Bob Bailey is back on the job in another five-part adventure of Johnny Dollar - "the man with the action-packed expense account." Join America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator as he crosses swords with a twentieth century pirate to learn what happened to a sunken ship in "The Jolly Roger Fraud" (originally aired on CBS between March 19 and March 23, 1956).

Nero Wolfe, Rex Stout’s gargantuan gourmet, is back! His career as a radio detective began 75 years ago this month, and we’re marking the occasion with two of his on-air adventures. Sydney Greenstreet plays the eccentric sleuth (with Larry Dobkin as loyal legman Archie Goodwin) in “The Case of the Friendly Rabbit” (originally aired on NBC on December 1, 1950). Then, we’ll hear an early Wolfe radio adventure – “The Last Laugh Murder Case,” broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Service’s Mystery Playhouse.

In honor of his birthday, we'll hear Jack Webb in a pair of old time radio performances - roles that show off a side of the actor/director's persona very different from Sgt. Joe Friday. In "Jack of Clubs" (originally aired on ABC on February 20, 1949), he's waterfront shamus Pat Novak For Hire. Then, he's an unscrupulous private eye who dabbles in crime in "Perfect Alibi" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on June 12, 1949).

During his nearly three decade run on radio, Les Damon starred as several detectives - Dashiell Hammett's Nick Charles, the debonair private eye known as the Falcon, and half of the husband and wife duo the Abbotts. We'll hear Damon as Nick in "The Strange Case of Professor Waigner" from The Adventures of the Thin Man; as Mike Waring - The Falcon - in "The Case of the Big Talker" (originally aired on NBC on April 29, 1951); and as Pat Abbott in "The Case of the Blood-Red Diamond" from Adventures of the Abbotts.

One of the busier actors on radio, Frank Lovejoy starred in everything from soap operas to superhero adventures, from tales of Suspense to the urban newspaper drama Night Beat. We'll hear him in three old time radio shows: as The Amazing Mr. Malone in "Cleanliness is Next to Godliness" (originally aired on ABC on August 28, 1948); in "Danger at Matecumbe" from Escape (originally aired on CBS on March 24, 1950); and finally as Randy Stone in Night Beat in "Old Blind Pop" (originally aired on August 7, 1950).

It's Broadway - "the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world." Join Detective Danny Clover as he walks the Great White Way in Broadway is My Beat. Larry Thor stars as the sensitive sleuth in "The Max Wendell Murder Case" (an AFRS rebroadcast of a show from April 28, 1950) and in "The Howard Crawford Murder Case" (originally aired on CBS on August 5, 1951).

In a special bonus episode, we’ll hear a trio of radio detectives who were nominated for Academy Awards. Though they didn’t bring home an Oscar, they still won a place in our hearts for their on-air crime solving prowess. Sydney Greenstreet stars as Nero Wolfe in “Stamped for Murder” (originally aired on October 20, 1950). Then, Jeff Chandler is Michael Shayne in “The Case of the Mail-Order Murders.” Finally, William Gargan is Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator in “The Schemers” (originally aired on NBC on April 6, 1954).

To celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of master mystery writer Mickey Spillane, we'll hear three radio adventures of his signature shamus - the hard-boiled Mike Hammer. Ted De Corsia stars as Hammer in three episodes from That Hammer Guy: "The Jim Gordon Case," "The More You Kill, the Simpler It Gets" (originally aired on Mutual on April 20, 1954), and "A Dead Dame in Central Park" (originally aired on Mutual on April 27, 1954).

Emmy-nominated writer E. Jack Neuman was one of radio's most prolific mystery scribes. Before he created classic TV shows like Mr. Novak, Neuman penned adventures of Jeff Regan, Richard Diamond, Sam Spade, and many more. In honor of his birthday, we'll hear three of his old time radio mysteries: "Fall Guy" from Rocky Jordan (originally aired on CBS on May 1, 1949); "The LaTourette Matter" from Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (originally aired on CBS on February 20, 1953); and "The Lugar-Lugging Laddie Case" from The Line-Up (originally aired on CBS on July 8, 1952).

Staats Cotsworth gets the shot - and his man - as Casey, Crime Photographer. Each week, Casey covers the news and makes it as he cracks the case and meets his deadline. We'll hear the crusader with a camera in "Loaded Dice" (originally aired on CBS on September 4, 1947) and "The Tobacco Pouch" (originally aired on CBS on September 18, 1947).

Heaven help crooks and thieves - The Saint is on the case! Vincent Price stars as Simon Templar, "the Robin Hood of modern crime," in three old time radio mysteries: "The Sinister Sneeze" (originally aired on NBC on June 11, 1950); "The Dame on the Doorstep" (originally aired on NBC on November 12, 1950); and "Formula for Death" (originally aired on NBC on March 25, 1951).

Our old time radio detectives this week drummed up business with newspaper ads - catchy sales pitches that invited potential clients to write in with requests for help. We'll hear Bob Bailey inviting those in need to Let George Do It in "The Father Who Had Nothing to Say" (originally aired on Mutual on September 13, 1948). Then, Alan Ladd opens another letter addressed to Box 13 in the syndicated mystery "The Haunted Artist."

If you're in trouble and you can come up with ten dollars a day and expenses, you can get help from Jeff Regan, Investigator. The hard-boiled gumshoe worked for the penny-pinching Anthony J. Lyon and never failed to find dangerous dames and double-crosses as he hustled for that ten a day. We'll hear Jack Webb as Regan in "The Too Many Mrs. Rogers" (originally aired on CBS on October 9, 1948). Then, Frank Graham is the detective in "The Two Little Sisters" (originally aired on CBS on November 16, 1949).

Though it was one of radio's most popular shows, The Fat Man left the airwaves in 1951 - a victim of the same anti-Communist hysteria that jailed its creator Dashiell Hammett. But in 1954, an Australian radio series, using scripts from the American show, was launched and its surviving shows give us a chance to hear more from this XXL private eye. We'll hear Lloyd Berrell starring in "Murder and the Peacock" and "Murder Shows a Phantom Face."

To old time radio fans, Steve Dunne is best known for his single season as Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade. Dunne stepped into the private eye's shoes when the program was resurrected following a cancellation, and he remained in the role until Sam closed up shop for good in 1951. We'll hear Dunne in his very first Spade adventure (originally aired on NBC on November 17, 1950) as well as "The Crab Louie Caper" (originally aired on NBC on January 12, 1951). Plus, we'll hear Dunne as a crimesolving psychologist in Danger, Dr. Danfield in an episode originally aired on ABC on November 17, 1946.

On October 3, 1955, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar returned to CBS after a year-long hiatus. The adventures of "the man with the action-packed expense account" were revamped into a serial, with a complete adventure playing out each weeknight. Bob Bailey stepped into the shoes of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator," and it was a perfect marriage of actor and character. We'll hear that very first five-part mystery - "The McCormack Matter" (originally aired on CBS between October 3 and October 7, 1955).

Haul out the holly - it's time for the "Down These Mean Streets" holiday special. We're wrapping up 2017 with Christmas capers from four old time radio sleuths. First, Natalie Masters is Candy Matson, the gorgeous girl detective of San Francisco, in "Jack Frost" (originally aired on NBC on December 10, 1949). Next, Dick Powell and his Richard Diamond cast of characters present their version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (originally aired on NBC on December 24, 1949). Then, Bob Bailey files a holiday expense account as Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: "The Missing Mouse Matter" (originally aired on CBS on December 23, 1956). Finally, we head to the Big Apple for Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover in "Santa Takes a Powder" from Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1949).

Head down to 417 Cherry Street for a drink and a set from Pete Kelly and his jazz band. Jack Webb combines his love of jazz and his unique style of radio crime drama in Pete Kelly's Blues, a short-lived series from the summer of 1951. The show featured great tunes and downbeat stories of the Prohibition era, and it inspired a 1955 feature film. We'll hear a pair of episodes - "The Veda Brand Story" (originally aired on NBC on July 11, 1951) and "Dr. Jonathan Budd and the Dutchman" (originally aired on NBC on September 12, 1951).

Two of old time radio's crime solving couples are on hand to mix marriage and mayhem in a pair of mysteries. First, Richard Denning and Barbara Britton are amateur sleuths Mr. and Mrs. North in "Too Late to Die" (an Armed Forces Radio Service rebroadcast of a show originally aired on CBS on December 15, 1953). Then, Mandel Kramer is private eye Pat Abbott and Claudia Morgan is his wife Jean in "The Gentleman in the Nile Green Suit" from The Adventures of the Abbotts (an Armed Forces Radio Service rebroadcast of a show originally aired on NBC on May 29, 1955).

We’re running a special edition to salute the radio crime fighters of the Fourth Estate – three newsmen who used the power of the press to solve crimes and keep their cities free of corruption. First, Staats Cotsworth is Casey, Crime Photographer in “The Blonde’s Lipstick” (originally aired on CBS on November 6, 1947). Then, editor Steve Wilson and reporter Lorelei Kilbourne fight the rackets of Big Town. Edward Pawley and Fran Carlon star in “The Final Payment” (originally aired on NBC on September 21, 1948). Finally, Frank Lovejoy is Chicago reporter Randy Stone in “Byline for Frank” from Night Beat (originally aired on NBC on June 29, 1951).

We tip our fedora to Howard Duff in honor of the star’s November 24th birthday. To celebrate, we’ll hear him in his signature role as Dashiell Hammett’s famous private detective Sam Spade. With his wry humor and unique take on the material, Duff as Spade gave us one of the best gumshoes of the era. We’ll hear him in two episodes of The Adventures of Sam Spade: “The Bow Window Caper” (originally aired on CBS on November 9, 1947) and “The Stopped Watch Caper” (originally aired on CBS on April 10, 1949). Finally, Sam gets his craziest caper ever when he meets Gracie Allen in a comedy episode from February 10, 1949.

To keep you smiling on Thanksgiving, here’s a comedy side dish courtesy of Eve Arden as Our Miss Brooks. Jeff Chandler – radio’s Michael Shayne – co-stars alongside the amazing Ms. Arden in this Turkey Day story about a live turkey slated to be guest of honor at the Madison High feast. Co-starring Gale Gordon (The Casebook of Gregory Hood), this episode originally aired on CBS on November 19, 1950.

Don’t touch that dial – the thrilling conclusion of our Superman-Batman radio team-up is coming your way. The Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader are fighting to save Robin and Jimmy Olsen in the exciting final chapters of “The Monkey Burglar,” originally aired on The Adventures of Superman on the Mutual Network between February 19 and 25, 1947.

The Man of Steel and the Dynamic Duo are teaming up to keep the airwaves safe! We’ll hear a serialized story from The Adventures of Superman that brings Batman and Robin to Metropolis to join forces with Superman. Bud Collyer is Superman, Matt Crowley is Batman, and Ronald Liss is Robin in “The Monkey Burglar,” a story that finds Robin as a prime suspect for a series of daring robberies. We’ll hear the first five installments, originally aired on the Mutual Network between February 12 and February 18, 1947.

We're putting our little grey cells to work as Hercule Poirot solves two old time radio mysteries. Agatha Christie's brilliant Belgian detective is back on the big screen, and we'll hear two of his adventures from the airwaves. First, Maurice Tarplin is Poirot in an adaptation of Christie's "The Tragedy at Marsdon Manor," originally aired on Murder Clinic on October 6, 1942. Then, Harold Huber steps in for "Murder is a Private Affair," an episode of Hercule Poirot (originally aired on Mutual on November 23, 1945).

Need a case closed and a tune carried? Dick Powell is your man. The crooner reinvented his career when he played Philip Marlowe on screen, and he starred in a pair of radio detective shows as glib but tough private investigators. In honor of Powell’s birthday, we’ll hear two of his mysteries: as Richard Rogue, he solves “The Impossible Murder” from Rogue’s Galley (originally aired on Mutual on May 16, 1946). Then, as Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Powell tackles “The Big Foot Grafton Case” (originally aired on NBC on August 30, 1950).

Herbert Marshall travels the globe as the dashing and debonair Man Called X. Dispatched on international adventures, the Man Called X is really secret agent Ken Thurston, enemy to spies, saboteurs, and insurgents wherever they may lurk. Marshall gave radio a suave super spy in one of the best espionage programs of the era. We’ll hear Ken Thurston in “Japanese Underground” (originally aired on NBC on January 20, 1951) and “A Ton of Dynamite” (originally aired on NBC on February 26, 1952).

It's alive...it's alive! It's the "Down These Mean Streets" Halloween special, presenting an old time radio chiller guaranteed to get you in the mood for trick or treating. We'll hear Herbert Marshall star in an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (originally aired on Suspense on CBS on November 3, 1952).

The game’s afoot as we join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in three of their old time radio adventures. John Stanley is the world’s most famous detective and Alfred Shirley plays his loyal companion and biographer in these original adventures that feature a locked room mystery, a ghostly menace to an old family, and a woman in fear for her life. We’ll hear “The Case of the Dog that Changed Its Mind” (originally aired on Mutual on September 28, 1947); “The Case of the Cradle that Rocked Itself” (originally aired on Mutual on November 30, 1947); and “The Case of the Very Best Butter” (originally aired on Mutual on April 18, 1948).

“Are you packing?” “Yes dear, I’m putting away this liquor.” William Powell and Myrna Loy are back as Dashiell Hammett’s husband and wife crime solvers Nick and Nora Charles as The Lux Radio Theatre presents After the Thin Man. The sequel to the smash hit comedy mystery hit the big screen in 1936, and four years later the stars reunited to recreate the film for the airwaves. Join Mr. and Mrs. Charles as they solve a New Year’s Eve murder in this episode originally aired on CBS on June 17, 1940.

It's another case for Nick Carter, Master Detective - two of them, in fact - as Lon Clark stars as "that most famous of all manhunters." Carter sprang from the pages of pulp magazines and solved crimes on radio for twelve years. Clark voiced the super sleuth for the entire run of the program, and we'll hear him in two of his adventures. Charlotte Manson co-stars as Patsy Bowen, Nick's loyal secretary, in "The Case of the Make Believe Murder" (originally aired on Mutual on July 22, 1945) and "The Case of the Dictaphone Murder" (originally aired on Mutual on June 4, 1946).

It’s Broadway – “the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world.” Join Detective Danny Clover as he fights crime in the Big Apple in one of the all-time great radio detective shows Broadway is My Beat. Larry Thor stars as Clover, the cop with the soul of a poet who wears his heart on his sleeve, in a show unlike any other radio crime drama. We’ll hear “The Secretarial School Triangle Murder” (originally aired on CBS on April 12, 1952) and “The Manipulative Magnate Murder” (originally aired on CBS on June 13, 1953).

On September 30, 1962, the Golden Age of Radio came to a close with the final broadcasts of Suspense and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. The man with the action-packed expense account solved crimes right up until the end of the era as he wrapped up a thirteen-year career of radio crimefighting. For those final years, Mandel Kramer starred as America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator, and we’ll hear his final radio adventures: “The Deadly Crystal Matter” (originally aired on CBS on September 23, 1962) and “The Tip-Off Matter” (originally aired on September 30, 1962).

Jeff Chandler trades the biology lab for the back alleys and swamps of New Orleans as Brett Halliday’s “reckless, red-headed Irishman” Michael Shayne. Chandler, known to radio fans as bashful science teacher Philip Boynton in Our Miss Brooks, gave radio one of its toughest, most two-fisted private eyes in a sensational syndicated series. We’ll hear Chandler as Shayne in all of his ultra-hard-boiled glory in three radio mysteries: “The Hate That Killed,” “The Case of the Deadly Dough,” and “The Case of the Bayou Monster.”

If you head down to Pier 19 at the San Francisco waterfront, you’ll find Pat Novak For Hire renting boats and doing anything else to keep a few steps ahead in one of radio’s best noir detective dramas. Featuring duplicitous dames, gun-toting toughs, and dialogue right out of a pulp novel, the series packed a punch then and now. Jack Webb stars as Novak in a pair of episodes: “Father Leahy” and “Geranium Plant.” Then, Ben Morris is Novak in “The Mysterious Set of Books” (originally aired on ABC on August 10, 1947).

It's a birthday bash for Shane star Alan Ladd as we spotlight three of the legendary actor's old time radio performances. First, he recreates one of his movie roles in Dashiell Hammett's The Glass Key for The Screen Guild Theatre (originally aired on CBS on July 22, 1946). Then, Ladd stars as mystery writer and amateur sleuth Dan Holiday in two syndicated episodes of Box 13 - "Hot Box" and "The Better Man."

Heaven help evildoers when The Saint is on the case. Simon Templar – “the Robin Hood of modern crime” – came to the airwaves after thrilling audiences in stories by Leslie Charteris and in big screen outings starring George Sanders. The most celebrated radio Saint was Vincent Price, the future horror legend of the movies, who voiced Templar from 1947 until 1951. We’ll hear Price in a pair of Saint episodes: “A Real Gone Guy” (originally aired on NBC on July 2, 1950) and “Simon Minds the Baby” (originally aired on NBC on December 17, 1950).

It takes a thief to catch a thief (or con man or killer), and Boston Blackie is on the case! The reformed safecracker turned detective uses his intimate knowledge of the underworld to track down dangerous criminals and to clear his name with the irascible Inspector Farraday. We'll hear Chester Morris as Blackie in "The Jonathan Diamond" (originally aired on NBC on June 23, 1944). Then, Richard Kollmar steps in for the syndicated episodes "Uncle Bill Blaine's Legacy" and "Charlie Kingston and the Disappearing Office Building."

Frank Sinatra trades crooning for crime solving as Rocky Fortune. For a single season, Old Blue Eyes starred as Rocky, a footloose, fancy-free, and frequently unemployed young man whose weekly search for a job results in full-time employment with dangerous adventure. It was Sinatra's only regular dramatic role on radio, and the Chairman of the Board is in fine form in three radio mysteries: "Messenger for Death" (originally aired on NBC on November 10, 1953); "The Rodeo Murder" (originally aired on NBC on January 12, 1954); and "The Museum Murder" (originally aired on NBC on January 19, 1954).

“Down These Mean Streets” presents our annual birthday salute to the master of big screen mystery and suspense – Alfred Hitchcock. The legendary director saw several of his classic films recreated for the airwaves during the Golden Age of Radio. In this bonus episode, we’ll hear one of those star-studded adaptations as The Lux Radio Theatre presents “Notorious” (originally aired on CBS on January 26, 1948). Ingrid Bergman reprises her screen role of a woman pulled into the dangerous world of espionage, with Joseph Cotten as her handler and lover.

Get ready for fast-paced mystery and excitement with Casey, Crime Photographer – the ace cameraman who covers the news at the same time he makes headlines. Along with reporter Ann Williams and Captain Logan of the police, Casey gets the facts of the stories behind his pictures and always manages to catch the guilty party in time to make the next edition of the paper. We’ll hear Staats Cotsworth as Casey in “The Surprising Corpse” (originally aired on CBS on January 16, 1947) and “Miscarriage of Justice” (originally aired on CBS on October 2, 1947).

In this special bonus episode, we salute the late June Foray - the titan of voice acting who passed away July 26th just shy of her 100th birthday. From Rocky Squirrel to Witch Hazel to Cindy Lou Who, chances are you've heard and enjoyed her work from a career that stretched over eighty years. Among her many radio credits is The Stan Freberg Show, one of the absolute best comedies radio ever produced and as a tribute to June Foray we'll hear two episodes (originally aired on CBS on July 21 and 28, 1957) that show off her amazing voice. 

Sam Spade - Dashiell Hammett's San Francisco shamus of The Maltese Falcon - was a hit with audiences when he came to radio in July 1946. The mix of tongue in cheek comedy with hard-boiled mystery, combined with the memorable performance of Howard Duff in the title role, made for a series that still holds up today and stands as one of the very best the era had to offer. We'll hear Duff as Spade in "The Missing Newshawk Caper" (originally aired on CBS on July 18, 1948) and "The Vaphio Cup Caper" (originally aired on CBS on August 22, 1948). Then Steve Dunne steps into Sam's shoes for "The Chateau McLeod Caper" (originally aired on NBC on January 26, 1951).

Planning to break the law in Texas? You'd better make other plans, because Joel McCrea is fighting crime on foot and on horseback in Tales of the Texas Rangers. As Ranger Jayce Pearson, McCrea stars in dramatizations of actual Ranger cases, presenting a combination of old west manhunting and twentieth century forensic science to bring in the guilty. We'll hear Pearson patrol the Lone Star State in "Play for Keeps" (originally aired on NBC on September 2, 1950) and "Fugitive Trail" (originally aired on NBC on October 21, 1951).

Perhaps the only radio detective star to have actually worked as a real-life private eye, William Gargan played several gumshoes on the air, as well as the big and small screens. He was most famous on radio as Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator but he gave voice to other hard-boiled private eyes with wry senses of humor. Today, William Gargan stars as two of those old time radio crime-solvers. First, he's Ross Dolan, ex-sailor and shamus in I Deal in Crime. We'll hear him in the premiere episode of that series (originally aired on ABC on January 21, 1946). Then he's Barrie Craig in "The Sneak Assassin" (originally aired on NBC on November 21, 1954).

Pack your bags - this week, we're joining Steve Mitchell on another Dangerous Assignment. Brian Donlevy stars as Mitchell, the two-fisted spy dispatched all around the world on thrilling adventures and top secret missions. In this pair of international mysteries, Steve Mitchell is on the trail of a pair of missing scientists (in an episode originally aired on NBC on April 24, 1950); and he heads down south to find a stolen Civil War map (in an episode originally aired on NBC on December 16, 1950).

S.S. Van Dine’s Philo Vance – perhaps the quintessential gentleman detective – was a hit in print and on the big screen where he was played by Basil Rathbone and William Powell, among others. He eventually came to radio in several incarnations, each making the snobbish sleuth more down to earth and likable. We’ll hear Jose Ferrer as Vance in “The Case of the Girl Who Came Back” (a rebroadcast from the Armed Forces Radio Service Mystery Playhouse). Then, Jackson Beck steps into Vance’s shoes in “The Motor Murder Case” and “The Mathematical Murder Case.”

Long before he was an award-winning journalist, Mike Wallace was a radio announcer and actor. The longtime correspondent for 60 Minutes had a stint as a radio crime solver when he starred as Lt. Lou Kagel, a New York cop who investigated Crime on the Waterfront. Though the show didn’t materialize into a series, both audition recordings survive and give us the chance to hear the celebrated newsman in a dramatic detective role. We’ll hear the two audition recordings from February 24 and March 1, 1949.