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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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Amazing World of Radio

The War

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Mr. Chameleon: Murder in the House of Torture (EP4350)

Karl Swenson

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

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Dangerous Assignment: Find Antonina (EP4349)


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

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Cavalacade of America: The Pioneer Mother Eliza Ann Brooks (AWR0243)

Amazing World of Radio

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

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Dr. Tim, Detective: The Mystery of the Roller Coaster Ride and Adventures in Research: The Health Detective (EP4348)

Today’s 1st Mystery:

A visit to the carnival is soured by the presence of an old-school seller of snake oil. It’s made even worse when Dr. Tim has to investigate a death.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: Early to Mid 1950s

Originating in Colorado

Starring: Bob Hahn as Dr. Tim

 

Today’s Second Mystery:

Dr. John Snow, the Health Detective, sets out to solve the mystery of a cholera epidemic in London.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 17, 1952

Host: Paul Shannon

Originating in Pittsburgh

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The Falcon: The Case of the Widow’s Gorilla (EP4347)

Les Damon

Today’s Mystery:

A businessman who drove his rival out of business wants Waring to prove he didn’t kill him and suggests suicide.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 12, 1950

Originating from New York

Starring: Les Damon as the Falcon; Bill Zuckert; Mandel Kramer

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Audio Drama Review: The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 8

The eighth volume of The Great GIldersleeve from Radio Archives collects the twelve circulating episodes between episodes seventy-seven to ninety-one and all starring Harold Peary in the titular role as Tow Water Commissioner Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve. This set takes us through the end of the show’s second season and features two episodes of the third, all from 1943. While there are three lost episodes, it feels like we miss less that impacted ongoing plotlines than in previous box sets. The big exception would be that the mini-feud between Gildersleeve and Judge Hooker (Earle Ross) over a fender appears to have been ironed out in the missing eightieth episode.

I have to praise Radio Archives for the wonderful cover art that they commissioned for this set, with Gildersleeve and Leila Ransom (Shirley Mitchell) as the the focal point of the first ten episodes of the set, which build up to their scheduled nuptials. Related plots deal with planning the wedding and the honeymoon, as well as Gildersleeve’s attempt to work up a budget. I think the second half of the season gives a bit more meat to Leila as a character beyond “Southern Belle who likes to manipulate men,” making her much more sympathetic and well-rounded. In the season finale, just before the show went on summer vacation, the wedding day found Gildersleeve with a serious case of cold feet, leading to a shocking season-ending twist.

There is more than the wedding going on in Summerfield in this set. This box set also sees the introduction of Ben (played by future Dragnet co-Star Ben Alexander) as the bashful young beau of Marjorie (Lurene Tuttle) and he makes a fun addition to the cast. Meanwhile, Leroy (Walter Tetley) goes to work for Mr. Peavey, the druggist (played brilliantly by Richard LeGrand) in the second half of the season. Gildersleeve and a few of his pals also sing together, which is a foretaste of the coming of the Jolly Boys Club in later seasons.

The War features, although in a smaller way, during the second half of season two. When Leroy gets his first paycheck, he buys a lot of knick-knacks for the family and otherwise wastes it on typical kid things. He is reproved for not using some of his money to buy war bonds. Season three’s larger focus on the War would show up in the final episode in the set.

The new focus was due to the donation of the sponsor, Kraft, to the Third War Loan Drive. The town is focused on selling more bonds to meet its quota and sends the head of city departments out canvassing (including Gildersleeve) door-to-door to sell bonds. Yet, in many ways, Gildersleeve’s heart is just not in it. For one thing, he is mad at the chairman of the drive, the local newspaper editor. He tries to start a one-way feud over the editor having published an editorial raising reasonable concerns about the town’s water quality, and drags his feet on getting out to cover his territory. Gildersleeve also expresses frustration with the war, with how it has disrupted the world and changed the general focus and behavior of women. Nearly two years after Pearl Harbor, Gildersleeve is no doubt speaking for many listeners. Yet, the end of the episode brings him, and hopefully other war-weary Americans, back to center.

The episode may be the strongest of the set for showing Gildersleeve’s humanity. And really that’s the strength of the series. Gildersleeve is a funny character, but ultimately quite human with both big flaws (such as as being a loud-mouth and braggart) and positives such as being well-intentioned, responsible, and caring. And after its second season, Summerfield feels far more like a real town where real people live, which makes the comedy far more satisfying.

Overall, this is another strong collection from an old time radio sitcom that was getting even better as it went along.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Dragnet: The Child Killer (EP4346)

Today’s Mystery:

Friday and Romero search for two missing girls.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 2, 1950

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Jack Kruschen; Herb Butterfield; Bill Johnstone

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: David, Patreon Supporter since January 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

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Join us again on Monday for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.