Claim OwnershipDown These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
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Presenting the best detectives from the Golden Age of Radio. Each week, we'll bring you an episode starring one of Old Time Radio's greatest detectives and the story behind the show. Join us for adventures of Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Johnny Dollar, and many more.
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Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and our old time radio mysteries this week all feature real-life husbands and wives at the microphone or behind the scenes. First, June Allyson - aka Mrs. Dick Powell - plays Richard Diamond's latest client (originally aired on NBC on June 21, 1950). Then, Cathy and Elliott Lewis star as a less than happily married couple in "Love, Honor, or Murder" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on June 29, 1950). Our third show features a couple that worked on and off mic - actress Virginia Gregg and director Jaime del Valle in "The Lapinish Lighter-Upper Case" from The Line-Up (originally aired on CBS on March 27, 1951). And finally, Joan Banks pays a visit to Night Beat alongside her husband Frank Lovejoy in an episode that originally aired on NBC on September 4, 1952.
After a week of dealing with a thick coating of ice all over everything, I've got winter weather on the brain. So today, we have three old time radio mysteries where our sleuths have to solve their crimes in the snow. First, Bob Bailey hits the slopes to prevent a murder in "Snow Blind" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on December 26, 1949). Then, William Gargan suspects a fatal slip on the ice wasn't an accident in "The Girl on the Doorstep" from Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (originally aired on NBC on February 16, 1953). Finally, John Lund is "the man with the action-packed expense account" in a snowbound mystery in the Windy City - "The Classified Killer Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (AFRS rebroadcast from February 23, 1954).
1We wrap up our series of Hollywood stars who solved crimes on the air with Glenn Ford. The star of Gilda, The Big Heat, and 3:10 to Yuma appeared on radio as Christopher London, a globetrotting private eye created by Erle Stanley Gardner. We'll hear Ford as London in "The Missing Heiress" (originally aired on NBC on February 5, 1950). Then, he's a man on the run in a Studio One adaptation of "The 39 Steps" (originally aired on CBS on March 23, 1948).
This week's Hollywood leading man turned radio detective is Dana Andrews, who starred on screen in Laura, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Boomerang, and more. On the air, Andrews played Matt Cvetic, undercover agent, in the syndicated series I Was a Communist for the FBI. We'll hear a pair of his adventures in Red-bashing: "Pit Viper" and "Jump to the Whip." Plus, Andrews plays a reporter out to clear a wrongfully convicted man in a radio adaptation of Call Northside 777 from Hollywood Sound Stage (originally aired on CBS on December 27, 1951).
Take a walk down the Great White Way with Detective Danny Clover in my five favorite episodes of Broadway is My Beat. Larry Thor is the policeman with the soul of a poet in one of radio's finest dramas - detective or otherwise. We'll hear "The Suicide Pact Murders" (originally aired on CBS on August 21, 1950), "The Garment District Murders" (originally aired on CBS on April 14, 1951), "The Case of Charles Crandall" (originally aired on CBS on May 12, 195), "The Tom Keeler Case" (originally aired on CBS on September 22, 1951), and "The Gridiron Hero Murders" (originally aired on CBS on November 22, 1952).
We continue our spotlight series of Hollywood heavy hitters who put in time as radio detectives. This week, it's a legend of classic cinema - Humphrey Bogart, star of Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and so many more iconic films. Bogart headlined Bold Venture, a syndicated mystery-adventure series set in the tropics. His co-star was no less than his real-life wife, Lauren Bacall. We'll hear a pair of syndicated Bold Venture mysteries - "The Tears of Siva," "The Mystery of the Mary K." Plus, Bogie stars in the audition for what would have been his own anthology drama Humphrey Bogart Presents. In this audition recording, Bogart hosts and appears in an adaptation of James M. Cain's story "Dead Man."
We kick off 2026 with a month-long series of big screen stars who lent their voices to radio detectives. First up is Alan Ladd, the steely star of classic noir dramas like This Gun for Hire and The Blue Dahlia and westerns like the iconic Shane. We'll hear him in his signature radio role of mystery writer and amateur sleuth Dan Holiday in a pair of syndicated episodes of Box 13 - "Treasure of Hang Li" and "Sealed Instructions." Plus, he recreates his big screen role as an old west detective as The Screen Director's Playhouse presents "Whispering Smith" (originally aired on NBC on September 16, 1949).
We bid a fond farewell to 2025 with an encore of our New Year's Eve special from 2018. Jack Webb and Gerald Mohr star in New Year's Eve mysteries from Dragnet and The Adventures of Philip Marlowe. We'll hear "The Big New Year's" (originally aired on NBC on March 8, 1951) and "The Old Acquaintance" (originally aired on CBS on December 26, 1948).
Our bonus series of holiday mysteries wraps up on Christmas Eve with two more tales of seasonal sleuthing. John Stanley and Alfred Shirley are Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in "The Adventure of the Christmas Bride" (originally aired on Mutual on December 21, 1947). And Jack Webb stars in a heartwarming case from Dragnet - "The Big Little Jesus" (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1953).
Christmas is only a few days away, and we're celebrating with a trio of holiday tales from Broadway - not the world of footlights, chorus lines, and matinee performances, but the seedier side of the street. Our first two tales come from the pen of Damon Runyon. A man is marked for death on Christmas Eve in "Dancing Dan's Christmas" from The Damon Runyon Theatre, and a trio of crooks hunting for lost loot finds a lot more in "Three Wise Guys" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1950). Then we'll hear a holiday mystery starring Detective Danny Clover in Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1949).
Christmas is only a week away and we've got a pair of old time radio mysteries for stocking stuffers. Charles Russell stars in a yuletide adventure of Johnny Dollar - "Small Time Swindles of Big Time Department Stores - Or How I Played Santa Claus and Almost Got Left Holding the Sack" (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1949) - and Sydney Greenstreet tries to save St. Nick in "The Case of the Slaughtered Santas" from The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1950).
Our two-part series on The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe wraps up with the final three actors to play Archie Goodwin opposite Sydney Greenstreet's gargantuan gourmet. Larry Dobkin - who you may know best as Louie, cab driver sidekick of The Saint - is Archie in "The Case of the Deadly Sellout" (originally aired on NBC on January 5, 1951). Gerald Mohr - the voice of Philip Marlowe - stars in "The Case of the Calculated Risk" (originally aired on NBC on January 19, 1951). And Harry Bartell - announcer and actor - plays Goodwin in "The Case of the Final Page" (originally aired on NBC on March 23, 1951).
Our countdown to Christmas continues with Vincent Price and Frank Sinatra both donning the red suit of Santa Claus! Simon Templar proves "Santa Claus is No Saint" (originally aired on NBC on December 24, 1950) and Rocky Fortune's new gig as a department store St. Nick is anything but merry in "The Plot to Murder Santa Claus" (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1953).
We kick off a two-part series spotlighting The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe in celebration of two December birthdays - Rex Stout, the creator of the gargantuan gourmet, and Sydney Greenstreet, the Oscar-nominated actor who brought the sleuth to radio life. The show ran for just one season but six different actors played Wolfe's loyal assistant Archie Goodwin in those 26 episodes. The series and its star could never settle on a supporting actor, but the unusual revolving door allowed some of radio's best performers to take a stab at the character. We'll hear the first three Messrs Goodwin - Wally Maher in "Stamped for Murder" (originally aired on NBC on October 20, 1950); Lamont Johnson in "The Case of the Careworn Cuff" (originally aired on NBC on October 27, 1950); and Herb Ellis in "The Case of the Dear Dead Lady" (originally aired on NBC on November 3, 1950).
We're celebrating the holidays with a month of seasonal sleuthing! Tune in Wednesdays throughout December for Christmas stories starring some of our favorite old time radio detectives. First up, the ace crimesolving cameraman spots a pickpocket and breaks a murder case in "Christmas Shopping" from Casey, Crime Photographer (originally aired on CBS on December 19, 1946). Then, Boston Blackie solves a jewel theft with a strange connection to a sidewalk Santa in a syndicated holiday mystery.
Harry Bartell worked all over the dial during the Golden Age of Radio, both as an actor in shows like Gunsmoke, Escape, and Johnny Dollar and as an announcer for The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Casebook of Gregory Hood. We'll celebrate his November 29th birthday with some of his work. First, he's on a voyage where a fellow passenger is a deadly snake in "A Shipment of Mute Fate" from Escape (originally aired on CBS on March 28, 1948). Then, he plays Frank Smith, the new partner for Sgt. Friday on "The Big Safe" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on May 1, 1952). Next, he's Archie Goodwin to Sydney Greenstreet's Nero Wolfe in two mysteries: "The Case of the Midnight Ride" (originally aired on NBC on March 16, 1951) and "The Case of the Tell-Tale Ribbon" (originally aired on NBC on March 30, 1951). Finally, he plays Lieutenant Seiberts opposite Raymond Chandler in "Shavetail," a western drama from Fort Laramie (originally aired on CBS on March 3, 1956).
Hit those big deals (and/or dig into some Thanksgiving leftovers) with this bonus episode for Black Friday starring Joe Friday. We'll hear Jack Webb as the star sergeant of the LAPD in three Dragnet radio mysteries: "The Big Press" (originally aired on NBC on June 15, 1950), "The Big Couple" (originally aired on NBC on February 22, 1951), and "The Big Number" (originally aired on NBC on October 26, 1952).
Happy Thanksgiving! As we head into what I hope is a fun and restful weekend for everyone, here's an encore of our annual Turkey Day special - a five-course meal of radio mysteries set around the holiday. Casey, Crime Photographer stars in a pair of stories: "After Turkey, the Bill" (originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1947), and "Holiday" (originally aired on CBS on November 25, 1948). As Jeff Regan, Jack Webb meets modern-day Miles Standish and finds a turkey shoot where it isn't a bird who catches the bullet in "The Pilgrim's Progress" from Jeff Regan, Investigator (originally aired on CBS on November 13, 1948). George Valentine comes to the aid of a boy in trouble in "Cause for Thanksgiving" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on November 20, 1950), and Steve Dunne stars as Sam Spade, who's hired by a Tom Turkey in "The Terrified Turkey Caper" (originally aired on NBC on November 24, 1950). Plus, keep an ear out for some music and comedy for the holiday from some old time radio favorites!
With Thanksgiving only a few days away, we're joining Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for some mysteries set around the dinner table. First, Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce are Holmes and Watson in "The Strange Case of Mrs. Abernetty" (originally aired on ABC on November 30, 1946). Then, it's a pair of mysteries starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley - "The Case of King Phillip's Golden Salver" (originally aired on Mutual on February 29, 1948) and "The Case of the Very Best Butter" (originally aired on Mutual on April 18, 1948).
In honor of Dick Powell's November 14th birthday, we're saluting the singing star with some of his old time radio performances. First, he plays private investigator Richard Rogue in "Little Old Lady" from Rogue's Gallery (originally aired on Mutual on November 29, 1945). Then, he's radio's crooning crimefighter Richard Diamond, Private Detective in a pair of episodes: "The Tom Waxman Bombing" (originally aired on NBC on June 26, 1949) and "Death and the Letter" (originally aired on NBC on November 8, 1950). Finally, he recreates one of his big screen roles, alongside co-star Lee J. Cobb, as The Lux Radio Theatre presents "Johnny O'Clock" (originally aired on CBS on May 12, 1947).
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love the introduction as much as the actual shows this episodes audio mixing is off.. music too loud vocal too quiet. still love the cast
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I like the intro and history
Great podcast!
the absolute best way to hear the classic noir detective mysteries of old. I adore & love the informative introduction. so we'll put together and the host truely knows & does his research.