David Philip Kogan (né Rothman;"Pennsylvania, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29C-2BG1 : Fri Feb 23 16:25:09 UTC 2024), Entry for David Philip Kogan and Yetta Rothman, 16 Oct 1940. December 22, 1916 – August 6, 2009) was an American radio and television writer, director and producer, best known for the Edgar-winning radio series, The Mysterious Traveler, scripted in collaboration with Robert Arthur Jr.

Early life and career Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 22, 1916,Truesdale, Dave (February 17, 2024). "The Mysterious Traveler — 'Fire in the Sky'". Tangent. "The shows were written by Robert Arthur (1909-1969, photo at lower right, typing) and David P. Kogan (born 1916 and still wonderfully alive*–-photo top right), [...] * Editor’s Note: Shortly following Tangent Online‘s presentation of The Mysterious Traveler episodes 'The Good Die Young' and 'Till Death Do Us Part' on June 19, 2009, I received the following email from none other than David P. Kogan, co-writer, and producer/director of the show. [...] 'As a first time viewer of Tangent, I was surprised to find that I had died in 1964. This means I have been living forty-five years on borrowed time [...] [F]or your information I was born in 1916 ... and continue to breathe. For how long ... is the question. David Kogan' [...] I received his email on July 17, 2009. Sadly, I received an email from Mr. Kogan’s son Kenneth on August 10th, informing me of the death of his father on August 6, 2009, a mere three weeks following his email to us. A startlingly talented man, David Kogan (1916-2009) will be sorely missed." Kogan was the son of Yetta (née Cipes) and Samuel Rothman."Pennsylvania, Civil Marriages, 1677-1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJW-JTRB : Sat Mar 09 01:30:31 UTC 2024), Entry for Samuel Rothman and Yetta Cipes, 21 Dec 1901. After his father died in 1920,"Deaths and Funerals: Rothman". Albuquerque Journal. August 11, 1920. p. 3. "The body of Samuel Rothman, who died Monday at his apartments in the highlands, will be taken to Philadelphia, Pa., for burial. Neil McNerney is in charge." he and his mother moved to Brooklyn, where he attended Junior High School P.S. 109,"333 GET DIPLOMAS AS GRADUATES OF JR. HIGH P. S. 109". Brooklyn Eagle. June 25, 1929. p. 5. and Samuel J. Tilden High School, graduating in 1932."Handicaps Can Be Overcome, Tilden Graduates Learn Urged to take Optimistic View of Conditions at Present at Exercises". Brooklyn Eagle. June 30, 1932. p. 9. However, what clearly seems in hindsight the pivotal moment in all those years of schooling occurred, circa 1940, while studying radio production with Erik Barnouw at Columbia University, when one of Kogan's classmates proved to be none other than his future partner in crime, novelist Bob Arthur.Hand, Richard J. (2006). Terror on the Air!: Horror Radio in America, 1931-1952. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 287. . "A portentous event for the history of radio drama occurred in 1940 when Arthur opted to study radio writing under Erik Barnouw at Columbia University; in the same class he met David Kogan, another young writer. Unlike Arthur, Kogan had already established a radio career for himself writing a script for Bulldog Drummond, and had followed this with work for The Shadow and The Adventures of the Thin Man. It appears that it was Kogan who persuaded Arthur to collaborate on radio drama, and together they produced Dark Destiny (1942-43), later reusing some of these early scripts for episodes of The Mysterious Traveler. Arthur and Kogan also co-wrote the 1944 summer season of Nick Carter, Master Detective (1943-55), a series that had previously featured Kogan as scriptwriter."

Speaking roughly 60 years later with radio historian Anthony Tollin, Kogan detailed how he and his late partner would customarily divide the workload. We developed the plots together and then one or the other of us would go off and write it. [...] I've always loved science fiction so I tended to write the scripts in that genre. Bob Arthur was a former Weird Tales pulp writer so he generally handled the horror scripts. [Bob] didn't really care for directing, so he usually left that for me.Hand, op. cit. pp. 132–133.

Kogan and Arthur were honored three times by the Mystery Writers of America with Edgar Awards for their radio work: twice for "best radio drama"—in 1950 for Murder by Experts and 1953 for The Mysterious TravelerUrban, Joe (April 24, 1950). "Radio Chatter: 'Murder by Experts' Gets Award From Poe Group". Janesville Daily Gazette. p. 8.—and once in 1951, regarding their work on both shows, for "outstanding achievement in producing, directing and writing radio mystery shows.""Writers Hail Mystery Shows". Detroit Free Press. May 23, 1951. p. 10.

However, in September 1952, the respective radio careers of Arthur and Kogan came to an unceremonious end, as manifested in the sudden cancellation of their long-running signature series. This was due–as for so many in Hollywood at that moment–to alleged "pro-Communist affiliations [and or] ideology", specifically those attributed to the Radio Writers Guild, to which both Kogan and Arthur belonged, the former, in particular, being an especially active and visible member."Radio Guild Pickets GOP Headquarters". The Stockton Record. July 5, 1952. p. 19. "John Merriman, a New York City employe of the Columbia Broadcasting System and spokesman for the pickets, said the picketing was aimed against the major radio and television networks which have moved operations into the Hilton Hotel to cover GOP convention activities. Merriman and David Kogan, New York free lance writer and captain of the pickets, said the guild also will put pickets around the International Amphitheater, scene of the convention meetings, when GOP delegates meet there Monday." In fact, the beginning of that month had seen an article published by Broadcasting Telecasting, entitled "'Red' Probe; More Details Expected", specifically naming Kogan, alongside ten other RWG council members (among them Ernest Kinoy and Howard Rodman Sr.).Abrams, Earl B. (September 1, 1952). "'Red' Probings; More Details Expected". Broadcasting Telecasting. p. 27, 88. "Among those charged with pro-Communist ideology were Ira Marion, eastern region RWG vice president, and the following members of the guild council: Sam Moore, Robert Cenedella, George Fass, Philo Higley, Ernest Kinoy, Dave Kogan, Sig Miller, Norman Ober, Addie Richton, Howard Rodman and Jack Bentkover."

Unlike Arthur, for whom radio scripting was merely an extended digression within an already well established career as a writer of short fiction, Kogan had no comparable fallback option, at least none even vaguely arts-related. He eventually resurfaced as a Philadelphia-based portfolio manager,"Introducing 5 New Men (and a Girl) on the NEWBURGER Phones!". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 21, 1971. p. 15. "JOHN J. BURKE, MORTON H. FETTERWOLF, MRS. ROSALYN B. HOFFMAN, ROBERT A JOHNSTON, DAVID P. KOGAN, NATHAN R. STEIN" whose writing could occasionally be found in financial publications.Hand, op. cit., p. 144. "David Kogan became a portfolio manager, and although his creative writing career was tragically curtailed, he continued writing articles for financial publications.""Free Reprint from Barron's: The Convertible Hedge ... written by a Man on the NEWBURGER phone!". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 7, 1966. p. 24. "Mr. David Kogan, an Associate of our Company, has written a timely article which appeared in the June 27th edition of Barron's National Business and Financial Weekly entitled, 'The Convertible Hedge.' In it, he describes the present dilemma of many investors in today's market, and one attractive possibility: the convertible-short sale hedge. 'While hardly a new concept' writes Mr. Kogan, 'it is most often employed by the professionals who view it-and properly so--as a means of possibly realizing profits while attempting to protect principal.' For a free reprint of the entire article, call the Man on the Newburger phone, visit our offices, or mail the coupon below." In addition, one notable side venture, harking back to Kogan's pre-war employment as a salesperson in the Bond Linen Store chain, shows up in 1971, in what appears to have been a fairly short-lived, linen-dispensing retail outlet, David's of Cedarbrook, operated by Kogan's wife, Sylvia."The People Difference". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 21, 1971. Sec. 2, p. 18."Action Line". The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 18, 1973. p. 23-D. "The St. Bernadette's Bazaar may be the greatest bargain hunt since stores in Washington, D. C., used to sell color televisions for 99 cents on George Washington's Birthday. The White Elephant table will be groaning with household appliances from A. J. Giaccio, 4625 N. 5th st., and Al Rubin Appliances, 501 E. Wyoming ave.; linens donated by David's of Cedarbrook, Wyncote, Pa., Bond Linen Stores, 5647 N. 5th st., and Cohen Dry Goods Co., 925 Filbert St."

Personal life and death In Philadelphia, in October 1944, Kogan married Sylvia Scaroff."Marriage License Applications". October 18, 1944. p. 32. They had at least one child, a son, Kenneth."United States, Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XT2-SG4H : Wed Mar 20 22:13:33 UTC 2024), Entry for David P Kogan and Sylvia Kogan, 3 April 1950.

On August 6, 2009, Kogan, who had most recently resided in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, died in Maine at the age of 93."United States, Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VMCM-BP2 : 12 January 2021), David P Kogan, 06 Aug 2009; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing). He was survived by his wife and son."United States, Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JGT5-N5M : 12 January 2021), Sylvia Kogan, 21 Jun 2010; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

Works Radio

Bulldog Drummond Unknown episode (c. late 1930s) The Shadow Unknown episode (c. late 1930s) The Adventures of the Thin Man Unknown episode (c. late 1930s) Dark Destiny "It's Later Than You Think" and all subsequent episodes (1942–1943)"Highlights on Radio Today: Gounod Opera Performance Will Be Repeated Tonight; Composer's 'Faust' to Again Be Heard On 'Great Moments in Music'; 'Dark Destiny' Opens Over WOR - Two Ball Games". The Springfield Daily Republican. August 26, 1942. p. 13. "A new series of mystery and supernatural plays will be heard on the Mutual chain under the title of 'Dark Destiny,' and will be aired every Wednesday night. The first, by Robert Arthur and David Kogan, is entitled 'It's Later Than You Think,' and concerns a man who sells portions of time out of his life (WOR, 9.30 p. m.)." That They Might Live "Dawn at Cassino" (1943)"Radio Today". Birmingham Post-Herald. November 27, 1943. p. 14. The Mysterious Traveler