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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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Bulldog Drummond: Death Uses Disappearing Ink (EP4522)


Today’s Mystery:

Captain Drummond tries to remember how he got into a dangerous situation with a life on the line. It all started with a mysterious woman showing up in his compartment on an east-bound train.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 9, 1948

Originating in New York

Starring: Ned Wever as Bulldog Drummond; Luis Van Rooten as Denny

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

The Falcon: The Case of the Nervous Shakedown (EP4521)

Les Damon

Today’s Mystery: A blackmailer is killed after the fiancé of a victim confronts him.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 27, 1951

Originating from New York

Starring: Les Damon as The Falcon; Chuck Webster as Sergeant Corbett; Mandel Kramer; Maurice Tarplin

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

Murder Clinic: The Tragedy at Marsden Manor (Encore) (EP4520e)

Maurice Tarplin

Poirot is called upon by the insurance company to investigate the apparent natural death of a wealthy man, who had just passed a physical for a life insurance policy for his young wife.

Original Air Date: October 6, 1942

Originating in New York

Starring: Maurice Tarplin as Poirot

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

Audio Drama Review: Perry Mason: The Case of the Lucky Legs

A version of this article appeared in 2011.

Colonial Theatre released the third of its Perry Mason audio dramas, “The Case of the Lucky Legs.”  As with the first two, this is an audio drama based on the original Perry Mason novels of the 1930s, but produced in the 21st Century.

Perry Mason is retained initially to take legal action against a beauty contest promoter who cheated small-town businessmen and a local young woman by promising her stardom as the winner of a Lucky Legs contest and then leaving her high and dry in Hollywood. When Perry goes to have a discussion with the con man, he finds the man murdered.

Perry finds himself dodging the police until he can find the truth, questioning the witnesses, all while not even sure who the client is, as the man who gave a retainer for $5,000 to file the lawsuit keeps changing who Perry is supposed to represent.

The recording is quite a bit shorter than the previous Perry Mason stories that Colonial Theater had done and the length works for this story. It really creates a very tight and well-paced mystery. The plot is full of twists and surprises. At one point, Perry even hires another detective agency to spy on Paul Drake’s operative, only it turns out they are working for the man who paid him.

If there is one criticism I have for the production, it is that role of the winner of the Lucky Legs contest had a voice that didn’t fit the part. She sounded more like 14 rather than 21.  Still, that’s a minor flaw in a brilliant production.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Dragnet: The Big Chance (EP4520)

Today’s Mystery:

Joe Friday and Ben Romero join an inter-agency search for a missing Highway Patrol Officer.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: August 24, 1950

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Raymond Burr; Herb Butterfield; Stacy Harris

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

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Yours Truly Matter (EP4519)

Bob Bailey

Today’s Mystery: Johnny and Buster Favor are carjacked on a desert road on a hot night.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 21, 1957

Originated from Hollywood

Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar. Virginia Gregg, Lawrence Dobkin, Barney Phillips, Chester Stratton, Junius Matthews

When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com

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Mr. and Mrs. North: The Norths Buy a Letter (EP4518)

Joseph Curtain and Alice Frost

Today’s Mystery: A perjurer whose testimony got a friend of the Norths’ convicted of murder is offering them a chance to buy a letter that clears their friend’s name.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 6, 1943

Originated from New York City

Starred: Joseph Curtain as Jerry North, Alice Frost as Pamela North

Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Judith, Patreon Supporter since May 2021

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…http://survey.greatdetectives.net

Give us a call 208-991-4783

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Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives

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