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Welcome to Down These Mean Streets, a weekly trip back to the Golden Age of Radio where we rub elbows with the era's greatest private eyes, cops, and crime-fighters. Since 2013, I've been podcasting everything from cozy mysteries to police procedurals, spotlighting characters ranging from hard boiled gumshoes to amateur sleuths. 

Be sure to tune in each Sunday for adventures of a radio detective and the behind-the-scenes stories of their shows. Join me as we spend time with Sam Spade, Johnny Dollar, Sgt. Joe Friday, and more!

Jan 7, 2024

To kick off 2024, we're hitting the road with three old time radio mysteries centered on cars. First, Boston Blackie investigates a ring of car thieves after his girlfriend's wheels are swiped in a syndicated mystery starring Richard Kollmar. Next, the cops hunt a hit-and-run killer in The Line-Up (originally aired on...


Nov 27, 2023

Before the pre-holiday shopping weekend comes to a close, here's Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday in three authentic police histories from Dragnet. First, Friday is on the trail of a kleptomaniac in "The Big Shoplift" (originally aired on NBC on October 11, 1951). Then, a safecracker eludes the police in "The Big Safe"...


Nov 22, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving! As you hit the road, catch a flight, or start prepping the bird, enjoy five old time radio Turkey Day mysteries. First, Casey, Crime Photographer works to clear an ex-con framed for robbery in "After Turkey, the Bill" (originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1947). Then, Jack Webb encounters a...


May 29, 2023

In this month's bonus episode, we're headed to the San Francisco waterfront for my five favorite episodes of Pat Novak For Hire. Jack Webb stars as Novak - who makes ends meet by renting boats and taking odd investigative assignments, and who usually lands in hot water with the hard-headed Inspector Hellman of homicide....


Apr 2, 2023

We're celebrating Jack Webb's birthday with three of his old time radio performances. First, he's Jeff Regan, Investigator in "Cain, Abel, and the Santa Maria" (originally aired on CBS on September 11, 1948). Next, he co-stars with Joan Banks in "Danger is a Beautiful Blonde" - another strange story by The Whistler...