Mystery/Detective
Calling All Cars
was one of the earliest police shows on the air. It ran from Nov.
29, 1933-Sept. 8, 1939. It’s sponsor was the Rio Grande Oil Company,
which is why the show only ran in areas where Rio Grande "cracked"
gasoline was sold. The sponsor promoted its "close ties" with
police departments in Arizona and Southern California, urging
listeners to buy its product for "police car performance" in their
own cars. As shows of this nature do it dealt with tracking killers
and robbers with a recap of the justice which was enforced.
So sit back with the precursor to Dragnet, and
enjoy over 69 hours, 135+ episodes of crime drama action.
The Green Hornet - He Hunts The Biggest Of All Game,
Public Enemies Who Try To Destroy
Our America, He's The Green Hornet. The Green Hornet utilized his car, the Black Beauty in his crime
fighting. He also used a gun which fired a knockout gas instead of bullets.
Assisting him was his Filipino valet, Kato. There are over 65 episodes
and better then 33 hours of extraordinary crime fighting and mystery
contained on the CD.
The Saint - Vincent Price
portrayed the Robin Hood-inspired crime-fighter Simon Templar, AKA The
Saint, in this popular series that ran from 1947 to 1951. A wonderful
detective drama, written by Leslie Charter, a Chinese-English crime
novelist. The scripts were fantastic as were the cast of characters and the
music. There are over 90 episodes
and better then 45 hours of detective drama contained on the CD.
Dragnet -
Dragnet was a long-running, thirty-minute radio and television police
procedural. It featured actual cases taken from the files of the Los
Angeles Police Department. Jack Webb directed Dragnet and also played
Detective Sergeant Joe Friday, the star of the show.
There are over 295 episode and better than 147 hours
of police drama contained on the CD.
Boston Blackie
- This radio series starring
Chester Morris, began June 23, 1944, on NBC as a summer replacement for The
Amos 'n' Andy Show. Sponsored by Rinso, the series continued until September
15, 1944. Harlow Wilcox was the show's announcer. Boston Blackie was a fictional character who has been on both sides
of the law. As originally created by author Jack Boyle, he was a
safecracker, a hardened criminal who had served time in a California prison.
Prowling the underworld as a detective in adaptations for films, radio and
television, the detective Boston Blackie was "an enemy to those who make him
an enemy, friend to those who have no friend." So grab a seat, your favorite beverage and enjoy
over 190 episodes and 80 plus hours of sleuthing.
Inner Sanctum Mysteries
- Inner Sanctum Mysteries was a popular old-time radio program that aired
from January 7, 1941 to October 5, 1952. Created by Himan Brown, the
anthology series featured stories of mystery, terror and suspense. The
tongue-in-cheek introductions were in sharp contrast to other shows like Suspense
and The Whistler. A total of 526 episodes are known to have been produced.
Of more than 500 programs broadcast, only about 100 remain in circulation,
sometimes minus dates or titles. So pick a Friday or Saturday night, curl up in
your favorite chair or couch; and, if it's a dark and stormy night, so much
the better. Then open the "squeaky door to Inner Sanctum and enjoy
over 180 episodes and better than 76 hours of spine tingling mystery, and
suspense.
Lights Out
- An old-time radio program
featuring "tales of the supernatural and the supernormal." It was immensely
popular, and was one of the first horror programs, predating Suspense and
Inner Sanctum. In its heyday, Lights Out rivaled the popularity of those
shows. It was adapted to television for five successful years in the early
1950s, but radio historian John Dunning reports that the legend of Lights
Out is firmly rooted in radio. So sit back and hold onto your popcorn while enjoying “tales of the
supernatural and the supernormal” and remember “Lights Out Everybody” - “if
you wish to avoid the excitement and tension of these imaginative plays we
urge you calmly but sincerely to turn off your radio NOW”. You have over 68 episodes
and 29 plus hours, so what are you waiting for!
The Whistler - was one of
radio's most popular mystery dramas. Who can forget: "Let that whistle be
your signal for the Signal Oil program, The Whistler." The writing was first
class for its genre, and it added a slightly macabre element of humor to its
often-paranoid crime stories. At night, glowing car radios illuminated
dashboards, and drivers traveled dark highways while the Whistler began his
ominous narration.
So for over 200 hours and better then 410
episodes sit back, turn down the lights and remember , “I am the Whistler, and I know many things, for I
walk by night. I know many strange tales, many secrets hidden in the
hearts of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. Yes, I know the
nameless terrors of which they dare not speak."
