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.
Subscribe to the show by clicking your favorite podcatcher in the sidebar.
And don't forget to follow me on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
- 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 THIN MAN… and more!
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Recent Posts
NBC, Podcast, The Saint
EP1629: The Saint: Strange Bedfellows
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 1 Comment
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The Saint is called in to investigate the disappearance of the Mayor’s son.
Original Air Date: April 15, 1951
Golden Age Article
TV Episode Review: The Rockford Files: There’s One in Every Port
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 2 Comments
In this Season 3 episode of the Rockford Files, Rockford is begged to take part in an illegal high stakes poker game by the daughter of Eddie Marks (Howard Duff, best known as radio’s Sam Spade), an old friend from prison after Rockford visits an apparently ailing Eddie in the hospital. However, the poker game is robbed and the organizers pin the blame on Rockford.When Rockford finds Eddie gone from the hospital, he realizes he’s been had. Rockford had been used to lead the gang to the poker game so Eddie could take the pot in order to pull off a scam.
In order to avoid being killed by the gamblers, Rockford has to concoct a con of his own to foil Eddie’s scam and to reclaim the stolen money before he finds himself killed by the gamblers. To do this, his pal Angel recruits a group of conmen to help pull off the job.
As a story, the plot is intricate, and it’s different from a typical Rockford Files episode. It’s much more of heist/sting story with the big question being not who done it, but what is Rockford’s scheme to defeat the conman. It’s graced by great writing and a super guest cast including John Doehner (who played Paladin in Radio’s Have Gun Will Travel.)
As a fan of old time radio, I love seeing Duff and Doehner on screen. Also, the appearance of Duff in The Rockford Files is interesting as Rockford’s work was compared to Sam Spade’s earlier in the series. However, even if that’s not a highlight for you, the episode’s clever plotting and strong acting make this story a winner.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
This episode is available for free streaming through Hulu.
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Dragnet, Podcast, Procedural
EP1628: Dragnet: The Big Frame
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Friday and Romero investigate an apparent hit and run case that begins to look more and more like murder.
Original Air Date: July 6, 1950
CBS, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, YTJD Add
EP1627: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Eastern Western Matter
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 1 Comment
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Johnny is called to Florida to investigate a Florida’s cattleman’s loss of an entire herd.
Original Air Date: April 6, 1958
When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com
Mutual, Nick Carter, Podcast
EP1626: Nick Carter: The Case of the Henpecked Husband
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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A meek professor wins $90,000 at a casino and is murdered.
Original Air Date: April 11, 1948
CBS, Philip Marlowe, Philip Marlowe OTR, Podcast
EP1625: Philip Marlowe: The Big Step
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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A waitress asks Marlowe to look into what’s bothering a friend. She’s disappeared along with a gun.
Original Air Date: February 28, 1950
Ellery Queen, NBC, Podcast
EP1624: Ellery Queen: The Foul Tip
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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A cowboy movie star is murdered at a ballpark.
Original Air Date: July 15, 1944
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