Old Time Radio Crime & Detectives cover art

Old Time Radio Crime & Detectives

Old Time Radio Crime & Detectives

By: theaterofthemind-otr.com
Listen for free

About this listen

 Delivered daily. Old Time Radio crime and detectives - sleuths from the golden age of radio. This podcast features a variety of OTR crime, mystery and detective programs delivered every day. Just a few of the programs featured include Dragnet, Philip Marlowe, Candy Matson, Pat Novak, Falcon, Box 13, Nick Carter, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Rocky Fortune, Pat Novak, Richard Diamond, Barrie Craig, Police Headquarters; and many more. Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Listen, download free - Spreaker | Apple Podcasts | YouTube MusicCC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Art Drama & Plays Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • The Wayward Killer Matter - Johnny Dollar | 07/27/1958 (Ep599)

    The Wayward Killer Matter - Johnny Dollar | 07/27/1958 (Ep599)
    Mar 27 2026
    Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was a radio drama which aired between 1949 and 1962. "The man with the action-packed expense account, America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, Johnny Dollar". Of the eight different actors who played Johnny Dollar, Bob Bailey is likely considered the most popular. Bailey's interpretation presented a tough, streetwise character, but also sensitive and thoughtful. During it's time, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar attracted some of the best writers in Hollywood, including Jack Johnstone, E. Jack Neuman, Robert Ryf, and Les Crutchfield.

    Hope you enjoy this episode of Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • The Jean Cooper Murder Case - Richard Diamond | 08/20/1949 (Ep018)

    The Jean Cooper Murder Case - Richard Diamond | 08/20/1949 (Ep018)
    Mar 25 2026
    Richard Diamond, Private Detective was an American detective drama, created by Blake Edwards, which aired on radio from 1949 to 1953. Dick Powell starred as Richard Diamond in the radio series as a wisecracking former police officer turned private detective. Episodes often had Diamond taking on a case at the behest of his friend and former partner, Lt. Walter Levinson. The plot remained relatively unchanged throughout the series, with the hard-boiled Diamond enduring physical confrontations while tackling a challenging murder investigation, aided by the police department. Notably, despite the numerous gun battles, Diamond was never injured by gunfire. Most episodes end with Diamond at the piano, singing a popular song to his girlfriend, Helen Asher. This radio program was later adapted successfully to television.

    Hope you enjoy the episode of Richard Diamond! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | iHeart | Amazon | Spotify
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • The Homecoming - 21st Precinct | 09/22/1953 (Ep12)

    The Homecoming - 21st Precinct | 09/22/1953 (Ep12)
    Mar 24 2026
    The old-time radio series 21st Precinct was a dramatic police procedural that aired on CBS from 1953 to 1956. It was a gritty, realistic police drama, often compared to the style of Dragnet. The show was known for its authentic, documentary-style approach to everyday police work, focusing heavily on procedure and the human element of policing.
    • The series was set in the fictional 21st Precinct in New York City, described in the opening narration as "just lines on a map of the city of New York," a nine-tenths of a square mile area "between Fifth Avenue and the East River."
    • Each episode typically began with a crime or incident reported by a phone call to the precinct desk. The story then followed the officers—from the initial response to the final report—detailing the investigation, which often involved not just the main crime but also the routine, personal, and professional problems of the officers.
    • The primary character and narrator was the commanding officer, Captain Frank Kennelly, who served as the listener's guide through the day-to-day operations and challenges of the precinct. Everett Sloane played Captain Kennelly for the majority of the series.
    • The show was produced with the official cooperation of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York, and its stories were presented as adaptations of true criminal records, giving it an added layer of realism. The production used no theme or transitional music, instead relying on sound effects (typewriters, telephones, footsteps) to create an authentic atmosphere of the bustling police station.
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
No reviews yet