Created by Jack Webb (1920-82) Richard L. Breen (1918-67) and William P. Rousseau (1915-72) Johnny Madero, Pier 23 was the second of three short-lived detective radio shows that Jack Webb starred in before he launched the Dragnet on radio in 1949 (see also Jeff Regan, Investigator and Pat Novak For Hire). It's essentially a rip-off, in fact, of the latter, … Continue reading Johnny Madero (Johnny Madero, Pier 23)
Tag: Old Time Radio
Pat Novak (Pat Novak for Hire)
Created by Jack Webb (1920-82) Richard L. Breen (1918-67) and William P. Rousseau (1915-72) "She drifted into the room like 98 pounds of warm smoke. Her voice was hot and sticky—like a furnace full of marshmallows." Pat Novak For Hire was the most successful of three short-lived radio shows that actor actor/writer Jack Webb played a hard-boiled … Continue reading Pat Novak (Pat Novak for Hire)
Mollé Mystery Theatre
Radio Anthology Series (1943-48, NBC) The competition in the forties and fifties between various mystery radio shows was fierce... and confusing. How confusing? All three major networks had crime or detectives shows titled Mystery Theater (or Mystery Theatre). But the first and arguably the best (and the one under discussion here) was NBC's version, the only real … Continue reading Mollé Mystery Theatre
Mystery Playhouse
Radio Anthology Series (1944-46, AFRS) MYSTERY PLAYHOUSE was a radio anthology series of reruns (and possibly a few original) crime dramas. The show aired on the American Forces Network from July 1944 to June 1946, specifically for the purpose of entertaining the troops serving during the war. Because it was mostly repeats, the producers had … Continue reading Mystery Playhouse
Westrel Keen (Mr. Keen)
Created by Robert W. Chambers (1865-1933) Developed for radio by Frank and Anne Hummert Robert W. Chambers was an American author who, over a long career, cranked out over seventy novels in assorted genres, mostly historical and romantic works. But in the beginning he wrote mostly fantasy and horror. In fact, his first successful work was … Continue reading Westrel Keen (Mr. Keen)
Mr. Keen (Comics)
Created by Robert W. Chambers (1865-1933) Re-imagined by Justin Gray Okay, the big, mean-looking black dude over there to the right who calls himself MR. KEEN is definitely not your grandfather's Mr. Keen No, this "Tracer of Lost Persons" made his debut in Moonstone's limited-run comic book series in 2003, while the original Mr. Keen was, … Continue reading Mr. Keen (Comics)
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Christmas Eyes on Old Time Radio Almost as ubitquious as private eyes on old time radio was the ubitquious and seemingly obligatory very special "Christmas" episodes, usually (but not always) a toned down, more family-friendly episode than the usual fare. They usually ended with an upbeat message, very earnest seasonal salutations to listeners and maybe, … Continue reading Do You Hear What I Hear?
Harry Nile
Created by Jim French (1928-2017) Not all radio detectives are available only in re-runs from sometimes dubious old-time radio outlets. Here's one radio detective still very much on the case. HARRY NILE, a fictional private detective in Los Angeles and Seattle during the 1940's and 50's, is the title character of a long-running and much … Continue reading Harry Nile
Barrie Craig
Alternate names: Barry Crane, Barrie Craig Created by -- Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator is one of the few detective radio series that had separate versions of it broadcast from both coasts. Even the spelling changed over the years. It was first "Barry Crane" and then "Barrie Craig." NBC produced it in New York from 1951 … Continue reading Barrie Craig
George Valentine (Let George Do It)
Created by-- For P.I. GEORGE VALENTINE, the main character in the old radio program Let George Do It, it certainly paid to advertise. He got his cases and clients by running an ad in the newspapers: "Personal Notice: Danger is my stock-in-trade. If the job is too tough for you to handle, you've got a … Continue reading George Valentine (Let George Do It)