Mutual Radio sought to give the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre some competition. Unfortunately, The Zero Hour was a half hour show, as opposed to the hour long Mystery Theatre. The series lasted 10 months (September 1973-July 1974) encompassing two "seasons" and formats to match.
Originally, Zero Hour would feature a complete five part serial each week. That didn't work, due largely to a glaring lack of promotion. A format change enacted in the spring of 1974 shifted the focus to one featured star per week, appearing all five days in five different dramas. This format offered a diversity in its leads from singer Mel Torme to veteran actors Joseph Campanella (ex-Mannix, The Bold Ones), Peter Lupus (Mission: Impossible), and Dick Sargent (ex-Bewitched, Broadside, et al). Rod Serling (ex-Night Gallery, Twilight Zone) is the series host.
From June 1974, here's "Riders Wanted: Share Expenses". Lupus is joined by Vic Perrin (ex-The Outer Limits), Julie Bennett, Hans Conreid, and Casey Kasem (American Top 40, etc.).
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