Bob Bailey & Virginia Gregg

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio is 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.

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- Your host, Adam Graham

Listen to "The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio" on Spreaker.

CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Fatal Filet Matter (EP4990)

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Today’s Mystery:

Johnny Dollar accepts a dinner invitation from an insurance executive friend who seems troubled by something he can’t quite bring himself to discuss. When the evening takes a tragic turn, Johnny discovers that a mysterious steak delivery and an angry claimant with a grudge may hold the key to what really happened.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 10, 1959

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar

Also starring Virginia Gregg, D. J. Thompson, Jack Edwards, Marvin Miller, Larry Dobkin, Harry Bartell, and Frank Gerstle

Written, produced, and directed by Jack Johnstone

Announcer: Dan Cubberly

When making your travel plans, remember Johnny Dollar Air

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Dragnet, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, Procedural

Dragnet: The Big Evans (EP4989)

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Todays Mystery:

A boarding house operator accuses a young police officer of assault, battery, and soliciting a bribe after a narcotics arrest. As Friday and Jacobs investigate, conflicting witness statements and questions about the complainant’s injuries force them to determine whether an officer crossed the line—or whether someone is trying to frame him.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 6, 1952

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barney Phillips as Sergeant Ed Jacobs

Also featuring Whit Connor

Script by Jim Moser

Music by Walter Schumann

Announcer: Hal Gibney

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Judith, Patreon supporter since March 2016.

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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

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

Amazing World of Radio, Podcast

The Eternal Light: A Segment of My TImes (AWR0297)

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This week in our summer series featuring old-time radio appearances by actors who later played killers on Columbo, we spotlight Ross Martin. Martin delivers a memorable performance as Al Smith in this 1950 episode of The Eternal Light, a dramatization of the controversy surrounding Smith’s response to questions about whether his Catholic faith disqualified him from serving as President of the United States.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 22, 1950

Program: The Eternal Light

Featuring Roger De Koven as Judge Joseph M. Proskauer and Ross Martin as Al Smith

Also featuring John Slawson

Adapted by Morton Wishengrad from Judge Proskauer’s autobiography

Music composed by Morris Mamorsky and conducted by Milton Katims

Directed by Edward King

Announcer: Mel Brandt

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Broadway's My Beat, CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast

Broadway’s My Beat: The Larry Moore Murder Case (EP4988)

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Today’s Mystery:

After being acquitted of murdering his wife, Johnny Welch spirals into bitterness and violence, convinced the real killer is still free. When a man connected to the case turns up dead and the only witness who saved Johnny at trial is brutally attacked, Danny Clover races to stop a desperate man from destroying himself and everyone around him.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 12, 1952

Originated in Hollywood

Stars: Larry Thor as Lieutenant Danny Clover, Charles Calvert as Sergeant Gino Tartaglia, Jack Kruschen as Sergeant Muggavan.

Featured in the cast were Harry Bartell, Mary Shipp, Shepard Menken, Steve Roberts, and Jerry Hausner. Music composed and conducted by Alexander Courage. Produced and directed by Elliott Lewis.

Support the show monthly at Patreon

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Patrick, Patreon supporter since October 2023.

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

NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, The Big Story

The Big Story: Puritan Morality and Violent Death (EP4987)

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Today’s Mystery:

Reporter Albert Prince investigates the strange death of a respected Hartford meteorologist whose apparent chloroform overdose hides a deeply troubled private life. As Prince digs deeper into the scientist’s bizarre occult interests and fractured marriage, he begins to suspect the quiet widow may know far more than she first admits.

Original Radio Broadcast: October 18, 1950

Originating from New York

Featuring Bob Dryden as Albert Prince

Also featuring Agnes Young, Amsie Strickland, Walter Greaza, and Luis Van Rooten

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Ian, Patreon supporter since August 2016.

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Give us a call at 208-991-4783

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

NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, The Saint

The Saint: The Problem of the Peculiar Payoff (EP4986)

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Today’s Mystery:

Simon Templar survives an attempted hit by a small-time hood named Augie and traces the job back to a nervous swindler named Ronald Stanton. But when a murder complicates matters, the Saint finds himself caught between a blackmail scheme, a disappearing secretary, and a beautiful receptionist who may know more than she admits.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 9, 1950

Originating from Hollywood

Starred: Vincent Price as Simon Templar

Also featuring Frances Robinson, Arthur Q. Bryan, Ted de Corsia, and Donald Woods. Announcer: Don Stanley. Music composed and conducted by Von Dexter. Directed by Helen Mack. Written by Jerome Epstein.

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Jaclyn, Patreon supporter since August 2018.

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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

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Give us a call 208-991-4783

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

ABC, Counterspy, OTR Detective, Podcast

Counterspy: The Case of the Murmured Millions (A0092)

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Today’s Adventure

A smooth-talking con man pitches a powerful crime boss on a new kind of protection racket—one built not on violence, but on rumors capable of destroying major corporations. When businesses begin collapsing under whispered accusations and public panic, Counterspy chief David Harding races to expose the mastermind behind the scheme before more companies are ruined.

Original Radio Broadcast: August 11, 1949

Originating from New York

Starring: Don McLaughlin as David Harding; Mandel Kramer as Peters

Also featuring Rosa Rio. Directed by William M. Sweets.

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: RB, Patreon supporter since September 2024.

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Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

Take the listener survey at Listener Survey

Give us a call at 208-991-4783

THE GREAT DETECTIVES of Old Time Radio

With Host Adam Graham

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Currently Featuring

Check out our other shows:

Amazing World of Radio

The War

OTR Superman Show

Detective Video Theater

Recent Posts

CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Fatal Filet Matter (EP4990)

by Yours Truly Johnny Blogger • 0 Comments

Dragnet, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, Procedural

Dragnet: The Big Evans (EP4989)