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
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:…
Lux Radio Theater: Sorry, Wrong Number (AWR0215) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:57
A wealthy woman (Barbara Stanwyck) overhears two men planning a murder on the phone. (Burt Lancaster co-stars.)Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 9, 1950Go to http://amazing.greatdetectives.net to subscribe to the po…
Jack Carson Show: Sam Spade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
Today's Mystery: Jack Carson calls in Sam Spade for protection after receiving a threatening telegram.Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 5, 1947Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.netSupport the show on…
Hollywood Sound Stage: Call Northside 777 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:21
Today's mystery:A reporter responds to the ad of a mother who wants someone to clear her son of the murder of a police officer twelve years before.Original Radio Broadcast Date: December 27, 1951Support the show monthly…
Lux Radio Theater: Laura [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:52
As he investigates the murder of a young advertising executive (Gene Tierney), a police detective (Dana Andrews) begins to fall in love with the murdered woman.Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 5, 1945Support the s…
Burns and Allen: Gracie Sends Sam Spade to Jail [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
Today's Mystery:George Burns and Sam Spade explain to a police lieutenant how Gracie got them thrown into jail for murder.Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 10, 1949Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetective…
Suspense: Out of Control [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
Today's Mystery:A blind former police captain finds himself in the middle of an investigation of murder and blackmail.Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 28, 1946Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.netSu…
Twice Told Tale: Michael Shayne and Gunsmoke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:29
In the Case of the Crooked Wheel, the owner of a casino has Michael Shayne come to investigate an apparent case of fraud at his casino.Original Air Date: 1947In Mark Dillon Goes to Gougeye, the wife of a casino owner has…
EP3854s: Mystery Audio: First Nighter Sam Spade Spoof [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:38
Sam Spade is called in to protect Mister First Nighter from being killed.The real mystery is where this audio came from.Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.netSupport the show on a one-time basis at http:…