Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

It's back to the Big Apple for two more cases of Detective Danny Clover. Larry Thor stars as the sharp, philosophical detective in Broadway is My Beat, a stand-out from the crowd of radio cop dramas. Clover walks the Great White Way and mixes with the upper crust and the downtrodden in search of the truth in two mysteries: "The Garment District Murders" (originally aired on CBS on April 14, 1951) and "The Milkman Murders" (originally aired on CBS on February 16, 1952).

The debonair and daring Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond steps out of the night and into one of his radio adventures. H.C. McNeile's adventurer and detective crossed the pond in mystery dramas in the United States following his warm reception in novels and on the big screen. Ned Wever stars as the Captain, on the case in "Death Loops the Loop," originally aired on Mutual on March 10, 1948.

To celebrate the birthday of Alfred Hitchcock, we present a bonus episode of "Down These Mean Streets" dedicated to the big screen master of suspense. We'll hear a radio recreation of his classic film Strangers On a Train. Ray Milland and Frank Lovejoy step into the lead parts of Guy Haines and Bruno Antony, with Ruth Roman and Patricia Hitchcock recreating their movie roles in this rehearsal for the December 3, 1951 broadcast from the Lux Radio Theatre.

Alan Ladd is back as mystery writer Dan Holiday in Box 13. Holiday's figured out a way to beat writer's block: he runs a classified ad hiring himself out as an adventurer for hire, and he uses his experience as story material. It may wow the publishers, but it means Dan's life is frequently in jeopardy when he answers letters addressed to "Box 13." We'll hear two of his syndicated radio adventures: "Daytime Nightmare" and "Death is No Joke."

Orson Welles reprises his Third Man film role in the prequel radio series The Lives of Harry Lime. His nefarious traits are toned down (somewhat) as we find Lime traveling the world. Harry's still a rogue, but he usually puts his skills to work to thwart more dastardly crooks...even if it's only to line his own pockets. Welles stars in "Ticket to Tangier," an episode he also wrote for the syndicated series.

July 23rd marked the 126th anniversary of Raymond Chandler's birth, and we're saluting the author and his most famous character - private detective Philip Marlowe. Gerald Mohr stars as Marlowe, out to prove again and again that "crime is a sucker's road," in these two old time radio mysteries: "The Dancing Hands" (originally aired on CBS on March 19, 1949) and "The Glass Donkey" (originally aired on CBS on July 28, 1950).

British big screen star Herbert Marshall finds danger at every turn as secret agent Ken Thurston, aka The Man Called X. From 1944 to 1952, Thurston crossed oceans and continents on top secret missions to keep America safe in the perilous years following World War II. We'll hear this debonair man of mystery in "Five Ounces of Treason," originally aired on NBC on January 13, 1951.

"The greatest private detective of them all" hit radio on July 12, 1946 in The Adventures of Sam Spade. In honor of his anniversary, we'll hear Howard Duff as Sam in two of his radio adventures. Listen along as Sam dictates his reports on "The Mad Scientist Caper" (originally aired on CBS on July 25, 1948) and "The Critical Author Caper" (originally aired on CBS on August 15, 1948.

Bill Johnstone and Wally Maher are back on the beat in two more episodes of The Line-Up. Join them as they grill suspects and close the book on crime in one of radio's greatest police procedurals. We'll hear "The Mad Bomber," originally aired on CBS on January 11, 1951 and "The Syncopic Sweazy Sweat-Out Case," originally aired on CBS on July 5, 1951.

Paul Frees stars as Jethro Dumont, the wealthy American who studied Buddhism in Tibet and returned to his home country to fight crime as The Green Lama. This short-lived series brought the pulp magazine and comic book hero to radio and found him tackling adventures and mysteries all around the world. We'll hear him in "The Story of the Last Dinosaur," originally aired on CBS on July 3, 1949.

Master detective Ellery Queen made his radio debut seventy-five years ago this month, and we're celebrating with two of the sleuth's on-the-air adventures. First, Sydney Smith is Ellery in "The Adventure of the Message in Red," originally aired on CBS on November 7, 1945. Then, Larry Dobkin stars as Queen in "Number 31," originally aired on NBC on September 7, 1947. Play along with Ellery and his guest armchair detectives and see if you can solve the crime before he reveals the solution!

Basil Rathbone donned the deerstalker cap in fourteen films as Sherlock Holmes and portrayed the legendary detective on radio for seven years. Frustration with typecasting led him to leave Baker Street, but he didn't stay away from the detective world for long. We'll hear him this week as Holmes (with Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson) in "The Problem of Thor Bridge," originally aired on Mutual on October 1, 1945. Then, Rathbone plays himself as an amateur detective in the unusual program Tales of Fatima. We'll hear "Time to Kill," originally aired on CBS on May 28, 1949.

Gerald Mohr, one of the greatest actors of the Golden Age of Radio, was born 100 years ago this week. To mark his centennial anniversary, we'll hear Mohr as three different radio detectives. First, he's Archie Goodwin to Sydney Greenstreet's Nero Wolfe in "The Case of the Calculated Risk" (originally aired on NBC on January 19, 1951). Then, it's his 1955 audition recording as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Finally, he stars as Philip Marlowe in "The August Lion" (originally aired on CBS on August 6, 1949).

Gale Gordon (Principal Conklin of Our Miss Brooks) stars as Gregory Hood, importer and amateur detective, in The Casebook of Gregory Hood. An unofficial detective, Hood seems to find trouble wherever he goes. Bill Johnstone plays attorney Sanderson Taylor, the Dr. Watson to Hood's Sherlock Holmes, in their first radio adventure, "The Case of the Three Silver Pesos," originally aired on Mutual on June 3, 1946.

William Powell and Myrna Loy recreate their film roles of Nick and Nora Charles in this radio adaptation of The Thin Man. Dashiell Hammett's story of the Charles and their search for missing inventor Clyde Wynant was a big screen smash and was presented on the air on the Lux Radio Theatre. We'll hear this hour-long dramatization as it was heard on CBS on June 8, 1936.

Frances Crane's married sleuths Pat and Jean Abbott brought their colorful capers to radio in The Adventures of the Abbotts. Pat is a private eye by trade, but she proves herself a very adept amateur as she joins him on his cases. We'll hear Claudia Morgan and Mandel Kramer as the Abbotts in "The Canary-Blonde Heiress," an Armed Forces Radio Services rebroadcast of an episode aired on NBC on May 15, 1955.

S.S. Van Dine's dapper detective Philo Vance starred in twelve novels and over a dozen films before he came to radio. Played on screen by William Powell and Basil Rathbone among others, Vance was most memorably portrayed on the air by Jackson Beck in a syndicated series. We'll hear him take on "The Thundering Murder Case," one of the syndicated Philo Vance episodes.

Just a month before they terrified the nation with "The War of the Worlds," Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre On the Air presented an adaptation of "Sherlock Holmes," the 1899 play co-written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The legendary actor/director stars as the legendary detective in this broadcast originally aired on CBS on September 25, 1938.

Sixty-five years ago this week, Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC, and listeners were introduced to Dick Powell as radio's singing private eye. To mark the occasion, we'll hear Powell in two radio mysteries: "The Homing Pigeon Case" (originally aired on NBC on October 11, 1950) and "Blue Serge Suit" (originally aired on ABC on February 9, 1951).

Nick Carter is one of the detective world's oldest characters, predating Sherlock Holmes by more than a year. He thrilled fans in dime novels, pulp magazines, and movies before he came to radio. Lon Clark starred as the brilliant private eye for twelve years on the air, and we'll hear him in "The Case of Shakespeare's Ghost," originally aired on Mutual on December 30, 1945.

Les Damon stars as Michael Waring, aka The Falcon, a suave private eye who offered "a hand to oppressed men and an eye toward repressed women." The character was a combination of two other detectives, including the star of a popular B-movie series, and The Falcon proved popular with radio mystery fans during his decade-long run on the air. We'll hear "The Case of the Flaming Club," originally aired on NBC on May 6, 1951.

In honor of his birthday, "Down These Mean Streets" presents an hour of old time radio crime drama starring the incomparable Jack Webb. First, he's the no-nonsense Sgt. Joe Friday of Dragnet in "The Big Elevator" (originally aired on NBC on April 24, 1952). Then, he's the hard-boiled Pat Novak For Hire in "Agnes Bolton" (an Armed Forces Radio Service rebroadcast of a June 5, 1949 ABC episode).

In honor of Batman's 75th anniversary, we present a bonus podcast featuring some of the Caped Crusader's radio adventures. We'll hear Batman and Robin co-starring on The Adventures of Superman, as they team up with the Man of Steel to save Lois Lane from a murder charge. It all happens in the thrilling conclusion to "Dr. Bly's Confidence Gang," originally aired on Mutual between September 19 and September 21, 1945.

Bob Bailey stars as "the man with the action packed expense account" in a complete five-part adventure of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. From 1955 through 1956, Dollar's adventures aired five nights a week over CBS and this run of shows is remembered today as a highlight of the Golden Age of Radio. We'll hear "The Cui Bono Matter," originally aired on CBS between February 13 and February 17, 1956. Plus - find out who won our 50th Episode Contest!

Frank Lovejoy was one of the busiest actors during the Golden Age of Radio, and we're saluting him this week with an hour of his performances as crimefighters on the air. First, he's back as Chicago reporter Randy Stone in "The Hunter Becomes the Hunted" from Night Beat, originally aired on NBC on September 11, 1950. Then, he dons the mask and costume of The Blue Beetle in the 1940 syndicated episode "Murder for Profit."

Celebrate the birthday of actress Mercedes McCambridge with an hour of Defense Attorney. The Oscar winner stars as crusading lawyer Martha Ellis Bryant, a legal eagle cut from the same cloth as Perry Mason, in "The Case of Joseph Moriano," the series' audition episode from April 1951; and "Client Jimmy Leonard," originally aired on ABC on September 14, 1951.

It's another adventure of Boston Blackie, gentleman thief turned gumshoe. After Chester Morris' 1944 summer run, Richard Kollmar stepped in and starred as Blackie in nearly 300 syndicated episodes. As always, Blackie tries to crack the case and remains a thorn in the side of the stubborn Inspector Farraday. We'll hear "Murder at the Movies," one of Kollmar's syndicated episodes.

Joseph Curtin and Alice Frost star as Mr. and Mrs. North, a pair of amateur married sleuths who can't seem to avoid landing neck-deep in trouble. Publisher Jerry and his wife Pam stumbled into murder and mayhem for twelve years on radio and a few more on television. The duo star in "Dead Giveaway," an Armed Forces Radio Service rebroadcast of a show originally aired on CBS on February 19, 1952.

Howard Duff stars as Sam Spade in an hour-long episode of "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" - Suspense. It's "The Kandy Tooth," a story originally presented on The Adventures of Sam Spade and recreated on the anthology thriller series. This unofficial sequel to The Maltese Falcon with an all-star radio cast originally aired on CBS on January 10, 1948.

Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, and Sydney Greenstreet recreate their film roles in this radio adaptation of The Maltese Falcon. John Huston's film of Dashiell Hammett's novel is a classic, and it was translated several times over radio. Hear Sam Spade's search for the "Black Bird" recreated on Academy Award, originally aired on CBS on July 3, 1946.

This week, we present a tribute to one of the titans of the Golden Age of Radio - William Conrad. First, Conrad stars in his signature role of Matt Dillon, US Marshal on Gunsmoke. We'll hear "The Photographer," originally aired on CBS on May 5, 1956. Then, he fills in for an absent Gerald Mohr on The Adventures of Philip Marlowe in "The Anniversary Gift," originally aired on CBS on April 11, 1950.

Rex Harrison (Professor Henry Higgins himself) stars as a suave private detective in The Private Files of Rex Saunders. Along with his loyal assistant Alec, Rex Saunders tackles baffling cases with consummate class in this short-lived series. We'll hear "The Plan in the Killer's Mind," originally aired on NBC on June 6, 1951.

The big screen and best-seller worlds collide this week when Glenn Ford and Erle Stanley Gardner team up to bring you Christopher London. Ford stars as the globe-trotting private detective created by Gardner, the author behind Perry Mason. In this short-lived series (curtailed by Ford's success in Hollywood), London takes cases all around the world and finds danger wherever he goes. We'll hear him in "The Adventure of the Emerald Ring," originally aired on NBC on February 5, 1950.

In January 1946, The Fat Man premiered on ABC. We're celebrating the anniversary with an hour of J. Scott Smart as Dashiell Hammett's extra large sleuth. First, it's the series' debut episode, "The 19th Pearl," originally aired on ABC on January 21, 1946). Then, we'll hear "A Window for Murder" (originally aired on ABC on October 3, 1947).

Dane Clark stars as the titular private eye in Crime and Peter Chambers, a short-lived series drawn from the pages of Henry Kane's novels. Chambers is a slick private eye solving tough cases in the Big Apple, and he's given voice and style by big screen tough guy Clark. We'll hear "The Alan Lewis Murder," originally aired on NBC on April 13, 1954.

We kick off 2014 with an hour of "the Robin Hood of modern crime" - The Saint. Leslie Charteris' debonair detective premiered on American radio on January 6, 1945, and we're celebrating his anniversary with an extra-large episode. Vincent Price stars as Simon Templar in "Greed Causes Murder" (originally aired on Mutual on August 14, 1949) and "The Case of the Previewed Crime" (originally aired on NBC on July 30, 1950).

"Down These Mean Streets" wraps up 2013 with an hour of holiday adventures from two old time radio detectives. First, Sydney Greenstreet stars as Nero Wolfe in the Christmas crime drama "The Case of the Slaughtered Santas" (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1950). Then, John Stanley as Sherlock Holmes rings in "New Year's Eve Off the Scilly Isles" (originally aired on Mutual on December 28, 1947).

It's off to Egypt for international intrigue and adventure with Rocky Jordan. Jack Moyles stars as the American ex-pat and nightclub owner who winds up entangled in the shady underworld of Cairo. It's a combination of The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. We'll hear Rocky in "The Map of Murder," originally aired on CBS on July 3, 1949.

Jack Webb blends jazz with downbeat crime drama in Pete Kelly's Blues. This short-lived series spawned an Academy Award nominated film and a TV show. Webb stars as Pete Kelly, a cornet player in 1920s Kansas City. Kelly and his combo play in a speakeasy, and Kelly finds all kinds of trouble in the crowd that comes in for drinks and music. We'll hear "Zelda," originally aired on NBC on September 5, 1951.

Academy Award winner Edmond O'Brien starred for two years as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar and brought a hard-boiled intensity to the role of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." Today, he's remembered fondly as one of the best Johnny Dollars. Listen along as O'Brien takes the case (but doesn't take any guff!) in "The Barbara James Matter," originally aired on CBS on June 29, 1950.

It's a full serving of Dashiell Hammett's legendary private eye Sam Spade on this week's hour-long episode. First, Howard Duff is Spade in "The Lazarus Caper," originally aired on CBS on September 12, 1948. Then (just in time for Thanksgiving), Steven Dunne is Sam in "The Terrified Turkey Caper," originally aired on NBC on November 24, 1950.

Saddle up and head west with Joel McCrea as Ranger Jayce Pearson in Tales of the Texas Rangers. This mix of Western adventure and police procedural presented dramatized versions of actual cases taken from the Rangers' files. The result was a frontier-style Dragnet that combined two of radio's most popular genres. We'll ride with Ranger Pearson in "Hanging by a Thread," originally aired on NBC on November 26, 1950.

We're saluting Dick Powell for his birthday with an hour of radio mystery starring this crooner turned hardboiled star. First, Powell stars as "the man with the action packed expense account" in the 1948 audition show for Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. Then, we'll hear him as Richard Diamond, Private Detective in "Photographer's Card," originally aired on NBC on March 26, 1950.

Jack Webb dons his hardboiled hat again as Jeff Regan, Investigator. In this short-lived series, Webb stars as Regan, private eye and operative for the penny-pinching Anthony J. Lyon. We'll hear Webb, with Wilms Herbert as Lyon, in "The Lonesome Lady," originally aired on CBS on July 24, 1948.

Enjoy this Halloween treat featuring an hour of "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" - Suspense! First, Robert Taylor rents "The House in Cypress Canyon," originally aired on CBS on December 5, 1946. Then, join Ralph Edwards on a "Ghost Hunt," originally aired on CBS on June 23, 1949.

It's another adventure of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe, and one that features both of the actors who starred as Marlowe in weekly radio series: Van Heflin and Gerald Mohr. Heflin is Marlowe and Mohr is the title character in an adaptation of Chandler's "The King in Yellow," originally aired on NBC on July 8, 1947.

We're heading across the pond this week for an episode of CBS' Scotland Yard police procedural Pursuit. Ted de Corsia stars as Inspector Peter Black. Join him as he searches the streets of London for a murderer on the loose in "Three for All," originally aired on CBS on November 10, 1949.

Our star this week was called "the world's greatest living radio actress" by Orson Welles. She's Academy Award winner Mercedes McCambridge, and we'll hear her as Martha Ellis Bryant on Defense Attorney. On the podcast this week, we'll hear her fight to clear her wrongfully accused clients in "Client Joshua Masters," first broadcast on ABC on April 10, 1952.

The story you're about to hear is true. It's Jack Webb's legendary police procedural Dragnet, bringing actual Los Angeles Police Department cases to radio. Webb is Sgt. Joe Friday, with Barton Yarborough as Sgt. Ben Romero in "The Big Late Script," originally aired on NBC on July 26, 1951.

William Gargan played several detectives on radio and television, and he could draw from his real-life experience as a private eye for his characters. This week, we'll hear Gargan star as Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator in "Blood Money," first broadcast on NBC on August 2, 1954.