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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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Sam Spade: The Terrified Turkey Caper (EP4089)

Steve Dunne

Today’s Mystery:

A man named Tom Turkey shows up in Sam’s office and says he’s afraid someone’s going to kill him.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 24, 1950

Originated from Hollywood

Starred Steven Dunne as Sam Spade, Lurene Tuttle as Effie, Wally Maher

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

Tales of the Texas Rangers: Stick-Up (EP4088)

Today’s Mystery:

Jace is called in when an elderly town character is shot down in a store stick-up.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 27, 1952

Originiated from Hollywood

Starred: Joel McCrea as Jace Pearson

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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.

Streaming Review: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

In the 1948 film, Mister Blandings Builds His Dream House, New York City advertising executive Jim Blandings (Cary Grant) shares a cramped apartment with his wife (Myrna Loy) and  his daughters. In a fit of inspiration and pique, Blandings decides to move his family into a beautiful old house in rural Connecticut about an hour from the city. However, Murphy’s Law hits in force and before Blandings knows it, he’s having to build a new home from scratch.

While this film is seventy-five years old, it’s still charming. While both Grant and Loy were veterans of more uproarious screwball comedies in the 1930s, Mister Blanding Builds His Dream House‘s comedy is different. It’s down-to-earth, subtle, and relatable. Anyone who’s gotten themselves into the stressful and complicated process of a real estate transaction should be able to relate to the Blanding’s plight, though the situations are amped up for comedic effect. Long-suffering family friend and lawyer Bill Cole (Melvyn Douglas) is both a great voice of reason and delivers the best comedic lines in the film. The film also has a serious point and character arc for Jim that really only becomes apparent in a surprise end towards the end of the picture..

The film did have points that seemed underdeveloped. In particular, Jim’s struggles to develop a slogan for Wham! (an obvious ripoff of Spam) because a predominant plot point in the last quarter of the movie. Having Cary Grant read off lame slogan ideas isn’t exactly comedy gold and we’re given little reason to care about him coming up with this whole issue. The threat of losing his job could have gotten me to care if done right, but there’s no reason to think he doesn’t get another job just a s good in two weeks.

Still, this is a very enjoyable film  when it sticks to its strengths aa  a story of love and real estate.

 

Rating: 4..0 out of 5.0

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Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Ricardo Amerigo Matter, Episodes Three, Four, and Five (EP4087)

Bob Bailey

Today’s Mystery:

Johnny nearly killed getting a missing insured violin out of a New Jersey swamp, but is it actually genuine?

Original Radio Broadcast Dates: January 18-20, 1956

Originated from Hollywood

Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Harry Bartell as Harry Branson, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Barney Phillips, Forrest Lewis, Eric Snowden, Herb Vigran, James McCallion

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/DETECTIVES and get on your way to being your best self.

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Philo Vance: The Shoeless Murder Case (EP4086)

Today’s Mystery:

Multiple beauty contest contestants are found murdered with their shoes missing.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: September 27, 1949

Originated in: New York City

Starred: Jackson Beck as Philo Vance, George Petrie as District Attorney Markham

Today’s program was provided by Radio Archives. Email detectives@radioarchives.com to get a free audiobook, a free ebook, and free old time radio collection.

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Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

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

Dangerous Assignment: Solve Your Own Murder (EP4085)


Today’s Mystery:

Steve goes to a South American country to find out who killed a man with papers identifying him as Steve Mitchell.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 10, 1951

Originated in Hollywood

Stars: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell, Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner, Wally Maher

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

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Ricardo Amerigo Matter, Episodes One and Two (EP4084)

Bob Bailey

Today’s Mystery:

Johnny goes to New Jersey to investigate the disappearance of a has-been musician and his insured $30,000 violin.

Original Radio Broadcast Dates: January 16 and 17, 1956

Continued on Friday in EP4087

Originiated from Hollywood

Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Harry Bartell as Harry Branson, Lawrence Dobkin, Vic Perrin, Barney Phillips, Forrest Lewis, Eric Snowden, Herb Vigran, James McCallion

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