Enjoy a series of unusual episodes of the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio including old time radio mystery movie adaptations from the Lux Radio Theater, Screen Guild Theater, and similar programs. As well as episodes Escape, Suspense, and Murder Clinic, along with some truly different programs including Roy Rogers, Mayor of the Town, Superman, and Cavalcade of America. Also comparisons of how two detective programs handle the same story.
Twice Told Tale: Dangerous Assignment: Guided Missile Plans and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Picture Postcard Matter (EP5055s)
Dangerous Assignment — “Guided Missile Plans”
Steve Mitchell is sent to Dublin to recover stolen microfilm containing plans for a new American guided missile. His pursuit of the suspected courier leads him through England, where two deaths and a series of seemingly innocent picture postcards provide his best hope for locating the missing plans before someone else gets to them.Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar — “The Picture Postcard Matter”
Johnny Dollar travels to Switzerland after $100,000 in uncut diamonds are stolen from a courier at the Zurich airport. His only lead is a mysterious informant offering to arrange their return, but Johnny soon finds himself caught between competing players while a picture postcard offers a cryptic clue to where the diamonds may be hidden.Original Radio Broadcast Dates:
Dangerous Assignment: August 30, 1950.
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: October 1–5, 1956.
Both programs are originating from HollywoodCast — Dangerous Assignment:
Brian Donlevy as Steve Mitchell
Herb Butterfield as the Commissioner
Written by Robert Reif (Bob Reif)
Music by Basil Adlam
Music conducted by Ralph Hollenbeck
Produced and directed by Bill Karn
Cast — Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar:
Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar
Lucille Meredith
Victor Perrin
Forrest Lewis
Stan Jones
Ben Wright
Written by Robert Reif
Produced and directed by Jack Johnstone
Musical supervision by Amerigo Marino
Roy Rowan, announcer
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30 Aug 2026
Dragnet: The Big Badge (Peggy Webber Special)
Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero hunt for the “Badge Bandit,” a violent criminal who poses as a police officer to rob and assault his victims. After weeks of investigation, the search becomes dangerously personal when Friday and Romero encounter the suspect during a massive overnight manhunt.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 4, 1950
Originating from HollywoodCast:
Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Barton Yarborough as Ben Romero
Peggy Webber as Joe Friday’s mother
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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Joey, Patreon supporter since June 2019
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Join us again tomorrow for another detective drama from the Golden Age of Radio.
21 Jun 2026
Lux Radio Theater: The Fallen Sparrow
Today's Mystery: After returning to New York following years of imprisonment during the Spanish Civil War, John McKittrick learns that a close friend has died under suspicious circumstances. As he investigates, he finds himself caught in a dangerous web of espionage, murder, and betrayal connected to secrets from his wartime past.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: February 14, 1944
Originating from Hollywood
Starred: Robert Young as John McKittrick, Maureen O'Hara as Elma Don, and Walter Slezak as Dr. Scoss.Also featuring Charles Seal, Charlotte Treadway, Ed Emerson, George Sorel, Griff Barnett, Howard McNear, Jay Novello, John McIntire, Norman Field, and Rene Gussaire.
Produced by Cecil B. DeMille.
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net (https://patreon.greatdetectives.net)
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Jeff, Patreon supporter since December 2015.
Support the show on a one-time basis at support.greatdetectives.net (https://support.greatdetectives.net)
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at survey.greatdetectives.net (https://survey.greatdetectives.net)
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook at facebook.com/radiodetectives (https://www.facebook.com/radiodetectives)
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Who has been a guest on Old Time Radio Mystery Specials
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sherman Marks
Arthur Sedgewick
Charles Mountain
Geraldine Kaye
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
5,197,220
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
14 ratings
Spotify
4.2 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 83 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
74
Social presence
91
YouTube
93
Engagement
92
Contact Old Time Radio Mystery Specials
Guest appearances
Books guests
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