| Black Hood | |
| Other Names: | The Black Hood |
| Format: | adventure radio serial, crime serial |
| Runtime: | 15 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Starring: | Scott Douglas, Marjorie Cramer |
| Num Episodes: | 120. |
| Opentheme: | The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Paul Dukas) |
| Sponsor: | none. |
Black Hood was an American radio serial based on the popularity of the US superhero comics series Black Hood. It was broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System July 5, 1943 – January 14, 1944.[1]
Rookie police officer Kip Burland had a secret identity, the Black Hood. Donning a specific, "specially developed" black hood gave Burland special magical powers.[2] The only person who knew about Burland's secret identity was Barbara Sutton, a newspaper reporter who helped him fight crime.[2]
The American comics series Black Hood had been a popular comic strip since its first appearance in the ninth issue of Top-Notch Comics in October 1940. On July 5, 1943,[3] a radio serial debuted on the Mutual Broadcasting System. It aired in episodes of 15 minutes and five times a week, at 5:15 in the afternoon.[4] The opening theme music was a snippet from Paul Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice.[5]
Compared to the source material the radio serial was less violent and sexually suggestive. The show also introduced a third character, Police Sergeant McGinty.[5]
120 episodes were recorded.[6] Because it failed to find a sponsor its last broadcast was January 14, 1944.[4] Only one audio copy has survived, the initial episode "Emerald Voodoo Ring" which was recorded as the audition disc.[5]