The Planet Man

The Planet Man was a 1950s juvenile science fiction radio series from New York based Palladium Radio Productions. Running in syndication for nearly eighty episodes, the show followed the adventures of Dantro, an agent of the League of Planets, who upholds peace and justice throughout the Universe with help from his trusty sidekicks Dr. John Darrow, John’s daughter Pat, nephew and niece Billy and Jane, and his engineer Slats (all of whom were rescued by Dantro when their rocket trip to the Moon was about to end in disaster). The cast is mostly unknown — only the announcer Phil Tonken, organist Jon Gart and voice of the robot characters Joseph Boland have been identified.
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​Please note that the episode numbers given below are merely the order in which the episodes are thought to have been broadcast — they are not the actual episode numbers.
Episode 1: Orbit The Moon
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The crew of Earth's first rocket ship to the Moon are saved from disaster by Dantro, The Planet Man.

​First broadcast: 1953 (uncertain).
​Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 2: Cosmic Communicator

​On their way to Planeria Rex, capital of all planets, Dantro and the rescued Earthlings run into an unexpected meteor swarm. Meanwhile, Marston, ruler of Mars, plots to invade and enslave Earth.

First broadcast: 1953 (uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 3: Marston To Attack Earth

Dantro and Pat are captured by Marston of Mars and Slats appears to switch sides.

​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 4: Discussing Marston

Marston throws Dantro and Pat to the Mar-lions in the arena, but they escape and head into the Martian jungle.
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​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 5: Kidnapping Order

Marston kidnaps Billy and Jane. Meanwhile, Dantro and Pat evade the 'mindless men' in the Martian jungle.

​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 6: Billy And Jane Need Help
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​Dantro and Pat sneak into Marston's palace through a secret tunnel and search for Billy and Jane. Meanwhile, the League of Planets prepares for war with Marston.

​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 7: Hoping For A Miracle

Dantro, Pat and Slats discover an ancient surveillance device, and Billy and Jane escape in one of Marston's spaceships.

​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 8: Billy And Jane In The Ship

With Billy and Jane's ship threatened by both the League of Planets fleet and Marston's pursuing space cruiser, Dantro races to make contact.
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​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 9: 3-D Dantro

​Dantro projects a hologram of himself onto Billy and Jane's ship and helps the children destroy Marston's space cruiser. Later — with the help of a hologram of Dr. Darrow — Dantro, Pat and Slats use an ancient Martian matter transporter to move Marston's fleet to Pluto.

​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 10: Marston Dead?

​Dantro pursues Marston through the tunnels under the palace, where Marston falls into a chasm.

​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 11: On A Scout Ship

​Billy gets a lesson in piloting a League of Planets scout ship.

​First broadcast: 1953 (Uncertain).
Original Story by Unknown.
​Cast: Unknown.

Episode 12: Ice Caves of Pluto, Part 2

Astro is trapped in an ice cave on Pluto.
​Note: part 1 of this story is a missing episode.

​First broadcast: 21 February 1952.
Original Story by Richard Jessup.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Berry Kroeger.

Episode 13: Trial In Space, Part 1

Astro is struck down with space fever.

​First broadcast: 26 February 1952.
Original Story by Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Margaret Garland, Jack Grimes.

Episode 14: Trial In Space, Part 2

The cadets crash land in the Martian desert following a solar storm.

​First broadcast: 28 February 1952.
Original Story by Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Jack Grimes.

Episode 15: Asteroid of Danger, Part 1

Roger and Dr. Dale go missing on a research trip to the asteroid belt.

​First broadcast: 4 March 1952.
Original Story by Gilbert Braun.
​Cast:  Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Margaret Garland.

Episode 16: Asteroid of Danger, Part 2

Roger and Dr. Dale are held hostage by criminal asteroid miners.

​First broadcast: 6 March 1952.
Original Story by Gilbert Braun.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Edward Bryce, Margaret Garland.

Episode 17: The Giant of Mercury, Part 1

​The cadets are menaced by giant robots whilst searching for a missing scientific expedition on Mercury.

​First broadcast: 11 March 1952.
Original Story by Don Hughes.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, Vinton Hayworth.

Episode 18: The Giant of Mercury, Part 2

​The cadets battle the criminal gang controlling the robots.

​First broadcast: 13 March 1952.
Original Story by Don Hughes.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Al Markim, Jan Merlin, James Monks, Connie Lembcke.

Episode 19: The Atmosphere of Death, Part 1

​Tom and Roger hunt an assassin aboard a space liner.

​First broadcast: 18 March 1952.
Original Story by Elwood Hoffman.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Jan Merlin, Peter Capell, Maurice Tarplin, Elspeth Eric.

Episode 20: The Atmosphere of Death, Part 2

​Tom and Roger attempt to stop revolutionaries from destroying atmosphere stations on Venus.

​First broadcast: 20 March 1952.
Original Story by Elwood Hoffman.
​Cast: Frankie Thomas Jr, Jan Merlin, Peter Capell, William Keen.