Video Theater – The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio

Adam Graham
  • 4.4 (16)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

The great ones are back in action.

  1. 2025-11-23 ·  VIDEO

    Dragnet: The Big Lamp (Video Theater 303)

    The City fails to win conviction against a burglarly suspect despite being sure of his guilt, Joe Friday and Ed Jacobs get a second chance when he comes back to LA just as a string of crimes fitting his MO start being committed. Season 1, Episode 14 Original Air Date: June 19, 1952

    31 min

  2. 2025-11-10 ·  VIDEO

    Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Red Headed League (Video Theater 302)

    Tom Fox of the Compliace Podcast Network joins us once again as we delve into the Ronald Howard Sherlock Holmes series with the only episode that directly adapted one of Doyle's story, "The Case of the Red Headed League" A red-headed shopkeeper comes to Holmes for help and has a tale to tell of a strange organization set up to further the interests of red-headed men. Season 1, Episode 11 Original Air Date: December 27, 1954

    37 min

  3. 2025-10-26 ·  VIDEO

    Dragnet: The Big Casing (Video Theater 301)

    In this tense and tightly constructed episode of Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and his partner, Ed Jacobs (Barney Phillips), are called to investigate a shocking death in a modest Los Angeles apartment. A woman has been found dead from a gunshot wound, and her husband insists it was suicide. But as the detectives begin to piece together the evidence—an empty cartridge, a dusting of flour, and the peculiar position of a body—questions begin to multiply faster than answers. What begins as a routine inquiry quickly deepens into a web of contradictions. The neighbors have stories to tell, the evidence tells another, and instinct leads Friday and Jacobs down a path that challenges their confidence in what seems obvious. This episode captures Dragnet at its most methodical—slowly building tension through measured dialogue, careful observation, and an unflinching portrayal of police work as both science and human judgment. It's a story not only about crime but about certainty—and how easily even the most seasoned detectives can be deceived by what they think they know. Originally aired on June 6, 1952, "The Big Casing" was adapted from an earlier radio broadcast. It stands as one of the series' most thought-provoking cases, showcasing the emergence of forensic reasoning as an essential part of modern investigation.

    29 min

  4. 2025-10-12 ·  VIDEO

    Sherlock Holmes: The Mother Hubbard Case (Video Theater 300)

    In this episode of Public Domain Video Theater, host Adam Graham is joined by special guest Tom Fox, founder of the ⁠Compliance Podcast Network⁠ and host of ⁠Adventures in Compliance⁠— a show where Fox explores each Sherlock Holmes story through the lens of ethics and compliance. Together, they delve into one of Ronald Howard's early television portrayals of the great detective.   Episode Overview (No Spoilers) "The Mother Hubbard Case" begins as a seemingly routine London mystery — a missing fiancé, a concerned family, and a cryptic note about a lost child. But under Holmes's keen observation, this ordinary disappearance unfurls into something far more sinister. As Holmes and Watson investigate, they uncover a chilling pattern of vanishing men, a trail that winds through deserted houses and shadowed motives. What begins as a simple missing-person case evolves into a tense unraveling of compassion twisted by desperation   Original Air Date: December 20, 1954

    35 min

  5. 2025-09-28 ·  VIDEO

    Dragnet: The Big Phone Call (Video Theater 299)

    Joe Friday and Ed Jacobs have evidence that a local jewelry salesman is behind the robbery of another salesman. They present the vidence in hopes of getting a confession. Season 1, Episode 12 Original Air Date: May 22, 1952 Based on a radio script from February 14, 1952

    29 min

  6. 2025-09-14 ·  VIDEO

    The Greene Murder Case (Video Theater 298)

    A wealthy family's household becomes the scene of intrigue when a series of shocking crimes threatens its members. Suspicion falls heavily within the walls of their imposing home, and the air grows tense as Philo Vance works to uncover the truth. Mystery, secrets, and a shadow of danger hang over each clue in this chilling early talkie. Originally released in U.S. theaters on August 11, 1929.   The film stars William Powell, in one of his earliest detective roles, alongside Jean Arthur and Eugene Pallette. The ensemble also features Florence Eldridge, Ullrich Haupt, E. H. Calvert, Gertrude Norman, and Lowell Drew in key roles that bring depth to the unfolding drama. Together, the cast weaves a suspenseful tale that blends family tension with classic mystery atmosphere.

    1h 11m

  7. 2025-08-24 ·  VIDEO

    The Canary Murder Case (Video Theater 297)

    A singer who threatens the happiness of the son of one of Philo Vance's (William Powell) oldest friends is murdered and Vance is called in to investigate. Features Jean Arthur, and Eugene Pallette. Original Release Date: February 16, 1929

    1h 30m

  8. 2025-07-27 ·  VIDEO

    My Favorite Brunette (Video Theater 296)

    A baby photographer (Bob Hope) impersonates a travelling private and is hired to find a beautiful woman (Dorothy Lamour) to find a missing older man. Also features Peter Lorre and Lon Chaney, Jr.

    1h 33m
See All (99)

4.4
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

The great ones are back in action.

Information

More From The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio