Who knows “Who Knows?”? This program was produced for the Mutual Broadcasting System from March 16, 1940 through August 29, 1941. Few sources on old time radio mention it, which maybe a reflection of its short run and somewhat narrow distribution.
The weekly 15-minute program explored the world of psychic phenomena. On early broadcasts, announcer George Lowther described it as “a series of dramatizations based on the case records of Dr. Hereward Carrington, internationally recognized authority in the study of psychic phenomena.”
Lowther then extolled the show’s sponsor, Griffin Manufacturing and their shoe polish line, before yielding the microphone to Jack Johnstone, the show’s creator, writer and director, who elaborated, “in the study of clairvoyance, telepathy, premonitions and other psychic phenomena, one of the world’s greatest authorities is Dr. Hereward Carrington, author of over 100 books on the subject. He’s come to the conclusion that by far the greater percentage of so called psychics are fraudulent.”
Carrington (1880-1959) was indeed a prolific author of everything from “The Boy’s Book of Magic: Including Chapters on Hindu Magic, Handcuff Tricks, Side Show and Animal Tricks, Ventriloquism, Etc.; Together with Numerous Sleights, Now Published for the First Time” to “Modern Psychical Phenomena; Recent Researches and Speculations.” He specialized in exposing and debunking dishonest mediums and spiritualists, and had even starred in a series of silent films for Bray Studios in 1918 titled “Unmasking the Mediums.” Nevertheless, Carrington believed passionately that some psychic phenomena were real. At times, the show was a primer for discourse on the paranormal. Carrington would describe concepts such as “premonitions” or “sorcery” with a story from his research, and cast members would act out a short drama that fit neatly in the show’s 15 minute time limit.