Old Time Radio Crime & Detectives

Rocky Jordan was a radio series about an American restaurateur in Cairo who each week became involved in some kind of mystery or adventure. The show was broadcast between 1948 and 1951. The two lead roles were Rocky Jordan and Captain Sam Sabaaya of the Cairo Police. For most of the show's history Jordan was played by veteran radio actor Jack Moyles, but he was later replaced by a movie star, George Raft, for the brief period in 1951. Jay Novello played Sabaaya throughout the entire series.

Hope you enjoy this episode of Rocky Jordan! 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

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

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

Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC radio in 1949, starring Dick Powell as a witty, sophisticated private investigator. Known for his sharp humor and tough-guy persona, Diamond often clashed with criminals—frequently getting knocked out but never shot—all while solving cases with reluctant help from his friend, police Lt. Levinson. 

A unique touch was Powell crooning a love song to his girlfriend, Helen Asher (voiced by Virginia Gregg),at the end of each episode, blending noir drama with Powell’s musical roots. The series followed a consistent formula: Diamond faced danger, outsmarted criminals, and maintained a playful rivalry with Levinson,who joked about getting indigestion whenever Diamond called.
The show featured scripts by Blake Edwards and music by David Baskerville and Frank Wirth. After airing on NBC (sponsored by Rexall), it moved to ABC (Camel cigarettes) in 1951 and later CBS in 1953, though only reruns aired.

The series successfully transitioned to TV in the 1950s, with David Janssen as Diamond and early cameos by Mary Tyler Moore as the show’s iconic "mystery legs." The radio version stood out for its mix of hardboiled action, humor, and Powell’s charismatic performance.


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The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler as Philip Marlowe. He was a gritty, no nonsense American, hard-boiled detective; however, he was more complex than other hard-boiled detectives of the era. "Hard-boiled" refers to a gritter urban element to the detective genre. Marlowe could handle a gun and take a beating, but he was also college educated. He played chess and appreciated classical music. He had standards too, and he turned down jobs that didn't measure up to those standards.

Hope you enjoy this episode of The Adventures of Philip Marlowe! 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