Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Latest Episodes:

Episode 534 - The Mail Must Go Through (Sherlock Holmes, Box 13, Richard Diamond, & Let George Do It) May 16, 2023

Show notes

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).

Episode 533 - Working on the Railroad (Boston Blackie, Pursuit, & Rocky Fortune) May 14, 2023

Show notes

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).

Episode 532 - Lines by Louis (The Saint, Man from Homicide, & Barrie Craig) Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

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).

BONUS - Five Favorites: Richard Diamond Apr 29, 2023

Show notes

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).

Episode 531 - Silly Sleuthing (Mollé Mystery Theatre, Johnny Fletcher Mystery, & The Thin Man) Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

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.

Episode 530 - Call the Cops (Under Arrest, Man from Homicide, & CBS Radio Workshop) Apr 16, 2023

Show notes

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).

Episode 529 - Pro vs. Cons (Easy Money) Apr 09, 2023

Show notes

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).

BONUS - Easter Basket (Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show & Our Miss Brooks) Apr 08, 2023

Show notes

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).

Episode 528 - You Don't Know Jack (Jeff Regan, The Whistler, & Dragnet) Apr 02, 2023

Show notes

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).

BONUS - Five Favorites: Nero Wolfe Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

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).

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