Nostalgic Mystery Radio

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Ep.239 The Adventures Of Sam Spade: The Critical Author Caper Jul 26, 2022

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The Adventures of Sam Spade was 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 Critical Author Caper: Sam Spade is hired to find Gabrielle Leggitt,
Originally aired August 15th,1948.

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Ep.238 P.D. James: A Taste For Death Pt. 2: An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery Jul 19, 2022

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Respected as one of the greats of modern crime writing, Phyllis Dorothy James (1920-2014), known as P. D. James, came to fame for her mystery series starring New Scotland Yard Commander and poet, Adam Dalgliesh. She was also the author of a number of stand-along novels including The Children of Men, which was the basis for the movie Children of Men, and Death Comes to Pemberly, which was adapted into a BBC mini-series. Many of her Adam Dalgliesh books were also adapted for television. In 1991 she was created Baroness James of Holland Park. She died in 2014.
A Taste For Death: Dalgliesh investigates when two bodies are found murdered a London church.

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Ep.237 P.D. James: A Taste For Death Pt.1: An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery Jul 19, 2022

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Ep.236 The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe: The Face To Forget Jul 19, 2022

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Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gutter, the prison or the grave.
Philip Marlowe was Los Angeles's toughest detective in the groundbreaking series by Raymond Chandler that helped establish the "hard-boiled" detective subgenre.
The Face To Forget: Marlowe boards a train to San Francisco in search of a woman’s missing boyfriend. Originally aired June 14th,1950.

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Ep.235 The New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe: The Case Of The Deadly Sell Out Jul 19, 2022

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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 Deadly Sell Out: Nero Wolfe is hired to find a missing boxer, but when the boxer turns up dead, Wolfe must now find the murderer.
Originally aired January 5, 1951

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Ep.234 Dragnet: The Big Kill Jul 16, 2022

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Dragnet ran from June 3rd,1949 to February 26th,1957 on NBC at various times and days and starred Jack Webb as Detective Sergeant Joe Friday. Various partners throughout the show's run were Sergeant Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough), Ed Jacobs (Barney Phillips), and Officer Frank Smith (Ben Alexander).
Webb was the creator/Director of the series and wanted everything to be as authentic as possible, down to the last sound effect. The stories were based on actual police files and "the names were changed to protect the innocent".
Dragnet broke a few radio taboos as well, such as dramatizing sex crimes. Children also were killed on occasion as in the episode "Twenty-Two Rifle For Christmas". The series eventually went to television and ran there for many years.
The Big Kill: Friday and Romero search for a cop killer. Originally aired March 2nd, 1950.

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Ep.233 The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet: The Country Of Saints Jul 13, 2022

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Sherlock Holmes, fictional character created by the Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle. The prototype for the modern mastermind detective, Holmes first appeared in Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet, published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual of 1887. As the world’s first and only “consulting detective,” he pursued criminals throughout Victorian and Edwardian London, the south of England, and continental Europe.
A Study In Scarlet: Dr John H. Watson meets the great detective Sherlock Holmes and together they solve a case of murder, in which Watson is amazed at Holmes' "science of deduction".

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Ep.232 The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes: A Study In Scarlet: Revenge Jul 13, 2022

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Ep.231 Richard Diamond, Private Detective: The Ralph Chase Case Jul 11, 2022

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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 Ralph Chase Case: The executor of a wealthy young heiress’ estate calls Diamond in when he fears his niece is about to marry an unsavory character.
Originally aired May 15th,1949.

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Ep.230 The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe: Tale Of The Mermaid Jul 04, 2022

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Get this and get it straight. Crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gutter, the prison or the grave.
Philip Marlowe was Los Angeles's toughest detective in the groundbreaking series by Raymond Chandler that helped establish the "hard-boiled" detective subgenre.
Tale Of The Mermaid: A traffic accident outside of his office leads Marlowe to a murder on the waterfront and a "mermaid." Originally aired October 1st,1949.

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