Down These Mean Streets (old Time Radio Detectives)

The countdown to Christmas continues with more old time radio holiday comedies. First, Eve Arden hosts a Christmas party with yuletide magic in the air in Our Miss Brooks (originally aired on CBS on December 25, 1949). Then, Lucille Ball rounds up a gang of carolers to take a musical sleigh ride on My Favorite Husband (originally aired on December 23, 1949).

Say the magic word and join three old time radio detectives with something extra up their sleeves. Whether they used supernatural powers or just tricks of the trade, these masters of mystery and magic solved the crime with style. We'll hear an adventure of Chandu the Magician pitting the hero against a master schemer (originally aired on ABC on August 2, 1950). Then, art imitates life in Blackstone, the Magic Detective. We'll hear a pair of syndicated shows inspired by the life of magician Harry Blackstone: "The Coin of Cleopatra" and "The Accusing Corpse." Finally, two magicians - one good, one evil - pit their powers against each other in "The Battle of the Magicians" from Lights Out (originally aired on NBC on July 27, 1946).

With Christmas right around the corner, we're launching a month of holiday comedies from the golden age of radio. First, Bud and Lou trim the tree and get a visit from Santa in The Abbott and Costello Show (originally aired on ABC on December 24, 1947). Then, Phil Harris and Alice Faye enlist an old friend to play St. Nick in The Fitch Bandwagon (originally aired on NBC on December 21, 1947).

Wally Maher and Jeff Chandler starred on radio as red-headed shamus Michael Shayne, and each actor brought his own style to the detective. Maher, along with Cathy Lewis as loyal assistant Phyllis Knight, stars as Shayne in "Behind the Footlights" (originally aired on Mutual on August 27, 1945). Then, Chandler is ultra hard-boiled as Shayne in the syndicated mysteries "The Case of the Carnival Killer" and "The Case of the Eager Victim."

Before you dig in to your Thanksgiving dinner, enjoy a pair of Turkey Day comedies from the golden age of radio. First, My Friend Irma brings a live turkey for dinner (originally aired on CBS on November 15, 1948). Then, in Life with Luigi, J. Carrol Naish's Luigi finds himself without a dinner on the big day (originally aired on CBS on November 22, 1949).

Joshua Sharpe was a rarity in the world of radio private eyes. When he closed up his shop for the day, he headed home to his two kids who he raised as a single dad. His son and daughter gave him the affectionate nickname The Big Guy. Together, they starred in the unique radio detective drama where their family lives occasionally intersected with Sharpe's case of the week. Henry Calvin stars as the Big Guy in three radio mysteries: "The Unheard Voice" (originally aired on NBC on May 7, 1950), "The Case of the Villainous Friend" (originally aired on NBC on August 27, 1950), and "The Case of the Patent Leather Bag" (originally aired on NBC on November 5, 1950).

We kick off our Thanksgiving celebration with a pair of old time radio Turkey Day comedies. First, Jack Benny dreams he's the main course on the menu (originally aired on NBC on November 21, 1943). Then, Fibber McGee and Molly plan to dine out for Thanksgiving, but a tax bill casts a cloud over the celebration for Fibber (originally aired on NBC on November 22, 1949).

Our sleuths this week are men of the cloth as well as men of mystery. We'll hear Karl Swenson as G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown in "The Mystified Mind" (originally aired on Mutual on August 13, 1945). Then, a retired priest and a reformed ex-con join forces for justice in The Bishop and the Gargoyle (originally aired on NBC on July 14, 1940).

In honor of Veterans Day, we'll hear a pair of shows produced exclusively for our fighting men and women during World War II. Every week, the biggest names in Hollywood donated their time and talent to Command Performance, a showcase of sketches and songs designed to entertain the troops "till it's over - over there." We'll hear two episodes, both featuring longtime USO performer Bob Hope. First, Hope emcees and Lena Horne sings in a show from July 7, 1942. Then, Bob is joined by Bing Crosby in a show from September 25, 1943.

Dick Powell reinvented himself and embarked on a new phase of his career when he starred as Philip Marlowe in Murder, My Sweet. The noir drama broke Powell out of boyish leading roles in musicals and put him on the path to Rogue's Gallery and Richard Diamond, Private Detective. We'll hear him join co-stars Claire Trevor and Mike Mazurki in a Lux Radio Theatre creation of the film - a production that finds him facing off against future radio Marlowe Gerald Mohr (originally aired on CBS on June 11, 1945).

Americans head to the polls tomorrow after a long and contentious election cycle, and to celebrate the casting of our ballots I've got a pair of old time radio comedies that find our stars exercising their rights. First, Fibber McGee and Molly are poll workers (originally aired on NBC on November 5, 1940). Then, as Luigi Basco, J. Carrol Naish's misguided efforts to get out the vote land him in hot water on Life with Luigi (originally aired on CBS on October 31, 1950).

Candy Matson is on the case, so if you're a crook in San Francisco - beware! Natalie Masters stars as the glamorous and gritty private detective, one of the few female gumshoes to headline her own series during the golden age of radio. We'll hear two of Candy's capers: "The Eric Spaulding Concert" (originally aired on NBC on February 7, 1950) and "San Juan Batista" (originally aired on NBC on November 26, 1950).

We wrap up our month of Halloween comedies with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello hosting some of Hollywood's legends of horror. First, Peter Lorre offers Costello a trip to his sanitarium (originally aired on NBC on January 13, 1944). Next, Bud and Lou investigate Bela Lugosi's haunted house (originally aired on ABC on May 5, 1948). Finally, Lon Chaney, Jr. is after Costello's girl (originally aired on ABC on June 2, 1948).

As Halloween approaches, we'll hear Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson face off against supernatural foes - or at least foes who appear to be supernatural. Werewolves, ghosts, vampires - none of them stand a chance against the world's greatest detective. We'll hear Tom Conway as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Watson in "The Adventure of the Black Angus" (originally aired on ABC on October 19, 1946) and "The Adventure of the Carpathian Horror" (originally aired on ABC on April 14, 1947). Then, John Stanley and Alfred Shirley star in "The Case of the Sanguinary Spectre" (originally aired on Mutual on February 8, 1948) and "The Case of the Everblooming Roses" (originally aired on Mutual on May 16, 1948).

Celebrate Halloween with Jack Benny and his gang - Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Don Wilson, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Dennis Day - in a pair of old time radio comedies. First, Jack throws a Halloween party (originally aired on NBC on November 3, 1940). Then, a trick-or-treating prank on guest star Basil Rathbone backfires (originally aired on NBC on November 2, 1941).

Alan Ladd is back as Dan Holiday, writer and solver of mysteries in Box 13. Holiday hires himself out as an adventurer - all to get story ideas - with a tantalizing classified ad offering to "go anyplace, do anything." We'll hear the big screen star in a trio of syndicated old time radio adventures: "Actor's Alibi," "The Dowager and Dan Holiday," and "Last Will and Nursery Rhyme,"

Ghosts, ghouls, and grins are in the air with two more old time radio Halloween comedies. We'll hear William Bendix take a trip to a haunted house on The Life of Riley (originally aired on ABC on October 29, 1944). Then, Dorothy Lamour and Eddie Bracken receive a late night visit from Hollywood horror icon Boris Karloff on The Sealtest Variety Theatre (originally aired on NBC on June 23, 1944).

As he reinvented his career with an Oscar-winning role and a new recording contract, Frank Sinatra came to radio in his own detective drama. Sinatra starred as Rocky Fortune, whose weekly hunt for a new job landed him in cases of robbery, fraud, and even murder. We'll hear the Chairman of the Board in three radio mysteries: "Pint-Sized Payroll Bandit" (originally aired on NBC on October 27, 1953); "The Football Fix" (originally aired on February 2, 1954); and "The Twice-Murdered Man" (originally aired on March 9, 1954).

Our month of Halloween comedy kicks off with Eve Arden and J. Carrol Naish in a pair of trick-or-treating tales to keep you smiling like a jack-o-lantern. First, the Madison High gang is preparing for a Halloween party on Our Miss Brooks (originally aired on CBS on October 30, 1949). Then, Luigi celebrates his first Halloween in the USA in Life with Luigi (originally aired on CBS on October 30, 1951).

Sixty-five years ago, Bob Bailey stepped into the role of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator" and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar relaunched as a nightly serialized series. Those five-part stories rank among the best radio dramas of the era, and Bailey's performance as the ace detective is a big reason for the success of the series. We'll hear him in the complete five-part adventure "The Lorko Diamonds Matter" (originally aired on CBS between November 7th and November 11th, 1955).