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Small banner, sign on thick paper vintage advertisement is a promotional item for
"The Shadow" radio program, specifically sponsored by 'blue coal'. The image is a piece of historical memorabilia from the golden age of radio.
The Shadow and Blue Coal
The Program: The Shadow was a highly popular American mystery thriller radio show that ran for over two decades. The show featured the character Lamont Cranston, a wealthy young man about town who secretly fought crime using a "hypnotic power to cloud men's minds so that they cannot see him".
The Sponsor: Blue Coal, a brand name for anthracite coal produced by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) Coal Company (later Glen Alden Coal Company), was the primary sponsor of the program on the East Coast network stations.
Advertising Tactics: To distinguish its product, which was literally dyed blue, the company ran extensive advertising campaigns like the one pictured. These promotions often included mail-away premiums for listeners, such as the famous glow-in-the-dark "Blue Coal Ring" offered to children in the 1940s.
Run Dates: The main radio drama ran from September 26, 1937, until December 26, 1954. Orson Welles was the first and one of the most famous actors to voice the lead role from 1937 to 1938.
Key Details
Catchphrase: The show is legendary for its iconic opening line, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!", accompanied by an eerie laugh.
Format: The advertisement indicates the show aired every Sunday afternoon, a typical schedule for the program's long run. |
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