Crackling Airwaves Old Time Radio

Gang Busters was an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." It premiered on January 15, 1936, and was broadcast over 21 years through November 27, 1957.

A master of disguise, Mr. Chameleon changes his appearance every episode to track down the murderer. This rare detective old time radio show featured the winning combination of murder, millionaires, and mayhem. The show starred Karl Swenson as Mr. Chameleon, with support from Frank Butler.

This is Your FBI aired from 1945 to 1953. The show got the endorsement of J. Edgar Hoover and many times featured crimes that were well known at the time, told from the perspective of the agent working the case. The show featured Frank Lovejoy, William, Conrad, Betty White, and Herb Ellis to name a few.

The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a show featuring detective Philip Marlowe. Mr. Marlowe was a slightly more complex character than many of the more hard boiled detectives of the time. The show premiered in 1947 on NBC, then the show moved to CBS in 1948. Gerald Mohr played Philip Marlowe while on CBS.

The Whistler hosted a crime drama on radio, which ran from 1942 until 1955 on CBS. The crimes (fequently murder) dramatized in the show usually resulted in the perpetrator getting ironic justice in one way or another. Stars included Cathy Lewis, Elliot Lewis, Lurene Tuttle, and Gerald Mohr to name a few.

A master of disguise, Mr. Chameleon changes his appearance every episode to track down the murderer. This rare detective old time radio show featured the winning combination of murder, millionaires, and mayhem. The show starred Karl Swenson as Mr. Chameleon, with support from Frank Butler.

In an attempt to compete with the success of Dragnet, The Lineup featured realistic police situations. While the shows were fictional, they seemed realistic. Bill Johnstone played Lt. Ben Guthrie. The Lineup ran from 1950 to 1953 on CBS.

Famous Jury Trials was one of radio’s first courtroom dramas, beginning its run in 1936. The anthology program ran until 1949 and later became a television show of the same name. The show featured highly fictionalized versions of jury trials from history. Mutual Broadcasting carried the show until late 1940 when it moved to NBC.

Damon Runyon Theater was broadcast on radio in the late 1940s. Actor John Brown had the role of Broadway, the narrator, and portrayed a leading character in each episode. Russell Hughes adapted Runyon's stories. The cast included Anne Whitfield as Little Miss Marker, Gerald Mohr as Sorrowful Jones, William Conrad as Dave the Dude. Others included; Joe DuVal, Willard Waterman, Luis Van Rooten, and...

Cloak and Dagger premiered on the NBC Network on May 7, 1950 and ran through the Summer until October 22, 1950. It featured fictional stories of the O.S.S. during World War II. This well produced show featured Raymond Edward Johnson, Joseph Julian, Ross Martin, and Virginia Payne, along with other New York radio actors.

A master of disguise, Mr. Chameleon changes his appearance every episode to track down the murderer. This rare detective old time radio show featured the winning combination of murder, millionaires, and mayhem. The show starred Karl Swenson as Mr. Chameleon, with support from Frank Butler.

Being one of the first police dramas on radio, Calling All Cars began in 1933 on CBS and Mutual. It ran until 1939. It was sponsored by Rio Grande Oil Company. Chief James E. Davis of the Los Angeles Police Department hosted the show and Charles Frederick Lindsey, professor of speech education at Occidental College, was the narrator. Most episodes were written by William N. Robson, who also produc...

Michael Shayne, Private Detective was originally broadcast on the Don Lee Network and starred Wally Maher, with Louise Arthur and Joe Forte. Later, Cathy Lewis stepped in as the character Knight. In 1946 the show moved to the Mutual Network. The show was revised as The New Adventures of Michael Shayne with Jeff Chandler in the lead role, then further revised as The Adventures of Michael Shayne sta...

The Cavalcade of America is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company. It was initially broadcast on radio from 1935 to 1953, and later on television from 1952 to 1957. Originally on CBS, then later changing to NBC, the series pioneered the use of anthology drama for company audio advertising.

A master of disguise, Mr. Chameleon changes his appearance every episode to track down the murderer. This rare detective old time radio show featured the winning combination of murder, millionaires, and mayhem. The show starred Karl Swenson as Mr. Chameleon, with support from Frank Butler.

Dangerously Yours began its radio run in 1944. The show starred Victor Jory in the leading role. The show featured adventures about espionage, pirates, and romance. The show was sponsored by Vicks nose drops and vapor rubs.

Crime and Peter Chambers starred Dane Clark as private detective, Peter Chambers. The show was based on a book series written by Henry Kane, who also produced and directed the radio show. Peter Chambers ran from April 6, 1954 to September 7, 1954.

Counterspy first aired in 1942 on the NBC Blue radio station, and it's final seasons aired on Mutual Radio from 1953 to 1957. The original plots were counter-espionage in nature, while the post war plots involved a fight almost any kind of crime. Cast: Don McLaughlin as David Harding, Mandel Kramer as Peters.

Philip H. Lord helped create the show, Mr. District Attorney, which aired on NBC and ABC from 1939 to 1952. Mr. District Attorney cracked down on lawlessness like cons, murders, and kidnapping. The leading role was played by Dwight Weist, Raymond Edward Johnson, Jay Jostlyn, and David Brian. Vicki Viola was his secretary Edith Miller.

The Harold Peary Show aired on CBS from 1950 to 1951. The show featured well known radio actor Harold Peary starring as “Honest” Harold Hemp. It was a situation comedy about a radio show hosted by Harold Hemp, who interacted with various regulars in a similar way to the more well known series “The Great Gildersleeve.” Others in the cast included Kathyn Card, Jane Morgan, Sammy Ogg, and Gloria Holl...

It's a Crime, Mr. Collins was broadcast from August 1956 until February 1957 on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Greg Collins is a private detective whose adventures are recounted to “Uncle Jack” by his gorgeous, and sometimes jealous spouse, Gail Collins. The show starred Mandel Kramer as Mr. Collins.

Obsession was based on the premise that one's own obsessions can be dark and could lead one to a terrible end. It was produced by C. P. McGregor for WBBM Chicago. It ran from October 1950 to May 1952. Featured stars included Vincent Price, William Gargan, Miriam Hopkins, and Ruth Warrick, among others. The show certainly wasn't up to the standards of mystery dramas like “Suspense,” but it is well...

In an attempt to compete with the success of Dragnet, The Lineup featured realistic police situations. While the shows were fictional, they seemed realistic. Bill Johnstone played Lt. Ben Guthrie. The Lineup ran from 1950 to 1953 on CBS.

Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons was a show about a private detective, Mr. Keen, who, along with his sidekick, Mike Clancy, tracked down people who had disappeared. It began on the Blue Network in 1937, moving to CBS in 1942. The show moved to a half-hour format in November of 1943. The show enjoyed a long run, ending in 1955.

Lon Clark played Nick Carter, Master Detective. The character, Nick Carter, was first introduced in 1886, and first appeared in radio in 1943. The show ran until 1955 on the Mutual Radio Network. Other stars include, Helen Choate, Charlotte Manson, John Kane, among others.