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Bob Bailey & Virginia Gregg in front of an old Microphone

Bob Bailey & Virginia Gregg

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

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Recent Posts

EP1134: Nick Carter: Nick Carter’s Christmas Adventure

Lon Clark

Nick Carter investigates why a rich man has soured on Christmas.

Original Air Date: December 25, 1943

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EP1133: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar Matter: The Nick Shurn Matter, Parts Three and Four

Bob Bailey

A hired killing is gunning for the witness Johnny is look for in her small Michigan town, while townspeople are reluctant to cooperate or tell Johnny where she is.

Original Air Dates: December 21 and 22, 1955

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EP1132: Amazing Mr. Malone: The Dude

Malone is hired by a crime who has been framed for murder by a rival boss.

Original Air Date: March 25, 1954

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EP1131: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Nick Shurn Matter, Parts One and Two

Bob Bailey

A racketeer is suspected of murdering his partner, but the star witness has disappeared.

Original Air Dates: December 19 and 20, 1956

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Audio Drama Review: The Father Brown Mysteries Volume 5

Colonial Radio Theatre’s fifth collection of Father Brown Mysteries starring JT Turner showcases CRT’s increasing  production values. The whole collection is graced by a much more polished theme, and the general quality of acting and dialects were also up from when the series first started.

This collection features three of the most popular Brown stories.  Three of these were adapted for the 1970s ITV Father Brown television, and two by the 1980s BBC radio series and Colonial’s adaptation is at least the equal of these previous adaptations.

The stories included are:

  • The Hammer of God: The wealthy reprobate brother of a local minister is found murdered with a small hammer that hit him with a seemingly impossible amount of force.  This is one of Chesterton’s most thoughtful and clever stories. JT Turner’s portrayal of Brown’s compassion even in the midst of confronting the murderer really gives a whole new spin on that part of the story.
  • The Curse of the Golden Cross: A professor  acquires a rare golden cross, but also a deadly enemy who is determined to kill the professor and claim the cross. The professor he’s been followed to England where a vicar claims to have found the rare cross’ twin. All is not as it seems. The original story wasn’t Chesterton’s greatest, but this is a faithful adaptation that hits the key points quite nicely.
  • The Mirror and the Magistrate: A respected magistrate is murdered and suspicion falls on a radical poet who had a grudge against him. However, Father Brown is certain the poet is innocent. This one is a fun case as we hear Brown’s deconstruction of the prosecution’s case and how the fact that the prosecutor wears a wig plays into the startling conclusion.
  • The Wrong Shape:  If there was one story in this collection I expected not to like, it was this one. I didn’t get Chesterton’s original story when I read it. The written version seemed a little too metaphysical. However, I have to say I really enjoyed the radio adaptation. Colonial did a great job of bringing this more obscure but still very clever mystery to life.

Overall, I was thoroughly entertained by this set.  CRT continues to bring  these great stories to life with the humor and social commentary that Chesterton brought to the originals.

Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Note: I received a copy of this production in exchange for an honest review. 

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EP1130: The Line Up: The Poker-Party Killing

William Johnstone

Guthrie investigates a murder that happened over a card game.

Original Air Date: October 1, 1952

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EP1129: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Indestructible Mike Matter, Part Five and The Lady was a Lethal

Bob Bailey

Johnny lays a trap for Daddy Bill.

Original Air Date: June 8, 1956

A private detective returns from a trip to find his partner dead.

Original Air Date: 1958

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Click here to download, click here to add this podcast to your Itunes, click here to subscribe.