Radio
Pawley became disenchanted with Hollywood during the attempted infiltration by the communists in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Consequently, he left in 1942 and returned briefly to Broadway where he starred with Gregory Peck in The Willow and I. Previously when in New York City in the 1930s, Pawley had performed leading romantic roles on The Collier Hour radio program; consequently, he also became involved with radio upon his return to NYC. He played opposite Lucille Wall in the radio soap opera, Portia Faces Life. He and Wall were the "Love Story Boy and Girl" on that show. In 1943, Pawley auditioned for and was cast in the starring role of "Steve Wilson" on the top-rated radio drama series, Big Town. He left Portia Faces Life to replace actor Edward G. Robinson who had played the Steve Wilson role from 1937–42, when the show was produced in Hollywood. Steve Wilson's sidekick on Big Town was "girl reporter" Lorelei Kilbourne, played by Fran Carlon. That role was originally played first by Claire Trevor and, later, by Ona Munson when Edward G. Robinson starred as "Steve Wilson.
During Pawley's eight-year reign, Big Town achieved the "number one" rating for reporter-type drama shows on radio. In the January 1948 Nielson Ratings, the show was ranked #12 among ALL radio programs... ahead of such popular shows as Suspense, Sam Spade, Mr. District Attorney, The FBI in Peace and War, Blondie, and Mr. and Mrs. North. His audience was estimated anywhere from 10 million to 20 million listeners which is still a huge following, even in the 21st century, for any radio or TV series/show.
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