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
EP3452s: Escape: The Follower [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:38
A husband returns early from an out of town trip to find his wife missing and a former romantic rival murdered in his home. Original Air Date: February 18, 1951 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Sup…
EP3374: Suspense: End of the Road [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:44
A model turns to the assistant district attorney for help in dealing with an abusive husband. Original Air Date: January 31, 1960 Become one of our monthly patreon supporters at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the sh…
EP3368: Suspense: The Thimble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:41
The Assistant District Attorney investigates the death of a famous painter at the request of her mentally ill daughter. Original Air Date: November 22, 1959 Become one of our monthly patreon supporters at patreon.greatde…
EP3302s: Tonight at Nine Thirty: The Black Market Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:54
A San Francisco police inspector investigates the apparent murder of a shady businessman. Original Air Date: March 16, 1945 Become one of our monthly patreon supporters at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on…
EP3254s: Command Performance: Dick Tracy in B-Flat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:18
Dick Tracy (Bing Crosby) is about to wed his long-time fiancee Tess Trueheart (Diana Shore) but his wedding keeps getting interrupted by desperate gangsters Flattop (Bob Hope), the Mole (Jimmy Durante), and Shaky (Frank…
EP3200s: Lux Radio Theater: The Ex-Mrs. Bradford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:10
A doctor is driven into an investigation of sinister goings on at a race track by his mystery writer ex-wife. Original Air Date: June 19, 1939 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a…