Crackling Airwaves Old Time Radio

The Falcon was a hard boiled drama that featured an American agent code named “Falcon,” though later episodes depict the Falcon as an insurance investigator. The show aired on the various networks from 1943 to 1953. The show originally starred Barry Kroeger, followed by James Meighan, Les Tremayne, George Petrie, and Les Damon.

The radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS in 1948 with Dick Powell portraying the titular character. The series followed the thrilling adventures of Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator whose cases led him into solving a variety of intriguing crimes. Over the years, several actors took on the role, including Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, John Lund, Gerald Mohr, Bob Bailey, Bob Readick, and, in the show’s final year (1962), Mandell Kramer.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC in 1949. The roll of Richard Diamond, a wise cracking private eye, was played by Dick Powell with his best girl being Helen Asher, played by Virginia Gregg. The show moved to ABC in 1951, then in 1953 it moved to CBS.

Diary of Fate was a mystery/thriller radio show that aired in the late 1940's on the ABC Network. In the show, the character called “Fate,” exposed ne'er-do-wells in a similar fashion as the Whistler or The Mysterious Traveler. They always meet their fate in the end. Herb Lytton played “Fate.”

Forbidden Cargo was a syndicated old-time radio adventure series of the mid-1950s that took listeners into the dangerous world of international smuggling. Each episode presented a different tale involving contraband—ranging from diamonds and narcotics to stolen art, livestock, and even human cargo—as criminals attempted to move their illicit goods across borders while determined authorities closed in.

The Molle Mystery Theater was first broadcast on September 7, 1943 on NBC. It featured mystery plays from writers like Edgar Allen Poe to Raymond Chandler, with shocking twists as its trademark. The cast included Bernard Lendrow, Richard Widmark, Frank Lovejoy, and Anne Seymour.

Diary of Fate was a mystery/thriller radio show that aired in the late 1940's on the ABC Network. In the show, the character called “Fate,” exposed ne'er-do-wells in a similar fashion as the Whistler or The Mysterious Traveler. They always meet their fate in the end. Herb Lytton played “Fate.”

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a show featuring detective Philip Marlowe. Mr. Marlowe was a slightly more complex character than many of the more hard boiled detectives of the time. The show premiered in 1947 on NBC, then the show moved to CBS in 1948. Gerald Mohr played Philip Marlowe while on CBS.

The radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS in 1948 with Dick Powell portraying the titular character. The series followed the thrilling adventures of Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator whose cases led him into solving a variety of intriguing crimes. Over the years, several actors took on the role, including Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, John Lund, Gerald Mohr, Bob Bailey, Bob Readick, and, in the show’s final year (1962), Mandell Kramer.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC in 1949. The roll of Richard Diamond, a wise cracking private eye, was played by Dick Powell with his best girl being Helen Asher, played by Virginia Gregg. The show moved to ABC in 1951, then in 1953 it moved to CBS.

The Man Called X was an espionage radio drama which aired on CBS and NBC from July 10, 1944 to May 20, 1952. Herbert Marshall had played agent Ken Thurston who was called to take on dangerous cases in a variety of exotic locations. The cast included Leon Belasco, Joan Banks, and Peter Leeds.

Philo Vance was the fictitious detective created by S. S. Van Dine, which was first published in the mid 1920s. The Radio show starred Jose Ferrer, in the 1945 run, John Emery in the 1946 run, and the final run from 1948 to 1950 starred Jackson Beck, with Joan Alexander as Vance's secretary. George Petrie played the impressionable District Attorney Markham.

This is Your FBI aired from 1945 to 1953. The show got the endorsement of J. Edgar Hoover and many times featured crimes that were well known at the time, told from the perspective of the agent working the case. The show featured Frank Lovejoy, William, Conrad, Betty White, and Herb Ellis to name a few.

The Crime Club began on Mutual Broadcasting in 1946. The show featured tales of murder and mystery. Many of the episodes were adapted from the publication, “Crime Club,” which was published by Doubleday. The Librarian character was played by Barry Thompson and Raymond E. Johnson. The show ended in 1947, for a total run of 47 episodes.

Philip H. Lord helped create the show, Mr. District Attorney, which aired on NBC and ABC from 1939 to 1952. Mr. District Attorney cracked down on lawlessness like cons, murders, and kidnapping. The leading role was played by Dwight Weist, Raymond Edward Johnson, Jay Jostlyn, and David Brian. Vicki Viola was his secretary Edith Miller.

The radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS in 1948 with Dick Powell portraying the titular character. The series followed the thrilling adventures of Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator whose cases led him into solving a variety of intriguing crimes. Over the years, several actors took on the role, including Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, John Lund, Gerald Mohr, Bob Bailey, Bob Readick, and, in the show’s final year (1962), Mandell Kramer.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC in 1949. The roll of Richard Diamond, a wise cracking private eye, was played by Dick Powell with his best girl being Helen Asher, played by Virginia Gregg. The show moved to ABC in 1951, then in 1953 it moved to CBS.

The Crime Club began on Mutual Broadcasting in 1946. The show featured tales of murder and mystery. Many of the episodes were adapted from the publication, “Crime Club,” which was published by Doubleday. The Librarian character was played by Barry Thompson and Raymond E. Johnson. The show ended in 1947, for a total run of 47 episodes.

Hollywood Mystery Time was a detective melodrama that ran from 1944 to 1945, originally on CBS then on ABC. The main character, Jim Laughton was a Hollywood mystery producer who moonlighted as an amateur sleuth. The cast included Carleton Young, and Gloria Blondell, then Dennis O'Keefe, and Constance Moore.

John Steele, Adventurer was an exciting drama starring Don Douglas. The character of John Steele was a thrill seeker and found adventure while taking on jobs in exotic locations. It first aired on April 29, 1949 on the Mutual Broadcasting Network. Other cast members were John Larkin, Bryna Raeburn, and Jack Edwards.

The Falcon was a hard boiled drama that featured an American agent code named “Falcon,” though later episodes depict the Falcon as an insurance investigator. The show aired on the various networks from 1943 to 1953. The show originally starred Barry Kroeger, followed by James Meighan, Les Tremayne, George Petrie, and Les Damon.

The Crime Club began on Mutual Broadcasting in 1946. The show featured tales of murder and mystery. Many of the episodes were adapted from the publication, “Crime Club,” which was published by Doubleday. The Librarian character was played by Barry Thompson and Raymond E. Johnson. The show ended in 1947, for a total run of 47 episodes.

The Falcon was a hard boiled drama that featured an American agent code named “Falcon,” though later episodes depict the Falcon as an insurance investigator. The show aired on the various networks from 1943 to 1953. The show originally starred Barry Kroeger, followed by James Meighan, Les Tremayne, George Petrie, and Les Damon.

Adventure Ahead was a 1944 radio show that featured, as the title suggests, adventure stories from great fiction writers. The show was intended to appeal to a juvenile audience, primarily boys. The well produced show aired on NBC and featured shows written by Daniel Defoe, Stephen Vincent Benet, Waldo Fleming among others.

This is Your FBI aired from 1945 to 1953. The show got the endorsement of J. Edgar Hoover and many times featured crimes that were well known at the time, told from the perspective of the agent working the case. The show featured Frank Lovejoy, William, Conrad, Betty White, and Herb Ellis to name a few.

The Crime Club began on Mutual Broadcasting in 1946. The show featured tales of murder and mystery. Many of the episodes were adapted from the publication, “Crime Club,” which was published by Doubleday. The Librarian character was played by Barry Thompson and Raymond E. Johnson. The show ended in 1947, for a total run of 47 episodes.

This series began in 1947 as Murder and Mr. Malone on ABC. Mr. Malone “fiction’s most famous criminal lawyer” was originally played by Frank Lovejoy. Mr. Malone solved varied and unique murders every week. The series underwent several name changes to eventually end its run as The Amazing Mr. Malone. Others who played the title role were Gene Raymond, and George Petrie.

The radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS in 1948 with Dick Powell portraying the titular character. The series followed the thrilling adventures of Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator whose cases led him into solving a variety of intriguing crimes. Over the years, several actors took on the role, including Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, John Lund, Gerald Mohr, Bob Bailey, Bob Readick, and, in the show’s final year (1962), Mandell Kramer.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC in 1949. The roll of Richard Diamond, a wise cracking private eye, was played by Dick Powell with his best girl being Helen Asher, played by Virginia Gregg. The show moved to ABC in 1951, then in 1953 it moved to CBS.

The Crime Club began on Mutual Broadcasting in 1946. The show featured tales of murder and mystery. Many of the episodes were adapted from the publication, “Crime Club,” which was published by Doubleday. The Librarian character was played by Barry Thompson and Raymond E. Johnson. The show ended in 1947, for a total run of 47 episodes.

Obsession was based on the premise that one's own obsessions can be dark and could lead one to a terrible end. It was produced by C. P. McGregor for WBBM Chicago. It ran from October 1950 to May 1952. Featured stars included Vincent Price, William Gargan, Miriam Hopkins, and Ruth Warrick, among others. The show certainly wasn't up to the standards of mystery dramas like “Suspense,” but it is well worth a listen.

Being one of the first police dramas on radio, Calling All Cars began in 1933 on CBS and Mutual. It ran until 1939. It was sponsored by Rio Grande Oil Company. Chief James E. Davis of the Los Angeles Police Department hosted the show and Charles Frederick Lindsey, professor of speech education at Occidental College, was the narrator. Most episodes were written by William N. Robson, who also produced the show.

Destination Freedom was created by journalist Richard Durham and originally aired on June 27 1948 on Chicago's WMAQ. The show was unique in that it showcased the African American experience. Durham wrote scripts without compensation with the vision to reverse negative stereotypes African Americans faced.

The Crime Club began on Mutual Broadcasting in 1946. The show featured tales of murder and mystery. Many of the episodes were adapted from the publication, “Crime Club,” which was published by Doubleday. The Librarian character was played by Barry Thompson and Raymond E. Johnson. The show ended in 1947, for a total run of 47 episodes.

John Steele, Adventurer was an exciting drama starring Don Douglas. The character of John Steele was a thrill seeker and found adventure while taking on jobs in exotic locations. It first aired on April 29, 1949 on the Mutual Broadcasting Network. Other cast members were John Larkin, Bryna Raeburn, and Jack Edwards.

The radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS in 1948 with Dick Powell portraying the titular character. The series followed the thrilling adventures of Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator whose cases led him into solving a variety of intriguing crimes. Over the years, several actors took on the role, including Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, John Lund, Gerald Mohr, Bob Bailey, Bob Readick, and, in the show’s final year (1962), Mandell Kramer.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC in 1949. The roll of Richard Diamond, a wise cracking private eye, was played by Dick Powell with his best girl being Helen Asher, played by Virginia Gregg. The show moved to ABC in 1951, then in 1953 it moved to CBS.

Diary of Fate was a mystery/thriller radio show that aired in the late 1940's on the ABC Network. In the show, the character called “Fate,” exposed ne'er-do-wells in a similar fashion as the Whistler or The Mysterious Traveler. They always meet their fate in the end. Herb Lytton played “Fate.”

Philo Vance was the fictitious detective created by S. S. Van Dine, which was first published in the mid 1920s. The Radio show starred Jose Ferrer, in the 1945 run, John Emery in the 1946 run, and the final run from 1948 to 1950 starred Jackson Beck, with Joan Alexander as Vance's secretary. George Petrie played the impressionable District Attorney Markham.

The Falcon was a hard boiled drama that featured an American agent code named “Falcon,” though later episodes depict the Falcon as an insurance investigator. The show aired on the various networks from 1943 to 1953. The show originally starred Barry Kroeger, followed by James Meighan, Les Tremayne, George Petrie, and Les Damon.

The Molle Mystery Theater was first broadcast on September 7, 1943 on NBC. It featured mystery plays from writers like Edgar Allen Poe to Raymond Chandler, with shocking twists as its trademark. The cast included Bernard Lendrow, Richard Widmark, Frank Lovejoy, and Anne Seymour.

Diary of Fate was a mystery/thriller radio show that aired in the late 1940's on the ABC Network. In the show, the character called “Fate,” exposed ne'er-do-wells in a similar fashion as the Whistler or The Mysterious Traveler. They always meet their fate in the end. Herb Lytton played “Fate.”

The Man Called X was an espionage radio drama which aired on CBS and NBC from July 10, 1944 to May 20, 1952. Herbert Marshall had played agent Ken Thurston who was called to take on dangerous cases in a variety of exotic locations. The cast included Leon Belasco, Joan Banks, and Peter Leeds.

The radio drama Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS in 1948 with Dick Powell portraying the titular character. The series followed the thrilling adventures of Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator whose cases led him into solving a variety of intriguing crimes. Over the years, several actors took on the role, including Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, John Lund, Gerald Mohr, Bob Bailey, Bob Readick, and, in the show’s final year (1962), Mandell Kramer.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC in 1949. The roll of Richard Diamond, a wise cracking private eye, was played by Dick Powell with his best girl being Helen Asher, played by Virginia Gregg. The show moved to ABC in 1951, then in 1953 it moved to CBS.

The Crime Club began on Mutual Broadcasting in 1946. The show featured tales of murder and mystery. Many of the episodes were adapted from the publication, “Crime Club,” which was published by Doubleday. The Librarian character was played by Barry Thompson and Raymond E. Johnson. The show ended in 1947, for a total run of 47 episodes.

Words at War was a 30 minute dramatic anthology series dealing with stories condensed from books written about World War II. The series started in the middle of the war and at the most crucial time of the war for the allies, somewhat heightening its debut. Not only that, it was supported by Johnson's Wax in the Fibber McGee and Molly time slot as Jim and Marian Jordan went on vacation.

The character, Jack Casey, AKA “Casey, Crime Photographer,” was created by George Harmon Coxe. The radio show aired from 1943 to 1955 with various incarnations on CBS. In Casey's capacity as a crime photographer, a crime scene snapshot often led Casey to play the amateur detective. The show starred Matt Crowley, Staats Cosworth, and John Gibson, among others.

Night Beat starred Frank Lovejoy as reporter Randy Stone who, in his need to get a story, met people who usually had some problem. Randy Stone got his story, which sometimes helped his new acquaintance and sometimes not. The show aired on NBS from 1950 to 1952. Supporting cast included: Parley Baer, William Conrad, Joan Banks, and Paul Frees, among others.

The Molle Mystery Theater was first broadcast on September 7, 1943 on NBC. It featured mystery plays from writers like Edgar Allen Poe to Raymond Chandler, with shocking twists as its trademark. The cast included Bernard Lendrow, Richard Widmark, Frank Lovejoy, and Anne Seymour.