
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
Listen to "The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio" on Spreaker.
Currently Featuring
YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR CASEY, CRIME PHOTOGRAPHER MAN CALLED X TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS PHILO VANCE MR. CHAMELEON… and more! View all shows
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Recent Posts
NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, Procedural, Tales of the Texas Rangers
EP3770: Tales of the Texas Rangers: Breakdown
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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An elderly constable is murdered by a fugitive cop killer.
Original Air Date: March 25, 1951
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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Audio Drama Review, Golden Age Article
Audio Drama Review: The Avengers: The Comic Strip Adaptations Volume 06: Steed & Mrs Peel
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
Big Finish’s latest release of the Avengers features three different comic strips from the Steed and Peel era of the 1960s television series starring Julian Wadham as Steed and Olivia Poulet as Emma Peel.
In “Seven Deadly…Assassins”, Steed and Peel are sent on a ship where they are charged with guarding a valuable jewel. However, they find themselves amidst a group of assassins themed around the seven deadly sins and with a grudge against them.
This is very much a typical Avengers story with themed villains, a fun location, the quips, etc. It does lack some of the punch other comic adaptations. As writer Roland Moore points out, this was from a holiday special without cliffhangers. Still, it’s a fun story, and it’s written with a good understanding of what to expect. The performances are good even with the archest and most on-the-nose characters. It’s a fun time, and hits the right marks, but doesn’t quite have the pizazz of the better stories.
In “Stand and Deliver,” Steed and Peel are invited to a Highwayman’s Ball at the house of a nobleman/scientist. It turns out the ball is a set up to find out who is a spy within the British Secret Service, and Steed is a suspect.
In the case of many stories with this sort of plot, it might be fair to complain about how convoluted the story is, but this is the Avengers, and no villain ever cares about doing anything in a simple, direct way. This story is a fun listen that has a lot of twists and turns, and combines elements of a few different genres to make for a good romp.
“You Won’t Believe Your Eyes” is a hard one to evaluate, owing mainly to the comic strip used, which writer John Dorney admits goes in some directions that are atypical for the Avengers. The beginning of the story is quite strong with the sudden appearance of polar bears and T-Rexes. Then, after we find out the source of these apparitions, the story loses some momentum. We’re given two very stereotypical Soviet spy villains that are far from the typical over-the-top Avengers villains we’re used to. The story picks up in the last few minutes when we get the final plot twist and the denouement. It’s helped by a good acting performance from Dorney.
It’s not a bad script but doesn’t quite deliver the level of fun you expect from an Avengers script, particularly with an opening like this one had.
CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar
EP3769: Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Independent Diamond Traders Matter
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Johnny is called in to investigate the smuggling of illegal diamonds that are undercutting legitimate diamond traders and driving them out of business.
Original Air Date: November 24, 1953
When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com
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OTR Detective, Philo Vance, Podcast, Syndicated
EP3768: Philo Vance: The Cardinal Murder Case
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The girlfriend of an ex-racketeer is murdered.
Original Air Date: April 19, 1949
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
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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Man Called X, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast
EP3767: Man Called X: The Desert of Death
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Ken goes to Afghanistan to prevent the Soviets from acquiring the hydrogen bomb.
Original Air Date: May 6, 1952
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
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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CBS, Keen and Company, Mr. Chameleon, OTR Detective, Podcast
EP3766: Mr. Chameleon: The Dusty Room Murder Case
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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An inventor is found dead in a room completely covered with dust…except for the gun.
Original Air Date: April 5, 1950
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
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 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
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Casey Crime Photographer, CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast
EP3765: Casey, Crime Photographer: Road Angel
by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments
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Casey investigates the murder of a driver by a hitchhiker.
Original Air Date: January 13, 1954
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
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 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
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