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

Broadway’s My Beat: The Georgie Beck Murder Case

Larry Thor

Today’s Mystery: Pickpocket Georgie Beck has repeatedly insisted that someone is following him, but Danny Clover and his colleagues have found nothing to substantiate his fears. When Georgie suddenly calls headquarters saying he has been attacked and then disappears, Danny retraces his movements and discovers an unexpected connection between the small-time thief and a lavish Park Avenue party.

Original Radio Broadcast Date:August 2, 1952

Originated in Hollywood

Cast:

  • Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover
  • Charles Calvert as Sgt. Gino Tartaglia
  • Jack Kruschen as Sgt. Muggavan
  • Irene Tedrow as Vera Lane
  • Michael Ann Barrett as Barbara Lane
  • Herb Butterfield
  • Ben Wright
  • Leo Cleary
  • Morton Fine and David Friedkin, writers
  • Elliott Lewis, producer and director
  • Alexander Courage, composer and conductor

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

Patreon Supporter of the Day:Michael, Patreon supporter since March 2016

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…http://survey.greatdetectives.net

Give us a call 208-991-4783

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

Become one of ourfriends on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives

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

The Big Story: The Miracle Phone Call (EP5062)

Today’s Mystery:Newspaper reporter Dorothy Patterson is contacted by the desperate mother of five-year-old Johnny McDermott, who is gravely ill and needs an expensive experimental treatment his family cannot afford. Despite warnings that readers won’t contribute thousands of dollars to help a child they don’t know, Dorothy puts her faith in the generosity of her community and uses her newspaper column to make an appeal on Johnny’s behalf.

Original Radio Broadcast: April 1, 1953

Originating in New York

Cast:

  • Jan Miner as Dorothy Patterson
  • Francis DeSales
  • Ted Osborne
  • Joey Fallon
  • Bobby Rick (probable identification)
  • Rae Terry
  • Brenna Rayburn
  • Bob Sloane, announcer

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

Patreon Supporter of the Day:Christine, Patreon supporter since November 2023.

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…http://survey.greatdetectives.net

Give us a call 208-991-4783

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

Become one of ourfriends on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives

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

The Saint: No Hiding Place (EP5061)

Vincent Price

Today’s Mystery: Simon Templar tries to help Tommy Patrick, a prisoner who claims someone has repeatedly tried to kill him and then escapes before Simon can speak with him. Searching for the reason Tommy has been marked for death leads Simon to Tommy’s sister Nancy, a powerful nightclub owner, and questions about the robbery that sent Tommy to prison three years earlier.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 19, 1950.

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:

  • Vincent Price as Simon Templar
  • Peggy Webber as the landlady
  • Sheldon Leonard as Frank
  • Victor Rodman as Farrelly
  • Peter Leeds as Sam
  • Dick Crenna as Tommy Patrick
  • Fred Shields as the Warden
  • Larry Dobkin as Louie
  • Dick Powell, writer
  • Leslie Charteris, creator of The Saint
  • James L. Saphier, producer
  • Helen Mack, director
  • Don Stanley, announcer

Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Real Uta Noodle, Patreon supporter since December 2024.

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…http://survey.greatdetectives.net

Give us a call 208-991-4783

Become one of ourfriends on Facebook.

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.

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Cronin Matter Omnibus (EP5060s)

Bob Bailey

Today’s Mystery:

Johnny Dollar is hired to protect the Circle of Fire, a half-million-dollar diamond-and-emerald necklace belonging to former Broadway sensation Dolly Cronin, who plans to wear it while recreating the lavish parties of her youth. But with Dolly inviting friends from a past she remembers through rose-colored glasses, Johnny quickly discovers that the celebrated necklace may attract people with motives far less sentimental than hers.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: December 5-9, 1955

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:

  • Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
  • Virginia Gregg
  • Shirley Mitchell
  • Vivi Janis
  • Barbara Fuller
  • Benny Rubin
  • John Dehner
  • Parley Baer
  • Les Crutchfield, writer
  • Jack Johnstone, producer and director
  • Amerigo Marino, musical supervision
  • Roy Rowan, announcer

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

Become one of our Patreon Supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day:

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

Give us a call 208-991-4783

Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

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

Counterspy: Vicious Visitor (A0122)

Today’s Adventure:

Violent bank robber Rocky Gaines escapes from federal prison, and David Harding and Harry Peters join the manhunt as the wounded fugitive heads into the mountains. Gaines seeks refuge with Norma Benton, a woman from his past who has built a new life with her husband, and threatens to expose her secret unless she helps him hide from the authorities.

Original Radio Broadcast: September 29, 1949

Originating from New York

Starring Don McLaughlin as David Harding; Mandel Kramer as Peters

To subscribe to this podcast and, go to https://greatadventures.info/

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

Patreon supporter of the day: Lisa, Patreon supporter since October 2021

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

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Lost by a Hair Matter (EP5060)

Bob Bailey

Today’s Mystery:

Original Radio Broadcast Date:

Originated from Hollywood

Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar.

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

Become one of our Patreon Supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day:

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

Give us a call 208-991-4783

Become one of our friends on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives

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

Dragnet: The Big Whiff (EP5059)

Today’s Mystery:

Sergeant Joe Friday and Frank Smith investigate the death of an unidentified woman found in a vacant lot, apparently the victim of chloroform poisoning. With no identification and little evidence beyond a chloroform-soaked handkerchief, the case takes an unusual turn when a stranger walks into police headquarters and insists that he murdered her.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 5, 1952

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:

  • Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday
  • Herb Ellis as Frank Smith
  • Vic Perrin
  • Gil Stratton
  • Jack Kruschen
  • Script by Jim Moser
  • Music by Walter Schumann
  • Technical advice from the office of LAPD Chief W. H. Parker
  • Technical advisors: Captain Jack Donahoe, Sgt. Marty Wynn, and Sgt. Vance Brasher
  • Hal Gibney, announcer

Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Tony, Patreon Supporter since March 2023

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.