Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives‪)‬ Mean Streets Podcasts

Hoist the sail for a triple feature of detectives vs. 20th century pirates! First, as secret agent Ken Thurston, Herbert Marshall hunts a gang that's looting relief ships in the Red Sea in The Man Called X (originally aired on CBS on June 19, 1947). Then, Tom Collins stars in the syndicated show "The Case of the Vanishing President" - a story of piracy and a revolution from The Adventures of Frank Race. And finally, Inspector Peter Black is on the river in search of a ship full of modern day pirates in London. Ben Wright stars in "Pursuit of the Thames Pirates" from Pursuit (originally aired on CBS on February 12, 1952).

This week, we've got stories from three of the all-time great mystery writers - literary giants who gave us some of the most famous detectives in fiction. We'll hear adaptations of Raymond Chandler's "Murder in the City Hall" and Agatha Christie's "Witness for the Prosecution" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (originally aired on NBC on April 5 and May 31, 1946). And in between those shows, we'll hear Orson Welles in Dashiell Hammett's "The Glass Key" presented on The Campbell Playhouse (originally aired on CBS on March 10, 1939).

In honor of the 95th Academy Awards, we'll hear four old time radio detective stars who took home Oscars of their own. First, Rex Harrison stars as a debonair sleuth in "Murder Deep in the Killer's Mind" from The Private Files of Rex Saunders (originally aired on NBC on June 20, 1951). Next, Edmond O'Brien is "the man with the action-packed expense account" in "The Malcolm D. Wish, M.D. Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on June 20, 1951). Then, as Defense Attorney, Mercedes McCambridge fights to clear the name of "Client George Baughman" (originally aired on ABC on August 28, 1952). And finally, Frank Sinatra - Ol' Blue Eyes himself - tries to help a woman who fears she's going crazy in "Psychological Murder" from Rocky Fortune (originally aired on NBC on March 16, 1954).

Okay, maybe not everybody loves clowns, but I bet you'll enjoy these three old time radio mysteries featuring the circus' most colorful performers. First, Gregory Hood solves the murder of "The Sad Clown" (originally aired on Mutual on October 7, 1946). Then, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate deadly doings under the big top in "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger" (originally aired on Mutual on June 20, 1948). And finally, Orson Welles catches up with his old friend - a smuggler, a ladies' man, and a clown - in "The Painted Smile," a syndicated episode from The Lives of Harry Lime.

From 1952 until 1957, fans of Dragnet could catch one episode on radio and a different story on television. The adventures of Sgt. Joe Friday aired concurrently on radio and the small screen for hundreds of shows, and this week we'll hear three radio episodes that were later adapted for TV. We'll hear the show that was adapted as the first episode of the TV series (originally aired on NBC on July 21, 1949), "The Big Lease" (originally aired on NBC on November 1, 1951), and "The Big Show" (originally aired on NBC on April 10, 1952).
Click here to watch "The Human Bomb."
Click here to watch "The Big Lease."
Click here to watch "The Big Show." 

Created by Dashiell Hammett, The Fat Man was one of radio's most popular mystery shows. It was on the verge of spinning off into a series of movies with radio star J. Scott Smart reprising his role of private eye Brad Runyon. But then Hammett ran afoul of the House Un-American Activities Committee and the crimesolving career of the Fat Man came to an end. In this month's bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite adventures of Runyon - "the fast-moving criminologist who tips the scales at 237 pounds." We'll start with the show's first episode - "The Nineteenth Pearl" (originally aired on ABC on January 21, 1946). Then, he tries to help a woman who's being pressured back into a life of crime in "The Black Angel" (originally aired on ABC on July 8, 1946). The Fat Man tries to help a friend who witnesses a murder in a neighboring apartment in "A Window for Murder" (originally aired on ABC on October 3, 1947), and Runyon heads to Mexico to solve a case south of the border in "Murder Wins the Draw" (originally aired on ABC on April 1, 1949). Finally, in "The NIghtmare Murder" (originally aired on ABC on January 17, 1951), a man hires Runyon to prove he's guilty of murder.