In 1998, Morris Publishing released SUSPENSE: TWENTY YEARS OF THRILLS AND CHILLS, a 460 page book documenting an obscure radio / television series that earned the attention of Hollywood and Broadway actors, a twenty-year run over CBS and spawned a series of mystery magazines, comic books, novels and movies including the 1948 classic SORRY, WRONG NUMBER starring Barbara Stanwyck. The author was Martin Grams, Jr. who had recently graduated from high school and SUSPENSE was the first of many publications.
The April 1999 issue of Sperdvac's Radiogram commented: "Probably no other series has had such a thorough job of research done on it as Mr. Grams as done in this book . . ."
The February 2004 issue of NECROPSY: The Review
of Horror Fiction commented:
"It's no mystery why radio fans love Grams . . ."
"Mr. Grams is well known by now among fans of old-time radio as a prolific author and publisher of books detailing the life and times of a number of shows that were revered during the golden age of radio. All of his books provide welcome detail about the creation and life of these shows but they are more noteworthy for the extensive logs that make up the bulk of each volume."
Quoted Charles R. Sexton of the RLL ON THE AIR, September 2003 issue
"Martin Grams, Jr. is a name easily recognized by OTR buffs, primarily due to his prolific writing of books on the subject of old-time radio. I like to refer to him as "the Issac Asimov of OTR," as testimony to his amazingly voluminous output."
Quoted Ivan Schreve, Jr. of THRILLING DAYS OF YESTERYEAR, Nov. 7, 2003
Martin is the son of Martin and Mary Pat Grams, magician and librarian by occupation. Over 16 publications feature his name on the front cover and many more as a research consultant and/or contributor. Like many authors he still works a daily nine-to-five job while writing freelance as a "hobby."
Martin has written numerous magazine articles for such publications as SCARLET STREET, FILMFAX, RADIOGRAM, THE OTR DIGEST, ON THE AIR, RADIO RECALL, RETURN WITH US NOW, NOSTALGIA DIGEST and others.
He is the recipient of the 1999 Ray Stanich Award, the 2005 Stone/Waterman Award, and the 2004 Parley Baer Award for his contribution to preserving the arts. In May of 2009, Martin was made an official honorary friend of SPERDVAC and his recent book on the TWILIGHT ZONE received the Rondo Award for "Best Book of the Year."
Along with his wife, Martin is active in environmental protection programs and helps support the funding and physical labor that goes into planting new trees, recycling, and alternative resources for electrcity including solar and wind.
Martin has also contributed chapters, appendixes and essays for . . .
VINCENT PRICE (2000, ed. Gary and Susan Svehla)
THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK STORY (2001, ed. Ken Mogg)
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN (2003, ed. Ben Ohmart)
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN 2 (2004, ed. Ben Ohmart)
LET'S PRETEND (2004, ed. Arthur Anderson)
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN 3 (2006, ed. Jim Harmon)
YABBA, DABBA, DOO: The Alan Reed Story (2009, Alan Reed and Ben Ohmart)
The rest of the web-site is dedicated to the books written by Mr. Grams.
Reprints of book reviews, exerpts from the books and more.
The web-site will be under going design revisions through the month of June.
Mr. Grams tours actively for book signings. This web site will give you the opportunity to keep track of where he is going.
Mr. Grams is also active with the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention
held annually every August in Aberdeen, Maryland.
This year he will be hosting a presentation about Alfred Hitchcock.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn something new and fascinating!
Martin's TWILIGHT ZONE book has received more praise! Science Fiction legend William F. Nolan remarked, "I'm blown away by the mass fo data... by the attention to
the smallest detail. You deserve the highest praise for this book. It puts everything else written about Twilight Zone in the shade. Monumental and fascinating, and hugely informative."
Martin will be guest at the MONSTER BASH convention
in Pittsburgh during the final weekend of June. He will
be signing copies of his TWILIGHT ZONE book and there
will be a limited quantity so stop by and say hello!
Martin was recently among the guests at the 2009
SPERDVAC Convention in Hollywood, California.
Martin was a participant in a number of panels
including a presentation about The Green Hornet!
This is his first appearance at SPERDVAC in ten
years and it was estimated that he signed more
than a hundred books since fans attending brought
copies of book he wrote. Photo on the right is
Martin posing with friend Leonard Maltin at the
recent SPERDVAC convention. The fan was kind
enough to send us a photo for the web-site.
Martin's latest book on CAR 54, Where Are You? is now
available for pre-ordering through Amazon.com and Bear Manor
Media (and this web-site). For those of you who have been
waiting for the past year or two for this book, we assure you
will not be disappointed!
Martin was a recent guest on the DAVE WHITE PRESENTS
radio program. Archived copy of the interview is now
available from Dave's website
Ken Mogg's The Alfred Hitchcock Story just went into another
printing with a new design both inside and outside! Published through
appendices and two chapters by Martin (who also supplied the
appendixes). They say there is always room for improvement
so . . . Originally published in 1999, this 2008 edition features
additional photographs making this is the best yet and perhaps the
best that ever will be!
