Old Time Radio Mystery Specials

Old Time Radio Mystery Specials

Author: Adam Graham Language: English Episodes: 140
Curated by Adam Graham, Old Time Radio Mystery Specials digs into the archives to surface some of the most intriguing and offbeat detective stories from the golden age of audio drama. This podcast isn't just a straightforward replay; it's a curated exploration of the genre's surprising range. You'll hear classic movie adaptations from the Lux Radio Theater alongside tense half-hours from series like Escape, Suspense, and Murder Clinic. But the selections often take unexpected turns, featuring mystery-themed episodes from shows you wouldn't typically associate with the genre, like Roy Rogers, Mayor of the Town, Superman, and Cavalcade of America. Graham also provides a fascinating layer of analysis by presenting comparisons of how two different detective programs tackled the exact same source story, offering a unique look at creative interpretation in classic radio. The result is a collection that goes beyond the usual suspects, perfect for longtime fans looking for deep cuts and newcomers curious about the inventive breadth of old-time radio mystery. Each episode is a self-contained audio journey, preserving the crackle and charm of the original broadcasts while framing them in a fresh context. Tune in for suspense, nostalgia, and a few genuine surprises from a bygone era of storytelling.
Episodes
Academy Award Theatre: The Maltese Falcon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:14
Today's Mystery: Sam Spade's search for the murderer in his partner puts him in the midst of intrigue among four dangerous characters, all trying to gain possession of an enameled jeweled falcon.Original Radio Broadcast…
Sherlock Holmes Guy Fawkes Day Special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:39
Today is Guy Fawkes Day and we celebrate with two different Guy-Fawkes-related Sherlock Holmes adventures.First, in The Fifth of November, a man named James Stuart comes to Baker Street pleading for Holmes' help, as he f…
Stars in the Air: House on 92nd Street [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:07
Today's Mystery:An FBI undercover man infilitrates a Nazi spy ring that could send the secret of Process 97 to the Nazis.Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 3, 1952Originated from HollywoodStarred: Humphrey Bogart as Insp…
Suspense: The High Wall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
Today's Mystery:A man wakes up in an insane asylum with no idea how he got there.Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 6, 1946Originated from HollywoodStarred: Robbert Young, George Zucco, Cathy Lewis, Wally MaherSupport t…
Guest Star Detective Double Feature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:17
Today's First Story: Basil Rathbone sets up an office as a radio detective, with Kenny Delmar as his bumbling sidekick.Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 24, 1947Today's Second Story: A key witness in a Distict Attorney…
Suspense: Fragile, Contents: Death [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
Today's Mystery:A postmaster (Victor Perrin) gets a tip that there's a time bomb among the day's packages.Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 22, 1956Stars: Victor Perin, Herb Ellis, Frank Gershwin, Vivi Janis, Helen Klee…
Lux Radio Theater: The Maltese Falcon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:36
Today's Mystery:Sam Spade (Edward G. Robinson) tries to solve the murder of his partner and gets drawn into the intrigue over a mysterious black-enameled bird.Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 8, 1943Originated in…
Inheritance: The Texas Rangers (Texas Rangers Bicentenial Special) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
A Texas Rangers Captain is assigned to form a group of special forces to stop rustlers stealing cattle and taking them across the Rio Grande.Original Radio Broadcast Date:June 13, 1954Guest Host: Andrew Rhynes of the OTR…
Screen Guild Theater: A Night to Remember [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:24
Today's Mystery: A mystery writer (Brian Donlevy) and his wife (Lucille Ball) move into a basement apartment in the East Village one night. In the morning, they find a body in their garden.'Original Radio Broadcast Date:…