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 Girl (EP4352)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Friday and Romero investigating a series of robberies, beatings, and shootings committed by a beautiful woman.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 9, 1950
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Herb Butterfield
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: David, Patreon Supporter since March 2021
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Join us again on Monday for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Podcast
Audio Drama Review: Ben-Hur
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
In 2000, Focus on the Family Radio Theatre released their adaptation of Ben-Hur, the classic novel by General Lew Wallace. The radio adaptation sought to focus on the actual story of Wallace’s novel, which differs in many ways from the classic Hollywood picture released in 1959 starring Charlton Heston.
The production begins with a prologue in which Prince Ithamar Ben-Hur (Peter Moreton) is commanded by Herod the Great to lead the Slaughter of the Innocents, Herod’s program to kill all infants under the age of two in the area of Bethlehem. Ithamar refuses, sealing his own certain death. However, before going in to break the news to Herod, Ithamar commands his servant (Peter Goodwright) to hide his wife and children.
The story properly begins when Judah Ben-Hur (Russell Boulter) is going to see his old best friend Masala (Colin McFarlane), who grew up with Judah in Judea, and has recently returned as a Roman soldier. Their friendship quickly sours when Masala tries to get Judah to use his position and influence to help Rome. Masala then takes advantage of a freak accident in which Judah leans on a ceiling tile, which falls and strikes the new Roman procurator. Masala has Judah and his family arrested in hopes of seizing not only his Jerusalem estate, but the hidden family fortune that was in the care of Ithamar’s servant. Ben-Hur is made a slave and sent to a Roman galley. He vows revenge.
For those who’ve seen the film but not read the book, Ben-Hur offers a fresh adaptation that explores aspects of the story that didn’t make it to the silver screen. However, at the same time, it’s a 2-hour audio drama in four parts that adapted a 113,000 word novel, and so has to make its own compromises to get the story to fit into its run-time. The choices are sound ones, resulting in a tale of adventure, intrigue, and revenge that manages to be entertaining and inspiring.
The British cast, which featured such talents as Wendy Craig and Bernard Cribbins in relatively small roles, all are on the top of their game. The sound design and effects are excellent throughout. The one thing that the production had to get right was the great chariot race. Making such a visual spectacle translate to audio was a challenge, but they nailed it through a combination of great acting and effects work.
The program has a couple of minor weak points. The character of Iras, the daughter of the Wise Man Balthasar, is a very one-dimensional and obvious gold-digger. While this might have been how Wallace wrote her, the production does compromise on book-accuracy in other instances, and it would have been improved by doing so here. While it wasn’t horrible, the score is a bit underwhelming at times. Ben-Hur is an epic story that has big epic moments, but the music rarely delivers. The score might have been fine on a pedestrian direct-to-video movie, but doesn’t have the power you’d expect of a story like Ben-Hur.
All in all, this is a solid adaptation of Ben-Hur and makes for great Easter listening.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
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Amazing World of Radio, Podcast
Fitch Bandwagon: Coloring Easter Eggs (AWR0244)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Story:
Phil’s plans for Easter go awry when, instead of using the sponsor’s product, he shampoos his hair with leftover easter egg dye that turns his hair bright red just before church.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 28, 1948
Starring: Phil Harris and Alice Faye; Elliot Lewis as Frankie Remley. Anne Whitfield plays their daughter, Phyl, and we discuss her life and legacy in light of her recent passing.
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Nolan, Patreon Supporter Since April 2018
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CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Big Scoop Matter (EP4351)
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Today’s Mystery: Johnny goes to New York to protect a friend, a reporter on the trail of a big story, who has already had multiple attempts on his life.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 11, 1956
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Virginia Gregg; Russell Thorson, Barney Phillips, Stacy Harris, Larry Thor, Parley Baer, Les Tremayne
When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com
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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: Murder in the House of Torture (EP4350)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Mr. Chameleon is called in to investigate a series of bizarre murders committed in a phony funeral home.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 25, 1949
Originating from New York City
Starring: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Christine, Patreon Supporter since November 2023
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
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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: Find Antonina (EP4349)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Steve goes to Portugal to find a young woman who’d been in the U.S. illegally and find out why she intentionally had herself deported.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 25, 1953
Originating in Hollywood
Starring: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell; Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner; Bill Conrad; Virginia Gregg; Harry Bartell; Tony Barrett; Ralph Moody
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: John, Patreon Support Since May 2017
Welcome to our latest Patreon Supporters: Bruce and Q
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.
Amazing World of Radio, Podcast
Cavalacade of America: The Pioneer Mother Eliza Ann Brooks (AWR0243)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today we hear the story of Eliza Ann Brooks who, in 1852, set off alone with her children to make the perilous journey to California.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 3, 1939
Go to http://amazing.greatdetectives.net to subscribe to the podcast.
Brought to you by the support of our Patreon listeners…http://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Kathleen, Patreon Supporter since May 2023
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
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