Down These Mean Streets (old Time Radio Detectives)

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. 

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 June 12, 1947).  Frank Race investigates when a boxer dies in the ring in the syndicated mystery "The Adventure of the Fourth Round Knock-Out," and The Falcon solves "The Case of the Bellicose Boxer" (originally aired on NBC on January 28, 1951). Finally, Detective Danny Clover tries to find out who left a boxer for dead in the river in "The Harry Brian Case" from Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on July 11, 1953).

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, The Magic Detective and the mystery of "The Icy Touch" (originally aired on Mutual on December 5, 1948). Then, mystery writer and amateur sleuth Barton Drake finds murder at a magic show in Mystery is My Hobby. Philo Vance hunts for the killer of a magician in "The Magic Murder Case" and a competition between magicians turns deadly in "The Case of the Magic Rope" on Nick Carter, Master Detective (originally aired on Mutual on March 21, 1948).

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).

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 of Steel (originally aired between February 10 and March 3, 1941).

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 on March 18, 1948). Then, a nightclub photographer is marked for death in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (originally aired on NBC on August 9, 1949). And finally, George Valentine is tricked into a blackmail scheme where the blackmailer ends up dead in "Picture with a Black Frame" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on May 8, 1950).

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 January 15 and February 7, 1941).

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 previous bodyguards met with foul play in "The Laird Douglas-Douglas of Heatherscote Matter" (originally aired on CBS between April 9 and April 13, 1956). Then, Dollar is hired to recover a dognapped pooch in "The Alvin's Alfred Matter" (originally aired on CBS on February 21, 1960).

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 December 13, 1940 and January 13, 1941).

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 are quick on the draw (originally aired on ABC on August 28, 1948). Next, real-life gunplay keeps Sam Spade from enjoying a western dime novel in "The Betrayal in Bumpass Hell," (AFRS rebroadcast from January 16, 1949). Then George Valentine is hired by a big screen cowboy star and winds up in a murder case in "Every Shot Counts" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on October 31, 1949). And finally, Joel McCrea uses old fashioned methods and modern policework in Tales of the Texas Rangers. We'll hear him as Ranger Jayce Pearson in "The Hatchet" (originally aired on NBC on February 11, 1951).

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 December 11, 1940.

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 the first woman tried and executed in the United States (originally aired on CBS on June 15, 1953); the life and death of one of the west's most infamous outlaws in "Billy Bonney, Bloodletter: Also Known as 'The Kid'" (originally aired on CBS on October 21, 1953); and "The Bloody, Bloody Banks of Fall River," where Lizzie Borden took an axe (originally aired on CBS on September 30, 1953). Finally, the dastardly deeds of one of history's greatest rogues are presented in "His Own Reward" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on March 25, 1951).

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 adventure that originally aired between November 11 and November 22, 1940.

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 a construction crew is actually destructive in a syndicated episode starring Richard Kollmar. As Sam Spade, Howard Duff tries to stay awake and solve "The Insomnia Caper" (AFRS rebroadcast of a show from October 24, 1948). And finally, Dana Andrews has to stay up all night to stay alive in "I Can't Sleep" - a syndicated episode of I Was a Communist for the FBI.

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 originally aired between October 7 and November 8, 1940.

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 aired on CBS on October 10, 1948) and "The Bum's Rush" (originally aired on CBS on September 3, 1949). We'll also hear him as a less scrupulous private eye in "Five-Cent Call" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on February 19, 1950).

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 of Dead Man's Island" (originally aired between September 23 and October 4, 1940). Note: No intro this time - I'm playing catch-up but will be back on Friday!

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 Death, or Nick Carter and the Phantom Clue" (originally aired on Mutual on July 5, 1943). Then, Dick Powell stars in "Cabin on the Lake," a rehearsal recording of Rogue's Gallery. And finally, Bob Bailey stars in the five-part mystery "The Crystal Lake Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS between August 13 and August 17, 1956).

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).

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, 1947). Next, private eye Mike Waring investigates a case of embezzlement and ends up married in "The Case of the Unwelcome Wife" from The Falcon (originally aired on CBS on May 27, 1951). Finally, Orson Welles tells the story of how a mandolin string was linked to the murders of a pair of bridegrooms in a syndicated episode of The Black Museum.