The Marlowe Files

Originally Aired: May 2, 1950
In Philo Vance #95, "Rooftop Murder Case," what begins as a simple larceny investigation transforms into a murder case when the accused, Joe Somer, is found dead on the street below his rooftop. District Attorney Markham and Philo Vance had been on their way to question Somer about charges of grand larceny brought by his business partner, Alfred Dale, when they arrive to find police already on the scene. An apparent suicide note seems to close the case before it begins, but Vance suspects something more sinister is at play. When Vance carefully examines the rooftop where...

Originally Aired: April 25, 1950
Philo Vance #94, "Shower Bath Murder Case," opens with a mysterious phone call that sets the stage for murder. Sylvia receives a call from George, who wants to speak with her husband Jim. She puts him off, explaining that Jim is shaving and about to take a shower. George pushes to come over to the house, revealing tension between him and Sylvia, who seems resistant to his attention. George mentions that Jim actually invited him over, but their conversation is suddenly interrupted by urgent pounding at the door.
A police officer demands entry, explaining that a...

Originally Aired: April 18, 1950
Philo Vance #93, "Golden Key Murder Case," Philo Vance returns from a three-day trip to find his secretary Ellen waiting with an unusual delivery: a mysterious golden key that arrived in the mail with no accompanying letter or explanation. Their lighthearted banter about his absence quickly turns dark when Vance enters his private office and makes a chilling discovery—a dead man is sitting at his desk, clutching another golden key in his hand.
What begins as a peculiar puzzle transforms into a murder investigation as Vance must determine the identity of the victim and the si...

Originally Aired: April 11, 1950
Philo Vance #92, "Nylon Murder Case," District Attorney Markham calls upon Philo Vance to investigate a series of high-society robberies plaguing prominent citizens. A well-organized gang of female thieves has been infiltrating parties and stealing furs, jewelry, and cash from the wealthy elite. The tension within the gang runs deep as Doris and another member clash repeatedly, with leader Grace struggling to maintain control. The situation escalates when Grace reveals she's brought in Sally Jo Russell, a woman wanted by police for murder, to help with their biggest job yet.
Meanwhile, Doris successfully executes a solo...

Originally Aired: April 4, 1950
Philo Vance #91, "Mimic Murder Case," begins with a nightclub impressionist named Danny demonstrating his remarkable talent to the mysterious Mr. Payne. Danny boasts he can mimic anyone, and after hearing a recording of Philo Vance's radio speech about crime and criminals, he confidently assures Payne that he could impersonate the detective so perfectly "even his mother wouldn't know it wasn't him talking." Payne offers Danny a thousand dollars for the job, with one condition: he must keep quiet about it for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, District Attorney Markham visits Vance to discuss his upcoming...

Originally Aired: March 28, 1950
Philo Vance #90, "Ivory Murder Case," a fortune in African ivory leads to murder and deadly secrets. When Joe Hillary returns from an expedition claiming his partner Tom Duncan disappeared in the jungle, Duncan's widow doesn't believe the story, especially since Hillary brought back a fortune in ivory she believes rightfully belongs to her. Her suspicions deepen when Tondo, a native who worked for both men, arrives in America insisting that Hillary murdered Duncan and demanding the ivory be returned to his people. As Philo Vance and District Attorney Markham investigate, tensions escalate and danger mounts.
...

Originally Aired: March 21, 1950
Philo Vance #89, "Jackpot Murder Case," District Attorney Markham brings Philo Vance along to a midnight meeting with an informer named Weeping Willie, who claims to know who killed racketeer Al Laporte. When they arrive at Willie's remote shack in the pouring rain, they discover Willie's body with a knife in his back. Someone got to the informer before he could reveal what he knew. Meanwhile, a criminal named Dave celebrates eliminating both his competition and any witnesses. He's rigged slot machines for a new illegal operation and violently punishes Sam, his educated assistant, when a machine...

Originally Aired: March 14, 1950
Philo Vance #88, "Mathematical Murder Case," opens with a tense dance rehearsal between partners Eddie and Betty Lou. The atmosphere crackles with frustration as Eddie, a demanding and arrogant dancer, berates Betty Lou for missing steps in their routine. What begins as professional criticism quickly escalates into something far more sinister when Eddie threatens to quit their partnership and walks out for a sandwich. Betty Lou's response reveals a darker undercurrent to their relationship—she warns Eddie in menacing terms not to walk out on her, threatening that his "next dance" will be "at the end of a...

Originally Aired: March 7, 1950
Philo Vance #87, "Church Murder Case," a wealthy businessman named Mr. Church invites his assistant Paul to his isolated home late one evening, ostensibly to sign some important papers. What begins as a routine business matter quickly turns unsettling when Church subjects the young man to cruel practical jokes, including an exploding cigar and a hand buzzer. Church seems to take perverse pleasure in Paul's discomfort, laughing at his reactions and claiming these old gags still work wonderfully.
The evening takes an even darker turn when Church confronts Paul about discrepancies in the company books. He...

Originally Aired: February 28, 1950
Philo Vance #86, "The Big Nick Murder Case partial,"
District Attorney Markham recaps the case: Big Nick Bramley has been found shot to death, but not by police as initially believed. His gang member, Ears Snyder, is also dead. The suspects include Nick's widow Mrs. Bramley, his girlfriend Mitzi Courtney, and his brother Tommy. Tommy has inherited everything from his brother and has taken up with Mitzi, but their romantic reunion turns tense when Mitzi accuses Tommy of having Ears kill Nick for him. She reveals that Nick's widow has been relentlessly hounding her with accusations...

Originally Aired: February 21, 1950
Philo Vance #85, "The Psychic Murder Case partial," District Attorney Markham finds himself convinced by a mysterious young woman named Ruth who claims to possess psychic powers. After Ruth provides information that leads Sergeant Heath to shoot and kill Duke Peters, a suspect in a series of truck robbery murders, Markham is certain of her abilities. However, Philo Vance remains skeptical, suspecting Ruth had an accomplice at a demonstration party and that the hijacking gang hasn't been fully broken up. When Markham tries to thank Ruth at her supposed apartment, he discovers she doesn't exist there and...

Originally Aired: February 14, 1950
Philo Vance #84, "Scarface Murder Case," begins with an intriguing evening at an upscale restaurant where detective Philo Vance becomes captivated by a beautiful blonde woman dining with a mysterious scarred man. While sharing dinner with District Attorney Markham, Vance insists the woman has been trying to attract his attention. Despite Markham's skepticism about Vance's claims of receiving signals from the lady, both men observe the couple for over an hour. When the pair rises to leave, Vance convinces Markham they must follow, convinced the woman wants them to pursue her.
Racing to catch up with...

Originally Aired: February 7, 1950
In Philo Vance #83, "Chicken Murder Case," a deadly gangland feud threatens to explode into open warfare when Tommy learns that Frank Stacy is plotting to kill him. Tommy's nervous associate, known as "Chick" for his high-pitched voice, brings the urgent warning that Frankie won't stop until Tommy is eliminated. Rather than seeking peace or preparing for battle, Tommy devises a cunning and cold-blooded scheme to gain control over his rival once and for all.
Tommy's plan is diabolical in its simplicity: he will manipulate Frank Stacy into committing a murder in front of witnesses, then...

Originally Aired: January 31, 1950
Philo Vance #82, "Sterling Murder Case,"
District Attorney Markham finds himself dealing with the eccentric Wakefield sisters, Irma and Sarah, two spinsters who routinely confess to murders they believe they've committed through the power of mental concentration. After claiming responsibility for gangster Eddie Rogers' death, the sisters set their sights on a new target: corrupt political boss Joe Sterling, who controls multiple wards with an iron fist. When Sterling is found shot dead at the bottom of the stairs leading from his office, the prime suspect becomes Frank Allen, campaign manager for reform candidate Edgar Lessing...

Originally Aired: January 24, 1950
Philo Vance #81, "Music Box Murder Case," a sinister professor with an obsession for antique music boxes orchestrates a deadly series of robberies. The mastermind recruits criminals like nervous Dan Sanford and the experienced Billy to strangle wealthy collectors and steal their prized possessions from safes, keeping the music boxes for his twisted collection while sharing the money and jewels with his henchmen. Dan's fiancée May, blinded by love and eager to help her future husband succeed in his new "business," secures a position as a maid in a target home and provides him with the s...

Originally Aired: January 17, 1950
Philo Vance #80, "Talking Corpse Murder Case aka Catty Corpse Murder Case," Philo Vance takes on a baffling case when a distraught widow, Mrs. Miller, arrives at his office claiming to have seen and heard her husband on the street—ten months after she buried him. Dressed in deep mourning black, the terrified woman insists that Daniel Miller, whose death and burial Vance confirms through official records, has somehow returned from the dead. As Vance investigates, he learns that Miller had been hospitalized for poisoning before his death, and that the dying man had cryptically suggested his wi...

Originally Aired: January 10, 1950
Philo Vance #79, "Left Handed Murder Case,"
When Jan wakes screaming from the sight of her ex-husband Steve at her bedroom window, her parents David and Helen face a terrifying dilemma. Steve Cayley is a known gang leader whom the police have been unable to touch, and Jan fears he wants to kill her. Meanwhile, Steve himself appears at Philo Vance's office with a surprising proposition: he wants out of the criminal life and needs help escaping his own gang. Steve's lieutenant Lefty and the other gang members are already questioning his leadership and considering more...

Originally Aired: January 3, 1950
Philo Vance #78, "Tip Top Murder Case," chorus girl Susan Blake arrives at Philo Vance's office with a chilling typewritten threat: pay five thousand dollars by tomorrow or be dead by tomorrow night. Though she and her roommate Ella Andrews are struggling performers in the Tip Top Review with barely a penny between them, Susie refuses to go to the police, fearing the publicity could ruin her career. Vance notices something peculiar about the threatening note—every time the letter Y appears, someone first struck the Z key before typing over it. When Vance asks if someone mi...

Originally Aired: December 27, 1949
Philo Vance #77, "Identical Murder Case," a shocking case begins when District Attorney Markham receives an unexpected visitor who has been shot. The dying man's face stuns Markham—he is the spitting image of Philo Vance. The victim reveals he was murdered because of his resemblance to the famous detective before succumbing to his wounds. Meanwhile, the ruthless gangster Tommy Orkett, who "doesn't tolerate mistakes," brutally disciplines his gunman Joe for shooting the wrong man. Orkett needs Vance dead because the detective has uncovered evidence linking him to the Hendrix murder.
Vance returns to the city af...

Originally Aired: December 20, 1949
Philo Vance #76, "Chop Suey Murder Case,"
In a tense scene at a Chinese restaurant, Johnny and his companion Georgie sit down for what should be an ordinary meal, but the atmosphere crackles with conflict. When Johnny orders a mysterious dish called "din-yip-har" that the puzzled waiter has never heard of, it becomes clear this is no simple dinner. Johnny's girlfriend Ev tries to understand what's happening, but he grows increasingly hostile and evasive. The tension escalates when Johnny cryptically reveals that this supposed meal is actually going to cost him $15,000, suggesting the restaurant order is...

Originally Aired: December 13, 1949
Philo Vance #75, "Grey Glove Murder Case," a terrifying scene unfolds as the household frantically tries to reach Edgar Downing, who is locked inside his bedroom. Matilda the servant rushes to alert Dick Staley and Ruth after hearing Mr. Downing's desperate cries. Despite their efforts, the solid oak door prevents them from breaking through to help. As they wait for the police to arrive, Matilda peers through the keyhole and witnesses an impossible sight: a single grey glove, seemingly acting on its own without any visible arm or body attached, is wrapped around Downing's throat, choking him.<...

Originally Aired: December 6, 1949
Philo Vance #74, "Birdcage Murder Case," tension crackles when Lane Williams arrives at the Dillon home to deliver an innocent party invitation from her fiancé, Stuart Worthington. The visit quickly exposes a web of romantic entanglements and simmering resentments. Jeff Dillon makes no secret of his attraction to Lane, even in front of his wife Edna, who confronts him about his obvious feelings for the younger woman. The uncomfortable scene ends with Lane's departure, but not before she mentions that Worthington's party will feature a magician performing the famous disappearing birdcage trick.
After Lane leaves, the c...

Originally Aired: November 29, 1949
Philo Vance #73, "Thundering Murder Case," opens on a stormy night as the cantankerous David Wilkins berates his niece Wanda over the telephone about her failing marriage. He offers to pay off her husband to make him disappear permanently, insisting she come to his apartment immediately despite the pouring rain. The conversation is interrupted when his neighbor arrives at the door with homemade soup, only to receive a vicious verbal assault from the ungrateful Wilkins, who rails against her intrusion into his privacy and dismisses her kindness with shocking cruelty.
After driving his neighbor away, Wilkins...

Originally Aired: November 22, 1949
Philo Vance #72, "Nightmare Murder Case,"
Grace Rawls arrives at Philo Vance's office in a state of distress over a series of disturbing dreams that have begun manifesting in reality. She explains that she first dreamed a mysterious man gave her five hundred dollars, and the next morning, that exact man appeared on the street and handed her the money before vanishing. Her second dream predicted she would receive a new car, and upon waking, she found the very car from her dream parked outside her door. Now terrified, Mrs. Rawls confides in Vance about her...

Originally Aired: November 15, 1949
Philo Vance #71, "Little Murder Case," opens with a mysterious encounter on a quiet city street. A beautiful woman hails a cab and makes an unusual request: she wants the driver to take her to the end of the block, but drive as slowly as possible. When the confused cabbie questions why she doesn't simply walk the short distance, the woman becomes evasive and insistent, refusing to explain her strange behavior. She's not meeting anyone, claims she's not tired, yet she's adamant about making this brief, unnecessary journey by taxi.
The peculiar fare's cryptic instructions and...

Originally Aired: October 25, 1949
Philo Vance #68, "Deathless Murder Case," a wealthy widow named Mrs. Dorothy Wayne arrives at Philo Vance's office with an extraordinary claim. The widow of millionaire Edward J. Wayne seeks Vance's help regarding a mysterious man named John Bell who insists he can keep her perpetually thirty-one years old - for the price of one hundred thousand dollars. Mrs. Wayne's astonishing assertion is that she has definite proof Bell is over four hundred years old. Meanwhile, a murder occurs when Bell shoots a man named Sam in his antique-filled apartment, claiming the victim's untimely appearance left him...

Originally Aired: October 18, 1949
Philo Vance #67, "Meeker Murder Case aka Necktie Murder Case," begins when David Worth arrives at Vance's office with a desperate plea. Worth clutches half of a torn dollar bill and claims he'll pay $10,000 for the other half, insisting it represents his happiness, security, and possibly his life. Before Vance can learn more, he's called to a murder scene where businessman John Meeker has been stabbed to death in his office. District Attorney Markham and Sergeant Heath inform Vance that Worth himself found the body and was discovered by Meeker's wife Helen bending over her husband's corpse...

Originally Aired: October 11, 1949
Philo Vance #66, "Tea Cup Murder Case," begins when steward Algie Cochrane arrives in port with something valuable—the stolen 40-carat Elton Diamond from a London jewel robbery. Three dangerous men are eager to obtain the prize: Johnny Peters, Reginald Sands, and Burke, each warning Algie that he'd better be the one to get it. When Algie is found shot to death in his room with a vintage Webley revolver, District Attorney Markham calls in Philo Vance. The only clues are a tea kettle and two teacups—one wiped clean of fingerprints.
The investigation leads Vance thro...

Originally Aired: October 4, 1949
Philo Vance #65, "Black Gold Murder Case,"
Philo Vance and his secretary Ellen Deering fly to a southwestern dude ranch after receiving an urgent telegram from ranch owner Billings about a murder on the property. Bob Anderson, a young guest, has been found shot to death in the hills while out riding. However, upon landing, Vance receives a second telegram from Billings asking him to turn back without visiting the ranch, fearing the investigation will bring unwanted publicity and drive away guests. Undeterred, Vance proceeds to the Billings Dude Ranch, where tensions run high among the...

Originally Aired: September 27, 1949
Philo Vance #64, "The Shoeless Murder Case partial," Philo Vance investigates the brutal murders of three young models who participated in a bathing suit contest at the estate of shoe manufacturer Walter Jordan. The killer has been stealing shoes from the victims, but the reason remains maddeningly unclear. District Attorney Markham reveals that one surviving model, Edith Graham, has a boyfriend with a criminal record, while Vance attempts to lure the murderer out of hiding by sending mysterious letters. When the trap fails to catch anyone, Vance breaks into Jordan's home to examine his private records and...

Originally Aired: September 20, 1949
Philo Vance #63, "The Penny Ante Murder Case partial,"
When private detective Dan Smith is murdered, Philo Vance infiltrates a supposedly penny ante poker game to investigate the suspects. He quickly discovers that everyone at the table is cheating: Jacqueline Rice uses special cards and dark glasses, while Bill Baxter and his associate Ricky run a mail-order racket through their Rainbow Distributing Company front. The situation escalates dramatically when a customer named Joseph Peters arrives demanding the package he paid for, and Ricky reports that Baxter has killed the man. However, when Vance and District Attorney...

Originally Aired: September 13, 1949
Philo Vance #62, "Checkerboard Murder Case,"
A mysterious masked robber in a checkered suit and gray hat terrorizes multiple victims across town in what appears to be an impossible crime spree. At exactly midnight, three separate crimes occur simultaneously in different parts of the city, all committed by a man matching the same distinctive description. The pattern is baffling: the criminal deliberately ensures his victims can describe him in detail, even forcing grocer Mr. Martin to look at him carefully before claiming to make himself invisible and vanishing into thin air.
When the reports flood...

Originally Aired: September 6, 1949
Philo Vance #61, "Oxford Murder Case," Philo Vance takes a leisurely hansom cab ride through the park on his way to meet District Attorney Markham, only to be drawn into a mysterious situation by his talkative driver, Edward Smith. The cabbie tells Vance about an elderly couple who have been meeting regularly on a park bench for the past year. However, the old gentleman has mysteriously stopped appearing over the last few days, leaving the elderly lady waiting alone. Smith recalls the last time he saw them together, when the woman was crying and pleading with her...

Originally Aired: August 30, 1949
Philo Vance #60, "Brotherly Murder Case," opens with a thrilling chase sequence as two criminals, Tommy and his boss, flee from police after a botched robbery that leaves Tommy wounded by a watchman's bullet. With a patrol car in hot pursuit, the boss manages to shoot out one of the police vehicle's tires, allowing them to escape with their loot. Despite the close call, the boss remains confident and hints at a mysterious upcoming job that promises a massive payoff of one hundred thousand dollars with virtually no risk involved.
The intriguing setup suggests that someone...

Originally Aired: August 23, 1949
Philo Vance #59, "Blue Penny Murder Case," opens with Philo Vance and District Attorney Markham enjoying an afternoon of skeet shooting, locked in a competitive tie. Their leisurely contest is interrupted by the breathless arrival of Markham's secretary, Ellen Deering, who has hiked out to the remote shooting field with urgent news. A woman named Edith Allen has been murdered in her apartment, and the case presents a baffling puzzle: there appears to be no motive whatsoever. The victim was happily married, her husband has an airtight alibi, and nothing in the apartment has been disturbed.
...

Originally Aired: August 16, 1949
Philo Vance #58, "Johnny a Murder Case,"
Gang leader Johnny A. coldly executes rival mobster Nick Keating with a shotgun blast through a window, then drives to his girlfriend Sonny Belmont's house to say goodbye before she leaves for South America. What Johnny doesn't know is that Nick was Sonny's brother, and she's already gone to District Attorney Markham with information about the killing. Markham learns that Sonny has set a trap, telling him Johnny will return to her place at midnight. He recruits detective Philo Vance to join the stakeout, anticipating an easy arrest.
...

Originally Aired: August 9, 1949
Philo Vance #57, "Deep Sea Murder Case,"
Millard Case, a determined man accustomed to getting his way, insists on hiring Captain Smith's fishing boat despite being told it's already chartered. When all other boats have left the dock, Case pays double to secure passage with Smith and his mate Iggy. Once at sea, Case excitedly reels in his first catch of the day, but the fishing trip takes a sinister turn when the captain and his crew reveal their true intentions. The boat wasn't hired for an innocent fishing expedition—Smith and Iggy are using it as...

Originally Aired: August 2, 1949
Philo Vance #56, "Tick Tock Murder Case," begins with detectives Dan and Billy passing time at police headquarters playing Pinochle, with Dan owing Billy a mere 28 cents after another losing hand. The monotony of their evening shift is suddenly shattered when a burglar alarm sounds from the Wellington Loan Company on Rugby Street. Someone is tampering with the safe, and this quiet night is about to turn into something far more serious.
The two detectives spring into action, racing to beat their fellow officers to the scene. As Dan flips on the siren and they speed...

Originally Aired: July 26, 1949
Philo Vance #55, "Cheesecake Murder Case," opens with a deceptively tender domestic scene between Jane Ashley and her boyfriend Billy. Over an uneaten piece of cheesecake, Jane playfully teases Billy about a special present she's made for him. When she finally reveals it—a handmade mask to protect his identity—the sweet romantic moment takes a dark turn as the true nature of their relationship becomes clear. Billy is a criminal, and Jane is helping him conceal his identity during robberies. With his partner Mike waiting downstairs in the car, Billy prepares to rob a photographer who keep...

Originally Aired: July 19, 1949
Philo Vance #54, "Racket Murder Case," opens with a puzzling encounter when a young woman arrives at Vance's office with her companion Jack Davis. She becomes upset when Vance calls her Betty Crane, insisting she's never heard that name before—even though she's the third person that day to call her by it. The woman, who goes by Janie, storms out with Jack, and the two report back to their mysterious boss. It becomes clear they're involved in some kind of protection racket, pressuring local merchants to participate in their scheme. When honest shopkeeper Joe Cummings refuses to...