Author: Yours Truly Johnny Blogger

Suspense: Fragile, Contents: Death (EP4154s)

Victor Perrin

Today’s Mystery:

A postmaster (Victor Perrin) gets a tip that there’s a time bomb among the day’s packages.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 22, 1956

Stars: Victor Perin, Herb Ellis, Frank Gershwin, Vivi Janis, Helen Kleeb, John Larkin, Leonard Weinrib, Richard Peel, and Ted Bliss,

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 at 208-991-4783

Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives

Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

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

Indictment: Bitter Grapes (EP4154)

Nat Polen

Today’s Mystery: A  woman’s lover alleges that she was killed by her husband.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 24, 1957

Originated from: New York

Starring: Nat Polen as Assistant Distict Attorney Edward McCormick, Jack Arthur, Marjorie Gateson, Elizabeth Lawrence, Bernard Grant, George Petrie, Mason Adams, Guy Rapp

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 at 208-991-4783

Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives

Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

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

Audio Drama Review: Space 1999: Dragon’s Domain

Dragon’s Domain is the Third Box set in British Audio Drama producer Big Finish’s re-imagining of the Gerry Anderson classic series, Space 1999. It stars Mark Bonnar as Commander John Koening, Maria Teresa Creasey as Doctor Helena Russell, Timothy Bentinck as Space Commissioner Simmons, and Glen McCready as Alan Carter.

The series follows the adventures of the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha after the Moon was blown from its orbit and sent into deep space in the events of the two hour adventure Breakaway. Like the previous two box sets, there are three episodes in this set.

First up is “Skull in the Sky.”

After the opening theme, we find ourselves on a very different Alpha than we’re used to. It’s Planet Alpha and Commissioner Simmons is Governor, ruling a semi-Police State after exiling Commander Koenig after the apparent death of Alan Carter. He delivers an oration on the anniversary of his sacrifice that allowed the discovery of water that allowed life to come to the moon.

Things get complicated when an Eagle is spotted…Alan Carter’s Eagle.

This has a nice mystery plot while also allowing the regulars a chance to play slightly different versions of their typical characters. More than that, the series builds to a satisfying, mind-blowing conclusion that leaves listeners and a few of the leads with a lot of questions.

The second story is, “The Godhead Interrogative:”

Dhashka Kano is trying to decode the relic left by the alientZantar at the end of the previous box set. While some think she’s become obsessed, the situation becomes a top priority when a hundred engines attach themselves to the moon and begin pulling off on a course with a strange world.

This is a very solid story with a great sense of mystery with a bit of the vibe of the movie, Arrival.  There are some great, realistic and grounded twists and surprises along the way. It’s emotionally and intellectually engaging. If I had any complaint, it was that Alan Carter got a bit annoying in this episode with his focus on Dhashka’s work habits.

The conclude episode is the titular story, “Dragon’s Domain”

Dragon’s Domain sees Alpha building a ship that could allow them to abandon the moon and return to the wormhole that brought them into deep space. Alan Carter teams up with a French scientist and falls in love as they work the ship and plan a test flight. The test flight leaves…and then everything goes wrong.

This is a solidly packed Sci-Fi story that manages to make a relationship between a main character and a one-off really have an impact while also creating an atmosphere of mystery and terror in deep space. It manages to be suspenseful, and scary without being gory or gratuitous.  It has a realistic time scale which means this story actually takes place over the course of several years.

This time scale does present a few slight problems. Mainly, it seems like for some issues, time has moved forward, while for others, like the relationship between Captain Koenig and Doctor Russell, things seem to have remained at a standstill. Then again, being stuck in deep space. may limit options to force a resolution. One of them can’t exactly request a transfer. Hopefully, the effects of the passage of time are visited in a future box set.
All in all, Dragon’s Domain offer more than a nostalgia high for fans of the original TV series. It’s adult sci-fi at its finest, mixing high concepts, realistic characters, and practical touches that make give this far-fetched premise seem far more realistic, sometimes frighteningly so.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
Dragon’s Domain is available exclusively at Big Finish.

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The LaMarr Matter, Episodes Three, Four and Five (EP4153)

Bob Bailey

Today’s Mystery:

Johnny has to overcome heartbreak as he tries to solve the murder of the father of the woman he had fallen in love with while on vacation.

Original Radio Broadcast Dates: March 28-30, 1956

Originated from Hollywood

Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Virginia Gregg, Harry Bartell, Lawrence Dobkin, Eric Snowden, Howard McNear, John Dehner, Jeanne Tatum,
Joseph Kearns, Paul Richards, Jack Moyles

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

Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net

Give us a call at 208-991-4783

Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

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

Philo Vance: The Argyle Murder Case (EP4152)

Today’s Mystery:

An actor is found murdered on a ferry boat wearing a pair of argyle socks that doesn’t match the rest of his outfit.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 27, 1950

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.

Listerners to the GDOTR can get 50% off on a subscription to receive 600 transcription transfers per month for the next five years through Radio Archives. You can try a sample month for $59.98 (proceeds go to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio) and support the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio at this link.

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 at 208-991-4783

Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives

Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

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

Mr. and Mrs. Blandings: Anniversary for Three (AWR0229)

Amazing World of Radio

Muriel tries to remind Jim of an appointment, but he thinks he’s forgotten an anniversary.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 13, 1951

Originated from Hollywood

Starred: Cary Grant as Jim Blandings, Betsy Drake as Muriel Blandings, Alan Reed

Go to http://amazing.greatdetectives.net to subscribe to the podcast.

Brought to you by the support of our Patreon listeners…http://patreon.greatdetectives.net

Dangerous Assignment: Epidemic-Needle in a Haystack (EP4151)

Today’s Mystery:

Steve is sent to a U.S.-occupied town in West Germany to find the source of an epidemic that’s making everyone sick.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 11, 1951

Originated in Hollywood

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

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 at 208-991-4783

Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives

Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

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