Nostalgic Mystery Radio

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Ep.429 Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator: Murder Island Jul 03, 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."
Murder Island: Barrie meets a burlesque queen who is trapped on Murder Island.
Originally aired January 9th,1952.

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Ep.428 The Adventures Of The Falcon: The Case Of The Beautiful Bait Jun 29, 2023

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The Adventures Of The Falcon: This hard boiled spy drama began as an RKO Radio Pictures theatrical serial in the 1940s, went on radio in 1943, and then came to TV around ten years later in a Syndicated series produced for distribution by NBC Films; the series was about an American agent whose code name was "Falcon".
The success of the films led to a radio series that premiered on the American Blue Network in April 1943, and aired for the next ten years on various networks. It was here that his transition into a private eye was finalized, with The Falcon, now called Michael Waring working as a hardboiled insurance investigator, with an office and a secretary, Nancy.
The Case Of The Beautiful Bait: A prize fighter is murdering the ring, but it looks like there will be a murder outside of it. Originally aired August 22nd,1951.

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Ep.427 Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Calgary Matter Jun 27, 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 Calgary Matter: Johnny is called up and offered a chance to solve a large robbery.
Originally aired July 13th,1950.

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Ep.426 Philo Vance: The Golden Murder Case Jun 26, 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 Golden Murder Case: A guardian who is swindling an heiress in her business affairs is murdered. Originally aired October14th,1948.

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Ep.425 The Adventures Of Sam Spade: The Prodigal Daughter Caper Jun 23, 2023

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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 Prodigal Daughter Caper: A story about a multimillionaire who never talks, his daughter who's really a gangster's moll, and a corpse who is killed twice.
Originally aired August 28, 1949

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Ep.424 Father Brown: The Queer Feet Jun 21, 2023

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Rough and tough Hard-boiled detectives grab a lot of attention, but who would have a better insight on the nature of human evil than “a man who does next to nothing but hear men's real sins”?
Where could you find a more “soft-boiled” character than the parish priest. Mutual brought The Adventures of Father Brown to the air in 1945. Father Brown was the antithesis of the more celebrated soft-boiled detective, Sherlock Holmes. Where Holmes was a master of deduction, Father Brown relied on intuition based on his familiarity on men’s souls.
The Queer Feet: When Father Brown is called to the exclusive Vernon Hotel to administer the last rites to a dying member of staff, he manages to detect a crime in progress, and save a soul, all by listening to a few strange footsteps in a corridor...

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Ep.423 Broadway Is My Beat: The Sergeant Gordon Ellis Murder Case Jun 20, 2023

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Broadway is my Beat is a love affair with noir and hardboiled radio detective series blossomed during the 1940's. The golden age of radio had found a new following in the crime drama genre, and managed to churn out several note-worthy serializations. One of the more popular old time radio shows of the period was Broadway is my Beat which featured the talented Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover.
Clover truly loved his beat on the colorful and gritty streets of Broadway and it shined through in his passion and dedication to his job. He tirelessly patrolled the city streets and instilled fear into the hoodlums and villains that threatened the peace. Remarkably enough, the program enjoyed a lengthy run from 1949-1954, unlike its other contemporaries who only lasted for a season.
The Sergeant Gordon Ellis Murder Case: Tommy Mannon, a hoodlum about to blow the whistle on some big shots, is attacked on the street right in front of Danny Clover. A cop named Sergeant Gordon Ellis is killed on the spot.
Originally aired November 12th,1949.

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Ep.422 Agatha Christie: Ordeal By Innocence Pt.3 Jun 16, 2023

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Agatha Christie's Ordeal By Innocence
According to the courts, Jacko Argyle bludgeoned his mother to death with a poker. The sentence was life imprisonment. But when Dr. Arthur Calgary arrives with the proof that confirms Jacko’s innocence, it is too late—Jacko died behind bars following a bout of pneumonia. Worse still, the doctor’s revelations reopen old wounds in the family, increasing the likelihood that the real murderer will strike again.

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Ep.421 Agatha Christie: Ordeal By Innocence Pt.2 Jun 16, 2023

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Ep.420 Agatha Christie: Ordeal By Innocence Pt.1 Jun 16, 2023

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