Jack Chertok

Edward Arnold stars as Duncan "Mac" Maclain, a blind detective who refuses to let his disability slow him down, relying on his guide dog Friday and his heightened remaining senses. When old friend Norma Lawry (Ann Harding) asks him to scare off a scheming actor courting her teenage stepdaughter (Donna Reed, in one of her earliest roles), Mac walks into a case that quickly turns to espionage and murder. Directed by Fred Zinnemann near the start of his Hollywood career, this lean MGM programmer spins Baynard Kendrick's novels into a tight, atmospheric thriller — the first of only two Maclain films. Its copyright was never renewed, placing it in the public domain.

Noir · Mystery · Crime

In 1820s Bangor, Maine, the beautiful and ruthless Jenny Hager schemes her way from poverty to power, marrying a rich lumber baron and seducing his son along the way. Hedy Lamarr gives one of her best performances opposite George Sanders in this adaptation of Ben Ames Williams' novel — a prestige production for B-movie master Edgar G. Ulmer, who brings his usual moody economy to a story of ambition and desire. It is in the public domain after its copyright was not renewed.

Drama · Thriller

Sky King is an American adventure television series that aired from 1952 to 1959, starring Kirby Grant as Schuyler "Sky" King, a former naval aviator who operates the Flying Crown Ranch in Arizona. Sky uses his twin-engine Cessna to assist law enforcement and the military in rescue operations and crime-fighting across the Southwest. He is aided by his niece Penny, played by Gloria Winters, and his nephew Clipper. The series was produced by Jack Chertok Productions and was one of the first television shows to feature an airplane as a central element, inspiring many young viewers to pursue aviation. The show ran for 72 episodes and was syndicated for years after its original run. Many episodes are in the public domain.

Adventure · Family · Action

The Lone Ranger is an American Western television series that aired from 1949 to 1957, the first of the great television Westerns and the show that established the genre as a network staple for the next two decades. Clayton Moore stars as the masked former Texas Ranger who rides the frontier righting wrongs with his horse Silver and his faithful companion Tonto, played by Jay Silverheels. The character originated on radio in 1933, created by George Trendle and Fran Striker, and the television adaptation brought the masked hero to living rooms across America. The series was filmed on a low budget at the Iverson Movie Ranch in California, but the production had a sincerity and a sense of moral clarity that made it a phenomenon. Each episode ended with the Ranger riding off while a bystander asked, "Who was that masked man?" The early episodes from 1949, produced before the show's national syndication deal, were never copyrighted and entered the public domain.

Western · Adventure