Artwork for The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas
Arts

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

Adam Graham|Old Time Radio Detective Host

Are you ready for a mystery? Get ready to unleash your inner sleuth. Every day Monday-Saturday, we feature a different detective audio drama from the Golden Age of Radio. Our current mystery-solving line-up of radio detectives includes The Adventures of the Falcon, Charlie Chan, Broadway's My Beat, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, and Dragnet.

Whether you want to listen to a mystery before going to sleep or enjoy some drama while driving, or just feel nostalgia for old-school radio fiction, we have you covered with six audio dramas every week.


Podcast Award finalist Host Adam Graham has been your guide through dozens of old-time radio detective series since 2009. He provides insightful commentary and humor after each episode and responds to listener questions and feedback. You can subscribe to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from your favorite podcast app or by visiting our website at http://www.greatdetectives.net.

We are currently in our fifteenth season of provided suspenseful mystery dramas. Our podcast feed captures the last 1,000 episodes we've released including all of seasons thirteen and fourteen, and part of season twelve. We have created two archive feeds: Volume 1, which features our first three seasons and Volume 2, which features seasons four-six, and Volume 3 which will feature Seasons Seven through Nine.

Our feed includes old time radio recorded in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and also Australia.

The current actors featured in our old time radio detective podcast include Les Damon, Bob Bailey, Larry Thor, Walter Connolly, and Jack Webb. Other actors featured within the past 1,000 include Alice Frost, Howard Duff, Glenn Langan, Herbert Marshall, Gerald Mohr, Joel McCrea, Les Tremayne, Jackson Beck, Santos Ortega, Ned Wever, Karl Swenson, and more.
  • 1,000 episodes
  • Updated Saturday

Episodes1000

  • Nov 23, 2023 · 38 min

    Mr. Chameleon: The Duel to the Death Murder Case (EP4242)

    Today's Mystery:Two private detectives are found shot by the police in a way that looks like they killed each other in a duel. Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 2, 1949 Originating from New York City Starring: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon...

  • Nov 22, 2023 · 28 min

    Dangerous Assignment: Nursery Rhyme (EP4241)

    Today's Mystery:Steve goes to Stockholm to investigate a leak from a project the U.S. is participating in. He finds the head of the project murdered, and a nursery rhyme is the only clue to his killer. Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 26, 1952...

  • Nov 20, 2023 · 38 min

    Academy Award Theatre: The Maltese Falcon (EP4239)

    Today's Mystery: Sam Spade's search for the murderer in his partner puts him in the midst of intrigue among four dangerous characters, all trying to gain possession of an enameled jeweled falcon. Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 3, 1946...

  • Nov 19, 2023 · 37 min

    Let George Do It: Cause for Thanksgiving (EP4238s)

    Today's Mystery:Riley calls George in to help out a speechless boy who may have witnessed a murder. Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 20, 1950 Originated from HollywoodStarring: Bob Bailey as George Valentine; Virginia Gregg as Brooksie; Wally...

  • Nov 18, 2023 · 40 min

    Dragnet: Eric Kelby (EP4238)

    Todays Mystery:A man reports his wife missing, but investigators suspect murder. Original Radio Broadcast Date: September 3, 1949 Originated from Hollywood Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday; Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Harry...

  • Nov 16, 2023 · 35 min

    Mr. Chameleon: The Orphonage Murder Case (EP4236)

    Today's Mystery:The matron of an orphanage was murdered after writing a letter indicating that someone looked like one of the orphans. Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 26, 1949 Originated in: New York City Starring: Karl Swenson as Mister...

  • Nov 15, 2023 · 30 min

    Dangerous Assignment: The Private Sanitorium (EP4235)

    Today's Mystery:Steve is sent to Bavaria to infiltrate a sanitarium, where an American journalist who is wanted for trumped-up charges behind the Iron Curtain is being held incommunicado. Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 19, 1952 Originated...

  • Nov 13, 2023 · 29 min

    Sam Spade: The Prisoner of Zenda Caper (EP4233)

    Today's Mystery:Sam receives a summons and a $100 retainer from a reclusive silent film star. Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 30, 1948 Originated from HollywoodStarring: Howard Duff as Sam Spade, Lurene Tuttle as Effie, Wally Maher Support the...

  • Nov 12, 2023 · 33 min

    Richard Diamond: Timothy the Seal (Encore) (EP4232e)

    Today's Mystery:Richard Diamond is hired to play bodyguard to a seal. Original Air Date: February 5, 1950 Originated from Hollywood Starring Dick Powell as Richard Diamond Support the show monthly at http://patreon.greatdetectives.net/ Support...

  • Nov 11, 2023 · 39 min

    Dragnet: Myra, the Redhead (EP4232)

    Todays Mystery:Friday and Romero have caught two teenagers breaking into their car. Can they use them to find the mastermind behind hundreds of car burglaries? Original Radio Broadcast Date: September 1, 1949 Originated from Hollywood Starring:...

  • Nov 9, 2023 · 37 min

    Mr. Chameleon: The Curious Murder of Clubfoot Louie (EP4230)

    Today's Mystery:A mob boss's henchman is murdered and the body spirited away before the police can examine it. Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 19, 1949 Originated in: New York CityStarring: Karl Swenson as Mister Chameleon Support the show...

  • Nov 8, 2023 · 32 min

    Dangerous Assignment: Mr. Alexander's File (EP4229)

    Today's Mystery: Steve goes to Turkey to intercept a thief before he sells a sensitive file before to the highest bidder. Original Radio Broadcast Date: November 12, 1952 Originated in Hollywood Starring: Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell; Herb...

  • Nov 6, 2023 · 37 min

    Sam Spade: The Hail and Farewell Caper (EP4227)

    Today's Mystery:A nervous man sets Spade on the case of a man who is about to be executed at San Quentin. Original Radio Broadcast Date: April 27, 1951 Originated from Hollywood Starring: Steven Dunne as Sam Spade; Lurene Tuttle as Effie; Paul...

  • Nov 5, 2023 · 1 hr 10 min

    Sherlock Holmes Guy Fawkes Day Special (EP4226s)

    Today is Guy Fawkes Day and we celebrate with two different Guy-Fawkes-related Sherlock Holmes adventures. First, in The Fifth of November, a man named James Stuart comes to Baker Street pleading for Holmes' help, as he fears his cousin, Guy...

  • Nov 4, 2023 · 39 min

    Dragnet: Police Academy (EP4226)

    Today's Mystery:Friday and Romero hunt for a gang of blitz robbers, while an army buddy of Friday's enters the police academy. Original Radio Broadcast Date: August 25, 1949 Originated from Hollywood Starring: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday;...