. He knew his whole career was based on the success of the show. It is probable that Hoover wanted to utilize the radio show for his own personal work agenda rather than a means to educate people about the notorious villains in their cities. According to Elena Razlogova, author of The Listener’s Voice: Early Radio and the American Public, “Hoover waged a “war on crime” media campaign to promote federal agents and counter public admiration for urban mobsters and Midwestern bandits” . Lord, on the other hand most likely saw the use of FBI documents as a way to draw in more listeners and gain support for his show. He probably played on, the public’s interest in current events and fears to gain this momentum of popularity. However, the two men were destined to