Old Time Radio Crime & Detective Tales - VarietyFiction

Old Time Radio detectives and crime - sleuths from the golden age of radio. A fun variety of radio series featuring detectives, crime, mystery and police procedurals. Featuring Nick Carter, Johnny Dollar, Box 13, Rocky Jordan, Dragnet, Philip Marlowe, Richard Diamond, Sam Spade, Rocky Fortune and MANY more.


Old Time Radio Crime & Detectives

The Man Who Live Too Long - Nick Carter | 07/01/1945 (Ep190)

Mon, 02 Feb 2026
Nick Carter, Master Detective was a radio crime drama based on tales of the fictional private detective Nick Carter, first seen in 1886, from Street & Smith's dime novels and pulp magazines. Lon Clark played Nick Carter and Charlotte Manson played his assistant, Patsy Bowen. Nick Carter ran from 1943 to 1955. 

Hope you enjoy this episode of Nick Carter! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon

The Big Switch - Dragnet (AFRS) | 01/12/1954 (Ep230)

Sun, 01 Feb 2026
Hope you enjoy this episode of Dragnet! We run free OTR Crime, Detective and 4 other old time radio internet radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon

The Prodigal Daughter Caper - Sam Spade | 08/28/1949 (Ep166)

Sat, 31 Jan 2026
The Adventures of Sam Spade (1946-1951) radio series was loosely based on the private detective character Sam Spade, created by writer Dashiell Hammett for The Maltese Falcon. Film star Howard Duff played Sam Spade (also played by Steve Dunne at the end). Lurene Tuttle played Effie, Spade's secretary. Spade's character was the prototypical "hard-boiled" detective - an introspective, sharp witted, tough guy.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Sam Spade! Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon

Fake Amnesia Killer - The Saint | 11/13/1949

Fri, 30 Jan 2026
The old-time radio series The Saint ran at various times during 1945-1951. The series chronicles the escapades of Simon Templar, a character conceived by Leslie Charteris. Notably, Vincent Price's portrayal of the leading role garnered significant acclaim, as he infused the character with a distinctive charm and wit, contributing to its status as one of the most cherished radio programs of its era. The episodes of The Saint encompassed a range of themes, frequently delving into mysteries, adventures, and Templar's confrontations with various criminals and perilous circumstances, all approached with his unique style and ethical perspective. Price's interpretation is frequently recognized for imbuing the character with an added layer of sophistication and humor, setting it apart from other detective and adventure series of the time.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Saint! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon | iHeart

The Betty Moran Case - Richard Diamond | 05/29/1949 (Ep06)

Thu, 29 Jan 2026
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. 

Hope you enjoy the episode of Richard Diamond! Find all our OTR radio stations and podcasts at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | iHeart | Amazon | Spotify

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