Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio! A podcast featuring the best vintage detective radio programs. Each week from Monday through Saturday, we feature six of Old Time Radio's great detective series from the beginning of the show to its very last episode. And as a bonus, twice a month we also post a public domain movie or TV mystery or detective show video.
Along the way, I'll provide you my commentary and offer you opportunities to interact.
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- Your host, Adam Graham
Listen to "The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio" on Spreaker.
Currently Featuring
YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR THE FALCON DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT DRAGNET MR. CHAMELEON ELLERY QUEEN… and more!
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Dragnet, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, Procedural
Dragnet: The Big Kill (EP4364)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Friday and Romero investigate the murder of a police officer in his home.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 2, 1950
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Stacy Harris; Jack Kruschen; Herb Butterfield
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Join us again on Monday for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Audio Drama Review, Golden Age Article
Audio Drama Review: CBS Radio Mystery Theatre: Your Move, Mr. Ellers
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 2 Comments
“Your Move, Mr. Ellers” aired over the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre on December 30, 1976. In the episode, an insurance investigator (Bob Readick) is investigating a series of thefts that have occurred over several years from a respected jeweler. He’s concluded it must be an inside job and his suspicions appear to have fallen on the firm’s most respected employee, the chess-loving Mister Ellers (Roger De Koven), who has a friend (Jackson Beck) with a shady past and maybe a shady present. And the young man (Jack Grimes) Ellers mentored seems to have found himself in the middle.
For today’s old-time radio fans, the casting of this episode includes some wonderful Easter egs. Readick was the immediate successor to Bob Bailey as radio’s most well-known insurance investigator. In addition, the other three members of the cast were all veterans of the Golden Age of Radio. Grimes had voiced Jimmy Olsen on “The Adventures of Superman”, where he also worked with Beck, who served as announcer and was the star of several old-time radio series, including “Philo Vance”. DeKoven was no star, but a consumate character actor who was perfect for a role like Ellers’.
While Readick’s presence evokes Johnny Dollar, I actually think the episode has undertones that evoke a more contemporary influence: Columbo. At one point, the insurance investigator states that he had Ellers convinced he was an incompetent bungler: the exact sort of situation that Columbo thrived on. And while we don’t “see” (or hear) the crime committed beforehand, and it’s not a strict inverted mystery, it definitely isn’t exactly a traditional whodunit either.
The story uses chess as a theme, and weaves through the narrative right up to a satisfying and insightful conclusion. It’s a carefully plotted and well-produced play performed by four pros who know their business. There are certain plots that are a bit predictable, but more than enough surprises and good drama to make this a very satisfying forty-five minutes of listening.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Royal Street Matter (EP4363)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Johnny goes to New Orleans to investigate why the owner of an insured, burnt-out antique shop hasn’t filed a claim, and has expressed no interest in doing so.
Original Radio Broadcast Dates: November 25, 1956
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Virginia Gregg; Forrest Lewis, Lou Merrill; Lawrence Dobkin; Frank Gerstle
When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com
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Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day: Ric, Patreon Supporter Since April 2022
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
CBS, Keen and Company, Mr. Chameleon, OTR Detective, Podcast
Mr. Chameleon: The Organ Grinder Murder Case (EP4362)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
A young man is shot to death after trying to quit stealing jewelry.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 8, 1949
Originating from New York City
Starring: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Lisa, Patreon Supporter since July 2015
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Dangerous Assignment, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast
Dangerous Assignment: Boy Is Used as Courier (EP4355)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Steve is hired as tutor to a French boy with a near photographic memory whose father believes his current tutor is using him to smuggle top secret information.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 8, 1953
Originating in Hollywood
Starring: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell; Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner; Jeanne Bates; Paul Frees; Larry Dobkin; Jay Novello
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Laura, Patreon Supporter supporter Since September 2023
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Ellery Queen, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast
Ellery Queen: The Adventure of the Wounded Lieutenant (EP4360)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
A former police detective is disabled while serving overseas and his battallion members are killed after a native waiter reports their planned attack. But how did the spy know?
Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 18, 1943
Originating in New York from the Office of War Information, taken from the network broadcast of a 30 minute episode
Starring: Sydney Smith as Ellery Queen, Marian Shockley, Santos Ortega, Ted de Corsia
Armchair Detectives: Virginia Fields and Ed Sullivan
Website Referenced: Ellery Queen, A Website of Deduction
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Kerry, Patreon Supporter since November 2018
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, The Falcon
The Falcon: The Case of the Stooge’s Errand (EP4359)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
The Falcon is hired to locate a boxing promoter who cheated two men out of a combined $40,000, but has a clever way to make sure they can’t collect.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 26, 1950
Originating from New York
Starring: Les Damon as the Falcon; Ken Lynch as Sergeant Corbett; Mandel Kramer; Ralph Bell; Bill Zuckert
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Bruce, Patreon Supporter since November 2019
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
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