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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.

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

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Radio Drama Review: The Green Valley Line

The Green Valley Line was a syndicated radio drama from the 1930s. Told in 26 quarter hour parts, it tells the story of Bill Reed, the son of a wealthy railroad baron who comes to work for the Green Valley Line, a small western railroad that his father wants to buy out. His decision gains suspicion from locals who support the Green Valley Line as well as the condemnation of those who favor the acquisition as he’s going against his father.

His sincerity becomes clear and that’s important when an injury to railroad superintendent Pop Harkness forces Bill into taking over as acting superintendent of the line. His father and his supporters are determined to take the line by hook or by crook. The daughter of the President of the railroad Carrie Graham initially despises Bill but then at the urging of Harkness becomes a friend and an eventually ally against Bill’s father and her father who is backing the acquisition.

The series was most likely produced in Detroit according to the Radio Goldindex. It featured the voice talents of John Dodd (Tonto from the Lone Ranger) and Bill was played by Rollen Parker who appeared frequently in WXYZ’s famous radio programs The Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet, and Challenge of the Yukon.

There’s much to like about this series. The business story of the Green Valley Line and Bill Reed’s various clever maneuvers make for a solid entertainment with lots of twist. The story’s weak spot is the predictable romantic subplot between Bill and Carrie. That it’s predictable is not the problem, but Bill’s blossoming feelings for Carrie leave him willing to quit his job as Superintendent and leave local investors who supported him in a lurch and allow his effort to fail. This doesn’t make him look good in the eyes of listeners or of Carrie. The romance is pretty badly handled in the last few episodes which is a pretty sorry state of affairs given that the plot was so basic. The romance instead of adding to the story, became a detriment.

But the earliest episodes are good and enjoyable which makes up for the weak romantic plot. For a 1930s syndicated show, it was pretty good.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.00

 

You can download episodes of the Green Valley Line from Archive.org

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EP0931: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Chesapeake Fraud Matter, Part Five and Call for a Columnist

Bob Bailey
Johnny Lane gets an unusual body guard in Call for a Columnist, Part Two. 

Original Air Date: 1958

Meanwhile, the case has changed as what was once a case of fraud is now about the murder of one of Johnny’s friends.

Original Air Date: October 21, 1955

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EP0930: Sherlock Holmes: The Dying Detective

John Gielgud
Sherlock Holmes is dying of a mysterious disease and he won’t let Watson examine him.

Original Air Date: February 13, 1955

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EP0929: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Chesapeake Fraud Matter, Parts 3 and 4

 Bob Bailey

Johnny goes to Denver to find out if a deceased man is alive and he’s not satisfied with the answer he gets.

Original Air Date: October 19 and 20, 1955

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EP0928: Frank Race: The Adventure of the Kettle Drum

Paul Dubov

An old flame asks Race to investigate her husband’s sudden illness.

Original Air Date: December 3, 1949

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EP0927:Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Chesapeake Fraud Matter, Parts One and Two

Bob Bailey

Johnny investigates a report that a man who was declared dead and had insurance paid, but has been reported alive.

Original Air Date: October 17 and 18, 1955

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Radio’s Most Essential People #4: Bing Crosby

Previous Posts: 56,78,91012-1114-1316-1518-1720-19,22-2124-2326-2528-2730-2933-3136-34,

39-37,42-4045-4348-4651-4954-5257-5560-5865-6170-66,  71-7576-80,

81-8586-9091-9596-100

4) Bing Crosby

Bing CrosbyFrom the early 30s to the early 50s, no singer had the star power of Bing Crosby. Crosby’s musical talent was well-known. Not only he was a frequent guest on others shows and constantly in demand on record request programs, he had a long line of his own programs including stints hosting the Kraft Music Hall, Philco Radio Time, the Chestfield Program, General Motors, Woodbury, and Ford. His consistent signature song was,  “When the Blue of the Nigh.” Crosby’s popularity also made his films a no-brainer for adaptation to radio.

He was a legendary and charismatic crooner who partnered often with Bob Hope on Hope’s programs, Crosby’s programs, and on Command Performance. Christmas time was particularly strong for Crosby as his singing of Adeste Fideles along with a selection of sacred and secular Christmas songs.

As much of an institution as Crosby was at Christmas, the other 364 days a year,  he remained a consistently popular voice throughout radio’s golden age who set a standard that other singers aimed to follow.

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