Hurry, hurry, hurry - come to the midway for four radio mysteries set at the carnival. A fortune teller predicts her own murder in a syndicated adventure of Boston Blackie starring Richard Kollmar. Then, a carnival dancer marries a wealthy admirer and then schemes to get rid of him in "The Brass Ring" (originally aired on CBS on September 16, 1946). Sam Spade tries to save a carnival performer from marriage to an infamous widower - to be followed by a quick funeral - in "The Bluebeard Caper" (originally aired on CBS on August 8, 1948). And we take flight with Superman to save a carnival from an unscrupulous rival owner in "Death Rides the Roller Coaster" (originally aired on ABC on December 3, 1949).

It's not just adults who need a good detective. Our heroes this week come to the aid of kids in trouble. First, Dan Holiday helps a boy find a lost astronomer in "Archimedes and the Roman" from Box 13. Next, Philip Marlowe is hired to find the missing uncle of a newsboy in "The Kid on the Corner" (originally aired on CBS on December 3, 1949). Finally, Johnny Dollar believes the life of a teenage girl is in danger when she stands to inherit a fortune in the five-part mystery "The Matter of Reasonable Doubt" (originally aired on CBS between May 28 and June 1, 1956).

Our heroes this week encounter hypnosis and meet those who have fallen under its spell and who have used it to try and conceal their crimes. First, Boston Blackie suspects a woman's murder confession was driven by hypnosis rather than guilt. Then, a woman is hypnotized to help solve a murder in "Cupid Can Be Deadly" from Crime Club (originally aired on Mutual on October 16, 1947). In "The Voice of Darkness," Chandu the Magician investigates a bombing where the eyewitness was hypnotized into losing her memory (originally aired on Mutual on April 14, 1949). And finally, Bob Bailey stars as George Valentine in "Eleven O'Clock" from Let George Do It, where a woman's recent odd behavior may be tied to the experiments of a psychology professor (originally aired on Mutual on July 17, 1950).

As Americans head to the polls to pick a president, we'll hear some old time radio mysteries centering on the seedier side of the political process. Fortunately, The Green Hornet is on hand to keep things safe for democracy and to deliver a decisive blow against the crooked machines who try to get corrupt politicians elected. We'll hear the Hornet and his loyal sidekick Kato in "Votes for Sale" (originally aired on Mutual on October 9, 1940), "Ballots and Bluff" (originally aired on Mutual on November 1, 1945), and "Election Boomerang" (originally aired on Mutual October 15, 1952). Plus, we'll hear "Final Returns," a story from The Whistler about a politician who decides to vote his domineering wife out of his life permanently (originally aired on CBS on October 29, 1945).

Get ready for thrills, chills, and spills with trick-or-treat tales both scary and silly in the annual Down These Mean Streets Halloween special! Ray Milland reprises his big screen role as The Screen Director's Playhouse presents "The Uninvited" (originally aired on NBC on November 18, 1949). Then, two radio gumshoes face off against things that go bump in the night: The Saint in "The Ghosts Who Came to Dinner" (originally aired on NBC on April 8, 1951) and Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator in "Ghosts Don't Die in Bed" (originally aired on NBC on September 7, 1954). J. Carrol Naish stars in a heartwarming and hilarious Halloween episode of Life with Luigi (originally aired on CBS on October 30, 1951), and William Conrad leads an expedition in the Himalayas to capture "The Abominable Snowman" on Escape (originally aired on CBS on September 13, 1953). Ozzie and Harriet have a haunted house adventure (originally aired on NBC on October 31, 1948), and Bob Hope recreates his horror-comedy classic in "The Ghost Breakers" from Screen Director's Playhouse (originally aired on NBC on June 14, 1951). Finally, the syndicated anthology The Weird Circle presents one of the classic horror stories - Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."

It's the witching hour - well, closer to two witching hours, to be precise - for old time radio detectives in this week's episode. We've got four mysteries involving witches just in time for Halloween. First, an author plagued by a witch's hexes seeks the help of Nick Carter in "The Witch of Donderberg Mountain" (originally aired on Mutual on April 22, 1945). Next, a witch at a Halloween party sees danger in Boston Blackie's future. Then, Casey, Crime Photographer investigates the murder of a male witch in "Witchcraft" (originally aired on CBS on February 19, 1948). And finally, Sam Spade is hired to act as security for a Halloween party in "The Fairley Bright Caper" (originally aired on CBS on October 31, 1948). Want more spooky sleuthing for Halloween? Click here for a collection of mummy mysteries, and click here for some creepy cases starring Johnny Dollar. And... Click here for some of my original audio comedy, including old time radio parodies!

Yippie-ki-yay, old time radio fans! We're heading west for some radio mysteries set in the wide open spaces of the American frontier. Alan Ladd is on the trail of his brother's murderer in "A Killing in Abilene" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on December 14, 1950), and Joel McCrea hunts for a cowboy's killer in "The Cactus Pear" from Tales of the Texas Rangers (originally aired on NBC on December 17, 1950). As Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, Edmond O'Brien has to determine if - and why - a rancher's wife bumped off her husband in "The Jarvis Wilder Matter" (originally aired on CBS on February 24, 1951), and William Conrad has to clear his own name in "Matt for Murder" from Gunsmoke (originally aired on CBS on July 26, 1954). Finally, Jack Webb stars in an urban western as the police face off against an armed and delusional man who believes he's defending a fort against the Indians in "The Big Cowboy" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBS on June 1, 1954). Click here for some of my original audio comedy, including some old time radio show parodies!

Great Scott...600 episodes?! To mark the occasion, I'm on a trip to 221B Baker Street with my favorite radio adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In this super-sized Sherlock special, we'll hear John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson in "A Scandal in Bohemia." Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are Holmes and Watson in "The Notorious Canary Trainer" (originally aired on Mutual on April 23, 1945) and "The Speckled Band" (originally aired on Mutual on November 12, 1945), and then Bruce is joined by Tom Conway as Holmes in "The Adventure of the Tolling Bell" (originally aired on ABC on April 7, 1947). My personal favorite Holmes and Watson - John Stanley and Alfred Shirley - headline "The Laughing Lemur of Hightower Heath" (originally aired on Mutual on October 26, 1947), "The Cadaver in the Roman Toga" (originally aired on Mutual on November 9, 1947), "The Stolen Naval Treaty" (originally aired on Mutual on November 23, 1947), and "The Case of the Sudden Senility" (originally aired on Mutual on January 11, 1948). And finally, it's - appropriately enough - "The Final Problem," with Gielgud, Richardson, and special guest star Orson Welles as Professor Moriarty. In the mood for more Holmes and Watson? Click here for our spotlight show on Edith Meiser, the woman who brought Holmes to radio and penned his adventures for years. And here's a collection of mysteries featuring Holmes and Watson battling seemingly supernatural foes.  

I may not know art, but I know what I like - and I like these four radio mysteries involving masterpieces, the artists who make them, and the crooks who try to steal them. First, Boston Blackie is forced to participate in an art heist to save his friend (syndicated episode known as "The Abbott Painting"), and a beautiful woman wants a missing artist found in "The Barefoot Boy with Shoes Gone" from Jeff Regan, Investigator (AFRS rebroadcast of a show from January 25, 1950). The Saint steps into the world of international art smuggling in "Button, Button" (originally aired on NBC on March 11, 1951), and a $200,000 painting could be a priceless work of art or a clever forgery in "The Allen Saxton Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on October 20, 1953).

Several great actors gave voice to The Shadow, but today we're shining a spotlight on those stars and their roles outside of the cloak of radio's invisible avenger. We'll hear Frank Readick as a crook in "The Case of the Cincinnati Narcotics Ring" from Gang Busters (originally aired on ABC on September 25, 1948). Then, Bill Johnstone is a newlywed with a secret in "Devoted Couple" from The Whistler (orignally aired on CBS on July 9, 1950) and Lt. Ben Guthrie in "The Cop Killer" from The Line-Up (originally aired on CBS on November 30, 1950). Finally, Orson Welles stars in "The Dead Enchantress" from The Lives of Harry Lime and narrates "The Bed Sheet" from The Black Museum.

Over the long run of the Dragnet radio series, Sgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb) was paired with four different partners. Each of these cops brought a different energy to the show and had a similar but different dynamic with Friday. We'll hear all four of them in this week's episode. First, Barton Yarborough is Sgt. Ben Romero in "The Big Ben" (originally aired on NBC on March 15, 1951). Then, Barney Phillips plays Sgt. Ed Jacobs in "The Big Almost No-Show" (originally aired on NBC on January 31, 1952). Future Adam-12 star Martin Milner is Officer Bill Lockwood in "The Big Bunco" (originally aired on NBC on April 17, 1952). And Ben Alexander plays Officer Frank Smith - Friday's longest-tenured partner on radio, television, and the big screen - in "The Big False Make" (originally aired on NBC on May 17, 1953).

Tap gloves and tune in for a quartet of radio mysteries set in and around the boxing ring. First, a crooked gambler is killed when he tries to a fix a fight in "Death is a Knockout" from Crime Club (originally aired on Mutual on June 12, 1947). Next, Dick Powell gives a heel turn as a boxer out to ruin a rival in "Slow Burn" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on February 23, 1950). Reporter Randy Stone tries to help a fighter under pressure to throw his next bout in Night Beat (an episode known as "Gunner's Last Fight," originally aired on NBC on August 14, 1950). And Jayce Pearson investigates when poison puts a fighter down for the county in "The Rub-Out" from Tales of the Texas Rangers (originally aired on NBC on February 3, 1952).

Catch a plane and begin a daring mission with these four radio super spies and sleuths. As Steve Mitchell, Brian Donlevy heads to London to keep enemy agents guessing in Dangerous Assignment (originally aired on NBC on March 3, 1951) and The Man Called X is off to Monte Carlo to find out why a fellow agent was killed (originally aired on NBC on May 4, 1951). Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. hunts for missing scientists and plans for the weapon they built in "The Gigantic Hoax" from The Silent Men (originally aired on NBC on January 20, 1952). And Mike Waring - aka The Falcon - is in Berlin on a job for Army intelligence in "The Case of the King of Clubs" (originally aired on NBC on July 20, 1952).

Feathers and fiends are on the agenda this week with four old time radio mysteries involving birds. A crow may foil a killer's plans to get away with murder in "Bird of Death," a syndicated episode of The Haunting Hour. Then, Blackstone, the Magic Detective explains how a canary helped him solve the case of "The Bird of Doom" in a syndicated tale. Bob Bailey investigates when a parrot's owner keels over after the parrot tells him to in "Drop Dead" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on July 23, 1951). And Sgt. Joe Friday hunts a burglar who also targets pet birds in "The Big Bird" from Dragnet (AFRS rebroadcast from February 1, 1955).

Fur coats are in demand in this week's radio mysteries, as our detectives tackle cases involving the pricey outerwear. First, Dick Powell investigates a fur warehouse fire that may be arson in "Fortune in Furs" from Rogue's Gallery (originally aired on Mutual on December 20, 1945). Then, the cops of The Line-Up hope a fur coat can help them identify a Jane Doe in "The Fur Flaunting Floozy" (originally aired on CBS on September 26, 1951). Finally, Johnny Dollar hunts for 80 stolen mink coats and the thieves who committed murder in their getaway in "The Silver Blue Matter" (originally aired on CBS between May 7 and May 11, 1956).

The golden age of radio meets the atomic age with these four mysteries. First, Bulldog Drummond hunts for missing radium in "Claim Check for Death" (originally aired on Mutual on January 17, 1947). Next, villains plot to wipe out New York with an atomic weapon, and only Mr. I.A. Moto can stop them in "A Force Called X07" (originally aired on NBC on May 20, 1951). The feds try to find the man who's smuggling out secrets of a new atomic bomb in "The Case for Dr. Singer" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on June 28, 1951). And undercover agent Matt Cvetic has to thwart a Red plan to wiretap an atomic scientist in "The Line is Busy" in I Was a Communist for the FBI. Note: Unfortunately the intro to this week's show was lost due to a technical issue!

Sometimes it takes two detectives to crack the case. Fortunately, each of these radio mysteries has a dynamic duo on the scene. First, Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons and his partner Mike Kelly solve "The Case of the Ruthless Murderers" (originally aired on CBS on October 27, 1949). Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin take their final bow on the air in "The Case of Room 304" (originally aired on NBC on April 27, 1951). Sgt. Joe Friday and Officer Frank Smith are on the trail of counterfeiters in "The Big Listen" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on January 5, 1954). Finally, married sleuths Pat and Jean Abbott investigate "The Green-Eyed Divorcee" (AFRS rebroadcast from NBC on May 8, 1955).

Don't hiss - even if you don't like snakes, I think you'll enjoy these four serpent-centric radio mysteries. First, Casey, Crime Photographer investigates a curse that may have followed two explorers home in "The Serpent Goddess" (originally aired on CBS on December 4, 1947). Next, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson tangle with Professor Moriarty and a secret cult in "The Adventure of the Serpent God" (originally aired on Mutual on March 14, 1948). Dick Powell tries to protect his client from someone who's sending snakes in the mail in Richard Diamond, Private Detective in an episode known as "The Joyce Wallace Case" (originally aired on NBC on March 12, 1950). And Gerald Mohr stars as Philip Marlowe in a case involving snakes both real and decorative - "The Gold Cobra" (originally aired on CBS on June 21, 1950).

As we head into the home stretch of summer, here are four seasonal radio mysteries. Frank Lovejoy stars as the owner of a summer resort in dire financial straits who may have turned to murder to keep the lights on in "Last Night" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (originally aired on NBC on February 22, 1946), and in a syndicated mystery, Boston Blackie finds a marriage racket when he heads to a dude ranch for vacation. A man spends a hot night trying to get rid of a surprise corpse in "Summer Night" from Murder By Experts (originally aired on Mutual on June 13, 1949), and William Gargan discovers strange affairs afoot at a resort in "Midsummer Lunacy" from Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator (originally aired on NBC on August 17, 1954).

Say "aloha" to adventure with four radio mysteries set in Hawaii. The Man Called X investigates a land swindle in Honolulu (originally aired on CBS on June 5, 1947), and a con artist tries to pose as an heiress to net a fortune in "The Rawhide Coffin" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on April 3, 1949). Philip Marlowe heads to the islands in "The Cloak of Kamehameha" (originally aired on CBS on May 16, 1950) and Orson Welles is in Hawaii hunting for jewels in "Cherchez La Gem" from The Lives of Harry Lime.

Our heroes try to solve some purr-fect crimes in these old time radio mysteries - each involving a cat. First, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (played by Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce) find "The Clue of the Hungry Cat" (originally aired on ABC on October 26, 1946). Next, Bob Bailey tries to help an inventor and finds a murder in "The Iron Cat" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on June 12, 1950). Then, a panther is on the loose in Los Angeles and Sgt. Joe Friday has to track it down in "The Big Cat" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on June 15, 1954).

We're saluting James M. Cain - one of the fathers of hard-boiled crime fiction - with two of his stories recreated for radio. First, James Cagney plays a rising racketeer who takes advantage of a crusading reformer in "Love's Lovely Counterfeit" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on January 17, 1948). Then, Burt Lancaster and Joan Bennett plot a murder and a swindle in "Double Indemnity" from The Ford Theatre (originally aired on CBS on October 15, 1948).

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite installments of Crime Classics - the anthology of true crime stories taken from the pages of history. "Connaisseur of crime" Thomas Hyland (played by Lou Merrill) narrated the tales that ranged from BC until recent history. A dismembered corpse stuns Boston society in "The Terrible Deed of John White Webster" (originally aired on CBS on July 13, 1953), and a woman's murder of her philandering boyfriend is only the beginning of the story in "The Incredible Trial of Laura D. Fair" (AFRS rebroadcast from August 17, 1953). A pair of enterprising young men enter the corpse procurement business in "If a Body Need a Body, Just Call Burke and Hare" (originally aired on CBS on December 2, 1953). Plus, two of history's most notorious murders are dramatized - "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln" (originally aired on CBS on December 9, 1953) and "Twenty-Three Knives Against Caesar" (originally aired on CBS on February 10, 1954).

Welcome to the Rock! Alcatraz - America's most notorious prison - is the subject of this weeks' show. First, Gang Busters presents a dramatic recreation of the most violent escape attempt in its history in "The Battle of Alcatraz" (originally aired on ABC on May 11, 1946). Then, it's a double feature of Pat Novak For Hire when the gumshoe is caught in a pair of Alcatraz escapes and the hunt for the escapees (episodes known as "Joe Feldman and Father Leahy" - originally aired on ABC on April 2, 1949, and "The Only Way to Make Friends is to Die" - originally aired on ABC on June 18, 1949).

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite installments of The Whistler - the anthology of mystery and murder where we follow the criminal as the commit the "perfect crime," only to be undone at the final curtain. Bill Forman is our sinister storyteller, who "knows the nameless terrors" of these killers' minds. First, a long-suffering wife plans to get rid of her husband and frame him for a series of murders in "Boomerang" (originally aired on CBS on March 11, 1946), and a carnival dancer marries - and murders - for money in "The Brass Ring" (originally aired on CBS on September 16, 1946). Radio Philip Marlowe Gerald Mohr is a mob boss with a deadly secret in "Caesar's Wife" (originally aired on CBS on June 2, 1947), and a small town's frontier festival is the backdrop for murder in "The Tell-Tale Brand" (originally aired on CBS on January 9, 1949). Finally, a newfangled gadget called a car phone may provide an airtight alibi in "A Law of Physics" (originally aired on CBS on June 10, 1951).

Cast your line for mystery with these old time radio shows involving fishing. Casey, Crime Photographer finds murder on a fishing trip in "Treasure Cave" (originally aired on CBS on September 25, 1947), and a stolen fishing boat leads to a pair of corpses in "Rita Malloy" from Pat Novak For Hire (AFRS rebroadcast from April 23, 1949). Charles Russell stars as Johnny Dollar in "I Caught a Fishing Boat, But You Should Have Seen the One That Got Away" (originally aired on CBS on October 1, 1949), and Dan Dailey tries to survive a fishing trip from hell in "Over the Bounding Main" (originally aired on CBS on September 14, 1950).

Pack your bags and take a trip to Mexico in these radio mysteries. First, Burt Lancaster plots a double cross in "The Big Shot" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on September 9, 1948). Philip Marlowe is hired to find out what a woman is up to in "The Mexican Boat Ride" (originally aired on CBS on July 30, 1949), and the cops of Dragnet chase a pair of fugitives in "The Big Border" (originally aired on NBC on March 20, 1952). Finally, Dana Andrews tries to thwart the plans of Soviet saboteurs trying to sneak into the US in "The Red Gate" from I Was a Communist for the FBI.

Tee off with four (not fore!) old time radio detective stories set on the golf course. Actor Paul Barnes plays every role in the syndicated mini-mystery Calling All Detectives, and a golf teacher gets too close to a gangster's wife in Boston Blackie (a syndicated episode known as "Carl Grady, Golf Instructor"). As Philo Vance, Jackson Beck spots a clue on the course in "The Red Duck Murder Case," and Frank Race meets an old friend - a golf pro with a jealous husband who's got a violent temper - in "The Adventure of the Fairway Beauties."

Black magic is in the air with four radio mysteries where our heroes are menaced by voodoo. Dan Holiday heads to the bayou to save a man's life in "Death is a Doll" from Box 13, and Ken Thurston investigates when government officials fall victim to zombies in Haiti in The Man Called X (known as "Enough Intrigue to Fill a Book," originally aired on NBC on May 18, 1951). Orson Welles runs a dangerous con in "Voodoo" from The Lives of Harry Lime, and as Johnny Dollar, John Lund tries to protect a family from a curse in "The Voodoo Matter" (originally aired on CBS on August 4, 1953).

Mysteries are hard enough to solve without throwing amnesia into the mix, but that's what our radio detectives have to handle this week. A woman doesn't know who she is, and then drops dead in Jack Webb's office in "The Lady with No Name" from Jeff Regan, Investigator (originally aired on CBS on September 25, 1948). The Saint comes to the aid of a woman without her memory in "The Case of the Blonde Who Lost Her Head" (originally aired on Mutual on November 13, 1949). Dick Powell sings and solves the case of a young man who may have committed a murder and forgotten about it in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (originally aired on NBC on November 26, 1949). And Chicago reporter Randy Stone tries to help a soldier find his memory and his missing wife in Night Beat (originally aired on NBC on July 6, 1951).

We're back in court with four radio mysteries involving lawyers, juries, and trials. A lone holdout tries to convince his fellow jurors of a defendant's innocence in "The Eleventh Juror" from The Mollé Mystery Theatre (AFRS rebroadcast from April 3, 1945), and Mr. District Attorney chases down a robbery ring in "The Case of Murder A La Carte" (originally aired on NBC on March 9, 1949). A defense attorney is the only man who can prove his client's guilt in "The Trigger Man" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on August 7, 1949), and Philip Marlowe is hired to clear a man on trial for murder in "The Quiet Magpie" (originally aired on CBS on August 11, 1950).

The doctors are in with these four old time radio mysteries. A doctor hires Dick Powell and then jumps out of the window in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (originally aired on NBC on August 23, 1950). Joe Friday is on the trail of a phony physician in "The Big Quack" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on October 12, 1950). A crooked doctor sets up fake accidents in "No Insurance" from The FBI in Peace and War (AFRS rebroadcast from November 22, 1951). And Frank Sinatra comes to the aid of a doctor with a dilemma close to home in "Honor Among Thieves" from Rocky Fortune (originally aired on NBC on March 2, 1954).

Lordy, Lordy - your host is turning 40. To mark the occasion, I'm looking back at the old time radio detective shows I've enjoyed the most over these many years. Join me as I revisit stories starring Philip Marlowe, Sherlock Holmes, Ellery Queen, The Whistler, The Saint, Richard Diamond, Rocky Fortune, and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, as well as why I love them. (Bear with me for the long intro...this old man tends to ramble on these days.)

We're off to the Caribbean with four old time radio mysteries full of island intrigue. An American professor finds murder on sabbatical in "A Passage to Benares" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on September 23, 1942). Joan Banks pulls Frank Lovejoy into a dangerous salvage operation in "Chain Reaction" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on May 12, 1948).  Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall bring their combined star power to tropical thrills in Bold Venture (a syndicated episode known as "Murder in the Yucatán Peninsula"). And finally, Johnny Dollar boards a yacht to act as a bodyguard in "The Time and Tide Matter" (AFRS rebroadcast from February 16, 1958).

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my five favorite installments of Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator. William Gargan sleuths with a sardonic smile in these radio mysteries, beginning with "The Lost Lady" (originally aired on NBC on June 14, 1953). A client behind bars hires Craig in "For Love of Murder" (originally aired on NBC on August 3, 1954), and Craig helps an old colleague close one last case in "Blood Money" (originally aired on NBC on August 24, 1954). A vacation is a new setting for murder in "Hay is for Homicide" (originally aired on NBC on August 31, 1954), and a visit to see a friend turns into a night at a haunted house in "Ghosts Don't Die in Bed" (originally aired on NBC on September 7, 1954).

Place your bets and ride along with four old time radio mysteries set in the stables and around the racetrack. Boston Blackie doubts a horse is guilty of murder in a syndicated mystery, and international investigator Frank Race tries to find out who's out to make sure a prize racehorse doesn't make it to the winner's circle in "The Adventure of the Vanishing Favorite." A jockey loses a race and his life in Crime and Peter Chambers (originally aired on NBC on August 3, 1954). And John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson are Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in an adaptation of "Silver Blaze."

We're riding the subway and walking the Great White Way with four radio gumshoes in New York. First, there's a dead body in Richard Diamond's office in "The Fred Sears Murder Case" (originally aired on NBC on June 5, 1949). A man is killed in Times Square by a man with only a month to live in "The Earl Lawson Murder Case" from Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on June 9, 1951). John Lund heads to the Big Apple in "The Independent Diamond Traders Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on November 24, 1953), and Captain Kennelly and his men keep the city safe in 21st Precinct (originally aired on CBS on January 13, 1954).

It's an Easter basket of radio comedies for you to enjoy! Jack Benny and his gang take a stroll in the Easter Parade (originally aired on CBS on April 17, 1949); Lucille Ball hunts for the perfect Easter dress in My Favorite Husband (originally aired on CBS on March 24, 1951); and egg dying goes awry at the Harris house on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show (originally aired on NBC on April 5, 1953).

Break out your bracket for three basketball mysteries from the golden age of radio. First, newspaper editor Steve Wilson ties an assault to a gambling racket in "The Fatal Fix" from Big Town (originally aired on NBC on January 25, 1949). Next, Tony Curtis is a college star under pressure to throw a game in "The McKay College Basketball Scandal" from Suspense (originally aired on CBS on September 24, 1951). Finally, Larry Haines is ex-magician turned PI Mike Trent, who uses his tricks of the trade against a deadly ring of gamblers in Easy Money (originally aired on NBC on January 9, 1955).

Grab a pint, don your green, and enjoy a trio of St. Patrick's Day old time radio mysteries. First, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce investigate a murder at one of Ireland's landmarks in "The Adventure of the Blarney Stone" from The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (originally aired on Mutual on March 18, 1946). Then, George Valentine tries to prevent a spectral eviction in "The Ghost of Ireland Betty" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on September 27, 1954). Finally, Paladin comes to the aid of an Irishman accused of robbery and murder in "Irish Luck" (originally aired on CBS on April 24, 1960).

Show off those pearly whites and enjoy three old time radio mysteries involving teeth and dentists. First, Casey, Crime Photographer thinks a dentist is linked to a colleague's disappearance in "Tooth for Tooth" (originally aired on CBS on July 15, 1946). Then, a victim's teeth hold the key to solving a murder on Whitehall 1212 (known as "The Murder of Duncan Frazier," originally aired on NBC on December 9, 1951). Finally, Dane Clark tries to find out who's blackmailing a dentist in Crime and Peter Chambers (originally aired on NBC on May 18, 1954).

In this bonus episode, we're saluting the late Anne Whitfield, who passed away on February 15th. We'll hear the actress in a pair of episodes from The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, where she played the couple's youngest daughter Phyllis. First, little Phyllis may become a movie star (originally aired on NBC on November 20, 1949) and then she celebrates her birthday (originally aired on NBC on January 21, 1951).

We're blasting off this week for a trio of mysteries involving rockets and space. First, The Man Called X is in New Mexico to find out who's leaking classified information from a missile test site (originally aired on NBC on April 14, 1951). Next, Philo Vance investigates a murder in an observatory in the syndicated episode "The Star-Studded Murder Case." And finally, Frank Sinatra is hired to take a one-way trip to the moon in "Rocket Racket" from Rocky Fortune (originally aired on NBC on March 23, 1954).

In this bonus episode, we're going back to the beginning with the audition recordings for five old time radio detective shows - some that became regular series, some that didn't, and some that changed stars along the way. We'll hear Victor Jory as a Scotland Yard inspector in the tryout for The Hunters (recorded in November 1948) and Dick Powell - before he was Richard Diamond - as Johnny Dollar in that show's audition (recorded in December 1948). Bill Johnstone stars as Lt. Ben Guthrie in Police Line-Up, the audition for what became The Line-Up (recorded in May 1950) and Mercedes McCambridge heads to court in The Defense Rests, which premiered later as Defense Attorney (recorded in April 1951). Finally, Howard Duff - radio's Sam Spade - dons the fedora of private eye Mike McCoy in the audition for The McCoy (recorded in April 1951).

Hope you brought your appetite - this week's show features four mysteries set in the world of food. From restaurants to the grocery store, our detectives have a lot to chew on in these cases. First, Boston Blackie investigates a murder in a Chinese restaurant and Dan Holiday comes to the aid of a beleaguered restauranteur in "Tempest in a Casserole" from Box 13. Dick Powell goes undercover in a butcher's shop in Richard Diamond, Private Detective (originally aired on NBC on January 7, 1950) and Johnny Dollar gets a deadly dinner invitation in "The Fatal Filet Matter" (originally aired on CBS on May 10, 1950).

We're making some large withdrawals at the bank this week with three old time radio tales of bank robbers and the cops who try to catch them. First, the G-Men are at work in "Quartet for Crime" from This is Your FBI (originally aired on ABC on November 24, 1950). Then, a man fresh out of prison signs on for a bank heist in "The Little Things" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on January 14, 1951). And finally, Sgt. Joe Friday is on the trail of a bank robber in "The Big Number" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on October 26, 1952).

Happy Valentine's Day! No matter how - or if - you're celebrating this February 14th, hopefully you'll enjoy this quartet of Valentine's comedies from the golden age of radio. We'll hear Fibber McGee and Molly (originally aired on NBC on February 10, 1942), My Favorite Husband (originally aired on CBS on February 11, 1949), The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show (originally aired on NBC on February 13, 1949), and Our Miss Brooks (originally aired on CBS on February 19, 1950).

In this bonus episode, we're walking the Night Beat with reporter Randy Stone in my five favorite episodes of this fantastic radio drama series. Frank Lovejoy stars as Stone, always looking for stories for his newspaper column and always ready to help people in need. We'll hear the show's first episode ("Zero," originally aired on NBC on February 6, 1950), where he helps a woman track down a man before he takes his own life, and a meeting with an unusual man who claims to have a sinister super power ("I Wish You Were Dead," originally aired on May 22, 1950). Randy meets a faded college football star in trouble with the mob ("The Football Player and the Syndicate," originally aired on NBC on June 12, 1950), and he dials a random phone number to find a woman in danger ("The City at Your Fingertips," originally aired on NBC on July 31, 1950). Finally, Randy and the police hunt for a contaminated case of butter that could unleash typhoid on the Windy City ("A Case of Butter," originally aired on NBC on September 25, 1950).