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.

CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Bolt out of the Blue Matter (EP5050)

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Today’s Mystery:

Johnny Dollar travels to the Massachusetts coast after the niece of retired sea captain Amos Weatherby reports a threat against her uncle’s life. She believes a former fiancé with a sinister past has returned to make good on that threat, and Johnny arrives just as a powerful storm approaches the Weatherby home.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 26, 1959

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:

Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
Virginia Gregg
Carleton G. Young
Ralph Moody
James McCallion

Written, produced, and directed by Jack Johnstone

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

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

Dragnet, NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast

Dragnet: The Big Shakedown (EP5049)

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Today’s Mystery:

Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate a bookmaker’s claim that a police officer has been demanding weekly payments in exchange for allowing him to operate. But when no one matching the man’s name or description can be found in law-enforcement records, Friday and Smith begin searching for an extortionist who may not be a policeman at all.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 22, 1952

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:

Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Herb Ellis as Frank Smith
Also featuring Vic Rodman and June Whitley

Script by Jim Moser

Music by Walter Schumann

Technical advisors: Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, and Sergeant Vance Brasher

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

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

Broadway’s My Beat: The Harry Moore Murder Case (EP5048)

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Today’s Mystery:

Detective Danny Clover investigates the murder of successful construction contractor Harry Moore, a man with no apparent enemies, whose recent behavior had taken him far from his comfortable life. Clover follows Moore’s unexplained visits to the Bowery, where he discovers a connection to a dangerous man—and a mystery that reaches much closer to home than it first appears.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 2, 1952

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Larry Thor as Lieutenant Danny Clover; Charles Calvert as Sergeant Gino Tartaglia; Jack Kruschen as Sergeant Muggavan

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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: Reporter Risks Life to Avenge a Friend’s Murder (EP5047)

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Today’s Mystery:

When a Butte service-station attendant disappears under mysterious circumstances, his lifelong friend, Helena Independent Record reporter Alan Copperthwaite, refuses to let the story fade away. Following a slender trail of clues across Montana, Copperthwaite risks his own safety in a deeply personal search for the truth.

Original Radio Broadcast: March 19, 1952.

Originating from New York

Cast:

Bill Lipton as Alan Copperthwaite
Jane Robbin
Joe DeSantis
Phil Sterling
Owen Jordan
Joe Helgesen
Jim Stevens
Bob Sloane as Narrator

Adapted by Abraham S. Ginnes

Original music composed and conducted by Vladimir Selinsky

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Michael, Patreon supporter since May 2026.

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

NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, The Saint

The Saint: It’s Snow Use (EP5046)

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Today’s Mystery:

Simon Templar travels to a winter resort after being summoned by Peggy, a lively woman whose unusual request for protection involves asking The Saint to pose as her husband. Her tangled romantic history soon draws Simon into an increasingly peculiar mystery, where people—and even a snowman—have a habit of disappearing.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 29, 1950

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:

Vincent Price as Simon Templar, The Saint

Script by Louis Vittes

Based on characters created by Leslie Charteris

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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 Postal Pirates, Part One (A0116)

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Today’s Adventure:

David Harding and Harry Peters investigate a massive parcel-post theft ring operating in several major cities. Peters goes undercover as a New York postal clerk, hoping to work his way inside the organization, but the investigation becomes increasingly dangerous as the gang grows suspicious of its newest recruit.

Original Radio Broadcast: July 20, 1949.

Originating from New York

Starring Don McLaughlin as David Harding, Mandel Kramer as Peters

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Chris, Patreon supporter since February 2019

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Give us a call at 208-991-4783

CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Will and the Way Matter (EP5045)

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Today’s Mystery:

Johnny Dollar receives an urgent call from his old friend Red Barrett, who insists that the will of a recently deceased friend has been altered. Although others dismiss Red’s suspicions, Johnny heads for Arizona and Nevada to investigate—and soon discovers that someone is willing to go to dangerous lengths to keep him from asking questions.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 19, 1959

Originated from Hollywood

Cast:

Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
Virginia Gregg
Barney Phillips
Forrest Lewis
Parley Baer
Jack Moyles
Billy Halop
Byron Kane

Written, produced, and directed by Jack Johnstone

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:Pam, Patreon supporter since July 202

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

Give us a call at 208-991-4783

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

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THE GREAT DETECTIVES of Old Time Radio

With Host Adam Graham

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

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CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Bolt out of the Blue Matter (EP5050)