Old Time Radio Crime & Detectives

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 end with Diamond at the piano, singing a popular song to his girlfriend, Helen Asher. This radio program was later adapted successfully to television. 

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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."
• Each episode typically began with a crime or incident reported by a phone call to the precinct desk. The story then followed the officers—from the initial response to the final report—detailing the investigation, which often involved not just the main crime but also the routine, personal, and professional problems of the officers.
• The primary character and narrator was the commanding officer, Captain Frank Kennelly, who served as the listener's guide through the day-to-day operations and challenges of the precinct. Everett Sloane played Captain Kennelly for the majority of the series.
• The show was produced with the official cooperation of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York, and its stories were presented as adaptations of true criminal records, giving it an added layer of realism. The production used no theme or transitional music, instead relying on sound effects (typewriters, telephones, footsteps) to create an authentic atmosphere of the bustling police station.

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator was an old-time radio detective drama that aired on NBC from 1951 to 1955. The series starred William Gargan as Barrie Craig, a suave, laid-back private investigator who operated from a Madison Avenue office in New York City. Unlike the stereotypical "hard-boiled" private eyes of the era, Craig was known for his calm, methodical approach and professionalism, with his business motto being "your man when you can't go to the cops—confidentiality a specialty." Each episode featured Craig solving various mysteries, from routine missing persons cases to complex conspiracies, often working alongside his police contact, Lt. Travis Rogers.

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

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 radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon