Episode 638 - William Tells (Philip Marlowe, Night Beat, Johnny Dollar, & Gunsmoke)
We're saluting the 105th anniversary of the birth of William Conrad - the radio acting legend who brought law and order to Dodge City as Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke and who racked up hundreds of credits on detective shows, thrillers, comedies, and dramas. Conrad stars as Philip Marlowe in "The Anniversary Gift" (originally aired on CBS on April 11, 1950) - subbing in for Gerald Mohr in a terrific mystery in the Chandler spirit. He co-stars with Frank Lovejoy in "The Football Player and the Syndicate" from Night Beat (originally aired on NBC on June 12, 1950) and Edmond O'Brien in "The Woodward, Manila Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on November 25, 1950). Finally, Conrad stars in his signature role in "Matt Gets It" from Gunsmoke (originally aired on CBS on October 2, 1954).
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Episode 637 - Mysteries of Madison High (Casebook of Gregory Hood, Michael Shayne, & Philip Marlowe)
With school back in session, we're visiting the faculty lounge at Madison High with three cast members from Our Miss Brooks in their roles as radio detectives. Gale Gordon sheds the stuffy suit of Principal Osgood Conklin as amateur sleuth Gregory Hood in "Murder in Celluloid" (originally aired on Mutual on July 2, 1946). Jeff Chandler leaves bashful biology teacher Mr. Boynton behind to travel to the Big Easy as Michael Shayne in "The Case of the Model Murder." And Gerald Mohr ditches the accent of French teacher Monsieur LeBlanche as Phillip Marlowe in "The Torch Carriers" (originally aired on CBS on January 7, 1950). Plus, we'll hear all three alongside Eve Arden in an episode of Our Miss Brooks (originally aired on CBS on February 20, 1949).
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Episode 636 - Good Guys Gone Bad (The Whistler & Suspense)
Sometimes it’s good to be bad, or at least it’s good to hear it when radio detective stars switch sides and play some pretty dastardly villains. We’ll hear four of our favorite on-air heroes star as crooks for a change in episodes of radio’s great thriller anthologies. Howard Duff (Sam Spade) plans his wealthy aunt’s murder in “Backlash” (originally aired on CBS on April 21, 1947); Jeff Chandler (Michael Shayne) is a gangster on the run who coerces a doctor into assisting with his getaway in “Confession” (originally aired on CBS on August 21, 1949); and Gerald Mohr (Philip Marlowe) is a murderer who takes up blackmail in “Warm Reception” (originally aired on CBS on November 19, 1950) - all episodes of The Whistler. Then, Dick Powell (Richard Diamond) is a boxer who seeks deadly revenge against a rival in the ring in “Slow Burn” from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on February 23, 1950).
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Encore - Johnny Dollar's Summer Vacation (Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar)
As summer draws to a close with Labor Day weekend, enjoy this encore broadcast featuring Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar in episodes where "the man with the action-packed expense account" tries to take some time off from insurance investigating...and finds mystery waiting for him wherever he goes. We'll hear him in "The Lamarr Matter," a five-part adventure (originally aired on CBS between March 26 and March 30, 1956) and "The Ideal Vacation Matter" (originally aired on CBS on September 22, 1957).
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Episode 635 - City Slicker Sleuths (Philip Marlowe, Richard Diamond, The Saint, & Rocky Fortune)
We leave the mean streets of the big cities behind and join four radio detectives in western-themed mysteries - stories of cowboys, horses, cattle, and the wide open spaces. Philip Marlowe hunts for a killer on a dude ranch in “The Dude from Manhattan” (originally aired on CBS on July 2, 1949), and Richard Diamond heads to Oklahoma to prove an accidental death was a well-staged murder in “The Hatpin Murder Case” (originally aired on NBC on September 27, 1950). The Saint tries to keep a visiting cattleman alive during a visit to the Big Apple in “Death of a Cowboy” (originally aired on NBC on July 1, 1951), and Rocky Fortune gets a job - and a murder rap - in “The Rodeo Murder” (originally aired on NBC on January 12, 1954).
About Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
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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