All American Old Time Radio Show
Classic Collections
Mystery/Detective
These early radio episodes are true American treasures and are must
listening to for anyone who grew up in that era. For those a bit younger, it
is a window into how your parents and grandparents entertained themselves.
Remember, this was the time before most folks had a TV. If you have any interest in nostalgia and
entertainment history, you can not afford to pass up these true American
Treasures.
Quiet, Please!
was an old-time radio fantasy
and horror program created by Wyllis Cooper, also known for creating
Lights Out. Ernest Chappell was the show's announcer and lead actor.
Quiet, Please! was first broadcast by on June 8, 1947 by the Mutual
Broadcasting System. Beginning in September, 1948, it was
syndicated by ABC, and its last episode ran on June 25, 1949. A
total of 106 shows were broadcast, with only a very few of them
repeats. Earning relatively little notice during its initial run,
Quiet, Please! has since been praised as one of the finest efforts
of the golden age of American radio drama. So
join us and so many others to hear “one of the finest efforts of the
golden age of American radio drama.” You have over 40+ hours worth
of great radio.
Let George Do It - ran from 1946 to 1954. The show was produced by Owen and Pauline Vinson
from 1946 to 1954. It starred Bob Bailey as detective-for-hire George
Valentine. Olan Soule stepped into the role in 1954. Clients would come to Valentine's office after reading a newspaper
carrying his classified ad, which read: Personal notice: Danger's my stock in trade. If
the job's too tough for you to handle, you've got a job for me. George
Valentine. So sit back, and for better then 85 hours “Let
George Do It”, with over 175 episodes you can enjoy lots of private eye
drama.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
- was a radio drama about a "fabulous" freelance
insurance investigator "with the action-packed expense account." The show
aired on CBS Radio from January 14, 1949 to September 30, 1962. The format of each story started with a phone call from an insurance
executive, calling on Johnny to investigate an unusual claim. Each story
required Johnny to travel to some distant locale, usually within the United
States but sometimes abroad, where he was almost always threatened with
personal danger in the course of his investigations. Johnny's file on each
case was usually referenced as a "matter," as in "The Silver Blue Matter" or
"The Forbes Matter." Later episodes were more fanciful, with titles like
"The Wayward Trout Matter" and "The Price of Fame Matter" (the latter
featuring a rare guest-star appearance by Vincent Price). So sit back, and let Johnny Dollar, with his with the action-packed expense
account keep you enthralled for the next 125+ hours, with enjoy over
420 episodes of this great radio show.
Suspense was one of the premier drama programs of the Golden
Age of Radio. It was subtitled "radio's outstanding theater of
thrills." It was heard on CBS from June 17, 1942 through September
30, 1962. Approximately 945 episodes were broadcast during its long
run, and more than 900 are in existence in mostly high-quality
recordings. Alfred Hitchcock directed its audition show (for the CBS
series Forecast) his first radio show for the American public. This
was an adaptation of "The Lodger," a story Hitchcock had filmed in
1926 with Ivor Novello. With over 890 episodes
and over 440 hours of entertainment, you will be in “Suspense”
nirvana for a very long time. Enjoy, we did!
The Shadow is a fictional character created by Walter B. Gibson in 1931
with the first story title "The Living Shadow". One of the most famous of
the pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s, it was made even more famous
through a popular radio series originally played by Orson Welles, The
Shadow has also been featured in comic books, comic strips, television,
and at least seven motion pictures. Regardless, The Shadow is best
regarded for its radio years, in which pulp crime fiction received perhaps
its most compelling broadcast interpretation.
Even after decades, the unmistakable introduction from The Shadow, intoned
by announcer Frank Readick, has earned a place in the American lexicon:
"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"
So, if you want to know what evil lurks in the hearts of men, catch the
over 40 hours in over 95 episodes of The Shadow, because he knows!
Calling All Cars
was one of the earliest police shows on the air. It ran from Nov.
29, 1933-Sept. 8, 1939. It’s sponsor was the Rio Grande Oil Company,
which is why the show only ran in areas where Rio Grande "cracked"
gasoline was sold. The sponsor promoted its "close ties" with
police departments in Arizona and Southern California, urging
listeners to buy its product for "police car performance" in their
own cars. As shows of this nature do it dealt with tracking killers
and robbers with a recap of the justice which was enforced.
So sit back with the precursor to Dragnet, and
enjoy over 69 hours, 135+ episodes of crime drama action.
The Green Hornet - He Hunts The Biggest Of All Game,
Public Enemies Who Try To Destroy
Our America, He's The Green Hornet. The Green Hornet utilized his car, the Black Beauty in his crime
fighting. He also used a gun which fired a knockout gas instead of bullets.
Assisting him was his Filipino valet, Kato. There are over 65 episodes
and better then 33 hours of extraordinary crime fighting and mystery
contained on the CD.
The
Saint
-
Vincent Price portrayed the Robin Hood-inspired crime-fighter Simon
Templar, aka. The Saint, in this popular series that ran from 1947 to 1951.
A wonderful detective drama, written by Leslie Charter, a Chinese-English
crime novelist. The scripts were fantastic as were the cast of characters
and the music. There are over 90 episodes
and better then 45 hours of detective drama contained on the CD. Hidden
bonus: Look for breaking news announcements at the start of some
broadcasts.
Dragnet -
Dragnet was a long-running, thirty-minute radio and television police
procedural. It featured actual cases taken from the files of the Los
Angeles Police Department. Jack Webb directed Dragnet and also played
Detective Sergeant Joe Friday, the star of the show.
There are over 295 episode and better than 147 hours
of police drama contained on the CD.
Inner Sanctum Mysteries
- Inner Sanctum Mysteries was a popular old-time radio program that aired
from January 7, 1941 to October 5, 1952. Created by Himan Brown, the
anthology series featured stories of mystery, terror and suspense. The
tongue-in-cheek introductions were in sharp contrast to other shows like Suspense
and The Whistler. A total of 526 episodes are known to have been produced.
Of more than 500 programs broadcast, only about 100 remain in circulation,
sometimes minus dates or titles. So pick a Friday or Saturday night, curl up in
your favorite chair or couch; and, if it's a dark and stormy night, so much
the better. Then open the "squeaky door to Inner Sanctum and enjoy
over 180 episodes and better than 76 hours of spine tingling mystery, and
suspense.
Boston Blackie
- This radio series starring
Chester Morris, began June 23, 1944, on NBC as a summer replacement for The
Amos 'n' Andy Show. Sponsored by Rinso, the series continued until September
15, 1944. Harlow Wilcox was the show's announcer. Boston Blackie was a fictional character who has been on both sides
of the law. As originally created by author Jack Boyle, he was a
safecracker, a hardened criminal who had served time in a California prison.
Prowling the underworld as a detective in adaptations for films, radio and
television, the detective Boston Blackie was "an enemy to those who make him
an enemy, friend to those who have no friend." So grab a seat, your favorite beverage and enjoy
over 190 episodes and 80 plus hours of sleuthing.
Lights Out
- An old-time radio program
featuring "tales of the supernatural and the supernormal." It was immensely
popular, and was one of the first horror programs, predating Suspense and
Inner Sanctum. In its heyday, Lights Out rivaled the popularity of those
shows. It was adapted to television for five successful years in the early
1950s, but radio historian John Dunning reports that the legend of Lights
Out is firmly rooted in radio. So sit back and hold onto your popcorn while enjoying “tales of the
supernatural and the supernormal” and remember “Lights Out Everybody” - “if
you wish to avoid the excitement and tension of these imaginative plays we
urge you calmly but sincerely to turn off your radio NOW”. You have over 68 episodes
and 29 plus hours, so what are you waiting for!
The
Whistler - was one of radio's most popular mystery dramas. Who can
forget: "Let that whistle be your signal for the Signal Oil program, The
Whistler." The writing was first class for its genre, and it added a
slightly macabre element of humor to its often-paranoid crime stories. At
night, glowing car radios illuminated dashboards, and drivers traveled dark
highways while the Whistler began his ominous narration.
So for over 200 hours and better then 410 episodes sit back, turn down the
lights and remember , “I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I walk
by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the hearts of
men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the nameless
terrors of which they dare not speak."
