From CUNY TV and Radio Drama Network, upcoming archival anthology podcast “If You Please…Himan Brown’s Radio Mystery Theater” debuts on June 4, 2026. “If You Please” presents Himan Brown’s legendary radio dramas from the “CBS Radio Mystery Theater” series, which ran from 1974 to 1982.
Radio Producer Himan Brown created over 10,000 programs in his lifetime, turning them out with intensity for nearly 85 years. Brown was a pioneer in the Golden Age of Radio, and then inventively reimagined radio drama for the next generation. His “CBS Radio Mystery Theater” series offered an array of compelling mysteries, supernatural chillers, and crime stories crafted by acclaimed writers.
Each season features 13 rebroadcasts of original episodes of “CBS Radio Mystery Theater” that are contextualized by scholar John Slavney, who is currently writing the definitive guide to the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. In each episode, Slavney shares behind-the-scenes details about the shows.
The series builds on “Audio Maverick,” our nine-part audio documentary that profiles Brown’s life and work. Audio Maverick won two prestigious Signal Awards, aired in 2024 and was directed by Sarah Montague.
“I had the great pleasure of producing “Audio Maverick,” says Sarah Montague, director of this new podcast series, “And it was clear that Brown really lived most through his work, so it is wonderful to have the opportunity to share some of it with a new generation of listeners. As he said himself, ‘radio drama takes your imagination in, embraces the listener like nothing else in the history of theater.’”
Melina Brown, granddaughter of Himan Brown and president of Radio Drama Network, shares what makes this podcast so important: “My grandfather believed in the power of imagination and storytelling. His dream was to have these shows released and played on the radio airwaves, but had he known about podcasts, he would have loved this format. Radio Drama Network is delighted to partner with CUNY TV in realizing his dream to have the shows “on air” again and people imagining the scenes.”
Chiqui Cartagena, executive director of CUNY TV, emphasizes the importance of bringing “If You Please” to our feeds at this specific moment in radio history: “In light of the recent announcement of the closing of CBS Radio, CUNY TV is thrilled to partner with Radio Drama Network to bring back some classic shows of CUNY’s own alum, Himan Brown, through this new series.”
If You Please…Himan Brown’s Mystery Theater will be releasing new episodes every Thursday, beginning June 4th, 2026. The first season will include the following programs:
”The Old Ones Are Hard to Kill”
Original air date: January 6, 1974
Ada Canby is 77, sharp as a tack, and nobody’s fool. So when her boarder makes a deathbed confession, Ada feels obliged to investigate further.
“The Return of the Moresbys”
Original air date: January 7, 1974
What if the dead could come back — not as themselves, but as something else entirely? A haunting question with a very unsettling answer.
“The Bullet”
Original air date: January 8, 1974
After nine years, two war buddies are reunited. The catch: only one of them is still alive.
CUNY-TV is the 24-hour, non-commercial television station of The City University of New York, dedicated to extending the University’s academic, cultural and intellectual life to the broader public. CUNY TV reaches over 7 million households in the New York metropolitan area and offers original, independent programming that reflects the diversity and complexity of the city. With a strong commitment to serving underserved and underrepresented communities – including Black, Asian and Hispanic audiences – the station produces a wide range of arts and culture, educational and public affairs shows in both English and Spanish. CUNY TV’s shows have garnered over 200 nominations and 49 New York EMMY® Awards for excellence in broadcast television as well as other prestigious industry honors including the Telly Awards, the Signal Awards and Communicator Awards.
Legendary Producer/Director Himan Brown founded Radio Drama Network (RDN) in 1989 to support audio drama and the spoken word. Brown believed deeply in the power of imagination and the enduring importance of the Arts to our society and culture. He commissioned works that made people think, collaborating with extraordinary writers and actors on the grandest oral traditions — often addressing timely social issues, while creating career-long bonds by keeping artists working through lean years. After Brown’s death in 2010, his granddaughter Melina Brown succeeded him as leader of RDN, continuing his mission — supporting developmental theaters, producing award winning plays, films, and podcasts, while expanding educational programs for underserved populations. The organization earned festival accolades for its slam poetry film Don’t Be Nice (2018). Brown left behind master recordings and scripts for well over 1400 of his shows. Radio Drama Network stewards his archives carefully, beginning in 2026 to re-release his most important work while building a vibrant creative future on his powerful foundation.
# # #