Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

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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.

Episode 575 - In a New York Minute (Richard Diamond, Broadway is My Beat, Johnny Dollar, & 21st Precinct)
We're riding the subway and walking the Great White Way with four radio gumshoes in New York. First, there's a dead body in Richard Diamond's office in "The Fred Sears Murder Case" (originally aired on NBC on June 5, 1949). A man is killed in Times...
BONUS - Funny Bunnies (Jack Benny, My Favorite Husband, & Phil Harris-Alice Faye)
It's an Easter basket of radio comedies for you to enjoy! Jack Benny and his gang take a stroll in the Easter Parade (originally aired on CBS on April 17, 1949); Lucille Ball hunts for the perfect Easter dress in My Favorite Husband (originally...
Episode 574 - March Madness (Big Town, Suspense, & Easy Money)
Break out your bracket for three basketball mysteries from the golden age of radio. First, newspaper editor Steve Wilson ties an assault to a gambling racket in "The Fatal Fix" from Big Town (originally aired on NBC on January 25, 1949). Next,...
Episode 573 - 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...
Episode 572 - 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...
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,...
Episode 571 - 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)....
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...
Episode 570 - 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...
Episode 569 - Where the Money Is (This is Your FBI, The Whistler, & Dragnet)
We're making some large withdrawals at the bank this week with three old time radio tales of bank robbers and the cops who try to catch them. First, the G-Men are at work in "Quartet for Crime" from This is Your FBI (originally aired on ABC on...
BONUS - Love is On the Air
Happy Valentine's Day! No matter how - or if - you're celebrating this February 14th, hopefully you'll enjoy this quartet of Valentine's comedies from the golden age of radio. We'll hear Fibber McGee and Molly (originally aired on NBC on February...
BONUS - Five Favorites: Night Beat
In this bonus episode, we're walking the Night Beat with reporter Randy Stone in my five favorite episodes of this fantastic radio drama series. Frank Lovejoy stars as Stone, always looking for stories for his newspaper column and always ready to...
Episode 568 - My Felonious Valentine (Philip Morris Playhouse, Tales of the Texas Rangers, & Crime Classics)
Love is in the air, but in these old time radio mysteries romance leads to violence. First, Marlene Dietrich's boyfriend takes the rap for a murder she committed in "The Lady from the Sea" from The Philip Morris Playhouse (originally aired on CBS...
Episode 567 - Mouse House of Mystery (The Whistler, Sam Spade, & Philip Marlowe)
Old time radio fans will recognize some of their favorite performers' voices popping up in classic Disney films, and today we'll hear three of those stars in radio mysteries. Before she was Cruella de Vil in One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Betty...
BONUS - Five Favorites: Casey, Crime Photographer
Extra, extra! It's an above the fold bonus podcast where I share my favorite episodes of Casey, Crime Photographer. Casey chases crooks and a great picture for the front page of his paper in these five radio mysteries. First, it's a case of...
Episode 566 - Under the Big Top (Crime Club, Let George Do It, Bulldog Drummond, & Harry Lime)
Children (and mystery fans) of all ages - join us this week for a quartet of old time radio capers set at the circus. First, a lion tamer is caught in a lethal love triangle in "Serenade Macabre" from Crime Club (originally aired on Mutual on...
Episode 565 - Mediums Rare (Jeff Regan, Richard Diamond, & Mr. Aladdin)
These spiritulaists can't really communicate with the world beyond our own, but they do manage to inspire a trio of old time radio mysteries where our detective heroes must contend with some mediums who aren't well done. First, Jeff Regan is hired to...
Episode 564 - Driven to Crime (Boston Blackie, The Line-Up, & Dragnet)
To kick off 2024, we're hitting the road with three old time radio mysteries centered on cars. First, Boston Blackie investigates a ring of car thieves after his girlfriend's wheels are swiped in a syndicated mystery starring Richard Kollmar....
Episode 563 - Here We Come A-Whistling (The Whistler)
It's Christmas with The Whistler as Down These Mean Streets signs off for 2023! Radio's celebrated sinister storyteller - played by Bill Forman - narrates a quartet of mysteries set against a holiday backdrop. We'll hear "Christmas Bonus"...
BONUS - Gumshoes of Christmas Past
We need a little Christmas - and some Christmas mysteries! To celebrate the season, I'm sharing more of my favorite holiday adventures of old time radio detectives. Dr. Watson dresses as Santa and Sherlock Holmes thwarts a robbery in "The Night Before...

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