The Green Hornet Strikes Again

Richard Lamparski was the host of the radio program “Whatever Became Of…?”, which aired on WBAI-FM in New York from 1965 to 1971. The show featured interviews with personalities from old radio, movie, and television programs, including vaudeville and silent film stars. Lamparski conducted over 1,000 interviews, focusing on entertainers like Dorothy Parker, Patty Andrews, and Margaret Hamilton, among others. The program later inspired a series of books by Lamparski with the same title.

The Green Hornet centered on Britt Reid, publisher of The Daily Sentinel, who by night donned a mask and became the Green Hornet, a vigilante targeting organized crime. Accompanied by his loyal valet and driver, Kato, Reid used his intelligence, gadgets, and a souped-up car called the Black Beauty to battle criminals. Unlike typical heroes, the Green Hornet posed as a criminal to infiltrate underworld operations, creating a unique dynamic where he was often pursued by both crooks and the police.

George W. Trendle and Fran Striker developed the series for WXYZ in Detroit, Michigan, where it premiered on January 31, 1936. The show was designed to capitalize on the success of The Lone Ranger, with Britt Reid established as the grandnephew of John Reid, the Lone Ranger, connecting the two franchises.

Initial radio run: January 31, 1936, to December 5, 1952. The program began on WXYZ and joined the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1938. It later moved to the NBC Blue Network (later ABC) in 1939, with some periods of local syndication. By 1948, it returned to ABC for a national run. Initially aired twice weekly, later moving to weekly broadcasts, with episodes typically lasting 30 minutes.

Britt Reid/The Green Hornet: A dashing, wealthy newspaper publisher who used his resources and alter ego to fight crime. His dual identity added intrigue, as he maintained a public persona while operating in secret.

Kato: Reid’s loyal valet, driver, and martial arts expert, who was instrumental in the Green Hornet’s missions. Originally described as Japanese in early episodes, Kato’s nationality shifted to Filipino after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 due to wartime sentiments. Kato was notable for inventing the Green Hornet’s gas gun and driving the Black Beauty.

Key figures included Lenore “Casey” Case, Reid’s secretary at The Daily Sentinel; Mike Axford, a hotheaded reporter; and various police characters like Commissioner Higgins. Recurring villains, such as corrupt politicians and mobsters, drove the episodic plots.

Whatever Became Of The Green Hornet? Al Hodges – Host Richard Lamparski interviews Al Hodge who played the first Green Hornet on radio.
(Listening time- 29:35) 1968