Old Time Radio Detectives

Nick Carter "Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure" (12-25-43)

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:59:07 -0800

Nick Carter was on the air over ten years, and gave radio detectives fans another great evening watching the radio. The half-hour unfolds as a straight, dramatic narrative, with clues littering the scenes and an alert listener could solve the mystery. Nick came on at the end of the show to add it all up correctly. Well, I suspect that there are some Holmes fans that would take exception to that claim. While he doesn't have the instant name recognition that Holmes enjoys, Nick Carter does have a year of seniority, having first appeared in print in 1886. In this incarnation, he was your typical strong-of-body, strong-of-mind dime novel hero, the likes of which would be seen later with Doc Savage. After approximately a thousand written stories and several movies (both silents and talkies), Nick Carter finally came to radio in 1943 and lasted until 1955. Throughout the whole run, Carter was portrayed by Lon Clark while his assistant Patsy Bowen (who was a man in the dime novels) was done by Helen Choate until mid-1946 and by Charlotte Manson thereafter (the episodes starring Choate are marked with an asterisk). Carter was a very methodical investigator. In the epilogue of each episode, he would explain what each clue meant and how they connected together.

THIS EPISODE:

Nick Carter. December 25, 1943. Mutual network. "Nick Carter's Christmas Adventure". Sustaining. . 1/2 hour.

Your's Truly Johnny Dollar "How I Played Santa Claus" (12-24-49)

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:39:10 -0800

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was a radio drama about a freelance insurance investigator that aired from February 11, 1949 to September 30, 1962 on CBS. There were 811 episodes in the 12-year run, and over 720 still exist today. Charles Russell was the first to star as Johnny Dollar, the smart and tough detective who tossed silver dollar tips to bellhops. With the first three actors to play Johnny Dollar there was little to distinguish it from other detective series at the time (Richard Diamond, Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade).While always a friend of the police,Johnny wasn't necessarily a stickler for the strictest interpretation of the law. He was willing to let some things slide to satisfy his own sense of justice, as long as the interests of his employer were protected.

THIS EPISODE:

December 24, 1949. CBS network. "Small Time Swindlers Of Big Time Department Stores". Sustaining. What do you do when the bad guy is really Santa Claus? Ho, ho! Bob Stevens, Charles Russell, Constance Crowder, Georgia Ellis, Jay Novello, Leith Stevens (composer, conductor), Marlene Ames, Parley Baer, Paul Dubov. 29:34.

Barry Craig Confidential Investigator "Scream For Murder" (07-19-53)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:53:31 -0800

Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator is one of the few detective radio series that had separate versions of it broadcast from both coasts. Even the spelling changed over the years. It was first "Barry Crane" and then "Barrie Craig". NBC produced it in New York from 1951 to 1954 and then moved it to Hollywood where it aired from 1954 to 1955. It attracted only occasional sponsors so it was usually a sustainer.William Gargan, who also played the better known television (and radio) detective Martin Kane, was the voice of New York eye BARRY CRAIG while Ralph Bell portrayed his associate, Lt. Travis Rogers. Craig's office was on Madison Avenue and his adventures were fairly standard PI fare. He worked alone, solved cases efficiently, and feared no man. As the promos went, he was "your man when you can't go to the cops. Confidentiality a speciality."Like Sam Spade, Craig narrated his stories, in addition to being the leading character in this 30 minute show. Nearly sixty episodes are in trading circulation today.

THIS EPISODE:

July 19, 1953 - Scream For Murder - Byron Kane, William Gargan, Betty Lou Gerson, Jack Moyles, Lou Krugman, Victor Rodman, John Roeburt (writer), Arthur Jacobson (director), Edward King (announcer).

Let George Do It - "No Way Out" (10-01-51)

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:45:32 -0800

Let George Do It was a radio drama series produced by Owen and Pauline Vinson from 1946 to 1954. It starred Bob Bailey as detective-for-hire George Valentine (with Olan Soule stepping into the role in 1954). Clients came to Valentine's office after reading a newspaper carrying his classified ad: "Personal notice: Danger's my stock in trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you've got a job for me. George Valentine." Valentine's secretary was Claire Brooks, aka Brooksie (Frances Robinson, Virginia Gregg, Lillian Buyeff). As Valentine made his rounds in search of the bad guys, he usually encounted Brooksie's kid brother, Sonny (Eddie Firestone), Lieutenant Riley (Wally Maher) and elevator man Caleb (Joseph Kearns). Sponsored by Standard Oil, the program was broadcast on the West Coast Mutual Broadcasting System from October 18, 1946 to September 27, 1954, first on Friday evenings and then on Mondays. In its last season, transcriptions were aired in New York, Wednesdays at 9:30pm, from January 20, 1954 to January 12, 1955. John Hiestand was the program's announcer. Don Clark directed the scripts by David Victor and Jackson Gillis. The background music was supplied by Eddie Dunstedter on the organ.

THIS EPISODE:

October 1, 1951. Mutual-Don Lee network. "No Way Out". Sponsored by: Standard Oil. A frightened young man is mixed up in a racket and a shooting. He then is arrested and jailed. Let George do it! Bob Bailey, Virginia Gregg, Jonathan Hole, Ted de Corsia, Kenneth Webb (director), Ken Christy, Don Clark (writer), Louise Arthur, Bud Hiestand (anouncer), Eddie Dunstedter (composer, conductor). 29:42.

Richard Diamond Private Detective "Butcher Shop Protection" (03-09-51)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:18:05 -0800

Richard Diamond, Private Detective was a radio show starring Dick Powell which aired from 1949 to 1953, first on NBC, then ABC and finally on CBS. The title character was a rather light-hearted detective who often ended the episodes singing to his girlfriend, Helen. The television series was produced by Powell's company, Four Star Television, and that series ran for 3 years from 1957 to 1960. On TV, David Janssen played the hard boiled private eye and his secretary renamed “Sam”, was only ever shown on camera from the waist down, most assurardidly to display her beautiful legs. It was later leared that the legs belonged to Mary Tyler Moore. Original music by Frank DeVol and pete rugolo and later by richard shores. Good scripts, a solid cast and Powell’s exceptional talent made a good time 30 minute program that was quite popular during that Golden Age of Radio. So Let’s sit back now, relax and enjoy this truly otr radio classic.,…, Dick powell as Richard Diamond.., Private Detective.

March 9, 1951. ABC network. Sponsored by: Camels, Prince Albert tobacco. Diamond uses plenty of "beef" to get at the "marrow" of a butcher shop protection racket. Dick Powell, Virginia Gregg, Wilms Herbert, Arthur Q. Bryan, Blake Edwards (writer), Helen Mack (director), Frank Worth (music). 29:56.

The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe "The Soft Spot" (09-01-08)

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:09:45 -0800

The first portrayal of Phillip Marlowe on the radio was by Dick Powell, when he played Raymond Chandler's detective on the Lux Radio Theater on June 11, 1945. This was a radio adaptation of the 1944 movie, from RKO, in which Mr. Powell played the lead. Two years later, Van Heflin starred as Marlowe in a summer replacement series for the Bob Hope Show on NBC. This series ran for 13 shows. On September 26, 1948, Gerald Mohr became the third radio Marlowe, this time on CBS. It remained a CBS show through its last show in 1951.

THIS EPISODE:
September 1, 1950. CBS network. "The Soft Spot". Sustaining. An old man dead in a flop house, a sot who carves wood, a fallen lady with an eye for gold lockets, and a snake with big ears all lead Marlowe to a soft spot in a killer's hard heart! Bill Bouchey, Edgar Barrier, Gene Levitt (writer), Gerald Mohr, Nestor Paiva, Paul Dubov, Peter Leeds, Raymond Chandler (creator), Richard Aurandt (music), Richard Sanville (director), Robert Mitchell (writer), Roy Rowan (announcer), Verna Felton, Vivi Janis. 29:42.

Rocky Jordan - "Count Me Out" (11-07-48)

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:22:29 -0800

ROCKY JORDAN was the title character of one of the better and more exotic radio detective series. In fact, it's one of the best detective series I have ever heard. The series had two separate incarnations. The first, A Man Named Jordan, started as a daily 15 minute show and after about six months changed to a weekly 30 minute show. It took place in Istanbul and the Cafe was described as "a small restaurant in a narrow street off Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, permeated with by the smoke of Oriental tobacco, alive with the babble of many tongues, and packed with intrigue." The second incarnation, Rocky Jordan, was a weekly 30 minute series took place in Cairo - "the gateway to the ancient East where adventure and intrigue unfold against the backdrop of antiquity." Jordan was a hard-boiled owner of the Cafe Tambourine who spent most of his time solving mysteries that he usually became involved in by accident. During the Cairo-based run, he often encountered Captain Sam Sabaaya of the Cairo police. John Dunning in his "On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio" describes Jordan as "a rugged hero who each week was confronted by a crime, a mystery, a beautiful woman or a combination of the three. It was a detective show with a difference: the Oriental background was played to the hilt, giving it a sound like no other." The writers worked hard to give it authenticity - actual places and streets in Cairo were often and accurately mentioned. The music score also added to the exoticness of the series. Moyles, a veteran of radio, was much more believable in the role than Raft. The show was one of the best examples of the so-called "amateur detective" or "unlicenced private investigator" type that were a recurring theme for radio series. It was a common way of putting a different and fresh twist on the basic private detective theme, an extremely popular genre on the radio. The main character had a stated, non-investigative occupation, but he or she always got involved with solving mysteries and crimes. Jordan passes the Chandler test: "trouble" was definitely his "real" business.

THIS EPISODE:

November 7, 1948. CBS Pacific network. "Count Me Out". Sustaining. Not auditioned. Tessana is, "tall, tan and terrific." "When she danced, she was like a moving bronze statue, alive and sultry." Jack Moyles, William Froug (writer), Cliff Howell (producer, director), Milton Charles (composer, organist). 29:42.

Box 13 "The Better Man" (01-02-49)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 20:44:44 -0800

Box 13 was a syndicated radio series about the escapades of mystery novelist Dan Holiday (Alan Ladd), a former newsman. Created by Mayfair Productions, the series premiered August 22, 1948, on New York's WOR and aired in syndication on the East Coast from August 22, 1948, to August 14. 1949. On the West Coast, Box 13 was heard from March 15, 1948 to March 7, 1949. To seek out new ideas for his fiction, Holiday ran a classified ad in the Star-Times newspaper. "Adventure wanted, will go anywhere, do anything -- Box 13." The stories followed Holiday's adventures when he responded to the letters sent to him by such people as a psycho killer and various victims.

THIS EPISODE:

January 2, 1949. Program #20. Mayfair syndication. "The Better Man". Commercials added locally. Millionaire Charles Winthrop craves excitement. He hides $100,000 in cash to get it. Alan Ladd, Richard Sanville (director), Rudy Schrager (composer, conductor), Russell Hughes (writer), Sylvia Picker, Vern Carstensen (production supervisor). 28:07.

The New Adventures Of Michael Shayne "The Phantom Neighbor" (12-30-48)

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:20:02 -0800

The New Adventures Of Michael Shayne was a fictional private detective character created by writer Brett Halliday during the late 1930's. Shayne debuted in the novel Dividend on Death first published in 1939, written by David Dresser, a pseudonym of Halliday. Dresser wrote fifty Shayne novels, with the help of Ryerson Johnson. Twenty seven more were written by Robert Terrall for a total of seventy seven; three hundred short stories, a dozen films, radio and television shows, and a few comic book appearances have resulted from the character. The books were typically very well plotted, with Shayne always gathering the suspects at the end and explaining the crime and naming the murderer. Shayne was initially married in the novels, his wife being Phyllis Shayne, who was a somewhat limited character, and was often out of town. Dresser "killed her off" when he sold the movie rights to the series. In the book, Blood on the Black Market, comedy disappears, and Shayne is forced to deal with his wife's death. Halliday later created "Michael Shayne Mystery Magazine", first introduced in 1956 by Renown Publications. The magazine continued for over three decades, always having at least one Michael Shayne short story included in each edition. Halliday stopped writing the Michael Shayne novels after Murder and the Wanton Bride in 1958. Shayne novels continued, however, written by Ryserson Johnson, Robert Terrell, and David Lynds. In 1960, the Michael Shayne television series began, with actor Richard Denning playing the lead role. Dell Comics soon picked up the character for a comic book series. Michael Shayne Mysteries, and a film series starring Lloyd Nolan, is available on DVD.

THIS EPISODE:

Broadcaster's Guild syndication, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Case Of The Phantom Neighbor". Ann Griffin needs a murder alibi badly...Shayne tries for the one-in-a-million chance witness. The AFRTS system cue has been deleted. Jeff Chandler, Jack Webb, William P. Rousseau (director, host), Brett Halliday (creator), Robert Ryf (writer), John Duffy (composer, conductor). 27:26.

Boston Blackie "Joe Adams Drowned" (05-14-47)

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:54:57 -0800

The Boston Blackie radio series, also starring Morris, began June 23, 1944, on NBC as a summer replacement for The Amos 'n' Andy Show. Sponsored by Rinso, the series continued until September 15 of that year. Unlike the concurrent films, Blackie had a steady romantic interest in the radio show: Lesley Woods appeared as Blackie's girlfriend Mary Wesley. Harlow Wilcox was the show's announcer. On April 11, 1945, Richard Kollmar took over the title role in a radio series syndicated by Frederic W. Ziv to Mutual and other network outlets. Over 200 episodes of this series were produced between 1944 and October 25, 1950. Other sponsors included Lifebuoy Soap, Champagne Velvet beer, and R&H beer. While investigating mysteries, Blackie invaribly encountered harebrained Police Inspector Farraday (Maurice Tarplin) and always solved the mystery to Farraday's amazement. Initially, friction surfaced in the relationship between Blackie and Farraday, but as the series continued, Farraday recognized Blackie's talents and requested assistance. Blackie dated Mary Wesley (Jan Miner), and for the first half of the series, his best pal Shorty was always on hand. The humorless Farraday was on the receiving end of Blackie's bad puns and word play. Kent Taylor starred in the half-hour TV series, The Adventures of Boston Blackie. Syndicated in 1951, it ran for 58 episodes, continuing in repeats over the following decade.

THIS EPISODE:

Boston Blackie. May 14, 1947. Program #109. Mutual network origination, Ziv syndication. Commercials added locally. Joe Adams is drowned in a bathtub by two gangsters. He soon is found floating in the sea lion pool at the zoo! Blackie smells something fishy! Richard Kollmar. 26:54.

Pat Novak For Hire "Joe Denine Story" (06-18-49)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:30:49 -0800

Pat Novak For Hire, played by Jack Webb, was a private detective working out of Pier 19, a waterfront office in San Francisco. The stories were always very similar: Someone would hire him, (if not a beautiful woman, the job would lead to a beautiful woman) someone would get murdered, he would investigate the case, get beaten up by the thugs, and then the case would be solved and end with glorious violence. The closing was always the same; the listener would be told who had done what, to whom and why they had done it. Broadcast History: From 1946 to 1949. CAST: Jack Webb, Tudor Owen, John Galbraith, Raymond Burr. Announcer: George Fenneman.

THIS EPISODE:
June 18, 1949. ABC network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. Who killed Joe Deneen, and why? And where is his safe deposit box? Jack Webb, Raymond Burr, Tudor Owen. 1/2 hour.

Barry Craig Confidential Investigator "The Tough Guy" (07-06-54)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:07:57 -0800

THIS EPISODE:

July 6, 1954. NBC network. "The Tough Guy". Sustaining. Barrie joins in the search for a missing $30,000 in stolen loot. The system cue has been deleted. Lawrence Dobkin, John Roeburt (writer), Arthur Jacobson (director), Edward King (announcer), William Gargan, Charlotte Lawrence, Shepard Menken. 29:28.

Rocky Fortune "The Doctor's Dilemma" (03-02-54)

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:10:37 -0800

"Rocky Fortune" is about a wanderer that took odd jobs to support himself and never stayed in one place too long. He almost always seemed to meet beautiful women along with trouble. Sinatra was good and was proving to Hollywood that he could do serious work. When casting began for the movie "From Here To Eternity", Frank campaigned tirelessly for a part and because of that and a good word put in for him by Gardner, who he was now separated from, he won a part that would mark his return to Hollywood. Sadly for us, it also meant he didn't have time to do radio and "Rocky Fortune" was rather short lived, although it was popular. It only ran from 1953 - 1954, but" It was a very good year".

THIS EPISODE:
March 2, 1954. NBC network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Doctor's Dilemma". A doctor's son has stolen $25,000 worth of narcotics from his father's office. Rocky pretends that he's a blackmailer and lays a trap. Frank Sinatra, Raymond Burr, Norm Sickle (writer), Andrew C. Love (director), Maurice Hart, Jack Carroll, Georgia Ellis, Barney Phillips. 24:51.

Philo Vance "The Bulletin Murder Case" (10-05-48)

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:55:36 -0800

Philo Vance was the detective creation of S. S. Van Dine first published in the mid 1920s. Vance, in the original books, is an intellectual so highly refined he seems he might be ghostwritten by P. G. Wodehouse. Take this quote from The Benson Murder Case, 1924, as Vance pontificates in his inimitable way: "That's your fundamental error, don't y' know. Every crime is witnessed by outsiders, just as is every work of art. The fact that no one sees the criminal, or the artist, actu'lly at work, is wholly incons'quential." Thankfully, the radio series uses only the name, and makes Philo a pretty normal, though very intelligent and extremely courteous gumshoe. Jose Ferrer played him in 1945. From 1948-1950, the fine radio actor Jackson Beck makes Vance as good as he gets. George Petrie plays Vance's constantly impressed public servant, District Attorney Markham. Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman. The organist for the show is really working those ivories, and fans of old time radio organ will especially enjoy this series. Perhaps one reason the organist "pulls out all the stops" is because there seems to be little, if any, sound effects on the show. Philo Vance, the radio series, does pay homage to the original books in that both were, even in their own time, a bit out of date and stilted. (OTRR)

THIS EPISODE:
October 5, 1948 - Program #13. ZIV Syndication. "The Bulletin Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A lady reporter on "The Bulletin" is assigned to interview Philo Vance, but is murdered! Then, the cab driver who discovered the body is bumped off! Jackson Beck. 27:12.

The Adventures Of Sam Spade "The Quarter Eagle Caper" (11-28-48)

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:53:40 -0800

The Adventures of Sam Spade was a radio series based loosely on the private detective character Sam Spade, created by writer Dashiell Hammett for The Maltese Falcon. The show ran for 13 episodes on ABC in 1946, for 157 episodes on CBS in 1946-1949, and finally for 51 episodes on NBC in 1949-1951. The series starred Howard Duff (and later, Steve Dunne) as Sam Spade and Lurene Tuttle as his secretary Effie, and took a considerably more tongue-in-cheek approach to the character than the novel or movie. In 1947, scriptwriters Jason James and Bob Tallman received an Edgar Award for Best Radio Drama from the Mystery Writers of America. Before the series, Sam Spade had been played in radio adaptations of The Maltese Falcon by both Edward G. Robinson (in a 1943 Lux Radio Theater production) and by Bogart himself (in a 1946 Academy Award Theater production), both on CBS.

THIS EPISODE:
November 28, 1948. CBS network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Quarter Eagle Caper". The owner of a gum-machine company is murdered, giving Sam plenty to chew on! Howard Duff, Lurene Tuttle, Dashiell Hammett (creator). 24:44.

The New Adventures Of Michael Shayne "The Model Murder" (11-02-49)

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:47:27 -0800

Michael Shayne was a fictional sleuth created by Brett Halliday (a pen name for author Davis Dresser) who was first initiated into the fraternity for detectives in the 1939 novel "Dividend of Death". Dresser based the character on a “tall and rangy” brawler who once saved his life during a braw in a Mexican cantina. The Shayne character would go on to appear in 69 novels, plus a long-running mystery magazine—and in 1941, was brought to the silver screen in Paramount’s Michael Shayne, Private Detective, an adaptation of Dividend of Death that starred Lloyd Nolan, and paved the way for six additional B-mysteries to follow. The New Adventures of Michael Shayne—premiered on July 15, 1948 starring Jeff Chandler.

THIS EPISODE:
November 2, 1949. Program #7. Broadcaster's Guild syndication, AFRS rebroadcast. "The Case Of The Model Murder". A story about an $8 million dollar inheritance and a strange glutton. The date is approximate. Jack Webb, Brett Halliday (creator), Don W. Sharp (producer), John Duffy (composer, conductor), Jeff Chandler, William P. Rousseau (director, host). 1/2 hour.

The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe "The Unfair Lady" (06-04-49)

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:04:20 -0800

The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe - The first portrayal of Phillip Marlowe on the radio was by Dick Powell, when he played Raymond Chandler's detective on the Lux Radio Theater on June 11, 1945. This was a radio adaptation of the 1944 movie, from RKO, in which Mr. Powell played the lead. Two years later, Van Heflin starred as Marlowe in a summer replacement series for the Bob Hope Show on NBC. This series ran for 13 shows. On September 26, 1948, Gerald Mohr became the third radio Marlowe, this time on CBS. It remained a CBS show through its last show in 1951.

THIS EPISODE:
June 4, 1949. CBS net. "The Unfair Lady". Sustaining. Marlowe tackles a thief in a Mexican diamond mine. Gerald Mohr, Roy Rowan (announcer), Parley Baer, Wilms Herbert, Hans Conried, Betty Lou Gerson, Paul Dubov, Nestor Paiva, Raymond Chandler (creator). 29:37.

Paul Temple Intervenes "The Marquis" (10-30-42)

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:30:42 -0700

Paul Temple and Steve started their 30 year radio career in 1938. What follows is a listing of all the serials and plays originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme or other domestic services. Many of the serials were made available by the BBC Transcription Service to overseas broadcasters, ensuring that Francis Durbridge's creation still has fans all over the world. In many ways 2003 has been a very good year for the series with BBC Worldwide continuing to issue the serials on CD and cassette, and the advent of the digital radio station BBC7, has given listeners in the UK (and worldwide via the internet) the chance to enjoy again Paul Temple.

THIS EPISODE:
October 30, 1942 - BBC origination, NPR net, WPKT-FM, Middlefield, Connecticut aircheck. "The Marquis" Sustaining. WPKT-FM 17:57.

Let George Do It "Stand In For Murder" (11-29-48)

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:34:06 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
November 29, 1948. Mutual-Don Lee network. "Stand-In For Murder". Sponsored by: Standard Oil, Chevron. A racketeer is being blackmailed into committing a crime by the mob. Murder, a double-cross and a frame follow. Keep your ear on "Squeaky." Bob Bailey, Frances Robinson, Gerald Mohr, Jeanne Bates, Bob Jellison, Edward Marr, Bud Hiestand (announcer), Don Clark (director), Eddie Dunstedter (composer, conductor), David Victor (writer), Herbert Little Jr. (writer). 29:46.

Your's Truly Johnny Dollar "Expiring Nickels & Egyptian Jacket" (09-04-49)

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:37:06 -0700

Your's Truly, Johnny Dollar - For over twelve years, from 1949 through 1962 (including a one year hiatus in 1954-1955), this series recounted the cases "the man with the action-packed expense account, America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar". Johnny was an accomplished 'padder' of his expense account. The name of the show derives from the fact that he closed each show by totaling his expense account, and signing it "End of report... Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar". Terry Salomonson in his authoritative "A Radio Broadcast Log of the Drama Program Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar", notes that the original working title was "Yours Truly, Lloyd London". Salomonson writes "Lloyd London was scratched out of the body of (the Dick Powell) audition script and Johnny Dollar was written in. Thus the show was re-titled on this script and the main character was renamed. Why this was done was unclear – possibly to prevent a legal run-in with Lloyd’s of London Insurance Company." Although based in Hartford, Connecticut, the insurance capital of the world, freelancer Johnny Dollar managed to get around quite a bit – his adventures taking him all over the world. There were some unusual devices used in the show that help set it apart from other shows. There was no partner, assistant, or secretary for Johnny. The character closest to a continuing role was that of Pat McCracken of the Universal Adjustment Bureau, who assigned Johnny many of his cases. Another atypical aspect gave the show additional credibility – frequently, characters on the show would mention that they had heard about Johnny’s cases on the radio. Johnny often used his time when filling out his expense accounts to give the audience background information or to express his thoughts about the current case.No fewer than eight actors played Johnny Dollar. Dick Powell, of Rogue’s Gallery fame, cut the original audition tape, but chose to do Richard Diamond, Private Detective instead. Gerald Mohr, of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe fame, auditioned in 1955, prior to Bob Bailey getting the title role. Through the first three actors to play Johnny Dollar (Charles Russell, Edmond O'Brien, and John Lund), there was little to distinguish the series from many other radio detective series. Dollar was just another hard-boiled detective in a medium that was overloaded with the stereotype. Charles Russell, the first to play the role, would throw silver dollars to bellboys and waiters. Luckily, this trite gimmick did not survive long.

THIS EPISODE:
September 4, 1949. CBS network. "The Expiring Nickle and The Egyptian Jackpot". Sustaining. A leper in India and a lady stowaway on an airplane add up to adventure in the Middle East. The announcer states that this is the last Johnny Dollar show until October 1, 1949, which wasn't true. Charles Russell, Georgia Ellis, Gil Doud (writer), Gordon T. Hughes (director), Jack Edwards, Leith Stevens (composer, conductor), Parley Baer, Paul Dubov, Paul Dudley (writer), Roy Rowan (announcer). 30:17.

Pat Novak For Hire "The Agnes Bolton Case" (06-04-49)

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:06:00 -0700

Pat Novak (1949-1950), played by Jack Webb, was a private detective working out of Pier 19, a waterfront office in San Francisco. The stories were always very similar: Someone would hire him, (if not a beautiful woman, the job would lead to a beautiful woman) someone would get murdered, he would investigate the case, get beaten up by the thugs, and then the case would be solved and end with glorious violence. The closing was always the same; the listener would be told who had done what, to whom and why they had done it.

THIS EPISODE:
The Agnes Bolton Case June 4, 1949. Program #13. ABC network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. The fat lady with a green package in a bowling alley. Espionage and the usual frame for Novak. Jack Webb, Richard Breen (writer), Hal Gibney (announcer), Charles McGraw, Tudor Owen. 31:01.

Philo Vance "The Eagle Murder Case" (07-13-48)

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:57:06 -0700

Philo Vance was the detective creation of S. S. Van Dine first published in the mid 1920s. Vance, in the original books, is an intellectual so highly refined he seems he might be ghostwritten by P. G. Wodehouse. Take this quote from The Benson Murder Case, 1924, as Vance pontificates in his inimitable way: "That's your fundamental error, don't y' know. Every crime is witnessed by outsiders, just as is every work of art. The fact that no one sees the criminal, or the artist, actu'lly at work, is wholly incons'quential." Thankfully, the radio series uses only the name, and makes Philo a pretty normal, though very intelligent and extremely courteous gumshoe. Jose Ferrer played him in 1945. From 1948-1950, the fine radio actor Jackson Beck makes Vance as good as he gets. George Petrie plays Vance's constantly impressed public servant, District Attorney Markham. Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman. The organist for the show is really working those ivories, and fans of old time radio organ will especially enjoy this series. Perhaps one reason the organist "pulls out all the stops" is because there seems to be little, if any, sound effects on the show. Philo Vance, the radio series, does pay homage to the original books in that both were, even in their own time, a bit out of date and stilted. (OTRR)

THIS EPISODE:
Program #1. ZIV Syndication. "The Eagle Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A case of murder in an ambulance. The Ziv syndicated series is said to have begun in 1946, another source says it started in 1948. Jackson Beck. 27:04.

Broadway Is My Beat "Lt. Jimmy Hunt Murder" (02-03-50)

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:55:26 -0700

Broadway Is My Beat, a radio crime drama, ran on CBS from February 27, 1949 to August 1, 1954. With music by Robert Stringer, the show originated from New York during its first three months on the air, with Anthony Ross portraying Times Square Detective Danny Clover. John Dietz directed for producer Lester Gottlieb. Beginning with the July 7, 1949 episode, the series was broadcast from Hollywood with producer Elliott Lewis directing a new cast in scripts by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. The opening theme of "I'll Take Manhattan" introduced Detective Danny Clover (now played by Larry Thor), a hardened New York City cop who worked homicide "from Times Square to Columbus Circle -- the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world."

THIS EPISODE:
February 3, 1950. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. Jimmy Hunt has committed suicide, but not really. Could it have been done by the father of his blind girlfriend? for a network version of this broadcast. Larry Thor, Charles Calvert, Gordon T. Hughes (director), Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), Alexander Courage (composer), Wilbur Hatch (conductor), Peggy Webber, Theodore Von Eltz, Mary Jane Croft, Georgia Ellis, Jerry Hausner, Jack Edwards. 1/2 hour.

Jeff Regan Investigator "The Man In Black" (Rehearsal) 11-02-49

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:55:23 -0700

Jeff Regan, Investigator was one of the three detective shows Jack Webb did before Dragnet (see also Pat Novak For Hire and Johnny Modero: Pier 23). It debuted on CBS in July 1948. Webb played JEFF REGAN, a tough private eye working in a Los Angeles investigation firm run by Anthony J. Lyon. Regan introduced himself on each show "I get ten a day and expenses...they call me the Lyon's Eye." The show was fairly well-plotted, Webb's voice was great, and the supporting cast were skillful. Regan handled rough assignments from Lion, with whom he was not always on good terms. He was tough, tenacious, and had a dry sense of humor. The voice of his boss, Anthony Lion, was Wilms Herbert. The show ended in December 1948 but was resurrected in October 1949 with a new cast; Frank Graham played Regan (later Paul Dubrov was the lead) and Frank Nelson portrayed Lion. This version ran on CBS, sometimes as a West Coast regional, until August 1950. Both versions were 30 minutes, but the day and time slot changed several times. A total of 29 episodes from this series are in trading currency.

THIS EPISODE:
November 2, 1949. CBS network. "The Man In Black (Rehursal)". Frank Graham, Wilms Herbert, Lurene Tuttle, Dickie Chambers, Paul Frees, Wally Maher, Marvin Miller, E. Jack Neuman (writer), Sterling Tracy (producer), Richard Aurandt (music), Bob Stevenson (announcer). 29:40.

The New Adventures Of Michael Shayne "The Man Who Lived Forever" (05-07-49)

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:35:01 -0700

The New Adventures Of Michael Shayne - Michael Shayne was a fictional private detective character created by writer Brett Halliday during the late 1930's. Shayne debuted in the novel Dividend on Death first published in 1939, written by David Dresser, a pseudonym of Halliday. Dresser wrote fifty Shayne novels, with the help of Ryerson Johnson. Twenty seven more were written by Robert Terrall for a total of seventy seven; three hundred short stories, a dozen films, radio and television shows, and a few comic book appearances have resulted from the character. The books were typically very well plotted, with Shayne always gathering the suspects at the end and explaining the crime and naming the murderer. Shayne was initially married in the novels, his wife being Phyllis Shayne, who was a somewhat limited character, and was often out of town. Dresser "killed her off" when he sold the movie rights to the series. In the book, Blood on the Black Market, comedy disappears, and Shayne is forced to deal with his wife's death. Halliday later created "Michael Shayne Mystery Magazine", first introduced in 1956 by Renown Publications. The magazine continued for over three decades, always having at least one Michael Shayne short story included in each edition. Halliday stopped writing the Michael Shayne novels after Murder and the Wanton Bride in 1958. Shayne novels continued, however, written by Ryserson Johnson, Robert Terrell, and David Lynds. In 1960, the Michael Shayne television series began, with actor Richard Denning playing the lead role. Dell Comics soon picked up the character for a comic book series. Michael Shayne Mysteries, and a film series starring Lloyd Nolan, is available on DVD.

1949. Program #1. Broadcaster's Guild syndication. "The Man Who Lived Forever". Commercials added locally. The man's name was Anthony Correll and he is supposed to never die. What does the coiled snake on his forehead mean? A Peter Lorre clone shoots Michael Shayne! The program closing has been deleted. The date is approximate. Jeff Chandler, William P. Rousseau (host, director), John Duffy (composer, performer), Brett Halliday (creator), Don W. Sharp (producer). 26:50.

Boston Blackie "Oscar Wolfe Case" (06-11-45)

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:15:27 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
June 13, 1945. Program #10. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. Commercials added locally. After Janice Larson almost kills herself, Blackie threatens Oscar Wolfe. His threat is recorded on a dictating machine. When Wolfe is killed the next day, Blackie becomes a fugitive wanted for murder! Richard Kollmar, Frank Lovejoy, John Gibson (?). 26:18.

The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe "The Anniversary Gift" (04-11-50)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:51:45 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
April 11, 1950. CBS network. "The Anniversary Gift". Sponsored by: Ford. Marlowe is hired to retrieve a valuable platinum watch...worth its weight in murder! This is the only known show in which William Conrad plays the lead instead of Gerald Mohr or Van Heflin! William Conrad, Roy Rowan (announcer), Edgar Barrier, Sammie Hill, John Dehner, Harry Bartell, Jeanne Bates, Ralph Moody, Lawrence Dobkin, Harry Bartell, Raymond Chandler (creator). 29:47

Dragnet "The Big Badge" (05-04-50)

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:45:51 -0700

Dragnet was a long-running radio and television police procedural drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet debuted inauspiciously. The first several months were bumpy, as Webb and company worked out the program’s format and eventually became comfortable with their characters (Friday was originally portrayed as more brash and forceful than his later usually relaxed demeanor). Gradually, Friday’s deadpan, fast-talking persona emerged, described by John Dunning as "a cop's cop, tough but not hard, conservative but caring." (Dunning, 210) Friday’s first partner was Sgt. Ben Romero, portrayed by Barton Yarborough, a longtime radio actor. When Dragnet hit its stride, it became one of radio’s top-rated shows. While most radio shows used one or two sound effects experts, Dragnet needed five; a script clocking in at just under 30 minutes could require up to 300 separate effects. Accuracy was underlined: The exact number of footsteps from one room to another at Los Angeles police headquarters were imitated, and when a telephone rang at Friday’s desk, the listener heard the same ring as the telephones in Los Angeles police headquarters. A single minute of "A Gun For Christmas" is a representative example of the evocative sound effects featured on "Dragnet". While Friday and others investigate bloodstains in a suburban backyard, the listener hears a series of overlapping effects: a squeaking gate hinge, footsteps, a technician scraping blood into a paper envelope, the glassy chime of chemical vials, bird calls and a dog barking in the distance. Scripts tackled a number of topics, ranging from the thrilling (murders, missing persons and armed robbery) to the mundane (check fraud and shoplifting), yet "Dragnet" made them all interesting due to fast-moving plots and behind-the-scenes realism. In "The Garbage Chute" (15 December 1949), they even had a locked room mystery.

THIS EPISODE:
May 4, 1950. Program #47. NBC network. "The Big Badge". Sponsored by: Fatima. "The Badge Bandit" has struck fifteen times, but is now trapped in Laurel Canyon. Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough. 29:33.

Let George Do It "Dead On Arrival" (11-10-52)

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:48:05 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
November 10, 1952. Mutual Don-Lee network. "Dead On Arrival". Sponsored by: Standard Oil. A gentle, gray-haried man is encountered in a bus station. George Valentine and Brooksie find the man has been shot dead...and his body stolen! Bob Bailey, Virginia Gregg, David Victor (writer), Kenneth Webb (director), Gaylord Carter (music), Bud Hiestand (announcer), Julie Bennett, Griff Barnett, Forrest Lewis, Harry Bartell, Dick Ryan. 29:47.

Your's Truly Johnny Dollar "The Search For Michelle March" (09-25-49)

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:01:19 -0700

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - For over twelve years, from 1949 through 1962 (including a one year hiatus in 1954-1955), this series recounted the cases "the man with the action-packed expense account, America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar". Johnny was an accomplished 'padder' of his expense account. The name of the show derives from the fact that he closed each show by totaling his expense account, and signing it "End of report... Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar". Terry Salomonson in his authoritative "A Radio Broadcast Log of the Drama Program Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar", notes that the original working title was "Yours Truly, Lloyd London". Salomonson writes "Lloyd London was scratched out of the body of (the Dick Powell) audition script and Johnny Dollar was written in. Thus the show was re-titled on this script and the main character was renamed. Why this was done was unclear – possibly to prevent a legal run-in with Lloyd’s of London Insurance Company." Although based in Hartford, Connecticut, the insurance capital of the world, freelancer Johnny Dollar managed to get around quite a bit – his adventures taking him all over the world. There were some unusual devices used in the show that help set it apart from other shows. There was no partner, assistant, or secretary for Johnny. The character closest to a continuing role was that of Pat McCracken of the Universal Adjustment Bureau, who assigned Johnny many of his cases. Another atypical aspect gave the show additional credibility – frequently, characters on the show would mention that they had heard about Johnny’s cases on the radio. Johnny often used his time when filling out his expense accounts to give the audience background information or to express his thoughts about the current case.No fewer than eight actors played Johnny Dollar. Dick Powell, of Rogue’s Gallery fame, cut the original audition tape, but chose to do Richard Diamond, Private Detective instead. Gerald Mohr, of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe fame, auditioned in 1955, prior to Bob Bailey getting the title role. Through the first three actors to play Johnny Dollar (Charles Russell, Edmond O'Brien, and John Lund), there was little to distinguish the series from many other radio detective series. Dollar was just another hard-boiled detective in a medium that was overloaded with the stereotype. Charles Russell, the first to play the role, would throw silver dollars to bellboys and waiters. Luckily, this trite gimmick did not survive long.

THIS EPISODE:
September 25, 1949. CBS network. "The Search For Michelle March". Sustaining. Johnny goes to Boston for the search...and finds murder! Bill Bouchey, Charles Russell, Charles Seel, Dorothy Lovett, Gil Doud (writer), Gordon T. Hughes (director), Lawrence Dobkin, Leith Stevens (composer, conductor), Myra Marsh, Paul Dudley (writer), Roy Rowan (announcer), Vic Ryan. 29:48.

Barry Craig Confidential Investigator "The Deadly Fight" (01-23-52)

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:11:29 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
January 23, 1952. NBC network. "The Deadly Fight". Sustaining. Not auditioned. "A widow who can't find tears, an obituary notice in search of a cough and a boxing champ whose biggest win is a fight, strictly off the record." Fran Carlon, Himan Brown (director), William Gargan, John Roeburt (writer), Don Pardo (announcer). 29:44.

The Adventures Of Sam Spade "The Fairly-Bright Caper" (10-31-48)

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:56:40 -0700

THIS EPISODE:

October 31, 1948. CBS network. "The Fairly Bright Caper". Sponsored by: Wildroot Cream Oil. Spade is hired to protect a Halloween party, which is only slightly complicated by a witch and a murder! Howard Duff, Lurene Tuttle, Dick Joy (announcer), Dashiell Hammett (creator). 29:28.

Broadway Is My Beat "Sherman Gates Case" (12-03-49)

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:13:23 -0700

Broadway Is My Beat, a radio crime drama, ran on CBS from February 27, 1949 to August 1, 1954. With music by Robert Stringer, the show originated from New York during its first three months on the air, with Anthony Ross portraying Times Square Detective Danny Clover. John Dietz directed for producer Lester Gottlieb. Beginning with the July 7, 1949 episode, the series was broadcast from Hollywood with producer Elliott Lewis directing a new cast in scripts by Morton Fine and David Friedkin. The opening theme of "I'll Take Manhattan" introduced Detective Danny Clover (now played by Larry Thor), a hardened New York City cop who worked homicide "from Times Square to Columbus Circle -- the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world."

THIS EPISODE:
December 3, 1949. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. Sherman Gates is found poisoned in the loge of a movie theatre, which leads to a murdered photographer. See a network recording of this broadcast Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Alexander Courage (composer), Larry Thor, Charles Calvert, Paul Dubov, Junius Matthews, Mary Jane Croft, Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), Alexander Courage (composer), Wilbur Hatch (conductor), Herbert Rawlinson, Joyce McCluskey, Joe Forte. 30:27.

The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe "Sound And Unsound" (09-15-51)

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:06:08 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
September 15, 1951. CBS network. "The Sound and The Unsound". Sustaining. The last show of the series. A strange tapping noise leads Marlowe to a shooting. What is everyone looking for? D. J. Thompson, Shirley Mitchell, William Tracy, Roy Rowan (announcer), Pierre Garriguenc (composer), Wilbur Hatch (conductor), Cliff Howell (producer, director), Gerald Mohr, Raymond Chandler (creator), Kathleen Hite (writer), Olan Soule, Ted Osborne, Frank Gerstle, Arthur Q. Bryan. 29:55.

Let George Do It "Murder For Two" (03-19-51)

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:57:09 -0700

Let George Do It - Bob Bailey played George Valentine as a detective handy man, who got his jobs from responses to a newspaper ad. Part-time detective and writer Dan Holiday in Box 13 also used the premise. It pays to advertise! The shows follow the usual formats of crime caper shows, with toughs, mysterious rendezvous and people who aren't who they say they are. Francis Robinson first played Brooksie, then Virginia Gregg took the role through its best years. Both ladies played Brooksie smart and sassy. Brooksie took every occasion to make it clear to George that the case he was the most off base on was the "Case of the Missing Engagement Ring." In the late '40's, an organist was used for the scene transitions, and sound effects were fairly minimal, as the show was loaded with snappy patter. In the 1950's, the music turns orchestral, and the production values are a little more thorough. Let George Do It was an excellent show in its own right, but it just so happened that it was to be the warm-up act for Bob Bailey's most masterful radio role, that of "the man with the action-packed expense account." He joined Yours Truly Johnny Dollar in 1955, and made the show golden as a classic of the final years of Old Time Radio.

THIS EPISODE:
March 19, 1951. Mutual-Don Lee net. "Murder For Two". Sustaining. Mrs. Ruth Jennings has been murdered. Lou Jennings is suspected of the killing...and he doesn't seem to be very upset by the suspicions. Bob Bailey, Bud Hiestand (announcer), Eddie Dunstedter (composer, conductor), Don Clark (director, writer), Howard McNear, Ken Christy, Virginia Gregg, Michael Ann Barrett, Jack Kruschen, Tony Barrett. 29:52.

Dragnet "The Big Frame" (07-06-50)

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:12:23 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
July 6, 1950. Program #56. NBC network. "The Big Frame". Sponsored by: Fatima. Eddie Stokes has been the victim of a hit and run driver...or has he? Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough. 29:34.

Philo Vance "The Case Of The Cellini Cup" (04-29-43)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:03:35 -0700

Philo Vance was the detective creation of S. S. Van Dine first published in the mid 1920s. Vance, in the original books, is an intellectual so highly refined he seems he might be ghostwritten by P. G. Wodehouse. Take this quote from The Benson Murder Case, 1924, as Vance pontificates in his inimitable way: "That's your fundamental error, don't y' know. Every crime is witnessed by outsiders, just as is every work of art. The fact that no one sees the criminal, or the artist, actu'lly at work, is wholly incons'quential." Thankfully, the radio series uses only the name, and makes Philo a pretty normal, though very intelligent and extremely courteous gumshoe. Jose Ferrer played him in 1945. From 1948-1950, the fine radio actor Jackson Beck makes Vance as good as he gets. George Petrie plays Vance's constantly impressed public servant, District Attorney Markham. Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman. The organist for the show is really working those ivories, and fans of old time radio organ will especially enjoy this series. Perhaps one reason the organist "pulls out all the stops" is because there seems to be little, if any, sound effects on the show. Philo Vance, the radio series, does pay homage to the original books in that both were, even in their own time, a bit out of date and stilted. (OTRR)

THIS EPISODE:
April 29, 1943 - ZIV Syndication. "The Case of The Cellini Cup". Commercials added locally. Jackson Beck. 28:10.

Box 13 "Death Is A Doll" (03-13-49)

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:32:19 -0700

Box Thirteen - The premise of the program was that Dan Holiday was an author who wrote mystery novels. To get ideas for his novels he placed an advertisement in a newspaper saying "Adventure wanted, will go anywhere, do anything, Box 13." The ads always brought fun adventures of all kinds: from racketeer's victim to psychotic killer looking for fun. Most of the episodes were based on Dan Holiday replying to a letter he received at Box 13. He would generally solve a mystery in the process, and return to his office in time to enjoy a hearty laugh at the expense of Suzy, his amusingly stupid secretary. He would certainly not meet the strictest requirements for private eyes (not licensed, collected no fees from clients), but the definition should stretch to sneak him in under the rope. It was heard over the Mutual Broadcasting System as well as being syndicated. The series was produced by Mayfair Productions. Box 13, starring Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday. Sylvia Picker played Suzy, Dan Holiday's secretary and Edmond MacDonald as Lt. Kling. Other stars in the series were Betty Lou Gerson, Lurene Tuttle, Alan Reed, Luis Van Rooten, John Beal and Frank Lovejoy. Music was by Rudy Schrager and the writer was Russell Hughes. Announcer/Director was Vern Carstensen. The series was produced by Richard Sanville with Alan Ladd as co-producer.

THIS EPISODE:
March 13, 1949. Program #30. Mayfair syndication. "Death Is A Doll". Commercials added locally. A man is slowly dying of what appears to be witchcraft. The date is approximate. Alan Ladd, Sylvia Picker. 25 minutes.

Rocky Fortune "Carnival One Way" (12-08-53)

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:00:17 -0700

Rocky Fortune about a wanderer that took odd jobs to support himself and never stayed in one place too long. He almost always seemed to meet beautiful women along with trouble. Sinatra was good and was proving to Hollywood that he could do serious work. When casting began for the movie "From Here To Eternity", Frank campaigned tirelessly for a part and because of that and a good word put in for him by Gardner, who he was now separated from, he won a part that would mark his return to Hollywood. Sadly for us, it also meant he didn't have time to do radio and "Rocky Fortune" was rather short lived, although it was popular. It only ran from 1953 - 1954, but" It was a very good year".

THIS EPISODE:
December 8, 1953. NBC network. "Carnival One-Way". Sustaining. Not auditioned. Frank Sinatra, Fred Weihe (director), Bryna Raeburn, David Pfeffer, Ken Williams, William Griffis, Leon Janney, Mason Adams, George Lefferts (writer), Ray Barrett (announcer). 24:38.

Richard Diamond Private Detective "Insurance Matter" (08-23-50)

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:49:54 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
August 23, 1950. NBC network. "Insurance Matter". Sponsored by: Rexall. Dr. Williams Evans offers diamond $1200 to solve the mysterious death of George Farmer, but the doctor takes a dive from a high window shortly thereafter. There's no song by Dick on this program. Dick Powell, Blake Edwards (writer), Frank Worth (composer, conductor), Ted de Corsia, Virginia Gregg, Wilms Herbert, Wally Maher, Joan Banks, Bill Bouchey, Jaime del Valle (transcriber), Bill Forman (announcer). 29:28.

Let George Do It "Mayhem By Experts" (01-31-49)

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:11:20 -0700

THIS EPISODE:

January 31, 1949. Mutual-Don Lee network. "Mayhem By Experts". Sponsored by: Standard Oil, Chevron. Lt. Riley and five famous mystery writers plan a birthday practical joke on George Valentine with a phoney corpse...but the joke's on death! Bob Bailey, Frances Robinson, Wally Maher, Jeanette Nolan, Fred Howard, Roland Morris, Junius Matthews, Ruth Perrott, Luis Van Rooten, David Victor (writer), Herbert Little Jr. (writer), Don Clark (director), Eddie Dunstedter (composer, conductor), Bud Hiestand (announcer). 29:48.

Dragnet "Quick Trigger Gun Men" (06-24-49)

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:39:20 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
June 24, 1949. Program #4. NBC network. Sustaining. A cop on a stake-out is killed by a shotgun blast from three quick-trigger gunmen in a bar. The killers are trapped in an apartment house. Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Raymond Burr. 29:31.

The Advenures Of Philip Marlowe "The Promise To Pay" (05-14-49)

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:23:57 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
May 14, 1949. CBS network. "The Promise To Pay". Sustaining. A burned gambling marker and a bet on blackmail. Gerald Mohr, William Johnstone, John Dehner, Jack Kruschen, Barney Phillips, Roy Rowan (announcer), Betty Lou Gerson, Raymond Chandler (creator), Norman Macdonnell (producer, director), Richard Aurandt (music), Mel Dinelli (writer), Robert Mitchell (writer), Gene Levitt (writer). 29:45.

Boston Blackie "Hipnotic Murder" (08-06-45)

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:06:43 -0700

Jeff Regan, Investigator "Cain & Abel & The Santa Maria" (09-11-48)

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:31:53 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
September 11, 1948. CBS network. "Cain and Abel and The Santa Maria". Sustaining. A little silver ship has been stolen, and Jeff has been hired to get it back. Jack Webb, Wilms Herbert, Lurene Tuttle, Dickie Chambers, Paul Frees, Wally Maher, Marvin Miller, E. Jack Neuman (writer), Sterling Tracy (producer), Richard Aurandt (music), Bob Stevenson (announcer). 29:40.

Pat Novak For Hire "SamTolliver" (04-09-49)

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:57:58 -0700

Pat Novak For Hire, played by Jack Webb, was a private detective working out of Pier 19, a waterfront office in San Francisco. The stories were always very similar: Someone would hire him, (if not a beautiful woman, the job would lead to a beautiful woman) someone would get murdered, he would investigate the case, get beaten up by the thugs, and then the case would be solved and end with glorious violence. The closing was always the same; the listener would be told who had done what, to whom and why they had done it.

THIS EPISODE:
Sam Tolliver -April 9, 1949. Program #4. ABC network origination, AFRS rebroadcast. Going on an errand for a friend, Pat gets a beating, a package, and a corpse or two, or three. Jack Webb. 30:22.

Broadway Is My Beat "The Joe Quito Case" (03-03-50)

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:38:36 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
March 3, 1950. CBS network origination, AFRTS rebroadcast. A tough guy just out of prison named Joe Quito is knifed in the subway, just after talking to Danny. This program is possibly dated June 5, 1949 or January 27, 1950. Larry Thor, Morton Fine (writer), David Friedkin (writer), Alexander Courage (composer, conductor), Elliott Lewis (producer, director), Charles Calvert. 1/2 hour.

Rocky Fortune "Catskills Cover-Up" (02-09-54)

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:55:26 -0700

THIS EPISODE:
February 9, 1954. NBC network. "Catskills Cover-Up". Sustaining. Not auditioned. Rocky becomes a Borscht Belt social director to help a man involved in a post office robbery. Don't miss the straight-faced line, "Okay Louie, drop the blintz!" Frank Sinatra, Barney Phillips. 24:36.

Rocky Jordan "The St. Louis Blues" (03-13-49)

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:38:14 -0700

THIS EPSIODE:
March 13, 1949. CBS Pacific network. "The St. Louis Blues". Sustaining. Ted Polanski is an old friend of Rocky's from back in the States. When Ted is found with a knife in his back, Rocky's surprised to find him unwilling to renew their acquaintance...or to speak with his former wife! Jack Moyles, Cliff Howell (producer, director), Larry Thor (announcer), Richard Aurandt (composer, conductor), Larry Roman (writer), Gomer Cool (writer), Jay Novello. 30:03.

Curtain Time "You Don't Know Susie" (06-05-48)

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:15:33 -0700

Curtain Time, like First Nighter, presented romantic drama in a theater setting complete with the announcer shouting, “Tickets please, thank you”. The shows announcer was Harry Halcomb who was later known best for his appearances on the 60 minutes television show. Great scripts and superb acting, Curtain Time is truly an Old Time Radio Classic. Mutual Network, local KNX show sustained, heard Fridays 7:30 - 8:00 pm

THIS EPISODE:
June 5, 1948. NBC network, Chicago origination. "You Don't Know Susie". Sponsored by: Ping. Not auditioned. Harry Elders, Nannette Sargent, Marguerite Draper (? writer), George Cisar, Jennifer Holt, Bert Farber (arranger, conductor), Harry Holcomb (director), Patrick Allen (host), Mike Wallace (announcer, billed as "Myron Wallace"). 28:07.

Boston Blackie "Alice Manweather" (08-04-44)

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:06:26 -0700

Boston Blackie first appeared in crime stories published in The American Magazine and Redbook written by former confidence man Jack Boyle (whose stories were originally published under the byline "6006" (his prison number). "He had served three terms in prison - I believe in San Quentin, and one in Colorado - he was an opium addict, and a hard drinking man if ever there was one," recalled editor Ray Long. "But withal, one of the most entertaining men in the world, and so far as his dealings with me went, a square shooter ... He wrote, I should say, the best crook stories that were ever put on paper." Boston Blackie was portrayed in silent films by Bert Lytell, Lionel Barrymore, David Powell, William Russell, Forest Stanley and Raymond Glenn before Chester Morris made the role his own in 14 Columbia films and in a 1944 NBC summer replacement series (with Richard Lane reprising his screen role as Inspector Farraday). Following Chester Morris' summer series, Richard Kollmar starred as Blackie (with Maurice Tarplin as Farraday and Lesley Woods and Jan Miner as Mary Wesley) in a syndicated series that aired from April 11, 1945 through September 25, 1950. Kent Taylor later portrayed Boston Blackie in a 1951-53 television series.

ABOVE TEXT FROM: WWW.CHRISNEYLON.COM

THIS EPISODE:
August 4, 1944. NBC network. Sponsored by: Rinso, Lifebuoy Soap. Alice Manletter meets Boston Blackie in a hotel lobby, then disappears. But it wasn't really Blackie and Alice is soon found dead, killed by Blackie's gun! After escaping from police headquarters, Blackie tracks down the real killer and a Nazi named Adolf! Chester Morris, Richard Lane, Bea Benaderet (doubles), Charles Cornell (music), Harlow Wilcox (announcer). 29:43.