687 episodes

Presenting the best detectives from the Golden Age of Radio. Each week, we'll bring you an episode starring one of Old Time Radio's greatest detectives and the story behind the show. Join us for adventures of Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Johnny Dollar, and many more.

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

    • Arts
    • 4.6 • 893 Ratings

Presenting the best detectives from the Golden Age of Radio. Each week, we'll bring you an episode starring one of Old Time Radio's greatest detectives and the story behind the show. Join us for adventures of Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Johnny Dollar, and many more.

    Irish Eyes are Sleuthing (Sherlock Holmes, Let George Do It, & Have Gun - Will Travel)

    Irish Eyes are Sleuthing (Sherlock Holmes, Let George Do It, & Have Gun - Will Travel)

    Grab a pint, don your green, and enjoy a trio of St. Patrick's Day old time radio mysteries. First, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce investigate a murder at one of Ireland's landmarks in "The Adventure of the Blarney Stone" from The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (originally aired on Mutual on March 18, 1946). Then, George Valentine tries to prevent a spectral eviction in "The Ghost of Ireland Betty" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on September 27, 1954). Finally, Paladin comes to the aid of an Irishman accused of robbery and murder in "Irish Luck" (originally aired on CBS on April 24, 1960).

    • 1 hr 35 min
    The Whole Tooth (Casey, Crime Photographer, Whitehall 1212, & Peter Chambers)

    The Whole Tooth (Casey, Crime Photographer, Whitehall 1212, & Peter Chambers)

    Show off those pearly whites and enjoy three old time radio mysteries involving teeth and dentists. First, Casey, Crime Photographer thinks a dentist is linked to a colleague's disappearance in "Tooth for Tooth" (originally aired on CBS on July 15, 1946). Then, a victim's teeth hold the key to solving a murder on Whitehall 1212 (known as "The Murder of Duncan Frazier," originally aired on NBC on December 9, 1951). Finally, Dane Clark tries to find out who's blackmailing a dentist in Crime and Peter Chambers (originally aired on NBC on May 18, 1954).

    • 1 hr 29 min
    BONUS - Remembering Anne Whitfield

    BONUS - Remembering Anne Whitfield

    In this bonus episode, we're saluting the late Anne Whitfield, who passed away on February 15th. We'll hear the actress in a pair of episodes from The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, where she played the couple's youngest daughter Phyllis. First, little Phyllis may become a movie star (originally aired on NBC on November 20, 1949) and then she celebrates her birthday (originally aired on NBC on January 21, 1951).

    • 1 hr
    Space Cases (Man Called X, Philo Vance, & Rocky Fortune)

    Space Cases (Man Called X, Philo Vance, & Rocky Fortune)

    We're blasting off this week for a trio of mysteries involving rockets and space. First, The Man Called X is in New Mexico to find out who's leaking classified information from a missile test site (originally aired on NBC on April 14, 1951). Next, Philo Vance investigates a murder in an observatory in the syndicated episode "The Star-Studded Murder Case." And finally, Frank Sinatra is hired to take a one-way trip to the moon in "Rocket Racket" from Rocky Fortune (originally aired on NBC on March 23, 1954).

    • 1 hr 27 min
    BONUS - Five Favorites: Auditions

    BONUS - Five Favorites: Auditions

    In this bonus episode, we're going back to the beginning with the audition recordings for five old time radio detective shows - some that became regular series, some that didn't, and some that changed stars along the way. We'll hear Victor Jory as a Scotland Yard inspector in the tryout for The Hunters (recorded in November 1948) and Dick Powell - before he was Richard Diamond - as Johnny Dollar in that show's audition (recorded in December 1948). Bill Johnstone stars as Lt. Ben Guthrie in Police Line-Up, the audition for what became The Line-Up (recorded in May 1950) and Mercedes McCambridge heads to court in The Defense Rests, which premiered later as Defense Attorney (recorded in April 1951). Finally, Howard Duff - radio's Sam Spade - dons the fedora of private eye Mike McCoy in the audition for The McCoy (recorded in April 1951).

    • 2 hr 35 min
    Mystery on the Menu (Boston Blackie, Box 13, Richard Diamond, & Johnny Dollar)

    Mystery on the Menu (Boston Blackie, Box 13, Richard Diamond, & Johnny Dollar)

    Hope you brought your appetite - this week's show features four mysteries set in the world of food. From restaurants to the grocery store, our detectives have a lot to chew on in these cases. First, Boston Blackie investigates a murder in a Chinese restaurant and Dan Holiday comes to the aid of a beleaguered restauranteur in "Tempest in a Casserole" from Box 13. Dick Powell goes undercover in a butcher's shop in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (originally aired on NBC on January 7, 1950) and Johnny Dollar gets a deadly dinner invitation in "The Fatal Filet Matter" (originally aired on CBS on May 10, 1950).

    • 1 hr 53 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
893 Ratings

893 Ratings

Nahnonicknamw ,

Fantastically curated OTR entertainment

This is my favorite OTR podcast and podcaster. His commentary at the beginning of the show does a great job setting the historical and narrative context for the forthcoming show(s). Love the inclusion of original advertisements and the fact that the host is so low-key about the podcast’s own fundraising needs - it’s the least intrusive of almost any podcast I follow. I love the themed episodes from different shows. Keep up the great work!

DeezGruntled ,

Outstanding

Outstanding presentation complete with otr commercials from days gone by as well as insightful notes and anecdotes at the start of each episode from the passionate curator. This otr podcast is tip top. 5 stars.

wffeus ,

Should be 5 stars but…

I listen to OTR every night as I go to bed. It helps set my mind at ease. Down These Mean Streets and it’s companion Stars on Susoense are OUTSTANDING! I would give them 5 stars each but for consistency—not in production or content but in regularity. Too often new episodes are not produced on a weekly basis. But when they are produced, they are sublime. Especially love the vintage ads.

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