Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Latest Episodes:

Episode 148 – Murder Makes Merry (Boston Blackie, Johnny Dollar, & Night Beat) Dec 23, 2015

Show notes

Holidays and homicide go hand in hand in the "Down These Mean Streets" Christmas special. We'll hear yuletide mysteries from some of your favorite radio detectives to wrap up 2015. First, Richard Kollmar is Boston Blackie in the syndicated episode "Stolen Rings at Christmas." Then, Charles Russell is Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in "How I Played Santa Claus, and Almost Got Left Holding the Bag" (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1949). Finally, Frank Lovejoy is Randy Stone in "Five Days Off for Christmas" from Night Beat (originally aired on NBC on December 21, 1951).

Episode 147 – Wolfe in Sheep's Clothing (Amazing Nero Wolfe) Dec 20, 2015

Show notes

Billed at one time as "the handsomest man in the world," silent screen idol Francis X. Bushman may seem a strange choice to play Rex Stout's gargantuan gourmet Nero Wolfe, but in 1945 he lent his considerable stage presence to the role on radio. Bushman headlined The Amazing Nero Wolfe, a short-lived series that co-starred radio actor and director Elliott Lewis as Archie Goodwin. We'll hear their take on the classic gumshoes in the show's sole surviving episode – "The Shakespeare Folio," originally aired on Mutual on November 30, 1945.

Episode 146 – Old Haunts of New Orleans (New Adventures of Michael Shayne) Dec 13, 2015

Show notes

Even as he played bashful biology teacher Mr. Boynton on Our Miss Brooks, Jeff Chandler voiced the two-fisted tough guy shamus Michael Shayne. The hard-boiled intensity Chandler brought to the role made his short tenure as Shayne a memorable run. His versatility as an actor made him believable as both a timid teacher and a gritty, cynical private eye. We'll hear Chandler as Shayne in a pair of mysteries set in New Orleans: "The Case of the Wandering Fingerprints" and "The Case of the Phantom Gun."

Episode 145 – Wisdom of the East (Adventures of Charlie Chan) Dec 06, 2015

Show notes

From his first appearance in 1925, Charlie Chan has been a captivating yet controversial figure in the world of detective fiction. Earl Derr Biggers created the avuncular Hawaiian police detective and family man to dispel the "Yellow Peril" fear of the Chinese in America, and the character's popularity kicked off a long, successful run of B-movies. But the broken English and stereotypical traits have alienated Chan from some modern audiences. Ed Begley stars as Charlie in a mystery that hits too close to home – the kidnapping of his Number One Daughter! – in this episode rebroadcast on Mystery Playhouse from the Armed Forces Radio Service.

Episode 144 - Acting Director (Gregory Hood & Crime Classics) Nov 29, 2015

Show notes

A talented actor and an innovative writer, director, and producer, Elliott Lewis earned the title of "Mr. Radio." He was responsible for some of radio's top dramas and kept audiences in stitches with his role on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. Lewis was one of the true legends of the Golden Age of Radio: a jack-of-all-trades who excelled in every aspect of radio production. Our salute to this master of the medium will feature him as both actor and director. First, he stars in "Gregory Hood, Suspect" from The Casebook of Gregory Hood (originally aired on Mutual on September 30, 1946). Then, he directs "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln" from Crime Classics (originally aired on CBS on December 9, 1953).

Episode 143 – Casey Carves the Turkey (Casey, Crime Photographer) Nov 25, 2015

Show notes

Tune in for a Thanksgiving old time radio mystery in this bonus podcast episode. The holiday doesn't mean a day off for Casey, Crime Photographer as he and Ann Williams have a crime to solve right in the middle of their turkey dinner. We'll hear Staats Cotsworth and Jan Miner in "After Turkey, The Bill" originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1947.

Episode 142 – The Two Franks (Jeff Regan, Investigator) Nov 22, 2015

Show notes

When CBS resurrected Jeff Regan, Investigator in 1949, Frank Graham stepped into Jack Webb's shoes as the titular gumshoe. The versatile and talented actor created a new Regan – less hard-boiled and cynical. Joining Graham in the new series was Frank Nelson – frequent radio nemesis of Jack Benny – as Anthony J. Lyon, Regan's penny-pincher of a boss. It was a union of two of radio's most talented performers and a combination unlike any other detective duo. We'll hear them in "The Little Man's Lament," originally aired on CBS on November 11, 1949.

Episode 141 - Lone Star Law and Order (Tales of the Texas Rangers) Nov 15, 2015

Show notes

Big screen cowboy star Joel McCrea came to radio in Tales of the Texas Rangers, a series of modern-day Western crime dramas adapted from the case files of the legendary lawmen. The Rangers used a combination of traditional methods and twentieth century police work to catch Texas' most wanted. We'll hear McCrea as Ranger Jayce Pearson in "The Trigger Men" (originally aired on NBC on July 29, 1950) and "Death in the Cards" (originally aired on NBC on January 14, 1951).

Episode 140 - Marlowe at the Movies (Hollywood Star Time) Nov 08, 2015

Show notes

Dick Powell retired his image as a boyish crooner with his acclaimed portrayal of Philip Marlowe in Murder, My Sweet. The big screen adaptation of Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely was and is a critically acclaimed hit – thanks in no small part to Powell's performance. Murder, My Sweet recast Powell as a cinematic tough guy and it paved the way for future gumshoe roles on screen and radio. We'll hear Dick Powell recreate the film, along with Mary Astor and Mike Mazurki, in Hollywood Star Time (originally aired on CBS on June 8, 1946).

Episode 139 - Walk Like an Egyptian (Rocky Jordan) Nov 01, 2015

Show notes

Take a trip to Cairo and the Cafe Tambourine run by Rocky Jordan. The American expatriate finds himself playing amateur sleuth in a world of killers, thieves, black marketeers, and spies. Jack Moyles is Rocky - a hero equal parts Rick Blaine and Sam Spade - with Jay Novello as Captain Sam Sabayya of the Cairo police. There's danger and intrigue around every turn in "The Man in the Morgue" (originally aired on CBS on November 21, 1948) and "The Strange Death of Van Dorn" (originally aired on November 13, 1949).

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected