Podcast
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
Are you ready for a mystery? Get ready to unleash your inner sleuth. Every day Monday-Saturday, we feature a different detective audio drama from the Golden Age of Radio. Our current mystery-solving line-up of radio detectives includes The Adventures of the Falcon, Charlie Chan, Broadway's My Beat, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, and Dragnet.
Whether you want to listen to a mystery before going to sleep or enjoy some drama while driving, or just feel nostalgia for old-school radio fiction, we have you covered with six audio dramas every week.
Podcast Award finalist Host Adam Graham has been your guide through dozens of old-time radio detective series since 2009. He provides insightful commentary and humor after each episode and responds to listener questions and feedback. You can subscribe to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from your favorite podcast app or by visiting our website at https://www.greatdetectives.net.
We are currently in our fifteenth season of provided suspenseful mystery dramas. Our podcast feed captures the last 1,000 episodes we've released including all of seasons thirteen and fourteen, and part of season twelve. We have created two archive feeds:Volume 1, which features our first three seasons and Volume 2, which features seasons four-six, and Volume 3 which will feature Seasons Seven through Nine.
Our feed includes old time radio recorded in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and also Australia.
The current actors featured in our old time radio detective podcast include Les Damon, Bob Bailey, Larry Thor, Walter Connolly, and Jack Webb. Other actors featured within the past 1,000 include Alice Frost, Howard Duff, Glenn Langan, Herbert Marshall, Gerald Mohr, Joel McCrea, Les Tremayne, Jackson Beck, Santos Ortega, Ned Wever, Karl Swenson, and more.
- Performing Arts chart
- #9
- Episodes
- 1,017
- Releases
- Daily
- Typical length
- 37 min
- On air since
- 2023
- Latest episode
- 19 hours ago
Episodes
1,017 episodes, newest first
-
37 min
Burton Trent: A Long Shot (EP5097)
Season 18, Episode 10
Show notes
Today's Mystery: When wealthy invalid Oliver Deems is shot while sitting in his garden, the circumstances seem to make the murder impossible. No one appears to have been close enough to fire the fatal shot, and the few people who might have had a motive all have seemingly airtight alibis. Detective Burton Trent joins Scotland Yard’s MacDonald Craig to investigate a baffling case involving a suspicious neighbor, a missing rifle cartridge, and an unusual contraption. Can Trent uncover the secret behind a murder that appears to have been committed from nowhere?
Original Radio Broadcast: May 15, 1938
Originating in Brisbane
Starring the 4BC Players
Support the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: JL, supporting the podcast since November 2020
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
38 min
The Saint: The Carnival Murder (EP5096)
Season 18, Episode 9
Show notes
Today's Mystery: Simon Templar’s visit to a traveling carnival takes a sinister turn when Mona, the buried-alive performer, secretly begs for help. Haunted by the mysterious death of her sister Angie, Mona fears she may suffer the same fate. As the Saint investigates the carnival’s guarded secrets, a suspected poisoning and a web of troubled relationships lead him toward a dangerous truth.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 4, 1951
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Vincent Price as Simon Templar, the Saint
• Mary Shipp as Mona
• Sheldon Leonard as the carnival barker
• Bob Jellison as Carlos
• Ed Mack as Segundo
• Henny Backus as Bea St. Clair
• Harry Bartell as Frankie Fowler
• Harry Brown as the doctorSupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Laura, supporting the podcast since April 2018
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net/
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
3 hr 25 min
The Best of the 2025-26 Season
Season 18, Episode 7
Show notes
This special edition of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio revisits seven standout episodes from the season, spanning police procedurals, true-crime reporting, wartime espionage, murder mysteries, and insurance investigations. The selections range from Dragnet and The Big Story to Cloak and Dagger, Broadway's My Beat, The Saint, Proudly We Hail, and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.
Along the way, host Adam Graham revisits memorable performances, surprising plot developments, and the real-life stories behind some of the dramas. The compilation offers a varied look at classic radio storytelling, culminating in one of Johnny Dollar's most extraordinary investigations.The chapter times below come from the uploaded compilation notes. Origination locations follow your requested convention.
Featured Episodes
1. Dragnet — “The Big Hit and Run Killer”
November 8, 1951 • Originating from Hollywood
Plot Summary: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero investigate a hit-and-run accident in which a speeding bakery truck strikes an elderly woman and her nine-year-old grandson in a pedestrian crosswalk. With no license plate number and only limited eyewitness information, the detectives must trace the vehicle and establish who was driving it.
Known Cast: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Herb Butterfield. George Fenneman is also identified as announcer.
2. The Big Story — “The Cord Around Her Neck”• January 9, 1952 • Originating from New York
Plot Summary: When a woman is discovered murdered in her West Seattle home, West Seattle Herald reporter Stuart Whitehouse recognizes an opportunity to break a major story ahead of the city's larger newspapers. With his weekly paper's deadline approaching, Whitehouse follows the evidence in hopes of identifying the killer before the presses roll.
Known Cast: Nat Polen as Stuart Whitehouse; Margaret Burlen; Helen Barron; Larry Haines; Bill Griffiths; Bert Callen; John Becker; Steve Edders; Michael O'Day.
3. Cloak and Dagger — “The Last Mission” • September 29, 1950 • Originating from New Yor
Plot Summary: In wartime Canton, China, a woman whose family has been murdered by Japanese military forces becomes involved with the Office of Strategic Services. Her personal tragedy leads to an unusual connection with American intelligence and a dangerous mission against the occupying forces.
Known Cast: Bryna Raeburn; Ian Martin; Arnold Moss; Ralph Bell; Raymond Edward Johnson; Karl Webber.
4. Broadway's My Beat — “The Lynn Halstead Murder Case”January 19, 1952 • Originating from Hollywood
Plot Summary: Detective Danny Clover investigates when a young woman's body is recovered from the river and identified by her grieving father. The case takes a bewildering turn when another woman appears, claiming to be the supposed murder victim. Clover must unravel the secrets surrounding a private secretary whose carefully concealed personal life makes identifying the dead woman only the beginning of the mystery.
Known Cast: Larry Thor as Lieutenant Danny Clover; Charles Calvert as Sergeant Gino Tartaglia; Jack Kruschen as Sergeant Muggavan; William Conrad as John Martin; Herb Butterfield as Dr. Halstead; Hy Averback; Joyce McCluskey; Bob Bruce.Production: Elliott Lewis, producer and director; Alexander Courage, composer and conductor
.5. The Adventures of the Saint — “The Cake That Killed”• January 8, 1950 • Originating from Hollywood
Plot Summary: Simon Templar visits a bakery and encounters a distressed woman who gives him a cake under unusual circumstances. What begins as a seemingly innocent errand soon draws the Saint into a tangled affair involving theft and murder, where an ordinary baked good becomes the unlikely starting point for a criminal investigation.
Known Cast: Vincent Price as Simon Templar; Betty Lou Gerson; Peter Leeds; Dan O'Herlihy; Larry Dobkin; Theodore von Eltz.
6. Proudly We Hail — “First Choice” July 10, 1946 • Originating from Hollywood
Plot Summary: Powerful political figure Duke O'Hara stands on the verge of securing his party's nomination for governor. But on the evening that should mark his greatest political triumph, an unexpected revelation threatens his ambitions and marriage. As the nomination celebration unfolds, O'Hara must confront a difficult choice between political success and his personal loyalties.
Known Cast:
• Clark Gable as Duke O'Hara
• Tom Petty — writer
• Eddie Scrivanek — music
• C. P. MacGregor — host/presenter
7. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar — “The Glacier Ghost Matter” May 12, 1957 • Originating from Hollywood
Plot Summary: Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called upon to verify the fate of a businessman who disappeared on the Palisades Glacier. Establishing whether the missing man is truly dead presents an extraordinary challenge, sending Johnny into treacherous mountain terrain in search of physical evidence that can settle the insurance claim.
Known Cast: Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar; John Dehner; Herb Ellis; Virginia Gregg; Forrest Lewis; James McCallion; Tom Hanley; John James.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Become one of our Ongoing Patreon Supporters athttps://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Daniel, Patreon supporter since August 2024.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
37 min
Counterspy: The Magic Murder (A0136)
Season 18, Episode 6
Show notes
Today's Adventure: Harry Peters is critically wounded in a mysterious shooting while interviewing a European scientist working on a secret American government project. As David Harding searches for the gunman, Peters' life hangs in the balance, and Harding must arrange an urgent consultation with a renowned brain surgeon who is traveling through South America. Meanwhile, an unusual clue raises questions about the identity of the attacker and the intended target.
Original Radio Broadcast: April 4, 1950
Originating in New York
Cast:
• Don McLaughlin as David Harding
• Mandel Kramer as Harry Peters
• Leonard L. Bass, director
• Paul Milton, writer
• Jesse Crawford, music
• Philip H. Lord, producer
• Jay Jackson, announcer
To subscribe to this podcast and, go to https://greatadventures.info/
Become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Amy Sue, Patreon supporter since April 2026
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
-
26 min
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Buffalo Matter (EP5095)
Season 18, Episode 5
Show notes
Today's Mystery: A Buffalo department store loses more than $421,000 in a daring vault robbery, and the police have few leads. Johnny Dollar arrives to investigate, but the evidence raises troubling questions about a trusted employee, suspicious recommendations, and a getaway that may be closer than anyone realizes. When an attempt is made to stop Johnny from digging deeper, he must act quickly to track down the thieves and recover the missing fortune.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 4, 1959
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
• Lawrence Dobkin
• Bartlett Robinson
• James McCallion
• Dick Crenna
• Junius Matthews
• Gil StrattonSupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Emily, a Patreon supporter since February 2021
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
37 min
Dragnet: The Big Impression (EP5094)
Season 18, Episode 4
Show notes
Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate the robbery of an elderly diamond dealer who was lured to a hotel room and assaulted by a seemingly respectable businessman. With more than $150,000 in diamonds missing, the detectives struggle to locate the thief until a suspect is caught attempting to sell some of the stolen stones. However, the suspect's unusual appetite for fine dining complicates their efforts to uncover the truth.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: August 7, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
• Vic Perrin as Sergeant Frank Smith
• Herb Ellis
• Vic Rodman
• John Robinson — writer
• Walter Schumann — music
• Hal Gibney — announcer
Support the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day:Daniel, Patreon supporter since August 2024.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
35 min
Broadway’s My Beat: The Bob Foster Murder Case (EP5093)
Season 18, Episode 3
Show notes
Today's Mystery: A demolition crew uncovers a skeleton beneath the cellar floor of a former nightclub, along with a satchel containing more than $1,000. The dead man appears to have been murdered five years earlier, but the discovery raises troubling questions about a missing partner, a vanished dancer, and a crime that may not be finished claiming victims. Detective Danny Clover follows a trail of old grudges and buried secrets—but someone is determined to keep the past hidden.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 8, 1952
Originated in Hollywood
Cast:
• Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover
• Charles Calvert as Sergeant Gino Tartaglia
• Jack Kruschen as Mugavan
• Mary Jane Croft as Aggie Blaine
• Sheldon Leonard as Joe Turner
• James McCallion
• Ted Bliss
• Martha Wentworth
• Peter LeedsSupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day:Tim, a Patreon supporter since August 2020
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey�http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
35 min
The Big Story: Trap for a Killer with Reporter as Bait (EP5092)
Season 18, Episode 2
Show notes
Today's Mystery: When a series of brutal attacks leaves Los Angeles investigators searching for answers, crime reporter Sid Hughes finds himself drawn into a dangerous case. With a killer targeting tall, beautiful women and few clues to follow, Hughes proposes an unusual plan that could bring the investigation to a close—but puts his own life on the line.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: October 20, 1954
Originated in Hollywood
Cast:
• Leslie Nielsen as Sid Hughes
• Sam Raskin
• Phil Sterling
• Billy Redfield
• Michael O’Day
• Peggy Allenby
• Madeleine Sherwood
Support the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Maura, supporting the podcast since March 2024
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey�http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
36 min
The Saint: To Buy or Not to Buy, That Is the Question (EP5091)
Season 18, Episode 1
Show notes
Today's Mystery: When Theodore Coogan, an enthusiastic but terrible tuba player, lands a surprisingly lucrative job at a fashionable casino, Simon Templar suspects there’s more to the offer than meets the eye. Soon, a missing musician, a murdered man, and a dangerous web of deception put the Saint on a collision course with a ruthless casino owner. Can Templar uncover the truth before an innocent man pays the ultimate price?
Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 21, 1951
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Vincent Price as Simon Templar, “The Saint”
• Larry Dobkin as Louie
• Jack Moyles as Theodore Coogan
• Maggie Morley as Mona
• Victor Rodman as Stanley
• Frank Gerstle as Lieutenant Archer
Support the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Lisa, a supporter since October 2021
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net/
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
1 hr 6 min
Suspense: The Blind Spot (EP5090e)
Season 17, Episode 331
Show notes
Today's Mystery: When research executive Leland Rogers begins receiving cryptic messages predicting his death, fear takes hold—and he suspects someone within his own organization is behind the threats. Author Eric Strange tries to uncover the truth, but Rogers is soon found murdered, and an attempt on Strange’s own life suggests the danger is far from over. As Strange follows a trail of hidden identities, old grudges, and disturbing secrets, will he see past his own blind spots before it’s too late?
Original Radio Broadcast: May 1, 1948
Originating in New York
Cast:
• Edmund O’Brien as Eric Strange
• Jeff Corey
• Bruce Kammen
• Frances Chaney
• Paul McVey
• Ralph Moody
• Bud Widom
• Martha Shaw
• Bill LallySupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Become one of ourfriends on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
32 min
Counterspy: Counterfeit Traveler’s Checks (A0134)
Season 17, Episode 330
Show notes
Today's Adventure: A ruthless international criminal, Count Zaleski, is behind a counterfeit traveler’s check operation that has defrauded victims across the country. When a set of valuable engraving plates disappears, Counterspy chief David Harding sends agent Harry Peters undercover to infiltrate the operation. But with a suspicious count, dangerous accomplices, and lives at stake, one wrong move could expose the agent before the case is closed.
Original Radio Broadcast: February 13, 1950
Originating in New York
Cast:
• Don McLaughlin as David Harding
• Mandel Kramer as Harry Peters
• Ralph Bell as Etcher
To subscribe to this podcast and, go to https://greatadventures.info/
Become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: James, a Patreon supporter since March 2020
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
-
33 min
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Little Man Who Was Their Matter (EP5090)
Season 17, Episode 329
Show notes
Today's Mystery: Insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is called to investigate the disappearance of Howard L. Edwards, a man presumed dead after his car plunged into the Hudson River. With $100,000 in insurance benefits at stake, the evidence points to a carefully planned disappearance. But when Johnny uncovers suspicious details and a trail of missing papers, he begins to suspect that something far more sinister has happened.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: September 20, 1959
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
• Virginia Gregg
• Larry Dobkin
• Ralph Moody
• Gil Stratton
• Herb Weigand
• Vic Perrin
Support the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Lawrence, a Patreon supporter since January 2025
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
36 min
Dragnet: The Big Signet (EP5089)
Season 17, Episode 328
Show notes
Todays Mystery: Two armed bandits rob a Los Angeles café, leaving the elderly owner brutally beaten and one suspect wounded. Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, Frank Smith, pursue the fugitive, but a promising lead falls apart when the victims fail to identify their suspect. Then a treasured diamond signet ring offers a new clue—and the robber’s own mistakes may be the key to bringing him to justice.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 31, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
• Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero — Note: the transcript identifies Frank Smith as Friday’s partner in this episode.
• Vic Perrin
• Virginia Gregg
• Harry Bartell
• Ralph MoodySupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Cheryl, a Patreon supporter since May 2022
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
38 min
Broadway’s My Beat: The Amelia Lane Murder Case (EP5088)
Season 17, Episode 327
Show notes
Today's Mystery: A beloved librarian is found shot in the private library of the Bentley Foundation, and Detective Danny Clover must discover who wanted Amelia Lane dead. A list of library patrons offers several leads, but the people connected to Miss Lane reveal unexpected secrets, troubling obsessions, and dreams that may not be what they seem. As Clover follows the trail, he uncovers a heartbreaking story of love, betrayal, and deadly ambition.
Original Radio Broadcast Date:November 1, 1952
Originated in Hollywood
Cast:
• Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover
• Charles Calvert as Tartaglia
• Jack Kruschen as Mugavan
• Barbara Whiting as Abby Forrest
• Herb Butterfield as Dr. Levering
• Featured: Norma Varden, Sam Edwards, and Edgar BarrierSupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Rhonda, a Patreon supporter since October 2020
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey�http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
36 min
The Big Story: The Ugly Story of a Man (EP5087)
Season 17, Episode 326
Show notes
Today's Mystery: Reporter Chick Gleason heads into Northern California to cover what appears to be a routine forest fire. But when two blazes erupt in the same area, suspicion grows that someone has deliberately set them. Then a sudden shift in the wind traps a group of missionaries in a deadly inferno, leaving 15 men dead. As investigators search for the arsonist, Gleason uncovers a suspect whose desperate circumstances may conceal a motive far more disturbing than anyone imagined.
Original Radio Broadcast: October 6, 1954
Originating in New York
Cast:
• Joe Helgeson as Chick Gleason
• Carl Swenson as Alan Rusk
• Norman Rose as Narrator
• Dean Almquist
• Earl George
• Michael O'Day
• Ed Fuller
• Chelsea GarrettSupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Cassandra, Patreon Supporter since September 2025.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
34 min
The Saint: Simon Takes a Curtain Call (EP5086)
Season 17, Episode 325
Show notes
Today's Mystery: Simon Templar investigates a disturbing situation in the theater world when actor Mercer Bennett becomes convinced that the roles he plays onstage are coming true in real life. His latest play features the murder of his leading lady, Shari Babcock, and a previous attempt involving real bullets has left him fearing the worst. With several people harboring grudges and the final performance approaching, can the Saint uncover the truth before the curtain falls on a real-life tragedy?
Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 14, 1951
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Vincent Price as Simon Templar
• Theodore von Eltz as Mercer Bennett
• Mary Shipp as Shari Babcock
• Ed Begley as Stuart Jackson
• Maggie Morley as Lola Enright
• Stanley Farrar as Arnold Prince
• Bob Clark as Charlie Glenway
• Harry Brown as the doormanSupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Damien, Patreon supporter since February 2025
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net/
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
3 hr 23 min
Charlie Chan: The Landini Murder Mystery Omnibus, Part Three (EP5085e)
Season 17, Episode 324
Show notes
In this episode, we continue our journey through the surviving episodes of Charlie Chan’s Landini Murder Case, a 39-part serialized mystery based on Earl Derr Biggers’ final Charlie Chan novel, The Keeper of the Keys. This omnibus brings together Episodes 29 and 30, as Inspector Charlie Chan closes in on the truth behind Ellen Landini’s murder.
Originating in Hollywood
Starring: Walter Connolly as Charlie Chan
The Second Bullet
Inspector Charlie Chan and Sheriff Don Holt examine a bullet found in the grounds at Pine View, one that may reveal how the killer tried to disguise the time of Ellen Landini’s murder. As suspicion shifts between Romano, Ryder, and the other guests, Chan uncovers troubling inconsistencies and prepares to confront those who may know more than they admit.
Original Air Date: 1935–1936
A Conversation with Ah Sing
With fear mounting at Pine View and secrets continuing to obstruct the investigation, Charlie Chan turns his attention to Ah Sing, Dudley Ward’s elderly servant. As Chan searches for the truth, another suspicious incident raises questions about who can be trusted—and whether the evidence is strong enough to identify the killer.
Original Air Date: 1935–1936
Subscribe to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio at greatdetectives.net or wherever you download your podcasts from.
Support the show on a one-time basis at Support Great Detectives.
Take the listener survey at Great Detectives Listener Survey.
Give us a call at 208-991-4783.
Follow us on Instagram at Great Detectives on Instagram.
Follow us on Twitter at @radiodetectives.
Join us again for another adventure from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
41 min
Counterspy: The International Intrigue (A0132)
Season 17, Episode 323
Show notes
Today's Adventure: David Harding and Harry Peters travel to Switzerland after learning that a notorious international information broker is offering an American atomic scientist—and his knowledge of the nation's nuclear secrets—to the highest bidder. With foreign intelligence agents competing for the scientist's services, Harding must determine whether the scientist has betrayed his country and find a way to prevent America's atomic secrets from falling into enemy hands.Original Radio Broadcast: October 20, 1949Originating in New YorkCast:
• Don McLaughlin as David Harding
• Mandel Kramer as Harry Peters
• Marks B. Loeb, director
• Palmer Thompson, writer
• Jesse Crawford, music
• Philip H. Lord, producer
• Bob Shepard, announcer
To subscribe to this podcast and, go to https://greatadventures.info/
Become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Shannon, Patreon supporter since January 2023.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
-
25 min
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Loomis Matter (EP5085)
Season 17, Episode 322
Show notes
Today's Mystery: When wealthy businessman Elmer Loomis vanishes without a trace, insurance investigator Johnny Dollar is sent to New Jersey to find out what happened. With no clear leads and a wife who seems anything but heartbroken, Johnny begins to suspect that Elmer’s disappearance may be more than it appears. But a strange name, a missing yacht, and a few unexpected encounters may hold the key to the case.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: September 13, 1959
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
• Virginia Gregg as Lena Loomis
• Sergeant Louis Tommaso
• Elmer LoomisSupport the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day: John, Patreon supporter since September 2015
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
-
34 min
Dragnet: The Big Hate (EP5084)
Season 17, Episode 321
Show notes
Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate the death of a 52-year-old music teacher whose body is discovered in an abandoned freight car, cradled in the arms of a young man who refuses to explain what happened. When the young man finally confesses to killing her, the detectives struggle to understand why he would murder a woman he claims to have loved deeply and who had devoted years to nurturing his musical ambitions.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 10, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
• Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday
• Herb Ellis as Sgt. Frank Smith
• Vic Perrin
• Harry Bartell
• Joyce McCluskey
• Jim Moser, writer
• Walter Schumann, music
• Technical advice from the office of Chief W.H. Parker
• Captain Jack Donahoe, Sgt. Marty Wynn, and Sgt. Vance Brasher, technical advisors
• George Fenneman, announcer
Support the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/
Patreon Supporter of the Day:Dolly, Patreon supporter since November 2025.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net./
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net/
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives
Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
Drama lists
More Drama shows picked out from the charts
More from The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
All The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio podcastsMore in Drama
Placed highest on Apple Podcasts' Drama chart right now