Radio Detective Story Hour

Latest Episodes:

Radio Detective Story Hour 131 I Dreamed Mother Was Poisoned Feb 27, 2009

Show notes

"In the name of the Law, we bring you another of the thrilling stories in this exciting series, taken from actual police case files."

The episode "I DREAMED MOTHER WAS POISONED" 06-14-36

Radio Detective Story Hour 130 Who Killed Frances Baumhold Feb 21, 2009

Show notes

"In the name of the Law, we bring you another of the thrilling stories in this exciting series, taken from actual police case files." This episode from 1936. Who killed Frances Baumhold? A complex family relationship. Poor Aunt Frances?

Radio Detective Story Hour 129 Satan Was A Salesman Feb 09, 2009

Show notes

Intrigue. September 11, 1946. CBS net, WABC, New York "Satan Was A Salesman". Sustaining. An excellent tale of wartime espionage and murder. Joseph Schildkraut, Charles Vanda (director).

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 129 - Riabouchinska Feb 08, 2009

Show notes

“Riabouchinska” is an unusual tale from the pen of Ray Bradbury. Not a name normally associated with the detective genre. However, this tale published in 1953 in The Saint Detective Magazine was first heard in 1947 on the radio program Suspense when the script was created from the original Bradbury story outline. The author had not even actually written the story yet! That would come six years later. Even though Ray Bradbury is one of America’s best fantasy and science fiction writers, this tale with its theme of the ventriloquist haunted by his own dummy’s personality involved murder and a detective who wanted to get to the bottom of the reasons behind the killing. From radio then to print and finally to television, first on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and later re-written by the author himself for his Ray Bradbury Theatre, the theme is one later played out in the Hollywood film Magic starring Anthony Hopkins in an early role. You can view the Hitchcock version at Hulu.com.

Radio Detective Story Hour 128 Great Inpersonation Feb 02, 2009

Show notes

Intrigue. August 21, 1946. CBS net, WABC, New York "Great Inpersonation". Sustaining. An excellent tale of wartime espionage and murder. Joseph Schildkraut, Charles Vanda (director).

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 128 - Dime A Dance Feb 01, 2009

Show notes

Another visit with Cornell Woolrich, considered the father of noir fiction. I’ll look at one of his short novellas, Dime A Dance, published in 1938 and its adaptation on radio’s Suspense on January 13, 1944 starring Lucille Ball. The adaptation works for the most part and has the twists and turns of a good noirish suspense story. Music under is Sonny Rollin’s rendition of “Poor Butterfly.”

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 127 - The White Rose Murders Feb 01, 2009

Show notes

This week, I begin looking at the noirish radio dramas based on the stories of Cornell Woolrich. First off is The White Rose Murders from the radio series Suspense. It is based on a story by Woolrich called The Death Rose and is one of the best examples of a taut noir radio drama. Music under is first: Blind Spot by 3rd Man followed by Soothe Me by Shea Breaux Wells.

Radio Detective Story Hour 127 Sinister Errand Jan 26, 2009

Show notes

Intrigue. August 7, 1946. CBS net, WABC, New York "Sinister Errand". Sustaining. An excellent tale of wartime espionage and murder. Joseph Schildkraut, Charles Vanda (director).

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 126 - The Lost Special Jun 02, 2008

Show notes

A year and a half ago, I featured a radio version of Arthur Conan Doyle's short story, "The Lost Special" which aired over Escape in 1949. At that time, the Suspense version starring Orson Welles was considered lost. Recently, the audio for that 1943 Suspense version has surfaced thanks to Randy Riddle.

And so, I am taking another look at this version of the story, which is much closer to the original short story. I have mixed feelings about the adaptation as you will hear.

Background music is Grover's Tune by Excellent Adventure

Radio Detective Story Hour Episode 125 - Criminal At Large Apr 28, 2008

Show notes

From the fecund mind of mystery/thriller writer, Edgar Wallace, best known as the first screenwriter of the film King Kong. His better known mystery series include the J.G. Reeder and Green Archer series. Wallace's stories were so well accepted over 160 films were made from them. This week I'll look at Wallace and the radio play "Criminal At Large" from the Molle' Mystery Theatre from April 1944. The radio play was based upon a stage play and film called The Frightened Lady.

Music under is Deep Purple played by Art Tatum.

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