The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio - podcast cover

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Adam Graham Radio Detective Podcastswww.spreaker.com
Are you ready for a mystery? Get ready to unleash your inner sleuth. Every day Monday-Saturday, we feature a different detective audio drama from the Golden Age of Radio. Our current mystery-solving line-up of radio detectives includes The Adventures of the Falcon, Hot Copy, Broadway's My Beat, Mr. and Mrs. North, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, and Dragnet.

Whether you want to listen to a mystery before going to sleep or enjoy some drama while driving, or just feel nostalgia for old-school radio fiction, we have you covered with six audio dramas every week.


Podcast Award finalist Host Adam Graham has been your guide through dozens of old-time radio detective series since 2009. He provides insightful commentary and humor after each episode and responds to listener questions and feedback. You can subscribe to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from your favorite podcast app or by visiting our website at http://www.greatdetectives.net.

We are currently in our fifteenth season of provided suspenseful mystery dramas. Our podcast feed captures the last 1,000 episodes we've released including all of seasons thirteen and fourteen, and part of season twelve. We have created two archive feeds: Volume 1, which features our first three seasons and Volume 2, which features seasons four-six, and Volume 3 which will feature Seasons Seven through Nine.

Our feed includes old time radio recorded in Los Angeles, New York, and also Australia.

The current actors featured in our old time radio detective podcast include Les Damon, Bob Bailey, Larry Thor, Alice Frost and Joseph Curtin, Betty Lou Gerson, and Jack Webb. Other actors featured within the past 1,000 include Howard Duff, Glenn Langan, Herbert Marshall, Gerald Mohr, Joel McCrea, Les Tremayne, Jackson Beck, Santos Ortega, Ned Wever, Karl Swenson, and more.

Episodes

Sam Spade: The Crab Louie Caper (EP4179)

Today's Mystery:Sam is hired to look into the disappearance and likely death of a crab fisherman. Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 2, 1951 Originated from HollywoodStarred Steven Dunne as Sam Spade, Lurene Tuttle as Effie Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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...

Sep 11, 202337 minSeason 14Ep. 297

Twice Told Tale - Man Called X: Murder, Music, and a Blonde Madonna; Christopher London: Pattern for Murder (EP4178)

Today's First Episode:Ken travels to Italy to follow a composer, to find why that composer's friend was murdered in New York City. Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 10, 1944 Today's Second Episode:Christopher London travels to Monaco, to find out why a composer's friend was murdered in New York City. Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 29, 1950B oth Originated from Hollywood. The Man Called X starred Herbert Marshall as Ken Thurston and Hans Conreid as Egon Zellschmidt Christopher London starre...

Sep 10, 20231 hr 11 minSeason 14Ep. 296

Dragnet: Production 4 (aka: The Quick Trigger Men) (EP4178)

Todays Mystery:A police officer is shot and killed in a bar robbery gone wrong. Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 24, 1949 Originated from Hollywood Starred: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday, Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net. Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715T ake the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net Give ...

Sep 09, 202338 minSeason 14Ep. 295

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Lonely Hearts Matter, Episodes Three and Five (EP4177)

Today's Mystery:The autopsy indicates a deceased insured man was murdered and the evidence points to his widow. Original Radio Broadcast Dates: April 25 and 27, 1956 Originated from HollywoodStars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Lucille Meredith, Mary Jane Croft, Virginia Gregg, Herb Ellis, Howard McNear, Stacy Harris When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net Give us a call at 208-991-4783 Follow us on Twitter @...

Sep 08, 202341 minSeason 14Ep. 294

Mr. Chameleon: The Case of Voices from the Dead (EP4176)

Today's Mystery:A woman's sister is murdered after she hears the voice of her dead seven-year-old son. Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 20, 1948 Originated in: New York CityStarred: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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 2...

Sep 07, 202336 minSeason 14Ep. 293

Dangerous Assignment: A Country's Democracy Threatened (EP4175)

Today's Mystery:Steve goes to a South American country where an American is wanted for killing the leader of the Fascist Party in order to prevent the election of an anti-US Government. Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 3, 1951 Originated in HollywoodStars: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell, Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner, William Conrad, Betty Lou Gerson, Tony Barrett, Paul Frees, William Johnstone. Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time bas...

Sep 06, 202336 minSeason 14Ep. 292

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Lonely Hearts Matter, Episodes One and Two (EP4174)

Today's Mystery: A young woman claims her insured father was murdered by a woman he met and married through a lonely hearts club. Original Radio Broadcast Dates: April 23 and 24, 1956 Originated from Hollywood Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar. Lucille Meredith, Mary Jane Croft, Virginia Gregg, Herb Ellis, Howard McNear, Stacy Harris When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com Take the listener survey… http://survey.greatdetectives.net Give us a call 208-991-4783 Become o...

Sep 05, 202342 minSeason 14Ep. 291

Sam Spade: The Shot in the Dark Caper (EP4173)

Today's Mystery:A newspaper editor hires Spade to go undercover as a tenant at an apartment building where someone appears to have captured a shooting on their camera .Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 23, 1951 Originated from HollywoodStarred Steven Dunne as Sam Spade, Lurene Tuttle as Effie, Wally Maher Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net. Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, I...

Sep 04, 202338 minSeason 14Ep. 290

Suspense: The High Wall (EP4172s)

Today's Mystery:A man wakes up in an insane asylum with no idea how he got there. Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 6, 1946 Originated from Hollywood Starred: Robbert Young, George Zucco, Cathy Lewis, Wally Maher Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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...

Sep 03, 202337 minSeason 14Ep. 289

Dragnet: Production 3 (aka: The Werewolf) (EP4172)

Todays Mystery:A man described as having a face like a werewolf is robbing and mutilating women in the wee hours on the streets of Los Angeles. Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 17, 1949 Originated from Hollywood Starred: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday, Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero, Charlie McGraw as Captain Ed Backstrand Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net. Mail a donation to: Adam Gra...

Sep 02, 202341 minSeason 14Ep. 288

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Shepherd Matter, Episodes Three, Four, and Five (EP4171)

Today's Mystery:Johnny is still doubting a doctor's story even after being pistol-whipped by the man the doctor alleged threatened to kill him. Original Radio Broadcast Dates: April 18, 19, and 20, 1956 Originated from HollywoodStars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Jeanne Bates, Virginia Gregg, Russell Thorson, Parley Baer, Herb Ellis, Barney Phillips, Lawrence Dobkin When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net Gi...

Sep 01, 202353 minSeason 14Ep. 287

Mr. Chameleon: The Case of Murder and the House of Whispers (EP4170)

Today's Mystery:A blind derelict is found murdered near a strange house that feeds the homeless. Mr. Chameleon finds that he was neither blind nor a derelict, and that's just the start of the mystery. Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 13, 1948 Originated in: New York City Starred: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net. Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, B...

Aug 31, 202340 minSeason 14Ep. 286

Dangerous Assignment: The Suspect Cylinder (EP4169)

Today's Mystery:Steve goes to Rome to find out why someone tried to bribe a student into smuggling a recording cylinder to Europe that contained a routine report on the prevalence of the common cold.Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 26, 1951 Originated in Hollywood Stars: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell, Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner, Raymond Burr, Tony Barrett, Lou Krugman, Betty Lou Gerson, Don Diamond, Stacy Keach Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net upport the sho...

Aug 30, 202336 minSeason 14Ep. 285

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Shepherd Matter, Episodes One and Two (EP4168)

Today's Mystery: Johnny's called to Providence to investigate when a local insurance agent reports a suspicious application. A doctor with few responsibilities has applied for $80,000 in additional life insurance, and if he's telling the truth, he has a good reason .Original Radio Broadcast Dates: April 16 and 17, 1956 Originated from Hollywood stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar. Jeanne Bates, Virginia Gregg, Russell Thorson, Parley Baer, Herb Ellis, Barney Phillips, Lawrence Dobkin When making ...

Aug 29, 202340 minSeason 14Ep. 284

Sam Spade: The Soap Opera Caper (EP4167)

Today's Mystery:Sam is hired by a soap opera queen to find her husband, and discover why he's so distraught over a telegram from Mexico City. Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 16, 1951 Originated from HollywoodStarred Steven Dunne as Sam Spade, Lurene Tuttle as Effie Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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 ...

Aug 28, 202348 minSeason 14Ep. 283

Guest Star Detective Double Feature (EP4166s)

Today's First Story: Basil Rathbone sets up an office as a radio detective, with Kenny Delmar as his bumbling sidekick. Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 24, 1947 Today's Second Story: A key witness in a Distict Attorney's (Robert Preston) racketeering case is murdered on his doorstep while leaving an important clue behind. Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 18, 1951 Programs Originated from New York and Hollywood Starred: Basil Rathbone, Kenny Delmar, Robert Preston, Barbara Fuller, Peter L...

Aug 27, 202337 minSeason 14Ep. 282

Dragnet: Production 2 (aka: Nickle-Plated Gun) (EP4166)

Today's Mystery:Friday and Romero search for two tough robbers who shot two police officers at a café. Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 10, 1949 Originated from Hollywood Starred: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday, Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero, Charlie McGraw as Ed Backstand, Frank Lovejoy Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net. Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 837...

Aug 26, 202342 minSeason 14Ep. 281

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote Matter, Episodes Three, Four, and Five (EP4165)

Today's Mystery:Johnny's predecessor in guarding in a show dog died under mysterious circumstances. Can Johnny avoid his fate? Original Radio Broadcast Dates: April 11-13, 1956 Originated from HollywoodStars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Jeanette Nolan, Harry Bartell, Byron Kane, Jack Kruschen, Bill James, James McCallion, Ken Christy, Dick Ryan, Bert Holland, Jack Edwards, Hy Averback, Roy Rowan When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com Take the listener survey at http:...

Aug 25, 202349 minSeason 14Ep. 280

Mr. Chameleon: The May and December Murder Case (EP4164)

Today's Mystery:A woman is found strangled in her room after telling her much-older husband that she wants a divorce. Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 6, 1948 Originated in: New York CityStarred: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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 ...

Aug 24, 202339 minSeason 14Ep. 279

Dangerous Assignment: Suspicious Explosions (EP4163)

Today's Mystery:Steve investigates a series of explosions targeting treaty negotiations in Japan. Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 19, 1951 Originated in Hollywood Stars: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell, Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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.greatdetective...

Aug 23, 202341 minSeason 14Ep. 278

Yours Johnny Dollar: The Laird Douglas Douglas of Heatherscote Matter, Episodes One and Two (EP4162)

Today's Mystery:Harry Branson summons Johnny on a mystery case that's strictly for the dogs. Original Radio Broadcast Dates: April 9 and 10, 1956 Originated from Hollywood Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Jeanette Nolan, Harry Bartell, Byron Kane, Jack Kruschen, Bill James, James McCallion, Ken Christy, Dick Ryan, Bert Holland, Jack Edwards, Hy Averback, Roy Rowan When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net G...

Aug 22, 202340 minSeason 14Ep. 277

Sam Spade; The Sure Thing Caper (EP4161)

Today's Mystery: Sam is hired by a gambler to find out if an ex-Jockey cheated him and two tough friends out of $1500 by promising them a chance to profit on "a sure thing." Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 9, 1951 Originated from HollywoodStarred Steven Dunne as Sam Spade, Lurene Tuttle as Effie, Wally Maher as Gentleman Joe Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net . Mail a donation to: Adam Graham,...

Aug 21, 202340 minSeason 14Ep. 276

Indictment: Fur Robberies (EP4160)

Today's Mystery: A man convicted of extortion decides McCormick information on a robbery to avoid an indefinite prison sentence. Original Radio Broadcast Date:September 15, 1957 Originated from: New YorkStarring: Nat Polen as Assistant Distict Attorney Edward McCormick Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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:/...

Aug 19, 202330 minSeason 14Ep. 275

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Salt City Matter, Episodes Four and Five (EP4159)

Today's Mystery: Despite a sense of foreboding, Johnny proceeds with his efforts to serve a subpeona on an underworld figure. Original Radio Broadcast Dates:April 5 and 6, 1956 Originated from Hollywood Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar. When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com 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 a...

Aug 18, 202336 minSeason 14Ep. 274

Philo Vance: The Muddy Murder Case (EP4158)

Today's Mystery: Vance investigates an impossible murder. A gangster was killed in a house surrounded by mud but no footprints were found inside. Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 4, 1950 Originated in: New York City Starred: Jackson Beck as Philo Vance, George Petrie as District Attorney Markham Today's program was provided by Radio Archives. Email [email protected] to get a free audiobook, a free ebook, and free old time radio collection. Listerners to the GDOTR can get 50% off on...

Aug 17, 202339 minSeason 14Ep. 273

Dangerous Assignment: Operation Hotfoot (EP4157)

Today's Mystery: Steve goes to Trinidad in search of a scientist who has discovered an important microbe but failed to report on time. Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 18, 1951 Originated in Hollywood Stars: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell, Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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 su...

Aug 16, 202335 minSeason 14Ep. 272

Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Salt City Matter, Episodes One and Three

Today's Mystery: Johnny goes to San Francisco to find a notorious criminal to protect him until the company can cancel his insurance policy. Original Radio Broadcast Dates:April 2 and 4, 1956 Originated from Hollywood Stars: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, Barbara Fuller, Jeanne Tatum, Barbara Eiler, Lawrence Dobkin, Dick Ryan, Jack Edwards, Barney Phillips, Junius Matthews, Tony Barrett When making your travel plans, remember http://johnnydollarair.com Take the listener survey… http://survey.great...

Aug 15, 202338 minSeason 14Ep. 271

Sam Spade: The String of Death Caper (EP4155)

Today's Mystery:Sam is hired to find a sea captain, and then finds himself in the middle of desperate characters fighting over a string of pearls. Original Radio Broadcast Date: Feburary 2, 1951 Originated from Hollywood Starred Steven Dunne as Sam Spade, Lurene Tuttle as Effie, William Conrad Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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 t...

Aug 14, 202337 minSeason 14Ep. 270

Suspense: Fragile, Contents: Death (EP4154s)

Today's Mystery:A postmaster (Victor Perrin) gets a tip that there's a time bomb among the day's packages. Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 22, 1956 Stars: Victor Perin, Herb Ellis, Frank Gershwin, Vivi Janis, Helen Kleeb, John Larkin, Leonard Weinrib, Richard Peel, and Ted Bliss, Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net 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 ...

Aug 13, 202335 minSeason 14Ep. 269

Indictment: Bitter Grapes (EP4154)

Today's Mystery: A woman's lover alleges that she was killed by her husband. Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 24, 1957Originated from: New YorkStarring: Nat Polen as Assistant Distict Attorney Edward McCormick, Jack Arthur, Marjorie Gateson, Elizabeth Lawrence, Bernard Grant, George Petrie, Mason Adams, Guy Rapp Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net . Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Bo...

Aug 12, 202335 minSeason 14Ep. 268