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.

Mystery Special, OTR Detective, Podcast

Twice Told Tale: Dangerous Assignment: Guided Missile Plans and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Picture Postcard Matter (EP5055s)

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Dangerous Assignment — “Guided Missile Plans”
Steve Mitchell is sent to Dublin to recover stolen microfilm containing plans for a new American guided missile. His pursuit of the suspected courier leads him through England, where two deaths and a series of seemingly innocent picture postcards provide his best hope for locating the missing plans before someone else gets to them.

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar — “The Picture Postcard Matter”
Johnny Dollar travels to Switzerland after $100,000 in uncut diamonds are stolen from a courier at the Zurich airport. His only lead is a mysterious informant offering to arrange their return, but Johnny soon finds himself caught between competing players while a picture postcard offers a cryptic clue to where the diamonds may be hidden.

Original Radio Broadcast Dates:

Dangerous Assignment: August 30, 1950.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: October 1–5, 1956.

Both programs are originating from Hollywood

Cast — Dangerous Assignment:

Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell
Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner
Written by Robert Reif (Bob Reif)
Music by Basil Adlam
Music conducted by Ralph Hollenbeck
Produced and directed by Bill Karn

Cast — Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar:

Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
Lucille Meredith
Victor Perrin
Forrest Lewis
Stan Jones
Ben Wright
Written by Robert Reif
Produced and directed by Jack Johnstone
Musical supervision by Amerigo Marino
Roy Rowan, announcer

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

ABC, Counterspy, OTR Detective, Podcast

Counterspy: Visiting Vultures (A0120)

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Today’s Adventure:

David Harding and Harry Peters investigate a multimillion-dollar bootleg liquor operation that is using discarded corn-syrup cans to smuggle illegal alcohol into states with government-controlled liquor sales. Their investigation leads to Chicago businessman Hype Gordon, but proving his involvement means finding the hidden still supplying his operation—and Gordon is determined not to lead them to it.

Original Radio Broadcast: September 27, 1949

Originating from New York

Starring Don McLaughlin as David Harding, Mandel Kramer as Peters

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CBS, OTR Detective, Podcast, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Chain of Death Matter (EP5055)

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Today’s Mystery:

Johnny Dollar is summoned by his eccentric old acquaintance Alvin Peabody Cartwright, who has received a chain letter promising good fortune if he continues it—and disaster if he breaks it. Johnny is skeptical until he learns that two of Cartwright’s friends died exactly when the letter predicted, suggesting that someone may be using superstition to disguise a very real threat.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: August 2, 1959

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:

Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
Virginia Gregg
Howard McNear
Paul Dubov
Frank Gerstle
Herb Vigran
Jim Matthews, announcer

Written, produced, and directed by Jack Johnstone

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

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Thank you to our Patreon Supporter of the Day: Ryan, Patreon supporter since July 2017

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

Dragnet, NBC, Podcast, Procedural

Dragnet: The Big Fourth (EP5054)

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Today’s Mystery:

Sergeant Joe Friday and Frank Smith investigate a disturbing series of infant abductions in which babies disappear from the same general neighborhood, only to be found unharmed within a day. With no clear motive and few useful clues, the detectives devise a decoy operation while searching for the person responsible before another child disappears.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 29, 1952.

Originating from Hollywood

Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Martin Milner as Detective Bill Lockwood

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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 Lila Hunter Murder Case (EP5053)

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Today’s Mystery: Danny Clover investigates the death of Lila Hunter, whose body is pulled from the river while police are searching for her as the prime suspect in another murder. When a Skid Row derelict unexpectedly produces $500 for Lila’s funeral, Danny follows the money toward a man from her past and a possible connection between the two deaths.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 16, 1952

Originated in Hollywood

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

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Amazing World of Radio, Podcast

Strange Willls: Crosswinds (AWR0308)

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Condemned murderer Patrick “Killer” Malone escapes from prison and secretly stows away aboard a freighter bound for South America. Also aboard is Margaret Liebering, whose father’s unusual will requires her to make the voyage before inheriting his steamship interests, placing her directly in the fugitive’s path.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 9, 1946

Cast:

Warren William as John Francis O’Connell
Peggy Webber
William Conrad
Howard Culver

Written by Ken Crafine

Directed by Robert Webster Light

Original music by Del Castillo

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NBC, OTR Detective, Podcast, The Big Story

The Big Story: Hot Lead Catches a Cold-Blooded Killer (EP5052)

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Today’s Mystery: Miami Herald reporter William Adams joins the investigation after a well-dressed stranger is found shot to death beneath a bridge in the Everglades. With little to identify the victim beyond an old newspaper and a loaded die, Adams begins tracing the dead man’s movements, searching for the clue that can lead authorities to his killer.

Original Radio Broadcast: October 8, 1952

Originating in New York

Cast:

Jim Stevens as William Adams
Cameron Prudhomme
Bill Zuckert
Jean Gillespie
Ruth York
E. Sam Raskin
Michael O’Day
Cameron Andrews

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Deanna, Patreon supporter since December 2024.

Thank you to our latest Platinum Patreon supporter: Margie, who has been supporting the show since September 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 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.

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