Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Mean Streets Podcasts

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.

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833 episodes
Updated July 26

Episodes833

Newest first

July 26 · 2 hr 23 min
Episode 677 - Summer in the City: San Francisco (Gregory Hood, Candy Matson, Pat Novak, Sam Spade, & The Line-Up)
Bad guys left some clues in San Francisco, and our collection of local sleuths won't let the crooks get away with their crimes. We wrap up our month of cross-country travel with heroes from the city by the bay. First, we'll hear "The Murder of Gregory Hood" from The Casebook of Gregory Hood (originally aired on Mutual on June 17, 1946) and Natalie Masters as Candy Matson in "The Cable Car Murder Case" (originally aired on NBC on July 7, 1949). Next, Jack Webb is on the waterfront beat in "George Lampson" from Pat Novak For Hire (originally aired on ABC on June 11, 1949). Howard Duff stars as Sam Spade in "The Prodigal Daughter Case" (originally aired on CBS on August 28, 1949). And finally, the cops of The Line-Up tackle "The Big Boy's Brutish Back-Bending Case" (AFRS rebroadcast from April 29, 1952).
July 19 · 2 hr 1 min
Episode 676 - Summer in the City: Los Angeles (Philip Marlowe & Dragnet)
Our travels across the country continue with two of the signature sleuths of the City of Angels: private eye Philip Marlowe and Sgt. Joe Friday of the LAPD. We'll hear Gerald Mohr as Marlowe in "The Ebony Link" (originally aired on CBS on May 10, 1951) and "The Hiding Place" (originally aired on CBS on May 9, 1950). Then, Jack Webb stars in "The Big Drills" (originally aired on NBC on May 10, 1951) and "The Big Jules" (originally aired on NBC on June 19, 1952) from Dragnet.
July 15 · 1 hr 57 min
BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 6)
Our final installment in our Super Summer bonus series is super-sized with the last seven chapters of this epic Superman adventure! Will Superman recover his memory? Will "Big" George Latimer get his revenge on the Man of Steel? And how will Clark Kent explain his mysterious absence from the newsroom? Find out in the concluding installments of "Superman vs. Kryptonite," originally aired on Mutual between June 18 and June 27, 1947.
July 12 · 1 hr 34 min
Episode 675 - Summer in the City: New York (Broadway is My Beat, Richard Diamond, & 21st Precinct)
We're visiting some of the world's biggest and busiest cities this summer, and while we're in town we'll rub elbows with some of their resident sleuths. Our series kicks off with the Big Apple and three radio mysteries set on the streets of New York. Dick Powell suspects there's more to the story of a Central Park hit and run case in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (originally aired on NBC on August 29, 1949); Danny Clover investigates "The Joan Fuller Murder Case" from Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on November 17, 1950); and as Captain Kennelly, Everett Sloane looks into an alleged case of self defense in 21st Precinct (originally aired on CBS on July 17, 1954).
July 8 · 1 hr 13 min
BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 5)
As "Bud Smith," the amnesiac Superman is a home run-crushing, strike-out hurling baseball phenom! But "Big" George Latimer still hunts for the missing Man of Steel and the crew at the Daily Planet is looking for Clark Kent. This epic adventure continues with the next five chapters, originally aired on Mutual between June 11 and June 17, 1947.
July 5 · 2 hr 5 min
Encore - Four for the 4th
Happy 4th of July and a happy 250th birthday to the USA! In honor of this momentous occasion, I'm sharing an encore presentation of four American history mysteries. Henry Fonda recreates his role of Young Mr. Lincoln in a radio version of the classic film on Academy Award (originally aired on CBS on July 10, 1946). Honest Abe is a lawyer who must clear his wrongfully accused clients of murder. Lee Bowman plays Allan Pinkterton, one of America's most celebrated detectives, as he investigates a case of robbery and murder in "The Pinkerton Man" from The Cavalcade of America (originally aired on NBC on November 18, 1946). A recently released convict falls in with a gang that forges correspondence from historical figures in "Letters from Aaron Burr" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on November 20, 1949). And "the man with the action-packed expense account" hunts for a stolen original copy of the Gettysburg Address. Bob Bailey stars as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar in "The Meek Memorial Matter" (AFRS rebroadcast from March 3, 1957).
July 1 · 1 hr 14 min
BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 4)
As our epic adventure continues, Superman escaped from "Big" George Latimer, but his exposure to the kryptonite robbed him of his memory. Soon he trades his trademark cape and costume for a baseball uniform as a pitcher with an unbelievable arm in the next five chapters of the story that originally aired on Mutual between June 4 and June 10, 1947.
June 28 · 2 hr 12 min
Episode 674 - Double Duty Detectives: Bob Bailey (Let George Do It & Johnny Dollar)
We wrap up our month of actors who played multiple detectives on the air with Bob Bailey. Bailey played wisecracking gumshoe George Valentine on Let George Do It before he stepped in as Johnny Dollar and made the role of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator" his own. We'll hear him as George in "Come and Get Me" (originally aired on Mutual on May 16, 1949) and "The Silent Waterfall" (originally aired on Mutual on January 9, 1950). Then, he's Johnny Dollar in the five part mystery "The Shady Lane Matter" (originally aired on CBS between July 9 and July 13, 1956).
June 24 · 1 hr 14 min
BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 3)
The stakes are higher than ever for Superman as this epic adventure continues! "Big" George Latimer may have figured out how to use the Kryptonite to wipe out Superman once and for all, as Batman and Robin continue their desperate search for the Man of Steel. We'll hear every exciting minute in these five chapters that aired on Mutual between May 28 and June 3, 1947.
June 21 · 2 hr 19 min
Episode 673 - Double Duty Detectives: Gerald Mohr (Philip Marlowe, Nero Wolfe, & Johnny Dollar)
We continue our look at actors who played multiple gumshoes on the air with Gerald Mohr - who, for my money, gave us the definitive portrayal of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. But Mr. Mohr wasn't only Mr. Marlowe on the air. He also put in a four-episode stint as Archie Goodwin to Sydney Greenstreet's Nero Wolfe. We'll hear Mohr as Marlowe in three radio mysteries: "The Hard Way Out" (originally aired on CBS on November 28, 1948); "The Feminine Touch" (originally aired on CBS on May 7, 1949); and "The Dark Tunnel" (originally aired on CBS on August 18, 1950). Then he's Archie Goodwin in "The Case of the Phantom Fingers" (originally aired on NBC on January 26, 1951). Finally, we'll hear his audition as "the man with the action-packed expense account" - Johnny Dollar.
June 17 · 1 hr 14 min
BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 2)
Our bonus series starring the Man of Steel continues with the next five chapters of the epic adventure "Superman vs. Kryptonite." The dynamic duo Batman and Robin step in to help their super friend, who is threatened by corrupt political boss "Big" George Latimer in these exciting installments that aired on Mutual between May 21 and May 27, 1947.
June 14 · 2 hr 35 min
Episode 672 - Double Duty Detectives: Dick Powell (Rogue's Gallery, Richard Diamond, & Johnny Dollar)
Our salute to actors who played multiple radio detectives continues with Dick Powell, who transformed himself from a comedic crooner to a hard-boiled hero on the big screen. We'll hear him as two private Dicks - Richard Rogue from Rogue's Gallery and as Richard Diamond, Private Detective. He's Rogue in "The Triangle Murder Case" (originally aired on Mutual on February 21, 1946) and "The Corpse I Didn't Kill" (originally aired on Mutual on June 13, 1946). Then he's Diamond in episodes known as "The Mary Bellman Case" (originally aired on NBC on June 28, 1950) and "The Mike Burton Case" (originally aired on NBC on July 5, 1950) . Plus, we'll hear him as a third radio sleuth in the 1948 audition recording for Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar.
June 10 · 1 hr 26 min
BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 1)
Supergirl flies back to the big screen this summer (with a cameo from her cousin from Metropolis), and to celebrate we present an epic radio adventure of the Man of Steel. From the spring and summer of 1947, it's "Superman vs. Kryptonite," a story that begins when an old enemy of Superman's comes into possession of the hero's Achilles heel. We'll hear the first five parts of the story - episodes that originally aired on Mutual between May 14 and May 20, 1947.
June 7 · 2 hr 6 min
Episode 671 - Double Duty Detectives: Tom Conway (Sherlock Holmes & The Saint)
For June, we're spotlighting stars who played multiple detectives on the air and our first leading man is Tom Conway. In 1946, he took over the deerstalker cap from Basil Rathbone on The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and in 1951, he donned Simon Templar's halo as Vincent Price's replacement on The Saint. We'll hear Conway as Holmes - with Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson - in "The Darlington Substitution" (originally aired on ABC on January 4, 1947) and "The Adventure of the Scarlet Worm" (originally aired on ABC on March 24, 1947). Then, he's the Saint in "The Children's Crusade" (originally aired on NBC on May 27, 1951) and "No, My Darling Daughter" (originally aired on NBC on July 15, 1951).
May 31 · 1 hr 24 min
Episode 670 - All the Write Moves: John Dickson Carr (Suspense & Cabin B-13)
Our month-long spotlight series on mystery writers concludes with John Dickson Carr, master of the locked room mystery who was recently referenced in Wake Up Dead Man. We'll hear some thrillers penned by Carr for Suspense as well as episodes of his own mystery anthology series Cabin B-13. From Suspense, it's "The Burning Court" (originally aired on CBS on June 17, 1942) and the first half of "The Hangman Won't Wait," starring Sydney Greenstreet as Carr's amateur sleuth Dr. Gideon Fell (originally aired on CBS on March 30, 1943). And from Cabin B-13, we'll hear "The Bride Vanishes" (originally aired on CBS on December 12, 1948).
May 28 · 2 hr 28 min
BONUS - Five Favorites: Sherlock Holmes Classic Adventures
For this month's bonus episode, we're back on Baker Street for my five favorite radio adaptations of Sherlock Holmes adventures penned by Arthur Conan Doyle. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star in "The Speckled Band" (originally aired on Mutual on November 12, 1945), and Bruce and Tom Conway star in "The Adventure of the Dying Detective" (originally aired on ABC on February 3, 1947). Then, John Stanley and Alfred Shirley are Holmes and Watson in "The Red Headed League" and "The Sussex Vampire" (originally aired on October 12 and December 14, 1947). Finally, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson take center stage in a British radio production of "A Scandal in Bohemia."
May 24 · 2 hr 8 min
Episode 669 - All the Write Moves: Dorothy L. Sayers (Suspense)
Our spotlight mystery writer of the week is Dorothy L. Sayers, the English writer, poet, and essayist whose work evolved and advanced the detective genre with characterization and humor. She's best known for the adventures of aristocrat and amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey, and we'll hear one of his exploits adapted for Suspense - "The Cave of Ali Baba" (originally aired on CBS on August 19, 1942). We'll also hear three more of Ms. Sayers' stories adapted for "radio's outstanding theater of thrills" - "The Fountain Plays" (originally aired on CBS on August 10, 1943); "Suspicion" (originally aired on CBS on February 10, 1944); and "The Man Who Knew How" (originally aired on CBS on August 10, 1944).
May 17 · 2 hr 29 min
Episode 668 - All the Write Moves: Agatha Christie (Campbell Playhouse, Murder Clinic, & Suspense)
Our month-long salute to mystery writing legends continues with the queen of crime herself - Agatha Christie. She wrote over sixty novels, dozens of short stories, and created two of the genre's most beloved sleuths - Hercule Poirot, the fastidious and brilliant Belgian detective, and Miss Marple, the kindly amateur investigator. We'll hear four of Dame Agatha's tales recreated for radio: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" with Orson Welles as Poirot from The Campbell Playhouse (originally aired on CBS on November 12, 1939); "The Tragedy of Marsdon Manner" from Murder Clinic (originally aired on Mutual on October 6, 1942); and "The ABC Murders" and "Where There's a Will" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on May 18, 1943 and February 24, 1949).
May 10 · 3 hr 6 min
Episode 667 - All the Write Moves: Dashiell Hammett (Lux Radio Theatre, Suspense, Fat Man, Academy Award, & Sam Spade)
Our month of classic mystery writers continues with Dashiell Hammett - the former Pinkerton operative whose celebrated characters include Sam Spade, the Continental Op, and Nick and Nora Charles. Radio shows based on his sleuths were some of the most popular on radio until Hammett became a casualty of the Red Scare. We'll hear some of his stories recreated for radio: an adaptation of "The Thin Man" from The Lux Radio Theatre (originally aired on CBS on June 8, 1936; "Two Sharp Knives" - adapted for Suspense (originally aired on CBS on June 7, 1945); "The Maltese Falcon" recreated on Academy Award (originally aired on CBS on July 3, 1946); and "The Critical Author Caper" - a loose adaptation of his novel The Dain Curse from The Adventures of Sam Spade (originally aired on CBS on August 15, 1948). Plus, we'll hear an original Hammett radio creation - private eye Brad Runyon - aka The Fat Man in his debut adventure "The Nineteenth Pearl" (originally aired on ABC on January 21, 1946).
May 7 · 1 hr 29 min
BONUS - Happy Birthday, Orson Welles
In honor of his May 6th birthday, we're saluting the great Orson Welles with a pair of radio performances set on Baker Street. First, he's the great detective himself in "The Immortal Sherlock Holmes" from The Mercury Theatre On the Air (originally aired on CBS on September 25, 1938). Then, he's Holmes' archnemesis Professor Moriarty - opposite John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson as Holmes and Watson - in a syndicated production of "The Final Problem."

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Episode 677 - Summer in the City: San Francisco (Gregory Hood, Candy Matson, Pat Novak, Sam Spade, & The Line-Up)

Episode 676 - Summer in the City: Los Angeles (Philip Marlowe & Dragnet)

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 6)

Episode 675 - Summer in the City: New York (Broadway is My Beat, Richard Diamond, & 21st Precinct)

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 5)

Encore - Four for the 4th

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 4)

Episode 674 - Double Duty Detectives: Bob Bailey (Let George Do It & Johnny Dollar)

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 3)

Episode 673 - Double Duty Detectives: Gerald Mohr (Philip Marlowe, Nero Wolfe, & Johnny Dollar)

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 2)

Episode 672 - Double Duty Detectives: Dick Powell (Rogue's Gallery, Richard Diamond, & Johnny Dollar)

BONUS - Super Summer: Superman vs. Kryptonite (Part 1)

Episode 671 - Double Duty Detectives: Tom Conway (Sherlock Holmes & The Saint)

Episode 670 - All the Write Moves: John Dickson Carr (Suspense & Cabin B-13)

BONUS - Five Favorites: Sherlock Holmes Classic Adventures

Episode 669 - All the Write Moves: Dorothy L. Sayers (Suspense)

Episode 668 - All the Write Moves: Agatha Christie (Campbell Playhouse, Murder Clinic, & Suspense)

Episode 667 - All the Write Moves: Dashiell Hammett (Lux Radio Theatre, Suspense, Fat Man, Academy Award, & Sam Spade)

BONUS - Happy Birthday, Orson Welles