Nostalgic Mystery Radio

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Ep.365 Lord Peter Wimsey: Clouds Of Witness: The Barometer Falls Feb 28, 2023

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Ian Carmichael stars as Lord Peter Wimsey in these classic BBC radio dramatisations of Dorothy L Sayers' Golden Age crime novels.

Gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey starred in a number of novels and short stories by Dorothy L Sayers. These full-cast adaptations – first broadcast on BBC radio between 1979 and 2010 – are cherished by crime aficionados worldwide.
Clouds of Witness

Lord Peter’s eldest brother stands accused of murder. In collaboration with Inspector Parker, Wimsey slowly uncovers a web of lies and deceit within his own family...

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Ep.358 Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot: Murder In The Mews Feb 27, 2023

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Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot: the world-renowned, moustachioed Belgian private detective, unsurpassed in his intelligence and understanding of the criminal mind, respected and admired by police forces and heads of state across the globe.
Since his inception over 100 years ago, Poirot has stolen the hearts and minds of audiences from Azerbaijan to Vietnam, and his celebrated cases have been recorded across 33 original novels and over 50 short stories.
Murder In The Mews:While her flatmate is away for the weekend, Barbara commits suicide. However Inspector Japp is sufficiently concerned about this case to call for the assistance of Hercule Poirot.

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Ep.357 Tales of the Texas Rangers: Canned Death Feb 22, 2023

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Tales of the Texas Rangers, a western adventure old-time radio drama, premiered on July 8, 1950, on the US NBC radio network and remained on the air through September 14, 1952.
Movie star Joel McCrea starred as Texas Ranger Jayce Pearson, who used the latest scientific techniques to identify the criminals and his faithful horse, Charcoal (or "Charky," as Jayce would sometimes refer to him), to track them down. The shows were reenactments of actual Texas Ranger cases.
Canned Death: A family is poisoned by tainted sausage meat.
Originally aired April 22nd, 1951.

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Ep.356 The Adventures of Sam Spade: The Hail And Farewell Caper Feb 21, 2023

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The Adventures of Sam Spadewas a suspense/detective radio show starring Howard Duff in the colorful title role along with Lurene Tuttle as his secretary Effie. It was based on the private detective character created by Dashiell Hammett, well-known from the book and movie The Maltese Falcon. The show ran from 1946 to 1951. Duff was replaced by Steve Dunne in later episodes.
The Hail And Farewell Caper: A strange little man tries to kill himself while Willie Johnson is scheduled to die at San Quentin tonight. He was framed.
Originally aired April 27th,1951.

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Ep.355 Richard Diamond Private Detective: The Harry Baker Case Feb 17, 2023

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Richard Diamond, Private Detective came to NBC in 1949. Diamond was a slick, sophisticated detective, with a sharp tongue for folks who needed it. Diamond enjoyed the detective life, but not as much as entertaining his girl, Helen Asher. After each show, he would croon a number to his Park Avenue sweetheart.
Mr. Powell, a former song and dance man, was perfect for the role. He added an extra dimension to the 40's hokey private eye drama.
Diamond was a rough gumshoe that would often get knocked on the head with a revolver butt or other items. His counterpart on the police force was Lt. Levinson who often accepted Diamond's help reluctantly. Levinson would claim to get stomach trouble whenever Diamond would call him and would take bicarbonate to settle his aching stomach. Although they always seem at odds with each other, Diamond and Levinson were best friends.
The Harry Baker Case: Harry Baker's romance with his secretary is complicated by a $300,000 jewel robbery. Originally aired September 3rd, 1949.

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Ep.354 Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator: The Deadly Fight Feb 15, 2023

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Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator
William Gargan, who also played the better known television (and radio) detective Martin Kane, was the voice of New York eye Barrie Craig while Ralph Bell portrayed his associate, Lt. Travis Rogers. Craig's office was on Madison Avenue and his adventures were fairly standard PI fare. He worked alone, solved cases efficiently, and feared no man. As the promos went, he was "your man when you can't go to the cops. Confidentiality a specialty."
The Deadly Fight: A widow who can't find tears, an obituary notice in search of a cough and a boxing champ whose biggest win is a fight, strictly off the record.
Originally aired January 23rd,1952.

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Ep.353 The New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe: The Case Of The Midnight Ride Feb 14, 2023

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Nero Wolfe is a fictional character, a brilliant, oversized, eccentric armchair detective created in 1934 by American mystery writer Rex Stout. Wolfe was born in Montenegro and keeps his past murky.
He lives in a luxurious brownstone on West 35th Street in New York City, and he is loath to leave his home for business or anything that would keep him from reading his books, tending his orchids, or eating the gourmet meals prepared by his chef, Fritz Brenner. Archie Goodwin, Wolfe's sharp-witted, dapper young confidential assistant with an eye for attractive women, narrates the cases and does the legwork for the detective genius.
The Case Of The Midnight Ride: Nero Wolfe's dentist and Archie both receive a mysterious call from a woman leading to a ride in the country to do away with them.
Originally aired March 16th,1951.

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Ep.352 Nick Carter Master Detective: Nine Hours To Live Feb 10, 2023

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Nick Carter, Master Detective, which aired on Mutual from 1943 to 1955. Nick Carter first came to radio as The Return of Nick Carter. Then Nick Carter, Master Detective, with Lon Clark in the title role, began April 11, 1943, on Mutual, continuing in many different timeslots for well over a decade. Jock MacGregor was the producer-director of scripts by Alfred Bester, Milton J. Kramer, David Kogan and others. Background music was supplied by organists Hank Sylvern, Lew White and George Wright. Patsy Bowen, Nick's assistant, was portrayed by Helen Choate until mid-1946 and then Charlotte Manson stepped into the role. Nick and Patsy's friend was reporter Scubby Wilson (John Kane). Nick's contact at the police department was Sgt. Mathison (Ed Latimer). The supporting cast included Raymond Edward Johnson, Bill Johnstone and Bryna Raeburn. Michael Fitzmaurice was the program's announcer.
Nine Hours To Live: Nick Carter investigates whether a man on death row is truly guilty and he only has nine hours until the man is executed.
Originally aired January 15th, 1944.

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Ep.351 Philo Vance: The Case Of The Strange Music Feb 09, 2023

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Philo Vance is the detective creation of S. S. Van Dine first published in the mid 1920s. Jose Ferrer played him in 1945. From 1948-1950, the fine radio actor Jackson Beck makes Vance as good as he gets. George Petrie plays Vance's constantly impressed public servant, District Attorney Markham. Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman. The organist for the show is really working those ivories, and fans of old time radio organ will especially enjoy this series.
The Case Of The Strange Music: A cantankerous husband is found murdered in a wax display. Originally aired August 9th,1945.

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Ep.350 Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Earl Chadwick Matter Feb 07, 2023

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Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
For over twelve years, from 1949 through 1962 (including a one year hiatus in 1954-1955), this series recounted the cases "the man with the action-packed expense account, America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar". Johnny was an accomplished 'padder' of his expense account. The name of the show derives from the fact that he closed each show by totaling his expense account, and signing it "End of report... Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar".
The Earl Chadwick Matter: Johnny flies to Bermuda to find out if a dead man really is.
Originally aired May 23rd, 1950.

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