Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Encore - Four for the 4th 05.07.2026 2u 5min

Happy 4th of July and a happy 250th birthday to the USA! In honor of this momentous occasion, I'm sharing an encore presentation of four American history mysteries. Henry Fonda recreates his role of Young Mr. Lincoln in a radio version of the classic film on Academy Award (originally aired on CBS on July 10, 1946). Honest Abe is a lawyer who must clear his wrongfully accused clients of murder. Lee Bowman plays Allan Pinkterton, one of America's most celebrated detectives, as he investigates a case of robbery and murder in "The Pinkerton Man" from The Cavalcade of America (originally aired on NBC on November 18, 1946). A recently released convict falls in with a gang that forges correspondence from historical figures in "Letters from Aaron Burr" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on November 20, 1949). And "the man with the action-packed expense account" hunts for a stolen original copy of the Gettysburg Address. Bob Bailey stars as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in "The Meek Memorial Matter" (AFRS rebroadcast from March 3, 1957).

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 4) 01.07.2026 1u 14min

As our epic adventure continues, Superman escaped from "Big" George Latimer, but his exposure to the kryptonite robbed him of his memory. Soon he trades his trademark cape and costume for a baseball uniform as a pitcher with an unbelievable arm in the next five chapters of the story that originally aired on Mutual between June 4 and June 10, 1947.

Episode 674 - Double Duty Detectives: Bob Bailey (Let George Do It & Johnny Dollar) 28.06.2026 2u 12min

We wrap up our month of actors who played multiple detectives on the air with Bob Bailey. Bailey played wisecracking gumshoe George Valentine on Let George Do It before he stepped in as Johnny Dollar and made the role of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator" his own. We'll hear him as George in "Come and Get Me" (originally aired on Mutual on May 16, 1949) and "The Silent Waterfall" (originally aired on Mutual on January 9, 1950). Then, he's Johnny Dollar in the five part mystery "The Shady Lane Matter" (originally aired on CBS between July 9 and July 13, 1956).

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 3) 24.06.2026 1u 14min

The stakes are higher than ever for Superman as this epic adventure continues! "Big" George Latimer may have figured out how to use the Kryptonite to wipe out Superman once and for all, as Batman and Robin continue their desperate search for the Man of Steel. We'll hear every exciting minute in these five chapters that aired on Mutual between May 28 and June 3, 1947.

Episode 673 - Double Duty Detectives: Gerald Mohr (Philip Marlowe, Nero Wolfe, & Johnny Dollar) 21.06.2026 2u 19min

We continue our look at actors who played multiple gumshoes on the air with Gerald Mohr - who, for my money, gave us the definitive portrayal of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. But Mr. Mohr wasn't only Mr. Marlowe on the air. He also put in a four-episode stint as Archie Goodwin to Sydney Greenstreet's Nero Wolfe. We'll hear Mohr as Marlowe in three radio mysteries: "The Hard Way Out" (originally aired on CBS on November 28, 1948); "The Feminine Touch" (originally aired on CBS on May 7, 1949); and "The Dark Tunnel" (originally aired on CBS on August 18, 1950). Then he's Archie Goodwin in "The Case of the Phantom Fingers" (originally aired on NBC on January 26, 1951). Finally, we'll hear his audition as "the man with the action-packed expense account" - Johnny Dollar.

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 2) 17.06.2026 1u 14min

Our bonus series starring the Man of Steel continues with the next five chapters of the epic adventure "Superman vs. Kryptonite." The dynamic duo Batman and Robin step in to help their super friend, who is threatened by corrupt political boss "Big" George Latimer in these exciting installments that aired on Mutual between May 21 and May 27, 1947.

Episode 672 - Double Duty Detectives: Dick Powell (Rogue's Gallery, Richard Diamond, & Johnny Dollar) 14.06.2026 2u 35min

Our salute to actors who played multiple radio detectives continues with Dick Powell, who transformed himself from a comedic crooner to a hard-boiled hero on the big screen. We'll hear him as two private Dicks - Richard Rogue from Rogue's Gallery and as Richard Diamond, Private Detective. He's Rogue in "The Triangle Murder Case" (originally aired on Mutual on February 21, 1946) and "The Corpse I Didn't Kill" (originally aired on Mutual on June 13, 1946). Then he's Diamond in episodes known as "The Mary Bellman Case" (originally aired on NBC on June 28, 1950) and "The Mike Burton Case" (originally aired on NBC on July 5, 1950) . Plus, we'll hear him as a third radio sleuth in the 1948 audition recording for Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 1) 10.06.2026 1u 26min

Supergirl flies back to the big screen this summer (with a cameo from her cousin from Metropolis), and to celebrate we present an epic radio adventure of the Man of Steel. From the spring and summer of 1947, it's "Superman vs. Kryptonite," a story that begins when an old enemy of Superman's comes into possession of the hero's Achilles heel. We'll hear the first five parts of the story - episodes that originally aired on Mutual between May 14 and May 20, 1947.

Episode 671 - Double Duty Detectives: Tom Conway (Sherlock Holmes & The Saint) 07.06.2026 2u 6min

For June, we're spotlighting stars who played multiple detectives on the air and our first leading man is Tom Conway. In 1946, he took over the deerstalker cap from Basil Rathbone on The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and in 1951, he donned Simon Templar's halo as Vincent Price's replacement on The Saint. We'll hear Conway as Holmes - with Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson - in "The Darlington Substitution" (originally aired on ABC on January 4, 1947) and "The Adventure of the Scarlet Worm" (originally aired on ABC on March 24, 1947). Then, he's the Saint in "The Children's Crusade" (originally aired on NBC on May 27, 1951) and "No, My Darling Daughter" (originally aired on NBC on July 15, 1951).

Episode 670 - All the Write Moves: John Dickson Carr (Suspense & Cabin B-13) 31.05.2026 1u 24min

Our month-long spotlight series on mystery writers concludes with John Dickson Carr, master of the locked room mystery who was recently referenced in Wake Up Dead Man. We'll hear some thrillers penned by Carr for Suspense as well as episodes of his own mystery anthology series Cabin B-13. From Suspense, it's "The Burning Court" (originally aired on CBS on June 17, 1942) and the first half of "The Hangman Won't Wait," starring Sydney Greenstreet as Carr's amateur sleuth Dr. Gideon Fell (originally aired on CBS on March 30, 1943). And from Cabin B-13, we'll hear "The Bride Vanishes" (originally aired on CBS on December 12, 1948).

BONUS - Five Favorites: Sherlock Holmes Classic Adventures 28.05.2026 2u 28min

For this month's bonus episode, we're back on Baker Street for my five favorite radio adaptations of Sherlock Holmes adventures penned by Arthur Conan Doyle. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star in "The Speckled Band" (originally aired on Mutual on November 12, 1945), and Bruce and Tom Conway star in "The Adventure of the Dying Detective" (originally aired on ABC on February 3, 1947). Then, John Stanley and Alfred Shirley are Holmes and Watson in "The Red Headed League" and "The Sussex Vampire" (originally aired on October 12 and December 14, 1947). Finally, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson take center stage in a British radio production of "A Scandal in Bohemia."

Episode 669 - All the Write Moves: Dorothy L. Sayers (Suspense) 24.05.2026 2u 8min

Our spotlight mystery writer of the week is Dorothy L. Sayers, the English writer, poet, and essayist whose work evolved and advanced the detective genre with characterization and humor. She's best known for the adventures of aristocrat and amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey, and we'll hear one of his exploits adapted for Suspense - "The Cave of Ali Baba" (originally aired on CBS on August 19, 1942). We'll also hear three more of Ms. Sayers' stories adapted for "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" - "The Fountain Plays" (originally aired on CBS on August 10, 1943); "Suspicion" (originally aired on CBS on February 10, 1944); and "The Man Who Knew How" (originally aired on CBS on August 10, 1944).

Episode 668 - All the Write Moves: Agatha Christie (Campbell Playhouse, Murder Clinic, & Suspense) 17.05.2026 2u 29min

Our month-long salute to mystery writing legends continues with the queen of crime herself - Agatha Christie. She wrote over sixty novels, dozens of short stories, and created two of the genre's most beloved sleuths - Hercule Poirot, the fastidious and brilliant Belgian detective, and Miss Marple, the kindly amateur investigator. We'll hear four of Dame Agatha's tales recreated for radio: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" with Orson Welles as Poirot from The Campbell Playhouse (originally aired on CBS on November 12, 1939); "The Tragedy of Marsdon Manner" from Murder Clinic (originally aired on Mutual on October 6, 1942); and "The ABC Murders" and "Where There's a Will" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on May 18, 1943 and February 24, 1949).

Episode 667 - All the Write Moves: Dashiell Hammett (Lux Radio Theatre, Suspense, Fat Man, Academy Award, & Sam Spade) 10.05.2026 3u 6min

Our month of classic mystery writers continues with Dashiell Hammett - the former Pinkerton operative whose celebrated characters include Sam Spade, the Continental Op, and Nick and Nora Charles. Radio shows based on his sleuths were some of the most popular on radio until Hammett became a casualty of the Red Scare. We'll hear some of his stories recreated for radio: an adaptation of "The Thin Man" from The Lux Radio Theatre (originally aired on CBS on June 8, 1936; "Two Sharp Knives" - adapted for Suspense (originally aired on CBS on June 7, 1945); "The Maltese Falcon" recreated on Academy Award (originally aired on CBS on July 3, 1946); and "The Critical Author Caper" - a loose adaptation of his novel The Dain Curse from The Adventures of Sam Spade (originally aired on CBS on August 15, 1948). Plus, we'll hear an original Hammett radio creation - private eye Brad Runyon - aka The Fat Man in his debut adventure "The Nineteenth Pearl" (originally aired on ABC on January 21, 1946).

BONUS - Happy Birthday, Orson Welles 07.05.2026 1u 29min

In honor of his May 6th birthday, we're saluting the great Orson Welles with a pair of radio performances set on Baker Street. First, he's the great detective himself in "The Immortal Sherlock Holmes" from The Mercury Theatre On the Air (originally aired on CBS on September 25, 1938). Then, he's Holmes' archnemesis Professor Moriarty - opposite John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson as Holmes and Watson - in a syndicated production of "The Final Problem."

Episode 666 - All the Write Moves: Raymond Chandler (Suspense, Mollé Mystery Theatre, & Philip Marlowe) 03.05.2026 2u 5min

For May, we're spotlighting authors whose works inspired old time radio mysteries. First up is Raymond Chandler - best known for creating the iconic Los Angeles gumshoe Philip Marlowe. We'll hear a pair of Chandler's Marlowe stories adapted for radio - "Trouble is My Business" with Van Heflin (originally aired on NBC on August 5, 1947) and "Red Wind" with Gerald Mohr (originally aired on CBS on September 26, 1948). Plus, we'll hear adaptations of two other Chandler mysteries: "Pearls are a Nuisance" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on April 19, 1945) and "Murder in the City Hall" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (originally aired on NBC on April 5, 1946).

Episode 665 - Downbeat Pete (Pete Kelly's Blues) 19.04.2026 2u 6min

Our month of Jack Webb continues with his most unusual crime drama - Pete Kelly's Blues, a show that incorporated Webb's love of jazz into its weekly mysteries. Kelly played cornet in a combo at a Kansas City speakeasy during Prohibition, and each episode featured vocal and instrumental musical numbers. Though it didn't last long on radio, Webb brought Pete Kelly's Blues to the big screen with a cast that included Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald. We'll hear four episodes of the short-lived series: "Gus Trudeau" (originally aired on NBC on August 15, 1951); "Zelda" (originally aired on NBC on September 5, 1951); "The Dutchman" (originally aired on NBC on September 12, 1951); and "June Gould" (originally aired on NBC September 19, 1951).

Episode 664 - Your Lyon Eyes (Jeff Regan, Investigator) 12.04.2026 2u 9min

Our Jack Webb series continues this week with Jeff Regan, Investigator - another stint as a hard-boiled gumshoe before he picked up Joe Friday's badge on Dragnet. Regan was the long-suffering operative of Anthony J. Lyon's International Detective Bureau, and "the Lyon's eye" was always thrown into whatever dangerous case his boss took on with no questions asked. We'll hear Webb as Regan in four radio mysteries: "The Lady with the Golden Hair" (originally aired on CBS on July 31, 1948); "The Man in the Door" (originally aired on CBS on August 28, 1948); "The Man Who Fought Back" (originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1948); and "The Gambler and His Lady" (originally aired on CBS on December 11, 1948).

BONUS - Five Favorites: Dragnet 08.04.2026 2u 33min

Our month-long salute to Jack Webb continues with his signature series and my five favorite radio episodes of Dragnet. We'll join Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday as he keeps the streets of Los Angeles safe from crooks of all stripes. We'll hear "The Big Bomb" (originally aired on NBC on July 13, 1950); "The Big Saint" (originally aired on NBC on April 26, 1951); "The Big Bunco" (originally aired on NBC on April 17, 1952); "The Big Bull" (originally aired on NBC on September 14, 1952); and "The Big Little Mother" (originally aired on NBC on October 6, 1953).

Episode 663 - Waterfront Webb (Pat Novak for Hire) 05.04.2026 2u 7min

We kick off a new month-long series saluting the great Jack Webb in honor of his April 2nd birthday, and we're starting with Pat Novak for Hire - his ultra-hard boiled series that put him on the map. Novak never looked for trouble but always found it on the San Francisco waterfront, and we'll hear him try to keep his head above water in four radio mysteries: "Jack of Clubs" (originally aired on ABC on February 20, 1949); "Fleet Lady" (originally aired on ABC on March 6, 1949); "John St. John" (originally aired on ABC on May 21, 1949); and "Agnes Bolton" (originally aired on ABC on June 4, 1949).