Fifteen Years Ago

Fifteen Years Ago

Author: Adam Graham October 20, 2024 Duration: 3:10:56
This week, we look back at our first week of podcasts from 2009, with Adam's current extended thoughts on each episode and reaction to his own commentar. 

Original Podcast Release Date: October 26, 2009

Dan Holiday tries to jumpstart his writing career through an ad in a newspaper. His first letter is from a woman who tells Dan she’s being blackmailed.

Original Radio Air Date: October 17, 1947

Originating in Hollywood

Starring: Alan Ladd as Dan Holiday; Sylvia Picker as Suzie

Original Podcast Release Date: October 27, 2009

Pat Novak is hired to frighten a man named Dixie Gillian, but when an empty gun goes off, he finds himself facing a murder charge.
 
“You couldn’t hold a moth with a searchlight.” - Pat Novak to Hellman
 
Original Air Date: November 24, 1946
 
Originating in San Francisco
 
Starring: Jack Webb as Pat Novak; Tudor Owen as Jocko Madigan
 
Original Podcast Release Date: October 28, 2009

On his first day as a private detective, George Valentine gets his first client - a famous writer who tells him he’s about to be murdered and then collapses on the spot. The body then vanishes, leaving George to find out what happened.

Original Audition Date: May 14, 1946

Originating in Hollywood

Starring: Bob Bailey as George Valentine; Shirley Mitchell as Claire; Eddie Firestone, Jr. as Sonny; Joseph Kearns; Georgia Backus; Howard McNear; Horace Murphy
 
Original Podcast Release Date: October 30, 2009

Johnny Dollar is retained to protect a man who has threatened suicide after making a notorious gambling kingpin the beneficiary on his life insurance policy.
 
Original Audition Date: December 7, 1948
 
Starring: Dick Powell as Johnny Dollar; William Conrad; Betty Lou Gerson; Joseph Kearns
 
Guest: Andrew Rhynes of the OTR Westerns podcast

The Great Detectives Old Time Radio Volume 1 (Seasons 1-3): https://volume1.greatdetectives.net
 
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2 (Seasons 4-6) https://volume2.greatdetectives.net
 
The Great Detectives of Old TIme Radio Volume 3 (Seasons 7-9) https://volume3.greatdetectives.net
 
The Great Detectives of Old TIme Radio Detective Compilation YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDFIOdWlnzL-YP6EZpi6JI1nLn6Hm4tAI


Also referenced: Podcast Alley and The Radio Detective Story Hour
 
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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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Old Time Radio Mystery Specials
Podcast Episodes
Suspense: The Khandi Tooth Caper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:13
Release Date: July 31, 2010In this made-for-radio sequel to the Maltese Falcon, Casper Guttman (Joseph Kearns) returns, but this time he’s seeking a piece of dental work.Original Air Date: January 10, 1948Support the sho…
Suspense: The One Way Ride to Nowhere [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
Original Release Date: May 22, 2010A psychologist is found dead on a roller coaster after a ride, but he wasn’t on board when the roller coaster left.Original Air Date: January 6, 1944Support the show monthly at https://…
Suspense: Crank Letter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
Today's Mystery: A police lieutenant is notified that a doctor has received threatening letters.Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 21, 1960Originating from New YorkStarring: Les Damon as Lieutenant Paul Nieman; Lyle…
Screen Guild Theater: The Maltese Falcon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:24
Original Release Date: March 13, 2010In this 1943 adaptation of the original hardboiled detective story: Miles Archer, the partner of Sam Spade (played by Humphrey Bogart) is killed while shadowing someone for a client (…
Lux Radio Theater: Street With No Name [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:45
Today's Mystery: An FBI agent (Mark Stevens) goes undercover in the gang of an up-and-coming racketeer (Richard Widmark).Origianl Air Date: January 31, 1949Originating in HollywoodStarring: Mark Stevens as Agent Gene Cor…
This is Your FBI: The Return of Saint Nick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:11
Today's Mystery: FBI Special Agent Jim Taylor delays his vacation home. to find a Settlement House Santa Clause who disappeared.Original Radio Broadcast Date: December 22, 1950Starring Stacy Harris as Special Agent Jim T…
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Nick Shurn Matter Omnibus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:10
Today's Mystery: At Christmastime, Johnny has to find a beautiful woman, who is the only one who knows the truth behind the murder of a New York club owner, before the killer does.Original Radio Broadcast Dates: December…
Molle Mystery Theater: Red Wine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
Today's Mystery:A San Francisco detective is convinced that one of three Americans at a Brazillian plantation is a fugitive killer in disguise. But which one?Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 8, 1946Originating from N…
Cavalcade of America: The Pinkerton Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:17
In 1859, legendary private detective Allan Pinkerton tries to solve the year-old case of a bank robbery and the murder of a guard.Original Air Date: November 18, 1946Originating in HollywoodStarring: Lee Bowman as Allan…