Month: July 2014

EP1326: Nick Carter: The Vanishing Postman

Lon Clark

After a car accident, Nick happens on a leather bag belonging to a postman who disappeared seven years ago.

Original Air Date: August 26, 1945

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EP1325: Phillip Marlowe: The Black Halo

Gerald Mohr

Marlowe looks for a woman who works for a major perfume company.

Original Air Date: January 15, 1949

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EP1324: Pat Novak for Hire: Give Envelope to John St. John

Jack Webb

A dying man gives Novak an envelope with the mission to deliver it to John St. John.

Original Air Date: May 22, 1949

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EP1323: Pursuit: Pursuit and the Man Who Died Late

Ben Wright
Inspector Black is presented with a case of a man who appeared to died from assault but was actually shot-months before he died.

Original Air Date: October 2, 1951

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EP1322: Police Headquarters: Old Cop and Stolen Brain

An elderly soon to be retired police officer investigates the theft of $190,000 in cash in Old Cop.”

And the brain of a dead brilliant scientist is stolen and $100,000 in insurance money is at stake in, “Stolen Brain.”

Episodes 36 and 37 (1932)

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The Top 12 Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part One

The Sherlock Holmes stories are remarkable. While there have been some innovators in the detective genre in past 90 years or so that have added new wrinkles and and twists to the genre, Doyle’s work stands up as must-read for serious mystery fans.

There were countless genius detectives solving crimes, but none are loved or revered like Sherlock Holmes. While there were a few stories that didn’t work and some people read struggle with the Victorian setting, the Sherlock Holmes canon of fifty-six short stories and four novels has stood the test of time remarkably well. Which of them are the best?

Over the next three weeks, I’ll post my list of the top twelve Sherlock Holmes’ stories:

12) The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle (1892):

This is one of the definitive holiday detective stories. This murderless mystery is a great puzzle that begins simply enough after a man lost his hat and a Christmas goose.  It really starts with what seems like an incident that seems like it should be beneath the notice of the great Sherlock Holmes but is really a fascinating puzzle. Doyle shows that while some mysteries involve sensational or salacious details, it’s not always necessary. I also love how the ending is both consistent with Holmes’ character and appropriate for the spirit of the Season.

11) The Devil’s Foot (1910):

The story tells of Holmes and Watson visiting Cornwall for a rest. However, Holmes  is pulled into investigating a mysterious death and insanity that afflicted a family. It is a haunting and chilling story that manages to merge the right elements of horror and the detective story. Great atmosphere throughout and a satisfying resolution makes this a winning story.

10) The Empty House (1903)

Sherlock Holmes was a character not even his creator could kill off. The “Empty House” is a wonderful story that tells us what really happened when Holmes faced Moriarty in, “The Final Problem” and then sets Holmes against the deadly Colonel Sebastian Moran. This was a great story to welcome Sherlock Holmes back to literary life.

9) The Adventure of the Naval Treaty (1893):

A truly engaging mystery. It manages to have major stakes with British national security, while also present a more personal problem for a young diplomat for whom the disappearance of this treaty has cast a shadow over his career. The story is engaging with some great clues, a great conclusion, and Holmes wrapping it all up with a theatrical flourish.

8) The Problem of Thor Bridge (1922)

This story of a seemingly sweet and benevolent governess facing a charge for murder is one of the best of the later Sherlock Holmes stories. The “Problem of Thor Bridge”  is engaging and the solution is classic. While many 1920s Holmes stories are disliked by fans and critics alike, this one is a true gem.

Continued Next week…

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Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Meek Memorial Matter (EP1321)

Bob Bailey

Johnny searches for a stolen missing copy of the Gettysburg Address.

Original Air Date: March 3, 1957

EP1320: Nick Carter: The Case of the Sick Statue

Nick’s called in by a maid who is concerned about a plague spreading from statues. Nick arrives to find her dead.

Original Air Date: August 12, 1945

EP1319: Philip Marlowe: The Restless Day

Gerald Mohr

Marlowe’s hopes of a day off are spoiled when a man who was assumed dead by accident shows up asking Marlowe to find out who tried to kill him.

Original Air Date: January 8, 1949

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EP1318: Pat Novak: The Geranium Plant

Pat Novak’s hired to deliver a geranium. He’s hit by a car after the pick-up and that’s just the start of his trouble.

Original Air Date: May 14, 1949

EP1317: Pursuit: Pursuit and the Ladies of Farthing Street

Ben Wright
Black is advised he’d find evidence of a murder and he finds a dead body and is led to two very proper ladies living on Farthing Street.

Original Air Date: September 18, 1951

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EP1316: Police Headquarters: William Spencer Killed and Race Track

A well-liked roguish gambler is found dead of an apparent suicide in William Spencer Killed. 

A friend of a couple of police officers needs their protection from gangsters trying to fix a race in Race Track.

Episodes 34 and 35

Original Air Date: 1932

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Graphic Novel Review: Johnny Dollar


Yours Truly Johnny Dollar was a radio series than ran from 1949-62 with a total of six actors playing the role of the man with the action packed expense account. This short graphic novel succeeds in bringing Johnny Dollar to a visual medium. The story is set in 1957 (based on a gravestone seen in the story.) Artist Eric Thierault doesn’t, however, draw Dollar as Bob Bailey (the best beloved of the Dollar actors who played the role from 1955-60) but rather in a way that  most would imagine Johnny Dollar looking based on the series.

The story itself features Johnny investigating a troubled production of Macbeth that his company has insured. The only somewhat odd thing about the story is Johnny pretending to be a potential investor rather than an investigator, which was not a usual tactic for Johnny Dollar in that era, though certainly it wasn’t unprecedented for Johnny Dollar to go undercover.

What makes the “Brief Candle Matter” work for me is that it plays out like a radio episode. The dialogue, plot, and solution to the crime could very well have been told on the radio show. The black and white artwork gives it a 1950s feel. The story made me think of what a Johnny Dollar television show would have been like.

Compared to radio programs of this era, this stands up as an above average story. It doesn’t hit the dramatic high notes of the best Dollar stories like “the Rasmussen Matter” or many of the great five parters, “the Brief Candle Matter” is definitely an accessible and engaging read for people who may never have even listened to the radio show. While its out of print, this is definitely worthy buying used when it’s available on Amazon or checking ebay and online comic shops for.

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Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Templeton Matter (EP1315)

Bob Bailey

Johnny investigates the theft of thousands of dollars in merchandise that includes the murder of one of the guards.

Original Air Date: February 10, 1957

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EP1314: Nick Carter: The Hanging Paperhanger

Lon Clark
Nick is hired by a cleaning woman who becomes suspicious when her landlord repapers her wall without her permission. The landlord is then found dead.

Original Air Date: August 5, 1945

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