Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Bob Bailey & Virginia Gregg in front of an old Microphone

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.

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.

Amazing World of Radio

The War

OTR Superman Show

Detective Video Theater

Recent Posts

Suspense: The Pit and the Pendulum (AWR0303)

Amazing World of Radio

This week in our summer series featuring old-time radio appearances by actors who later played killers on Columbo, we spotlight José Ferrer. Ferrer stars as a French artillery captain condemned by the Spanish Inquisition, who must endure a terrifying psychological ordeal while struggling to preserve his sanity and his hope of survival.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 28, 1947

Program: Suspense

Starring José Ferrer.

Also featuring Jeanette Nolan, Elliott Lewis, Joseph Kearns, Paul McVeigh, Eric Snowden, and John McIntire

Adapted for radio by John Dickson Carr from the story by Edgar Allan Poe

Produced, edited, and directed by William Spear

Original music composed by Lucien Moraweck and conducted by Lud Gluskin

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Brought to you by the support of our Patreon listeners at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Todd, Patreon supporter since January 2022

Support the show on a one-time basis at support.greatdetectives.net

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

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Philip Marlowe: The Good Neighbor Policy (Encore)

Gerald Mohr

Today’s Mystery:

A mix-up with his phone lines leads Marlowe to a snippy neighbor and a gun at his back.

Original Air Date: July 28, 1951

Starring Gerald Mohr as Philip Marlowe

Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

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.

Philip Marlowe: Life Can Be Murder (Encore) (EP5017)

Gerald Mohr
Marlowe meets a beautiful woman at an English pub, drops her off at a ritzy house, and is called when a dead body is found at that house.

Original Air Date: July 21, 1951

Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

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

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

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

Philip Marlowe: The Dear Dead Days (Encore)

Gerald Mohr
Marlowe is hired by an elderly widow to find her ex-chauffeur and ends up in a case involving a missing art collection.

Original Air Date: July 14, 1951

Starring Gerald Mohr as Philip Marlowe

Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

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

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

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Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives

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

Philip Marlowe: The Seaside Sabbatical (Encore) (EP5015e)

Gerald Mohr

Today’s Mystery:

Marlowe travels thirty miles to find that a client changed his mind. But then things get complicated.

Original Air Date: July 7, 1951

Originating from Hollywood

Starring Gerald Mohr as Philip Marlowe

Support the show monthly at https://patreon.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

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

Counterspy: The Cold Blooded Professor, Part Two (A0104)

Today’s Adventure:

After the notorious Professor Emery Horn escapes from death row through an astonishing feat of planning and deception, David Harding and Harry Peters launch a nationwide hunt for the brilliant killer. Realizing conventional police methods won’t be enough, Harding instead searches for the one clue Horn can’t disguise—his own mind.

Original Radio Broadcast: September 1, 1949

Originating from New York

Starring Don McLaughlin as David Harding and Mandel Kramer as Harry Peters

Also featuring Ralph Bell as Professor Emery Horn

Directed by William M. Sweets

Music by Jesse Crawford

Produced by the Phillips H. Lord Productions

To subscribe to this podcast, go to greatadventures.info

Become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Jim, Patreon supporter since October 2020

Support the show on a one-time basis at support.greatdetectives.net

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

Take the listener survey at survey.greatdetectives.net

Give us a call at 208-991-4783

Follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/greatdetectives

Follow us on Twitter/X at twitter.com/radiodetectives

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Wayward Sculptor Matter (EP5015)

Bob Bailey

Today’s Mystery:

When an insurance company begins receiving anonymous monthly payments for a $50,000 fraudulent claim, Johnny Dollar is assigned to identify the mysterious sender. His investigation into a suspicious insurance payout leads him to the widow of a famous sculptor—only to discover that she died months earlier.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 14, 1959

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar

Also starring Herb Vigran, Edgar Barrier, Carlton G. Young, Will Wright, and Lawrence Dobkin

Written, produced, and directed by Jack Johnstone

Announcer: Dan Cubberly

When making your travel plans, remember johnnydollarair.com

Become one of our Patreon Supporters at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day: Brenda, Patreon supporter since September 2025

Take the listener survey at survey.greatdetectives.net

Give us a call 208-991-4783

Become one of our friends on Facebook at facebook.com/radiodetectives

Follow us on Twitter/X at twitter.com/radiodetectives

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