Radio Detective Story Hour

This week a look at one of the longest running detective series on radio. Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons was in some ways not much more than a light drama produced by the soap drama factory of Frank and Anne Hummert. Yet, it had its share of crime and death. It was also extremely popular in its day and often remembered by many youngsters who listened to radio at the time. Please Take our Listener Survey Purchase Old Time Radio Shows Here!!!For More Information about Spin It Again, Click Here

This week I am returning to Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. It was a different series during the Edmond O'Brien (right) years - a radio noir! I'll look at O'Brien's role in the series. Please Take our Listener Survey

Jeff Regan was known as the "Lyon's Eye," a private investigator who worked for Anthony J. Lyon. Regan was fleshed out on radio by the young Jack Webb who portrayed a number of detectives on radio including his most famous - Sgt. Joe Friday. I'll look at the career of the young Webb and play an episode called "The Prodigal Daughter." Plus a clip from Webb's only comedy show on radio. Please Take our Listener Survey All Donations given this month will be divided among our hard working Podcasters. Merry Christmas to All

As Christmas approaches, I present a Christmas story/mystery that involves radio detective Boston Blackie. Richard Kollmar (right) stars. Please Take our Listener Survey All Donations given this month will be divided among our hard working Podcasters. Merry Christmas to All

This weekâs podcast of the Casebook of Gregory Hood began as a summer replacement for Sherlock Holmes. Gregory Hood was a dealer in antiquities who happened to also be a crime solver. Written by Denis Green and Anthony Boucher, it even sounded like their Sherlock Holmes series. It starred Gale Gordon (right). All Donations given this month will be divided among our hard working Podcasters. Merry Christmas to All

Michael Arlen was the English fictional voice of the Jazz Age. In 1940, he wrote one short story that was intended to be his foray into crime writing. That one short story spawned at least 9 Hollywood films, several radio series and a short-lived television series. This week we take a look at Arlen's creation of The Falcon! All Donations given this month will be divided among our hard working Podcasters. Merry Christmas to All

This week a woman attorney who spends more time solving the crimes she is asked to defend than she spends in the courtroom. Mercedes McCambridge (right) stars as Martha Ellis Bryant! Please Take our Listener Survey

This week a look at the police investigator instead of a private one. The series is from a late thirties syndicated series that was sponsored by True Detective Magazine.

Philo Vance was the creation of author S.S. Van Dine. He proved to be a popular detective as nine films were based on the character and three radio series. This week a look at all three radio series with a complete episode from the final one starring Jackson Beck as Vance.

A lesser known detective husband and wife team. The Abbotts first appeared 1945 on radio, but none of those episodes are known to exist. In 1955 a new version appeared called "The Adventures of the Abbotts" but until recently only one episode was known to exist. Recently all 13 episodes have re-surfaced and you'll hear one of the new one's here in this podcast. Claudia Morgan (right) starred as Jean Abbott and Les Damon as Pat.

This week - a look at probably the most well-known "media" detective - film, radio, fiction - Sherlock Holmes. You'll hear some of the history of the radio programs over the years it was broadcast and a rarer episode from the earliest known copy - 1933 with Richard Gordon as Holmes and Leigh Lovell as Dr. Watson.

A look at radio detective Dan Holiday - Alan Ladd - from Box 13. "Adventure Wanted. Will go anywhere. Do anything. Box 13." The series was produced by Ladd's Mayfair Productions.

Finishing up our look at the radio detective career of Dick Powell I turn to his role as Richard Diamond, "the singing gumshoe." By this time Powell had reinvented himself from "boy crooner" to tough detective both in film and radio.

The first of a two podcast look at how Dick Powell began to reinvent his image from boy crooner into movie and radio tough guy. Tonight I look at the first of his radio series in his new image - Richard Rogue in Rogue's Gallery.

Continuing our look at the radio career of Jack Webb, I look at an earlier series in which Webb starred - Pat Novak For Hire.

UPDATE: The previous feed for this podcast was defective. I have corrected the problem! A return to detective author, Dashiell Hammett, and his last fictional creations - Nick and Nora Charles in The Adventures of the Thin Man. The series starred Les Damon (see photo) and Claudia Morgan.

I return once more to Dashiell Hammett's only fictional detective created exclusively for radio! Brad Runyon, the Fat Man. "The hard boiled, hard hitting adventures of a criminologist who tips the scale at 247 pounds..." J. Scott Smart stars in the episode called "The Nineteenth Pearl."

A look this week at probably one of the most famous detective/cop radio shows ever and the man behind it all. The facts: Dragnet is the show; Jack Webb is the creative force. An early episode from the run starring Webb as Joe Friday and Barton Yarborough as Ben Romero.

Another great pulp magazine detective is featured on this week's podcast. This time - Brett Halliday's Michael Shayne, in the New Adventures of Michael Shayne. Running time: 30 minutes

The Radio Detective Story Hour looks at radio's cops and robbers. We interview Martin Grams Jr., author of many books on old time radio including 'Gang Busters: The Crime Fighters of American Broadcasting' and listen to an episode from the series: 'The Case of Bielanski and Tilotson'. Running time is about 60 minutes.