Listen to “The Great Detectives Present Casey, Crime Photographer” on Spreaker.

The character of Jack “Flashgun” Casey was created by George Herman Coxe introduced in the pages of Black Mask Magazine in 1934. Casey solved crimes while working as a photographer for the Morning Express.

Casey had a long-lasting legacy over the next two decades. There were six separate Casey novels published including two that were adaptations of stories serialized in Black Mask. Two separate films were released in the 1930s, there was a Marvel comics tie-in in 1949, and a stage play. In addition, there was a 1951-52 TV series about Casey.

The best known version of Casey was the CBS radio series. The series aired for 8 1/2 years from 1943-50 and then from 1954-55. The series aired under several different names (Flash-Gun Casey (1943-44), Casey, Press Photographer (1944-45), Crime Photographer (1945-47, and 1954-55) and Casey, Crime Photographer (1947-50). Staats Cotsworth took over the role of Casey in the 12th episode and played the lead throughout all the rest of the show’s time on radio. Over the series, several different actresses played Casey’s partner, reporter Ann Williams: Jone Allison, Alice Reinhart, Betty Furness,  Lesley Woods, and Jan Miner.

Throughout the run, the Blue Note featured in each episode with John Gilbert playing the quirky bartender Ethelbert and featuring the music of Herman Chittison (through 1950).

About the Star:

Staats Cotsworth (1908-79): Cotsworth was a staple of the New York radio acting community, known as the busiest actor in radio. He starred in a wide variety of different programs including The Adventures of Mark Trail, Front Page Farrell, as well as numerous soap operas. Cotsworth was also a stage actor and a talented artist.

 

 

 

 

Episode Log:

• The Case of the Switched Plates (Original Air Date: July 7, 1943) (Starring Matt Crowley)
• Clue in the Clouds (Original Air Date: February 26, 1944)
• Reunion (Original Air Date: June 3, 1946)
• A Tooth for a Tooth (Original Air Date: July 15, 1946)
• The Red Raincoat (Original Air Date: August 29, 1946)
• The Handkerchief (Original Air Date: September 5, 1946)
• The Duke of Skidrow (Original Air Date: September 19, 1946)
• The Surprising Corpse (Original Air Date: January 16, 1947)
• Gray Kitten (Original Air Date: February 6, 1947)
• The Twenty Minute Alibi (Original Air Date: February 20, 1947)
• The Mysterious Lodger (Original Air Date: March 6, 1947)
• The Demon Miner (Original Air Date: March 20, 1947)
• The Box of Death (Original Air Date: April 17, 1947)
• The Gentle Strangler (Original Air Date: April 24, 1947)
• King of the Apes (Original Air Date: May 1, 1947)
• The Laughing Killer (Original Air Date: May 8, 1947)
• Pick Up (Original Air Date: May 22, 1947)
• Acquitted (Original Air Date: July 3, 1947)
• Lady Killer (Original Air Date: July 10, 1947)
• Casey and the Self-Made Hero (Original Air Date: July 17, 1947)
• Photo of the Dead (Original Air Date: July 24, 1947)
• Bright New Star (Original Air Date: July 31, 1947)
• Death in Lover’s Lane (Original Air Date: August 7, 1947)
• The Chivalrous Gunman (Original Air Date: August 14, 1947)
• Busman’s Holiday (Original Air Date: August 21, 1947)
• Hide-Out (Original Air Date: August 28, 1947)
• The Loaded Dice (Original Air Date: September 4, 1947)
• Graveyard Gertie (Original Air Date: September 11, 1947)
• The Tobacco Pouch (Original Air Date: September 18, 1947)
• Treasure Cave (Original Air Date: September 25, 1947)
• Miscarriage of Justice (Original Air Date: October 2, 1947)
• The Wedding Breakfast (Original Air Date: October 9, 1947)
• The Camera Bug (Original Air Date: October 16, 1947)
• Lady in Distress (Original Air Date: October 23, 1947)
• Great Grandfather’s Rent Receipt (Original Air Date: October 30, 1947)
• The Case of the Blonde Lipstick (Original Air Date: November 6, 1947)
• Too Many Angels (Original Air Date: November 13, 1947)
• Earned Reward (Original Air Date: November 20, 1947)
• The Serpent Goddess (Original Air Date: December 4, 1947)
• The New Will (Original Air Date: December 11, 1947)
• The Life of the Party (Original Air Date: December 18, 1947)
• Hot New Year’s Eve Party (Original Air Date: January 1, 1948)
• Queen of the Amazon (Original Air Date: January 8, 1948)
• The Miracle (Original Air Date: January 15, 1948)
• Ex-Convict (Original Air Date: January 22, 1948)
• The Piggy Bank Robbery (Original Air Date: January 29,1948)
• Music to Die By (Original Air Date: February 5, 1948)
• Key Witness (Original Air Date: February 12, 1948)
• Witchcraft (Original Air Date: February 19, 1948)
• Holiday (Original Air Date: November 25, 1948)
• The Fix (Original Air Date: February 26, 1948)
• Tough Guy (Original Air Date: March 4, 1948)
• Fog (Original Air Date: March 11, 1948)
• Murder in Black and White (Original Air Date: March 18, 1948)
• Blind Justice (Original Air Date: March 25, 1948)
• Action Photograph (Original Air Date: January 20, 1949)
• The Scene of the Crime (Original Air Date: March 10, 1949)
• The Wolverine (Original Air Date: May 5, 1949)
• Cupid is a Killer (Original Air Date: May 19, 1949)
• Sell Out (Original Air Date: August 4, 1949)
• Death of a Stranger (Original Air Date: August 11, 1949)
• The Snowball (Original Air Date: August 25, 1949)
• The Coffin (Original Air Date October 20, 1949)
• Thunderbolt (Original Air Date: November 10, 1949)
• The Upholsterer (Original Air Date:  November 17, 1949)
• Wanted: A Gun (Original Air Date: January 19, 1950)
• Bad Little Babe (Original Air Date: March 2, 1950)
• The Fire (Original Air Date: April 6, 1950)
• The Disappearance of Mr. Dizzel (Original Air Date: April 13, 1950)
• Unlucky Numbers (Original Air Date: June 15, 1950)
• Woman of Mystery (Original Air Date: November 9, 1950)
• The Upholsterer (Original Air Date: November 16, 1950)
• Road Angel (Original Air Date: January 13, 1954)
• Source of Information (Original Air Date: January 20, 1954)

Thanksgiving Specials (played out of order);

• After Turkey-The Bill (Original Air Date: November 27, 1947)
• Holiday (Original Air Date: November 25, 1948)

Christmas Specials (played out of order):

• Christmas Shopping (Original Air Date: December 19, 1946)
• The Santa Claus of Bums Boulevard (Original Air Date: December 25, 1947)

Additional information on the series is available. at Blue Note Bulletin.

End of Log