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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Currently Featuring
YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR THE FALCON DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENT DRAGNET MR. CHAMELEON SQUAD ROOM… and more!
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DVD Review: Thunder on the Hill
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
Thunder on the Hill is a 1951 Douglas Sirk film starring Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth.
Torrential rains hit Norfolk, England, leading to a convergence of local residents taking refuge in a convent where Sister Mary (Colbert) is in charge of the hospital ward. It also leads to a condemned woman, Valerie Carns (Blyth) being brought to the convent. Carns had been convicted of murdering her invalid brother, and due to the storm, all the witnesses are there also. Sister Mary becomes convinced that the young woman is innocent and sets out to prove it.
The film’s center is Colbert’s performance and her character of Sister Mary, who becomes an amateur sleuth. Like many other sleuths, she barrels ahead with her investigation despite no official authority and in contravention of the police who have custody of Valerie. She gets Valerie’s hopes up and gets Valerie’s boyfriend into the convent to see her with the aid of a boat. Yet is what she’s doing good? Is her own instinctive sense that she’s right going to make things better or lead to a tragedy? Sister Mary goes on a character journey in this story that’s informed by her faith. Many films, even during Hollywood’s Golden Age, had only a superficial grasp of religion, and therefore their use of religion in the story is superficial at best. Here though, it works well, and informs her character’s journey.
The film is based on the play Bonaventure and has some very broad melodramatic performances that work within the confines of the story and are well-performed by the supporting cast. The climatic scene also deserves special praise. It’s easily the best-directed scene in the film.
The DVD itself is as bare-bones as you can get. It’s play-only with no trailers, and not even any scene selection. What you get is the chance to view a rarely-replayed film from one of the most iconic actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
If you enjoy a character-driven noir film with a unique setting, this is definitely worth watching.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
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Dragnet, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, Procedural
Dragnet: The Big Book (EP4394)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Friday and Romero investigate the flood of filthy books into Los Angeles high schools.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 6, 1950
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Herb Butterfield; Stacy Harris; Harry Morgan
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Ronnie, Patreon supporter since May 2021
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Join us again on Monday for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Desalles Matter (EP4393)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Johnny goes out west when an insurance agent is suspicious of a $100,000 death claim that another investigator was assigned to look into.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: Original Air Date: January 13, 1957
Originating from Hollywood
Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; Virginia Gregg; Harry Bartell; John Stephenson; Will Wright; James McCallion; Ben Wright
Today’s show ponsored by Cinnamon Girl by Daniel Weizzmann, the upcoming release in the Pacific Coast Highway Mystery Series. (Released May 28) (affiliate links)
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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: The Hasty Marriage Murder Case (EP4392)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
A young wealthy man who just married a woman after a two-week romance is murdered.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 13, 1949
Originating from New York City
Starring: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Tacy, Patreon Supporter Since October 2023
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Dangerous Assignment, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast
Dangerous Assignment: The Jade Dagger (EP4391)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Sent to Cairo on a mission to clear the United States’s name, Steve must navigate a treacherous path of false accusations and political machinations. From the bustling bazaars to the shadowy backstreets, join Steve as he unravels a conspiracy that could sabotage vital international talks. Tune in for a tale of espionage where asking to see a knife might just get you one in the back!
Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 13, 1953
Originating in Hollywood
Starring: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell; Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner; Robert Boone; Paul Dubov; Byron Kane; Jan Arvan; Betty Lou Gerson
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Tom, Patreon Supporter since August 2022
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Forgotten Detectives, Mutual, OTR Detective, Podcast, Sqaud Room
Squad Room: Ferris Wheel (EP4390)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Today’s Mystery: A woman is found murdered on a Ferris wheel.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: Around New Years Day in the mid-1950s
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Originating in New York
Starring: Wynn Wright as Lt. John Douglas; Dan Ocko as Sergeant Allen; George Tanner; Sam Gray
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Ken, Patreon Supporter since March 2020
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, The Falcon
The Falcon: The Case of the Happy Hoodlum (EP4389)
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 3 Comments
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Today’s Mystery:
Sergeant Corbett wants The Falcon to find out why a man made an insane attempt to rob an express company with a gun that couldn’t fire.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 14, 1951
Originating from New York
Starred: Les Damon as the Falcon; Ken Paxton as Sergeant Corbett
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Rick, Patreon Supporter Since March 2020
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
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
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