Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Our heroes this week encounter elements of the old west in the strangest places. First up is "The Case of the Cowboy Killers" - a true crime tale from Gang Busters that pits police against a gang of robbers who are quick on the draw (originally aired on ABC on August 28, 1948). Next, real-life gunplay keeps Sam Spade from enjoying a western dime novel in "The Betrayal in Bumpass Hell," (AFRS rebroadcast from January 16, 1949). Then George Valentine is hired by a big screen cowboy star and winds up in a murder case in "Every Shot Counts" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on October 31, 1949). And finally, Joel McCrea uses old fashioned methods and modern policework in Tales of the Texas Rangers. We'll hear him as Ranger Jayce Pearson in "The Hatchet" (originally aired on NBC on February 11, 1951).

In this bonus show, Superman flies into action when a train carrying millions in gold vanishes from the tracks. We'll hear all eight exciting installments of "The Five Million Dollar Gold Heist" as they originally aired between November 25 and December 11, 1940.

Happy Fourth of July! We're celebrating America's birthday with some tales of murder and mystery pulled from the history books and dramatized on the outstanding anthology series Crime Classics. We'll hear "The Crime of Bathsheba Spooner" - the story of the first woman tried and executed in the United States (originally aired on CBS on June 15, 1953); the life and death of one of the west's most infamous outlaws in "Billy Bonney, Bloodletter: Also Known as 'The Kid'" (originally aired on CBS on October 21, 1953); and "The Bloody, Bloody Banks of Fall River," where Lizzie Borden took an axe (originally aired on CBS on September 30, 1953). Finally, the dastardly deeds of one of history's greatest rogues are presented in "His Own Reward" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on March 25, 1951).

How can Superman fight a foe he can't see? In this week's bonus episode, the Man of Steel battles an invisible man who stands in his way of unseating a corrupt district attorney. We'll hear all six chapters of this adventure that originally aired between November 11 and November 22, 1940.

Instead of counting sheep, the sleuths in this week's show are spending long nights counting clues. We'll hear drowsy detective work from our heroes who just want to go to bed. First, Boston Blackie discovers the late night work of a construction crew is actually destructive in a syndicated episode starring Richard Kollmar. As Sam Spade, Howard Duff tries to stay awake and solve "The Insomnia Caper" (AFRS rebroadcast of a show from October 24, 1948). And finally, Dana Andrews has to stay up all night to stay alive in "I Can't Sleep" - a syndicated episode of I Was a Communist for the FBI.

It's an epic rematch between good and evil as the criminal mastermind known as the Yellow Mask returns to battle the Man of Steel! One of the first villains Superman fought on radio is back in a fifteen-part serial that originally aired between October 7 and November 8, 1940.

Born June 11, 1914, Gerald Mohr possessed one of radio's best voices, and it produced one of the greatest performances - in any medium - of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. We'll hear Mohr as Marlowe in "The Panama Hat" (originally aired on CBS on October 10, 1948) and "The Bum's Rush" (originally aired on CBS on September 3, 1949). We'll also hear him as a less scrupulous private eye in "Five-Cent Call" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on February 19, 1950).

A message for help carved on a turtle's shell leads Jimmy Olsen and Clark Kent (and also Superman) into a dangerous adventure in this week's bonus episode starring the Man of Steel. We'll hear all six chapters of "The Curse of Dead Man's Island" (originally aired between September 23 and October 4, 1940).

Note: No intro this time - I'm playing catch-up but will be back on Friday!

Our heroes find crime in scenic settings in these three mysteries. Cabins, lodges, and resorts - all spots designed for rest and relaxation - are all hotspots for homicide. First, Lon Clark stars as Nick Carter in "The Echo of Death, or Nick Carter and the Phantom Clue" (originally aired on Mutual on July 5, 1943). Then, Dick Powell stars in "Cabin on the Lake," a rehearsal recording of Rogue's Gallery. And finally, Bob Bailey stars in the five-part mystery "The Crystal Lake Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS between August 13 and August 17, 1956).

In this week's bonus show, Superman embarks on a new adventure on (and beneath) the seas! We'll hear all twelve chapters of "Professor Thorpe's Bathysphere" (originally aired between August 26 and September 20, 1940).

Wedding bells are ringing and police sirens are wailing in these three old time radio mysteries. Matrimony is neither holy nor happy in these shows, beginning with "Maid of Honor" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on April 14, 1947). Next, private eye Mike Waring investigates a case of embezzlement and ends up married in "The Case of the Unwelcome Wife" from The Falcon (originally aired on CBS on May 27, 1951). Finally, Orson Welles tells the story of how a mandolin string was linked to the murders of a pair of bridegrooms in a syndicated episode of The Black Museum.

Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the start of another Superman summer! Our new season of bonus episodes starring the Man of Steel kicks off with a pair of serialized adventures. First, Clark Kent and Lois Lane investigate strange events in a small town in "Pillar of Fire at Graves' End" (originally aired between August 5 and August 9, 1940). Then, Clark joins an expedition to Central America in "The Mayan Treasure" (originally aired between August 12 and August 23, 1940).

In this month's bonus episode, we're headed to the San Francisco waterfront for my five favorite episodes of Pat Novak For Hire. Jack Webb stars as Novak - who makes ends meet by renting boats and taking odd investigative assignments, and who usually lands in hot water with the hard-headed Inspector Hellman of homicide. First, competing clients hire Novak to guard - and stay away from - boxer Rory Malone (originally aired on ABC on March 20, 1949). Then, a woman wants Novak to settle up her brother's debt with a notorious gambler (originally aired on ABC on March 27, 1949) and a priest asks Novak to find an Alcatraz escapee before the police do (originally aired on ABC on April 2, 1949). A scheme to scare a man backfires when a gun with blanks delivers a fatal shot (originally aired on ABC on April 16, 1949) and the search for a dead woman's handbag brings out the worst in several dangerous characters (originally aired on ABC on June 4, 1949).

Doctor, doctor - give me the news. We've got three old time radio mysteries involving physicians - some good, some bad, but all in the middle of crimes that our heroes must solve. First, a doctor drops dead in Danny Clover's office on Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on August 4, 1949). Next, Charles Russell investigates a doctor who may be criminally negligent in "An Apple a Day Sent the Doctor Away" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on October 15, 1949). Finally, Sgt. Joe Friday's prime suspect has an unshakable alibi from his doctor in "The Big Impossible" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on March 15, 1953).

In honor of Vincent Price's birthday on May 27th, we've got the screen legend in three old time radio mysteries. First, he narrates what might have happened to John Wilkes Booth if the assassin escaped death at the hands of the army in The Thirteenth Juror (originally aired on NBC on April 23, 1949). Then, Price discovers a dead man is still alive, and he may kill to keep the secret in "Murder Needs an Artist" from The Philip Morris Playhouse (originally aired on CBS on May 6, 1950). And finally, he's Simon Templar - the Robin Hood of modern crime - in "Cupid and the Corpse" from The Saint, where a dead body derails his date with an old flame (originally aired on NBC on August 27, 1950).

When our radio sleuths check the mailbox this week, they're getting a special delivery of danger! Missing messages, anonymous letters, and mysterious correspondence drive the cases in this week's showcase of old time radio detective dramas. First, Tom Conway is Holmes and Nigel Bruce is Watson in "The Adventure of the Tolling Bell" from The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (originally aired on ABC on April 7, 1947). Next, Alan Ladd answers a letter to Box 13 in the syndicated show "Double Trouble." Then, radio's singing sleuth tries to find out who killed the messenger with Dick Powell in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (originally aired on NBC on April 19, 1950). And finally, Bob Bailey is George Valentine, who receives a letter from a woman asking him to catch her killer...but she isn't dead yet in "The White Elephant" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on September 11, 1950).

Climb aboard for three old time radio mysteries set on the train tracks. First, Boston Blackie investigates why a gold train was derailed with nothing stolen. Richard Kollmar stars in the syndicated episode known as "The Derailed Gold Train." Then, Inspector Peter Black is on the lookout for jewel thieves on the train in "Pursuit on the Night Ferry" from Pursuit (originally aired on CBS on November 20, 1951). Finally, Frank Sinatra stars as Rocky Fortune on a cross-country train trip to catch a killer (originally aired on NBC on January 5, 1954).

Louis Vittes wrote episodes of The Wild Wild West and The Invaders, and he penned the classic sci-fi horror picture I Married a Monster from Outer Space. But before that, he wrote adventures of radio sleuths like Simon Templar, Barrie Craig, and the Shadow. We'll hear some of his work, beginning with "Ladies Never Lie...Much" from The Saint (originally aired on NBC on January 7, 1951). Then, Dan Duryea stars in "The Willie Baines Case" from The Man from Homicide (originally aired on ABC on August 20, 1951). And we'll hear Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator in "A Very Odd Job" (originally aired on NBC on January 30, 1952).

In this month's bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite adventures of radio's singing sleuth - Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Dick Powell stars as the gumshoe who's quick with his fists and usually winds up the week's caper by crooning a tune. First, Diamond investigates a case of blackmail and murder in "The Betty Moran Case" (originally aired on NBC on May 29, 1949). Then, a chance visit to a department store tips Diamond off to a murder plot in "Mrs. Baker - Klepto" (originally aired on NBC on September 3, 1949). Diamond winds up knocked out when he tries to deliver ransom money in "The Martha Campbell Kidnap Case" (originally aired on NBC on July 26, 1950). Jim Backus' tailor shop keeps getting robbed in "The Blue Serge Suit" (originally aired on ABC on February 9, 1951). And finally, Diamond tries to save a man who arranged for his own murder in "The Red Rose" (originally aired on ABC on March 1, 1951).

This week's old time radio mysteries blend comedy with crimesolving. First, Jonathan Latimer's William Crane jumps from the page to the radio in an adaptation of his novel "Lady in the Morgue" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (AFRS rebroadcast from "Mystery Playhouse"). Then, Albert Dekker and Mike Mazurki star as a pair of con men and reluctant detectives in Johnny Fletcher Mystery. This 1946 audition recording was adapted from Frank Gruber's novel "The Navy Colt." And finally, Nick and Nora Charles hunt for a missing dog in "The Adventure of the Passionate Palooka" from The New Adventures of the Thin Man (originally aired on NBC on July 6, 1948).

Click here to watch Albert Dekker and Mike Mazurki as Johnny Fletcher and Sam Cregg in The French Key.

Ride along with some old time radio police detectives and their real-life counterparts in these mysteries. First, Joe DeSantis is Captain Jim Scott, searching for a missing convict and finding a murder in Under Arrest (originally aired on Mutual on November 7, 1948). Next, Dan Duryea is Lt. Lou Dana - the cop who doesn't like killers - in The Man from Homicide (originally aired on ABC on August 6, 1951). And finally, three retired New York detectives try to solve a fictional crime with a cast of radio actors as suspects and witnesses in "Cops and Robbers" from The CBS Radio Workshop (originally aired on CBS on March 16, 1956).

Scammers and swindlers beware! Magician-turned-detective Mike Trent is on the job to thwart your plans to get some Easy Money. Larry Haines stars as Trent, a sleuth who focuses on the frauds and con artists who steal the money of average folks who can't afford the losses. We'll hear him in three episodes of this mid-50s mystery series: the show's debut (originally aired on NBC on October 3, 1954), "Galloping Ivories" (originally aired on NBC on November 14, 1954), and "The Gem Switch" (originally aired on NBC on December 19, 1954).

No chocolate eggs or bunnies - just a pair of old time radio Easter comedies in this holiday bonus episode. First, Phil's seeing a life-size Easter bunny on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. Then, a new egg dye leads to colorful confusion for Eve Arden on Our Miss Brooks (originally aired on NBC and CBS on April 9, 1950).

We're celebrating Jack Webb's birthday with three of his old time radio performances. First, he's Jeff Regan, Investigator in "Cain, Abel, and the Santa Maria" (originally aired on CBS on September 11, 1948). Next, he co-stars with Joan Banks in "Danger is a Beautiful Blonde" - another strange story by The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on May 8, 1949). And finally, Webb is Sgt. Joe Friday in his signature role in "The Big Paper" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on August 21, 1952).

In this month's bonus episode, I'm serving up my five favorite episodes of The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe - the single season series starring Oscar-nominee Sydney Greenstreet as Rex Stout's gargantuan gourmet, orchid fancier, and brilliant private detective. First, Wolfe is hired to drop a mystery woman as a client by a man who's soon found murdered in "The Case of the Careworn Cuff" (originally aired on NBC on October 20, 1950). Then, a woman is killed in one of New York's fanciest men's clubs in "The Case of the Careless Cleaner" (originally aired on NBC on November 17, 1950). A prizefighter has gone missing in "The Case of the Deadly Sellout" (originally aired on NBC on January 5, 1951) and Wolfe is hired by a man who announces his intentions to commit murder in "The Case of the Calculated Risk" (originally aired on NBC on January 19, 1951). Finally, a woman's plea for help leads Wolfe to a house full of suspects with motives to kill her in "The Case of the Telltale Ribbon" (originally aired on NBC on March 30, 1951).

Hoist the sail for a triple feature of detectives vs. 20th century pirates! First, as secret agent Ken Thurston, Herbert Marshall hunts a gang that's looting relief ships in the Red Sea in The Man Called X (originally aired on CBS on June 19, 1947). Then, Tom Collins stars in the syndicated show "The Case of the Vanishing President" - a story of piracy and a revolution from The Adventures of Frank Race. And finally, Inspector Peter Black is on the river in search of a ship full of modern day pirates in London. Ben Wright stars in "Pursuit of the Thames Pirates" from Pursuit (originally aired on CBS on February 12, 1952).

This week, we've got stories from three of the all-time great mystery writers - literary giants who gave us some of the most famous detectives in fiction. We'll hear adaptations of Raymond Chandler's "Murder in the City Hall" and Agatha Christie's "Witness for the Prosecution" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (originally aired on NBC on April 5 and May 31, 1946). And in between those shows, we'll hear Orson Welles in Dashiell Hammett's "The Glass Key" presented on The Campbell Playhouse (originally aired on CBS on March 10, 1939).

In honor of the 95th Academy Awards, we'll hear four old time radio detective stars who took home Oscars of their own. First, Rex Harrison stars as a debonair sleuth in "Murder Deep in the Killer's Mind" from The Private Files of Rex Saunders (originally aired on NBC on June 20, 1951). Next, Edmond O'Brien is "the man with the action-packed expense account" in "The Malcolm D. Wish, M.D. Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on June 20, 1951). Then, as Defense Attorney, Mercedes McCambridge fights to clear the name of "Client George Baughman" (originally aired on ABC on August 28, 1952). And finally, Frank Sinatra - Ol' Blue Eyes himself - tries to help a woman who fears she's going crazy in "Psychological Murder" from Rocky Fortune (originally aired on NBC on March 16, 1954).

Okay, maybe not everybody loves clowns, but I bet you'll enjoy these three old time radio mysteries featuring the circus' most colorful performers. First, Gregory Hood solves the murder of "The Sad Clown" (originally aired on Mutual on October 7, 1946). Then, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate deadly doings under the big top in "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger" (originally aired on Mutual on June 20, 1948). And finally, Orson Welles catches up with his old friend - a smuggler, a ladies' man, and a clown - in "The Painted Smile," a syndicated episode from The Lives of Harry Lime.

From 1952 until 1957, fans of Dragnet could catch one episode on radio and a different story on television. The adventures of Sgt. Joe Friday aired concurrently on radio and the small screen for hundreds of shows, and this week we'll hear three radio episodes that were later adapted for TV. We'll hear the show that was adapted as the first episode of the TV series (originally aired on NBC on July 21, 1949), "The Big Lease" (originally aired on NBC on November 1, 1951), and "The Big Show" (originally aired on NBC on April 10, 1952).

Click here to watch "The Human Bomb."

Click here to watch "The Big Lease."

Click here to watch "The Big Show."

Created by Dashiell Hammett, The Fat Man was one of radio's most popular mystery shows. It was on the verge of spinning off into a series of movies with radio star J. Scott Smart reprising his role of private eye Brad Runyon. But then Hammett ran afoul of the House Un-American Activities Committee and the crimesolving career of the Fat Man came to an end. In this month's bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite adventures of Runyon - "the fast-moving criminologist who tips the scales at 237 pounds." We'll start with the show's first episode - "The Nineteenth Pearl" (originally aired on ABC on January 21, 1946). Then, he tries to help a woman who's being pressured back into a life of crime in "The Black Angel" (originally aired on ABC on July 8, 1946). The Fat Man tries to help a friend who witnesses a murder in a neighboring apartment in "A Window for Murder" (originally aired on ABC on October 3, 1947), and Runyon heads to Mexico to solve a case south of the border in "Murder Wins the Draw" (originally aired on ABC on April 1, 1949). Finally, in "The NIghtmare Murder" (originally aired on ABC on January 17, 1951), a man hires Runyon to prove he's guilty of murder.

"America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator" is on the case - three of them - in this week's episode. We're celebrating the anniversary of the radio debut of Johnny Dollar with a trio of old time radio mysteries starring "the man with the action-packed expense account." First, Charles Russell is Johnny in "The Case of Barton Drake" (originally aired on CBS on April 22, 1949). Next, we'll hear "The William Post Matter" (originally aired on CBS on September 22, 1953) with John Lund as Dollar. And finally, Mandel Kramer stars in "The Bee or Not to Bee Matter" (originally aired on CBS on October 29, 1961).

With Valetine's Day right around the corner, we're celebrating with three crimesolving couples from the golden age of radio. First, in "A Crime to Fit the Punishment" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre, an amateur sleuth and his girlfriend investigate a strange case of blackmail (AFRS rebroadcast). Next, it's another adventure of the Duke and Duchess from Murder By Experts - the locked room mystery "The Unseeing Witness" (originally aired on Mutual on September 26, 1949). Finally, we'll hear Les Damon and Claudia Morgan as Pat and Jean Abbott - an insurance investigator and his sharp-eyed wife - in "The Fabulous Emerald Necklace" from The Adventures of the Abbotts (AFRS rebroadcast).

This month, Philip Marlowe returns to the big screen with Liam Neeson starring as Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles gumshoe. To celebrate, I've picked three old time radio Marlowe mysteries with the great Gerald Mohr. We'll hear "The Restless Day" (originally aired on CBS on January 8, 1949), "The Headless Peacock" (originally aired on CBS on July 16, 1949), and "The Man on the Roof" (originally aired on CBS on April 4, 1950).

Not all radio detectives were cops or private eyes. There were several reporters who cracked cases while they filed stories and met deadlines, and today we'll hear some of their adventures. First, Casey, Crime Photographer comes to the aid of a man framed for murder in "The Laughing Killer" (originally aired on CBS on May 8, 1947). And on Night Beat, Randy Stone investigates when a Prohibition-era gangster is gunned down after being released from prison in an episode known as "Big John McMasters" (originally aired on NBC on March 4, 1951). But in between those fictional stories, we'll hear the real-life tale of a Nevada reporter who broke a murder case in The Big Story (originally aired on NBC on January 11, 1950).

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite detective stories from Suspense. Over its twenty year run, "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" presented many great mysteries, including these five tales adapted from stories by some of crime fiction's best writers and starring some of the genre's most interesting characters. First, Warren William recreates his screen role as The Lone Wolf makes his radio debut. The reformed jewel thief turned detective stars in "Murder Goes for a Swim" (originally aired on CBS on July 20, 1943). Then, an unlikely pair of detectives (Allyn Joslyn and William Bendix) hunts for a stolen necklace in Raymond Chandler's "Pearls are a Nuisance" (originally aired on CBS on April 19, 1945). Dashiell Hammett provides our third tale, as John Payne and Frank McHugh play a small town sheriff and his deputy who catch a wanted man only to have him die in their jail cell in "Two Sharp Knives" (originally aired on CBS on June 7, 1945). Brian Donlevy stars as Duncan McLain, the blind private detective created by Baynard Kendrick in a radio adaptation of Kendrick's novel "Out of Control" (originally aired on CBS on March 28, 1946), a story that finds Kendrick investigating a seemingly impossible murder. And finally, Dana Andrews is a cop out to stop a serial killer who's hungry for publicity in "The Crowd," an adaptation of a story by Ray Bradbury (originally aired on CBS on September 21, 1950).

We're catching a cable car in San Francisco with three old time radio gumshoes who live and work in the city by the bay. First, Candy Matson solves a pair of murders on an army base in "The Fort Ord Story" (originally aired on NBC on September 23, 1949). Next, Sam Spade is hired to protect a man from a vengeful ex-con in "The Champion Caper" (originally aired on CBS on August 7, 1949). Finally, Pat Novak tries to pay off a gambling debt and ends up framed for murder in an episode known as "Joe Condano" (originally aired on ABC on March 27, 1949).

It's a mix of winter sports and whodunnit in the Alps with Bob Bailey in a five-part adventure of Johnny Dollar. "The man with the action-packed expense account" heads to Switzerland in pursuit of $100,000 of stolen diamonds, where he hits the slopes and dodges shots, in "The Picture Postcard Matter" (originally aired on CBS between October 1 and October 5, 1956).

Winter is upon us, and this week I've picked three old time radio mysteries set during snowstorms. First up, there's a suspicious suicide at a lodge for Barton Drake to solve in Mystery is My Hobby. Then, Mr. and Mrs. North check in for murder at a hotel during a storm. Barbara Britton and Richard Denning star as Pam and Jerry in "Snowbound" (an AFRS rebroadcast). Finally, Gerald Mohr is Philip Marlowe who takes shelter from a blizzard only to discover he's trapped with the family of a man he killed in "The Grim Echo" (originally aired on CBS on February 14, 1950).

I've got one more episode before I sign off for the year, and for this bonus show I'm sharing my five favorite old time radio mysteries. It's a quintet of Christmas capers that will help to get you in the holiday spirit. First, Sydney Greenstreet is Nero Wolfe in "The Case of the Slaughtered Santas" (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1950) and Frank Sinatra is Rocky Fortune in "The Plot to Murder Santa Claus" (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1953). Then Vincent Price is Simon Templar in "Santa Claus is No Saint," a holiday adventure of the Robin Hood of modern crime (originally aired on NBC on December 24, 1950) and a Sherlock Holmes mystery with John Stanley and Alfred Shirley as Holmes and Watson in "The Adventure of the Christmas Bride" (originally aired on Mutual on December 21, 1947). Finally, Jack Webb is Sgt. Joe Friday in the heartwarming Dragnet case file "The Big Little Jesus" (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1953).

With Christmas only days away, we're celebrating (and closing out another year of the podcast) with Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezeer Scrooge in an old time radio adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The classic holiday story was presented on The Campbell Playhouse with Orson Welles and an all-star radio cast bringing the tale to life. We'll hear Welles as narrator, Barrymore as Scrooge, and supporting performances from Everett Sloane, George Coulouris, and Frank Readick in this broadcast that originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1939.

Happy Holidays! We're celebrating the season with four old time radio holiday mysteries. Grab an egg nog and a Christmas cookie or two and enjoy these Christmas crime tales. First, Paul Frees plans a perfect murder in "Back for Christmas" from Escape (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1947). Then, Sgt. Joe Friday searches for a missing woman during the holidays in Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on July 28, 1949). Then, Bob Bailey finds a mystery on Christmas Eve when he tries to do a favor for a soldier in "Christmas Letter" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on December 24, 1951). Finally, Detective Danny Clover is on a holiday hunt for a legendary artifact in Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on December 22, 1951). Plus - Stan Freberg and Daws Butler star in a holiday Dragnet parody!

Update: After a round of steroids from my doctor, I think this 30+ days of cough is finally behind me.

Old time radio oracles take center stage in this week's mysteries. First, Jeff Regan tries to protect a mind reader who's been marked for death. Jack Webb stars in "The House by the Sea" (originally aired on CBS on November 4, 1948). Then, Randy Stone comes to the aid of a carnival mentalist driven mad by a mysterious question. Frank Lovejoy stars in the Night Beat episode known as "Mentallo, the Mental Marvel" (originally aired on NBC on May 1, 1950). Finally, Ronald Colman stars in one of my favorite Suspense episodes as a nightclub psychic who discovers his act isn't a fake anymore. We'll hear "A Vision of Death" (originally aired on CBS on March 8, 1951).

Sit back and get ready for five reports dictated to Effie Perrine by Sam Spade. Dashiell Hammett's gumshoe was a hit in print and on the big screen in The Maltese Falcon, and when he came to radio in 1946 he soon became one of the most popular characters on radio in the person of actor Howard Duff. The show's combination of hardboiled mystery and tongue in cheek humor helped it stand out from the crowd, and it still holds up today. We'll hear my five favorite Spade episodes - "The Missing Newshawk Caper" (originally aired on CBS on July 18, 1949); "The Critical Author Caper" (originally aired on CBS on August 15, 1948); "The Lawless Caper" (originally aired on CBS on August 29, 1948); "The Lazarus Caper" (originally aired on CBS on September 12, 1948); and "The Dick Foley Caper" (originally aired on CBS on September 26, 1948). Plus - a one-hour Suspense episode and sequel to The Maltese Falcon - "The Kandy Tooth" (originally aired on CBS on January 10, 1948).

As the long Thanksgiving weekend draws to a close and as folks finish their trips back home, we'll hear three old time radio mysteries set in the car and on the highway. First, Frank Sinatra is behind the wheel of a truck full of nitroglycerin in Rocky Fortune (originally aired on NBC on January 26, 1954). Then, Fibber McGee and Molly leave Wistful Vista for a visit to Suspense where they run afoul of a "Backseat Driver" (originally aired on CBS on February 3, 1949). Finally, we'll hear Casey, Crime Photographer investigate the case of a beautiful and deadly hitch-hiking thief in "Road Angel" (originally aired on CBS on January 13, 1954).

Whether you're shopping for deals or savoring some Turkey Day leftovers, Jack Webb is here to keep you company in this bonus episode. We'll celebrate Black Friday with Joe Friday in four Dragnet radio episodes: "The Big Grandma" (originally aired on NBC on October 15, 1950); "The Big Bungalow" (originally aired on NBC on November 15, 1951); "The Big Informant" (originally aired on NBC on March 22, 1953); and "The Big Bob" (originally aired on NBC on September 1, 1953).

The classic Disney animated films of the 50s and 60s featured some of the great stars of the golden age of radio. Some of the best villains in those pictures were voiced by veterans of Escape, Suspense, Sam Spade, and more. We'll hear a trio of radio mysteries featuring a quartet of Disney actors. First, Hans Conried - Captain Hook of Peter Pan - and Betty Lou Gerson - Cruella de Vil of One Hundred and One Dalmatians - co-star in "The Unfair Lady" from The Adventures of Philip Marlowe (originally aired on CBS on June 4, 1949). Next, Martha Wentworth - Mad Madam Mim from The Sword in the Stone - may be a murderess in "Weak Sister" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on October 14, 1946). Finally, Eleanor Audley - who memorably played both the Evil Stepmother in Cinderella and Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty - needs Johnny Dollar's help in "The Doting Dowager Matter" (originally aired on CBS on January 25, 1959).

Note: Intros should be back by next week!

Helen Mack began her career as a child actress in the 1920s and she went on to make appearances in Son of Kong and His Girl Friday. But in the 1940s, she transitioned into a new phase of her career as a producer and director of radio shows. She was behind the scenes of comedies like Meet Corliss Archer and A Date with Judy and she helmed dozens of episodes of Richard Diamond and The Saint - two shows marked by a wry sense of humor mixed in with the mysteries. We'll celebrate Ms. Mack's birthday with some of her work in the world of radio detectives. Dick Powell stars as Richard Diamond in "The Marilyn Connors Case" (originally aired on ABC on January 12, 1951) and "The Man with the Scar" (originally aired on ABC on January 26, 1951). And in between those shows, we'll hear Vincent Price as Simon Templar in "The Bride Who Lost Her Groom" from The Saint (originally aired on NBC on February 11, 1951).

Next week: Old time radio mysteries starring the voices of some classic Disney villains!

**Note: No intro today - not sure if I caught something new or if it's the same thing wearing out its welcome, but hopefully back to normal next week!

The contents of museums can solve mysteries of the past, but the halls of artifacts and treasures can also provide great backdrops for whodunits today. We'll hear three radio private eyes on cases that take them through the corridors of museums, beginning with Lon Clark as Nick Carter in "The Museum Tragedy" (originally aired on Mutual on May 27, 1945). Then, Jackson Beck is Philo Vance in the syndicated mystery "The Idol Murder Case." And finally, William Gargan stars in "Murder in Wax" from Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (originally aired on NBC on November 21, 1951).

Note: No intro this week; I'm hoping that I'll be over my cold in time for next week's show!

With Halloween right around the corner, we're catching up with some of the creepier cases investigated by "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." Bob Bailey stars as Johnny Dollar in the five-part mystery "The Tears of Night Matter" (originally aired on CBS between May 21 and May 25, 1956) - where Johnny comes to the aid of a wealthy widow convinced that an ancestral curse has doomed her. Then, we'll hear him in "The Ghost to Ghost Matter" (AFRS rebroadcast from May 18, 1958) where he's got an entire haunted town on his hands.

Next week: Three old time radio museum mysteries!