Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

By Mean Streets Podcasts

Arts TV & Film Performing Arts

What's Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives) about?

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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Episode 553 - Music and May...

09.24.2023

It's a concert of crime in this week's episode, as two radio detectives tackle cases in the music world. First, Simon Templar investigates when a pianist is shot and killed at the keys. Vincent Price stars in "A Sonata for ...

Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives) episodes:

09.24.2023 Episode 553 - Music and Mayhem (The Saint & Johnny Dollar) It's a concert of crime in this week's episode, as two radio detectives tackle cases in the music world. First, Simon Templar investigates when a pianist is shot and killed at the keys. Vincent Price stars in "A Sonata for ...
09.17.2023 Episode 552 - Belgian, No Waffling (Hercule Poirot) Hercule Poirot - Agatha Christie's brilliant Belgian sleuth - is back on the big screen in A Haunting in Venice. To celebrate his return, we'll hear three old time radio adventures of Poirot starring Harold Huber as the detective. We'll ...
09.10.2023 Episode 551 - Ladd and Lasses (Box 13, Screen Guild Theatre, & Hollywood Star Time) Actor Alan Ladd was born 110 years ago this month, and we're celebrating his life and career with four of his old time radio appearances. He plays mystery writer and amateur gumshoe Dan Holiday in "Diamond in the Sky" and ...
09.03.2023 Episode 550 - First Day of School (The Whistler, Philip Marlowe, I Was a Communist for the FBI, & Dragnet) It's time to sharpen those pencils and hit the books with four radio mysteries set in and around the classroom. First, a chemistry professor tries a blackmail experiment in "Hasty Conclusion" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on May ...
09.01.2023 BONUS - Five Favorites: Box 13 In this bonus show, I'm opening the mail and picking out my five favorite episodes of Box 13. Alan Ladd stars as mystery writer and amateur detective Dan Holiday who finds his clients - and his story ideas - through ...
08.27.2023 Episode 549 - Under the Sea (The Whistler, Man Called X, & This is Your FBI) Crime takes a dive in this week's episode of old time radio mysteries involving submarines, salvage divers, and the mysterious ocean floor. First, a love triangle leads to death at sea in "Dark Voyage" from The Whistler (originally aired on ...
08.23.2023 Episode 548 - Up in the Air (Frank Race, Philip Marlowe, & Silent Men) Danger flies high today with three old time radio mysteres involving airplanes. First, Frank Race is hired to deliver the plans for a million-dollar aircraft in the syndicated story "The Airborne Adventure." Next, Philip Marlowe's latest case leads to a ...
08.21.2023 Episode 547 - Fine Arts and Felonies (Sherlock Holmes, Rocky Jordan, Johnny Dollar & Mr. and Mrs. North) The world of art and artists provides the backdrop for our four old time radio mysteries. First, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson hunt for a stolen painting in "The Girl with the Gazelle" from ...
08.11.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: The Nitrate Shipment It's an explosive adventure for the Man of Steel as he tries to thwart a plot by foreign spies. This adventure originally aired between April 21 and May 9, 1941.
08.09.2023 Episode 546 - In this Corner (Crime Club, Frank Race, The Falcon, & Broadway is My Beat) That's the bell, and we're underway with four old time radio mysteries set in and around the world of boxing. First, a fight fixer winds up dead in "Death is a Knock-out" from Crime Club (originally aired on Mutual on ...
08.06.2023 Episode 545 - Now You See Them (Blackstone, Mystery is My Hobby, Philo Vance, & Nick Carter) Magicians may be able to fool an audience, but they can't fool these old time radio detectives. We'll hear four mysteries involving illusions, prestidigitation, and sleight of hand along with murder. First, a real-life magician is the inspiration for Blackstone, ...
08.04.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: Last of the Clipper Ships Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen set sail on the final voyage of the "Last of the Clipper Ships" and Superman finds adventure at sea in this serialized adventure that originally aired between March 5 and April 18, 1941).
07.29.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: The Dragon’s Teeth Superman and the rest of the Daily Planet gang are on the hunt for a set of jade dragon's teeth - a set that when combined could hold the secrets to immortality in this ten-part radio adventure of the Man ...
07.23.2023 Episode 544 - Worth a Thousand Words (Casey, Crime Photographer, Richard Diamond, & Let George Do It) Say cheese! Our heroes in this week's episode are solving mysteries involving photographers and the photos they've taken. First, Casey, Crime Photographer hunts for picture-perfect proof of a killer's identity in "Murder in Black and White" (originally aired on CBS ...
07.23.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: Black Pearl of Osiris Is an Egyptian god out for revenge against the adventurer who violated his tomb? Superman faces off against a cult and tries to find the Black Pearl of Osiris in all eleven chapters of this radio serial (originally aired between ...
07.16.2023 Episode 543 - Dog Days of Summer (Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar) The show has gone to the dogs! Bob Bailey stars as Johnny Dollar - "the man with the action-packed expense account" - solve a pair of crimes involving man's best friend. First, he has to guard a show dog whose ...
07.14.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: The Howling Coyote What mysterious force is causing accidents in an oil field? An old friend of Perry White's needs help and the editor sends Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen to investigate in the fourteen-part adventure of "The Howling Coyote" (originally aired between ...
07.09.2023 Episode 542 - Urban Cowboys (Gang Busters, Sam Spade, Let George Do It, & Tales of the Texas Rangers) Our heroes this week encounter elements of the old west in the strangest places. First up is "The Case of the Cowboy Killers" - a true crime tale from Gang Busters that pits police against a gang of robbers who ...
07.09.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: Five Million Dollar Gold Heist In this bonus show, Superman flies into action when a train carrying millions in gold vanishes from the tracks. We'll hear all eight exciting installments of "The Five Million Dollar Gold Heist" as they originally aired between November 25 and ...
07.04.2023 Episode 541 - American History Mysteries (Crime Classics & The Whistler) Happy Fourth of July! We're celebrating America's birthday with some tales of murder and mystery pulled from the history books and dramatized on the outstanding anthology series Crime Classics. We'll hear "The Crime of Bathsheba Spooner" - the story of ...
07.03.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: The Invisible Man How can Superman fight a foe he can't see? In this week's bonus episode, the Man of Steel battles an invisible man who stands in his way of unseating a corrupt district attorney. We'll hear all six chapters of this ...
06.25.2023 Episode 540 - Goodnight, Gumshoes (Boston Blackie, Sam Spade, & I Was a Communist for the FBI) Instead of counting sheep, the sleuths in this week's show are spending long nights counting clues. We'll hear drowsy detective work from our heroes who just want to go to bed. First, Boston Blackie discovers the late night work of ...
06.23.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: The Yellow Mask and the Five Million Dollar Jewel Robbery It's an epic rematch between good and evil as the criminal mastermind known as the Yellow Mask returns to battle the Man of Steel! One of the first villains Superman fought on radio is back in a fifteen-part serial that ...
06.19.2023 Episode 539 - Mohr Bang for the Buck (Philip Marlowe & The Whistler) Born June 11, 1914, Gerald Mohr possessed one of radio's best voices, and it produced one of the greatest performances - in any medium - of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. We'll hear Mohr as Marlowe in "The Panama Hat" (originally ...
06.19.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: Curse of Dead Man’s Island A message for help carved on a turtle's shell leads Jimmy Olsen and Clark Kent (and also Superman) into a dangerous adventure in this week's bonus episode starring the Man of Steel. We'll hear all six chapters of "The Curse ...
06.11.2023 Episode 538 - Cabin Fever (Nick Carter, Rogue’s Gallery, & Johnny Dollar) Our heroes find crime in scenic settings in these three mysteries. Cabins, lodges, and resorts - all spots designed for rest and relaxation - are all hotspots for homicide. First, Lon Clark stars as Nick Carter in "The Echo of ...
06.10.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: Professor Thorpe's Bathysphere In this week's bonus show, Superman embarks on a new adventure on (and beneath) the seas! We'll hear all twelve chapters of "Professor Thorpe's Bathysphere" (originally aired between August 26 and September 20, 1940).
06.04.2023 Episode 537 - Love, Marriage, and Murder (The Whistler, The Falcon, & Black Museum) Wedding bells are ringing and police sirens are wailing in these three old time radio mysteries. Matrimony is neither holy nor happy in these shows, beginning with "Maid of Honor" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on April 14, ...
06.02.2023 BONUS - Superman Summer: Pillar of Fire at Grave's End & The Mayan Treasure Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the start of another Superman summer! Our new season of bonus episodes starring the Man of Steel kicks off with a pair of serialized adventures. First, Clark Kent ...
05.29.2023 BONUS - Five Favorites: Pat Novak For Hire In this month's bonus episode, we're headed to the San Francisco waterfront for my five favorite episodes of Pat Novak For Hire. Jack Webb stars as Novak - who makes ends meet by renting boats and taking odd investigative assignments, ...
05.28.2023 Episode 536 - Doctors in the House (Broadway is My Beat, Johnny Dollar, & Dragnet) Doctor, doctor - give me the news. We've got three old time radio mysteries involving physicians - some good, some bad, but all in the middle of crimes that our heroes must solve. First, a doctor drops dead in Danny ...
05.21.2023 Episode 535 - Price Club (Thirteenth Juror, Philip Morris Playhouse, & The Saint) In honor of Vincent Price's birthday on May 27th, we've got the screen legend in three old time radio mysteries. First, he narrates what might have happened to John Wilkes Booth if the assassin escaped death at the hands of ...
05.16.2023 Episode 534 - The Mail Must Go Through (Sherlock Holmes, Box 13, Richard Diamond, & Let George Do It) When our radio sleuths check the mailbox this week, they're getting a special delivery of danger! Missing messages, anonymous letters, and mysterious correspondence drive the cases in this week's showcase of old time radio detective dramas. First, Tom Conway is ...
05.14.2023 Episode 533 - Working on the Railroad (Boston Blackie, Pursuit, & Rocky Fortune) Climb aboard for three old time radio mysteries set on the train tracks. First, Boston Blackie investigates why a gold train was derailed with nothing stolen. Richard Kollmar stars in the syndicated episode known as "The Derailed Gold Train." Then, ...
04.30.2023 Episode 532 - Lines by Louis (The Saint, Man from Homicide, & Barrie Craig) Louis Vittes wrote episodes of The Wild Wild West and The Invaders, and he penned the classic sci-fi horror picture I Married a Monster from Outer Space. But before that, he wrote adventures of radio sleuths like Simon Templar, Barrie ...
04.29.2023 BONUS - Five Favorites: Richard Diamond In this month's bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite adventures of radio's singing sleuth - Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Dick Powell stars as the gumshoe who's quick with his fists and usually winds up the week's caper by crooning ...
04.25.2023 Episode 531 - Silly Sleuthing (Mollé Mystery Theatre, Johnny Fletcher Mystery, & The Thin Man) This week's old time radio mysteries blend comedy with crimesolving. First, Jonathan Latimer's William Crane jumps from the page to the radio in an adaptation of his novel "Lady in the Morgue" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (AFRS rebroadcast from ...
04.16.2023 Episode 530 - Call the Cops (Under Arrest, Man from Homicide, & CBS Radio Workshop) Ride along with some old time radio police detectives and their real-life counterparts in these mysteries. First, Joe DeSantis is Captain Jim Scott, searching for a missing convict and finding a murder in Under Arrest (originally aired on Mutual on ...
04.09.2023 Episode 529 - Pro vs. Cons (Easy Money) Scammers and swindlers beware! Magician-turned-detective Mike Trent is on the job to thwart your plans to get some Easy Money. Larry Haines stars as Trent, a sleuth who focuses on the frauds and con artists who steal the money of ...
04.08.2023 BONUS - Easter Basket (Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show & Our Miss Brooks) No chocolate eggs or bunnies - just a pair of old time radio Easter comedies in this holiday bonus episode. First, Phil's seeing a life-size Easter bunny on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. Then, a new egg dye leads to ...
04.02.2023 Episode 528 - You Don’t Know Jack (Jeff Regan, The Whistler, & Dragnet) We're celebrating Jack Webb's birthday with three of his old time radio performances. First, he's Jeff Regan, Investigator in "Cain, Abel, and the Santa Maria" (originally aired on CBS on September 11, 1948). Next, he co-stars with Joan Banks in ...
03.31.2023 BONUS - Five Favorites: Nero Wolfe In this month's bonus episode, I'm serving up my five favorite episodes of The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe - the single season series starring Oscar-nominee Sydney Greenstreet as Rex Stout's gargantuan gourmet, orchid fancier, and brilliant private detective. First, ...
03.26.2023 Episode 527 - Shiver Me Timbers (Man Called X, Frank Race, & Pursuit) 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 ...
03.19.2023 Episode 526 - Master Class (Mollé Mystery Theatre & Campbell Playhouse) 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 ...
03.12.2023 Episode 525 - Gold Statue Gumshoes (Rex Saunders, Johnny Dollar, Defense Attorney, & Rocky Fortune) 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 ...
03.05.2023 Episode 524 - Everybody Loves a Clown (Casebook of Gregory Hood, Sherlock Holmes, & Lives of Harry Lime) 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, ...
02.26.2023 Episode 523 - As Seen on TV (Dragnet) 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 ...
02.24.2023 BONUS - Five Favorites: The Fat Man 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 ...
02.19.2023 Episode 522 - Fistful of Dollars (Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar) "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator" is on the case - three of them - in this week's episode. We're celebrating the anniversary of the radio debut of Johnny Dollar with a trio of old time radio mysteries starring "the man ...
02.12.2023 Episode 521 - Till Death Do Them Part (Mollé Mystery Theatre, Murder By Experts, & The Abbotts) With Valetine's Day right around the corner, we're celebrating with three crimesolving couples from the golden age of radio. First, in "A Crime to Fit the Punishment" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre, an amateur sleuth and his girlfriend investigate a ...

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