Old Time Radio Crime & Detectives

40 Episodes
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By: theaterofthemind-otr.com

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 Music

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The Case of the Dictaphone Murder - Nick Carter | 06/04/1946 (Ep238)
The Case of the Dictaphone Murder - Nick Carter | 06/04/1946 (Ep238) episode artwork
#238
Yesterday at 8:25 PM

Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Big Lay-Out | Dragnet | 01/25/1953 (Ep188)
The Big Lay-Out | Dragnet | 01/25/1953 (Ep188) episode artwork
#188
Last Sunday at 8:05 PM

Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Case of the Clumsy Forgeries - Nick Carter | 06/11/1946 (Ep239)
The Case of the Clumsy Forgeries - Nick Carter | 06/11/1946 (Ep239) episode artwork
#239
Last Saturday at 8:20 PM

Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Model Picture Matter - Johnny Dollar | 11/03/1957 (Ep561)
The Model Picture Matter - Johnny Dollar | 11/03/1957 (Ep561) episode artwork
#561
Last Friday at 9:25 PM

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 ra...


The Ralph Baxter Case - Richard Diamond | 04/26/1950 (Ep051)
The Ralph Baxter Case - Richard Diamond | 04/26/1950 (Ep051) episode artwork
#51
Last Thursday at 9:45 PM

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...


The Heat Wave - Philip Marlowe | 04/16/1949 (Ep29)
The Heat Wave - Philip Marlowe | 04/16/1949 (Ep29) episode artwork
#29
Last Wednesday at 4:50 PM

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler as Philip Marlowe. He was a gritty, no nonsense American, hard-boiled detective; however, he was more complex than other hard-boiled detectives of the era. "Hard-boiled" refers to a gritter urban element to the detective genre. Marlowe could handle a gun and take a beating, but he was also college educated. He played chess and appreciated classical music. He had standards too, and he turned down jobs that didn't measure up to those standards.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Philip...


The Demarco Affair - Rocky Jordan | 10/30/1949 (Ep52)
The Demarco Affair - Rocky Jordan | 10/30/1949 (Ep52) episode artwork
#52
11/03/2026

Rocky Jordan was a radio series about an American restaurateur in Cairo who each week became involved in some kind of mystery or adventure. The show was broadcast between 1948 and 1951. The two lead roles were Rocky Jordan and Captain Sam Sabaaya of the Cairo Police. For most of the show's history Jordan was played by veteran radio actor Jack Moyles, but he was later replaced by a movie star, George Raft, for the brief period in 1951. Jay Novello played Sabaaya throughout the entire series.

Hope you enjoy this episode of Rocky Jordan! Find more classic radio...


The Big Strip - Dragnet | 02/01/1953 (Ep189)
The Big Strip - Dragnet | 02/01/1953 (Ep189) episode artwork
#189
11/02/2026

Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Case of the Make-Believe Robbery | Nick Carter | 06/18/1946 (Ep240)
The Case of the Make-Believe Robbery | Nick Carter | 06/18/1946 (Ep240) episode artwork
#240
11/01/2026

Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Alkali Mike Matter - Johnny Dollar | 11/10/1957 (Ep562)
The Alkali Mike Matter - Johnny Dollar | 11/10/1957 (Ep562) episode artwork
#562
10/31/2026

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 ra...


Messenger Service Patty Clark - Richard Diamond | 04/19/1950 (Ep50)
Messenger Service Patty Clark - Richard Diamond | 04/19/1950 (Ep50) episode artwork
#50
10/30/2026

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...


The Case of the Ditch - 21st Precinct | 11/24/1953 (Ep21)
The Case of the Ditch - 21st Precinct | 11/24/1953 (Ep21) episode artwork
#21
10/29/2026

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 First Letter - Box 13 | 08/22/1948 (Ep01)
The First Letter - Box 13 | 08/22/1948 (Ep01) episode artwork
#1
10/28/2026

Box 13 is a syndicated radio drama about the escapades of newspaperman-turned-mystery novelist Dan Holiday, played by film star Alan Ladd. It ran during 1948 and 1949. The episodes involved Holiday running classified ads to get new ideas for his fiction. "Adventure wanted, will go anywhere, do anything – write Box 13, Star-Times". The episodes followed Holiday's adventures when he responded to the letters sent to him.

Hope you enjoy this episode of Box 13! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Big Press - Dragnet | 02/08/1953 (Ep190)
The Big Press - Dragnet | 02/08/1953 (Ep190) episode artwork
#190
10/27/2026

Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Shy Beneficiary Matter - Johnny Dollar (AFRS) | 11/17/1957 (Ep563)
The Shy Beneficiary Matter - Johnny Dollar (AFRS) | 11/17/1957 (Ep563) episode artwork
#563
10/26/2026

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 ra...


The Case of the Blue Mink - Nick Carter | 09/15/1946 (Ep253)
The Case of the Blue Mink - Nick Carter | 09/15/1946 (Ep253) episode artwork
#253
10/25/2026

Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Name to Remember - Philip Marlowe | 04/09/1949 (Ep28)
The Name to Remember - Philip Marlowe | 04/09/1949 (Ep28) episode artwork
#28
10/24/2026

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler as Philip Marlowe. He was a gritty, no nonsense American, hard-boiled detective; however, he was more complex than other hard-boiled detectives of the era. "Hard-boiled" refers to a gritter urban element to the detective genre. Marlowe could handle a gun and take a beating, but he was also college educated. He played chess and appreciated classical music. He had standards too, and he turned down jobs that didn't measure up to those standards.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Philip...


The Man Who Hated Women - Richard Diamond | 04/12/1950 (Ep049)
The Man Who Hated Women - Richard Diamond | 04/12/1950 (Ep049) episode artwork
#49
10/23/2026

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...


The Big Tooth - Dragnet | 02/15/1953 (Ep191)
The Big Tooth - Dragnet | 02/15/1953 (Ep191) episode artwork
#191
10/22/2026

Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Hope to Die Matter - Johnny Dollar | 11/24/1957 (Ep564)
The Hope to Die Matter - Johnny Dollar | 11/24/1957 (Ep564) episode artwork
#564
10/21/2026

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 ra...


The Death Of Sam Spade Caper - Sam Spade | 11/17/1950 (Ep222)
The Death Of Sam Spade Caper - Sam Spade | 11/17/1950 (Ep222) episode artwork
#222
10/20/2026

The Adventures of Sam Spade (1946-1951) radio series was loosely based on the private detective character Sam Spade, created by writer Dashiell Hammett for The Maltese Falcon. Film star Howard Duff played Sam Spade (also played by Steve Dunne at the end). Lurene Tuttle played Effie, Spade's secretary. Spade's character was the prototypical "hard-boiled" detective - an introspective, sharp witted, tough guy.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Sam Spade! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | A...


The Case of the Red Goose Murder - Nick Carter | 08/25/1946 (Ep250)
The Case of the Red Goose Murder - Nick Carter | 08/25/1946 (Ep250) episode artwork
#250
10/19/2026

Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Friend from Detroit - Philip Marlowe | 03/05/1949 (Ep23)
The Friend from Detroit - Philip Marlowe | 03/05/1949 (Ep23) episode artwork
#23
10/18/2026

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler as Philip Marlowe. He was a gritty, no nonsense American, hard-boiled detective; however, he was more complex than other hard-boiled detectives of the era. "Hard-boiled" refers to a gritter urban element to the detective genre. Marlowe could handle a gun and take a beating, but he was also college educated. He played chess and appreciated classical music. He had standards too, and he turned down jobs that didn't measure up to those standards.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Philip...


The Big Smoke - Dragnet | 02/22/1953 (Ep192)
The Big Smoke - Dragnet | 02/22/1953 (Ep192) episode artwork
#192
10/17/2026

Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


Quest for Traneeneh - Rocky Jordan | 10/16/1949 (Ep50)
Quest for Traneeneh - Rocky Jordan | 10/16/1949 (Ep50) episode artwork
#50
10/16/2026

Rocky Jordan was a radio series about an American restaurateur in Cairo who each week became involved in some kind of mystery or adventure. The show was broadcast between 1948 and 1951. The two lead roles were Rocky Jordan and Captain Sam Sabaaya of the Cairo Police. For most of the show's history Jordan was played by veteran radio actor Jack Moyles, but he was later replaced by a movie star, George Raft, for the brief period in 1951. Jay Novello played Sabaaya throughout the entire series.

Hope you enjoy this episode of Rocky Jordan! Find more classic radio...


William Logan And The Ivory Statue - Richard Diamond | 04/05/1950 (Ep48)
William Logan And The Ivory Statue - Richard Diamond | 04/05/1950 (Ep48) episode artwork
#48
10/15/2026

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...


The Sunny Dream Matter - Johnny Dollar | 12/01/1957 (Ep565)
The Sunny Dream Matter - Johnny Dollar | 12/01/1957 (Ep565) episode artwork
#565
10/14/2026

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 ra...


The Big Want - Dragnet | 03/01/1953 (Ep193)
The Big Want - Dragnet | 03/01/1953 (Ep193) episode artwork
10/13/2026

Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Name to Remember - Philip Marlowe | 04/04/1949
The Name to Remember - Philip Marlowe | 04/04/1949 episode artwork
#28
10/12/2026

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler as Philip Marlowe. He was a gritty, no nonsense American, hard-boiled detective; however, he was more complex than other hard-boiled detectives of the era. "Hard-boiled" refers to a gritter urban element to the detective genre. Marlowe could handle a gun and take a beating, but he was also college educated. He played chess and appreciated classical music. He had standards too, and he turned down jobs that didn't measure up to those standards.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Philip...


Photographer's Card - Richard Diamond | 03/26/1950 (Ep047)
Photographer's Card - Richard Diamond | 03/26/1950 (Ep047) episode artwork
#47
10/11/2026

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...


The Case of the Imitation Robbery - Nick Carter | 12/22/1946 (Ep267)
The Case of the Imitation Robbery - Nick Carter | 12/22/1946 (Ep267) episode artwork
#267
10/10/2026

Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Man with No Name - Rocky Jordan | 10/09/1949 (Ep049)
The Man with No Name - Rocky Jordan | 10/09/1949 (Ep049) episode artwork
#49
10/09/2026

Rocky Jordan was a radio series about an American restaurateur in Cairo who each week became involved in some kind of mystery or adventure. The show was broadcast between 1948 and 1951. The two lead roles were Rocky Jordan and Captain Sam Sabaaya of the Cairo Police. For most of the show's history Jordan was played by veteran radio actor Jack Moyles, but he was later replaced by a movie star, George Raft, for the brief period in 1951. Jay Novello played Sabaaya throughout the entire series.
  Hope you enjoy this episode of Rocky Jordan! Find more classic radio series attheaterofthemind-otr.com...


The Hapless Hunter Matter - Johnny Dollar | 12/08/1957 (Ep566)
The Hapless Hunter Matter - Johnny Dollar | 12/08/1957 (Ep566) episode artwork
#566
10/08/2026

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 ra...


The Last Laugh - Philip Marlowe | 04/02/1949 (Ep27)
The Last Laugh - Philip Marlowe | 04/02/1949 (Ep27) episode artwork
#27
10/07/2026

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler as Philip Marlowe. He was a gritty, no nonsense American, hard-boiled detective; however, he was more complex than other hard-boiled detectives of the era. "Hard-boiled" refers to a gritter urban element to the detective genre. Marlowe could handle a gun and take a beating, but he was also college educated. He played chess and appreciated classical music. He had standards too, and he turned down jobs that didn't measure up to those standards.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Philip...


Private Eye Test- Richard Diamond | 03/19/1950 (Ep046)
Private Eye Test- Richard Diamond | 03/19/1950 (Ep046) episode artwork
#46
10/06/2026

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...


The Big Laugh - Dragnet | 03/08/1953 (Ep194)
The Big Laugh - Dragnet | 03/08/1953 (Ep194) episode artwork
#194
10/05/2026

Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


Case of the Patient - 21st Precinct | 11/03/1953 (Ep18)
Case of the Patient - 21st Precinct | 11/03/1953 (Ep18) episode artwork
#18
10/04/2026

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."E...


The Case of the Gold Headed Cane - Nick Carter | 01/19/1947 (Ep271)
The Case of the Gold Headed Cane - Nick Carter | 01/19/1947 (Ep271) episode artwork
#271
10/03/2026

Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon


The Green Flame - Philip Marlowe | 03/26/1949 (Ep26)
The Green Flame - Philip Marlowe | 03/26/1949 (Ep26) episode artwork
#26
10/02/2026

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler as Philip Marlowe. He was a gritty, no nonsense American, hard-boiled detective; however, he was more complex than other hard-boiled detectives of the era. "Hard-boiled" refers to a gritter urban element to the detective genre. Marlowe could handle a gun and take a beating, but he was also college educated. He played chess and appreciated classical music. He had standards too, and he turned down jobs that didn't measure up to those standards.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Philip...


Joyce Wallace - Richard Diamond | 03/12/1950 (Ep045)
Joyce Wallace - Richard Diamond | 03/12/1950 (Ep045) episode artwork
#45
10/01/2026

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...