Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Latest Episodes:

Episode 566 - Under the Big Top (Crime Club, Let George Do It, Bulldog Drummond, & Harry Lime) Jan 21, 2024

Show notes

Children (and mystery fans) of all ages - join us this week for a quartet of old time radio capers set at the circus. First, a lion tamer is caught in a lethal love triangle in "Serenade Macabre" from Crime Club (originally aired on Mutual on July 24, 1947). Next, Bob Bailey is hired to protect a trapeze artist who's receiving threats in "A Piece of Publicity" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on June 14, 1948). A trip to the circus leads Bulldog Drummond to "Death Under the Big Top" (originally aired on Mutual on July 7, 1948), and Orson Welles hunts a war criminal in "Harry Joins the Circus" from The Lives of Harry Lime.

Episode 565 - Mediums Rare (Jeff Regan, Richard Diamond, & Mr. Aladdin) Jan 14, 2024

Show notes

These spiritulaists can't really communicate with the world beyond our own, but they do manage to inspire a trio of old time radio mysteries where our detective heroes must contend with some mediums who aren't well done. First, Jeff Regan is hired to protect a psychic consultant in "The Man Who Lived by the Sea," (originally aired on CBS on December 18, 1948). Then, IRchard Diamond must expose a phony mentalist who's bilking a family out of their fortune (originally aired on NBC on September 10, 1949). And finally, Paul Frees - a man of a thousand voices - stars as Mr. Aladdin - "the man who can do anything" who is hired by a woman who suspects her late husband is back in canine form in "The Miracle of the Four-Legged Husband" (originally aired on CBS on September 9, 1951).

Episode 564 - Driven to Crime (Boston Blackie, The Line-Up, & Dragnet) Jan 07, 2024

Show notes

To kick off 2024, we're hitting the road with three old time radio mysteries centered on cars. First, Boston Blackie investigates a ring of car thieves after his girlfriend's wheels are swiped in a syndicated mystery starring Richard Kollmar. Next, the cops hunt a hit-and-run killer in The Line-Up (originally aired on CBS on August 3, 1950). Finally, Jack Webb is on the trail of a gang that strips cars for their parts in "The Big Paint" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on October 20, 1953).

Episode 563 - Here We Come A-Whistling (The Whistler) Dec 24, 2023

Show notes

It's Christmas with The Whistler as Down These Mean Streets signs off for 2023! Radio's celebrated sinister storyteller - played by Bill Forman - narrates a quartet of mysteries set against a holiday backdrop. We'll hear "Christmas Bonus" (originally aired on CBS on December 25, 1944), "Letter from Cynthia" (originally aired on CBS on December 25, 1949), "Three Wise Guys" (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1950), and "Christmas Gift" (originally aired on CBS on December 23, 1951).

BONUS - Gumshoes of Christmas Past Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

We need a little Christmas - and some Christmas mysteries! To celebrate the season, I'm sharing more of my favorite holiday adventures of old time radio detectives. Dr. Watson dresses as Santa and Sherlock Holmes thwarts a robbery in "The Night Before Christmas," with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (originally aired on Mutual on December 24, 1945). On Casey, Crime Photographer, our hero spies a pickpocket at a department store and discovers a case of kidnapping and murder in "Christmas Shopping" (originally aired on CBS on December 19, 1946). Boston Blackie tries to catch a jewel thief on Christmas Eve in a syndicated mystery, and Candy Matson is hired to find one of Santa's helpers who's gone missing in "Jack Frost" (originally aired on NBC on December 10, 1949). Finally, Charles Russell is "the man with the action-packed expense account" in "Small Time Swindles of Big Time Department Stores, or How I Played Santa Claus and Almost Got Left Holding the Sack" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1949).

Episode 562 - Greenstreet and Ham (Nero Wolfe & Screen Guild Theatre) Dec 17, 2023

Show notes

It's a birthday month tribute to Oscar-nominated actor Sydney Greenstreet. He made his film debut as the heavy in The Maltese Falcon, and he'd go on to appear in Casablanca, Christmas in Connecticut, and many more. He also spent a year starring on radio as Rex Stout's "gargantuan gourmet," Nero Wolfe. We'll hear him as Wolfe in "The Case of the Disappearing Diamonds" (originally aired on NBC on March 9, 1951) and "A Slight Case of Perjury" (originally aired on NBC on April 6, 1951). Plus, Greenstreet reunites with Peter Lorre as they recreate their roles from The Mask of Dimitrios on The Lady Esther Screen Guild Theatre (originally aired on CBS on April 16, 1945).

Episode 561 - Three Coins in the Fountain (Philip Marlowe, Black Museum, & Johnny Dollar) Dec 03, 2023

Show notes

To some, it's just a pocketful of change, but in these three old time radio mysteries, coins play central parts in the crimes. First, Philip Marlowe hunts for a coin worth a cool $37,000 in "The Collector's Item" (originally aired on CBS on August 25, 1950). Then, Orson Welles tells how a single shilling was tied to a murder in a syndicated Scotland Yard story from The Black Museum. Finally, Bob Bailey stars as Johnny Dollar in a case involving Civil War currency - "The Confederate Coinage Matter" (AFRS rebroadcast; originally aired on CBS on July 28, 1957).

Note: No intro today but hopefully back soon. Thanks for your patience!

BONUS - Cyber Monday with Joe Friday (Dragnet) Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Before the pre-holiday shopping weekend comes to a close, here's Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday in three authentic police histories from Dragnet. First, Friday is on the trail of a kleptomaniac in "The Big Shoplift" (originally aired on NBC on October 11, 1951). Then, a safecracker eludes the police in "The Big Safe" (originally aired on NBC on May 1, 1952). Finally, a missing body complicates an armed robbery investigation in "The Big Gone" (originally aired on NBC on November 30, 1954).

BONUS - Five Favorites: Turkey Day Tales Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Happy Thanksgiving! As you hit the road, catch a flight, or start prepping the bird, enjoy five old time radio Turkey Day mysteries. First, Casey, Crime Photographer works to clear an ex-con framed for robbery in "After Turkey, the Bill" (originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1947). Then, Jack Webb encounters a modern-day Miles Standish and a turkey shoot more dangerous for man than bird in "The Pilgrim's Progress" from Jeff Regan, Investigator (originally aired on CBS on November 13, 1948). We're back in Casey country for "Holiday" (originally aired on CBS on November 25, 1948) and Bob Bailey stars in "Cause for Thanksgiving" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on November 20, 1950). Finally, Steve Dunne stars as Sam Spade and helps save a Tom Turkey who walks on two legs in "The Terrified Turkey Caper" (originally aired on NBC on November 24, 1950). Plus - special musical appearances by Jack Benny and Stan Freberg!

Note: Tis the season. My voice is gone thanks to allergies so no intro this time around!

Episode 560 - Monkey Business (Philip Marlowe, The Saint, & Rocky Fortune) Nov 19, 2023

Show notes

We're going bananas this week with three old time radio mysteries featuring chimps along with clues and crimes. First, Philip Marlowe looks for an English butler who walks on his knuckles in "The Monkey's Uncle" (originally aired on CBS on March 7, 1950). Then, Simon Templar is saddled with a simian sidekick in "The Chiseling Chimpanzee" from The Saint (originally aired on NBC on December 10, 1950). Finally, Frank Sinatra is asked to serve as bodyguard for a chimp TV star - and later has to find the little guy when he's kidnapped in "Companion to a Chimp" from Rocky Fortune (originally aired on December 15, 1953).

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