Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Latest Episodes:

Episode 393 – By the Seat of His Vance (Philo Vance) Jul 12, 2020

Show notes

Jackson Beck was one of the busiest voice artists of the twentieth century with a career that extended far beyond the Golden Age of Radio. But before he introduced G.I. Joe and pitched Little Caesars, Frosted Flakes, and Battleship on television, Beck starred as dapper detective Philo Vance in a syndicated series. We'll hear Beck in three mysteries: "The Cardinal Murder Case," "The Nightmare Murder Case," and "The Chicken Murder Case."

BONUS - Seeing Red (Red Skelton Show) Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

Comedian Red Skelton is a one-man cast of characters in this week's bonus comedy episode. We'll hear Deadeye, Willie Lump-Lump, Junior "the mean widdle kid," and more in a pair of episodes from The Raleigh Cigarette Program. First, it's a salute to traffic court (originally aired on NBC on April 1, 1947). Then, Deadeye rides again in a show from April 15, 1947.

Episode 392 – To Catch a Thief (Boston Blackie) Jul 05, 2020

Show notes

Chester Morris puts his criminal past to work for the forces of good as Boston Blackie - "enemy to those who make him an enemy, friend to those who have no friend." We'll hear the reformed safe cracker turned super sleuth in two old time radio mysteries: "Fifty Hunter Street" (originally aired on NBC on June 30, 1944) and "The Caretaker of the Devon Estate" (originally aired on NBC on July 28, 1944).

BONUS - With Friends Like These (My Friend Irma) Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

Radio characters didn't come daffier than Irma Peterson, the scatterbrained secretary who never met a phrase she couldn't twist. And Irma had one of radio's best straight women in roommate Jane Stacy. Together, they made wonderful radio comedy in My Friend Irma. Marie Wilson and Cathy Lewis star in this week's bonus comedy show; we'll hear a pair of episodes originally aired on CBS on March 15, 1948 and April 19, 1948).

Episode 391 – Special Delivery (Box 13) Jun 28, 2020

Show notes

"Adventure wanted." That's how Dan Holiday advertised in Box 13 and he used his exploits to fuel plots for his novels. Alan Ladd stars as Holiday in three syndicated old time radio tales of mystery. We'll hear the show's first episode, along with "The Sad Night" and "Flash of Light."

BONUS - Here Comes Mr. Jordan (Lux Radio Theatre) Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

We're taking a trip to the movies in this week's bonus comedy episode. Cary Grant stars as a boxer prematurely pulled up to Heaven only to return to Earth in a new body in Here Comes Mr. Jordan from The Lux Radio Theatre (originally aired on CBS on January 26, 1942). Grant is joined by big screen cast members Claude Rains, Evelyn Keyes, and James Gleason in this delightful adaptation of the classic romantic comedy fantasy.

Episode 390 – Simple Art of Murder (Adventures of Philip Marlowe) Jun 21, 2020

Show notes

As Philip Marlowe, Gerald Mohr patrolled the City of Angels and proved "crime is a sucker's road" in one of radio's best detective shows. We'll hear Mohr as Raymond Chandler's private eye in three radio mysteries: "The Lady in Mink" (originally aired on CBS on April 30, 1949); "The Busy Body" (originally aired on CBS on June 18, 1949); and "The Key Man" (originally aired on CBS on June 25, 1949).

BONUS - Love and Marriage (Drene Time) Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

Take a polished emcee, a beautiful singer, and an oddball comedian, throw them together, and add a dollop of Drene Shampoo and you get Drene Time. Don Ameche, Frances Langford, and Danny Thomas headline this mix of comedy and music featuring the sparring spouses John and Blanche Bickerson. In this week's bonus comedy episode, we'll hear this talented trio in two shows (originally aired on NBC on February 23, 1947 and March 2, 1947).

Episode 389 – Won't You Come Home, Bob Bailey (Let George Do It & Johnny Dollar) Jun 14, 2020

Show notes

To celebrate Bob Bailey's birthday, we'll hear the actor in four old time radio detective dramas. First, he's George Valentine in a pair of mysteries from Let George Do It: "Murder and One to Go" (originally aired on Mutual on January 3, 1949) and "The Man Under the Elm Trees" (originally aired on Mutual on September 26, 1949). Then, he's "the man with the action-packed expense account" in two shows from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: "The Rasmussen Matter" (originally aired on CBS on December 16, 1956) and "The Killer's Brand Matter" (originally aired on CBS on August 11, 1957).

BONUS - Summer School (Our Miss Brooks) Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

School is back in session with the faculty and students of Madison High School in Our Miss Brooks. In this week's midweek bonus comedy show, Eve Arden, Gale Gordon, and Jeff Chandler star in two episodes of one of the funniest shows from the golden age of radio. We'll hear Connie Brooks' attempts to become head of the Madison English department (originally aired on CBS on January 23, 1949) and the school's efforts to close down on the hottest day of the year (originally aired on CBS on August 7, 1949).

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