Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

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!

Apr 27, 2014

Sixty-five years ago this week, Richard Diamond, Private Detective premiered on NBC, and listeners were introduced to Dick Powell as radio's singing private eye.  To mark the occasion, we'll hear Powell in two radio mysteries: "The Homing Pigeon Case" (originally aired on NBC on October 11, 1950) and "Blue Serge Suit"...


Apr 20, 2014

Nick Carter is one of the detective world's oldest characters, predating Sherlock Holmes by more than a year.  He thrilled fans in dime novels, pulp magazines, and movies before he came to radio.  Lon Clark starred as the brilliant private eye for twelve years on the air, and we'll hear him in "The Case of Shakespeare's...


Apr 13, 2014

Les Damon stars as Michael Waring, aka The Falcon, a suave private eye who offered "a hand to oppressed men and an eye toward repressed women."  The character was a combination of two other detectives, including the star of a popular B-movie series, and The Falcon proved popular with radio mystery fans during his...


Apr 6, 2014

In honor of his birthday, "Down These Mean Streets" presents an hour of old time radio crime drama starring the incomparable Jack Webb.  First, he's the no-nonsense Sgt. Joe Friday of Dragnet in "The Big Elevator" (originally aired on NBC on April 24, 1952).  Then, he's the hard-boiled Pat Novak For Hire in "Agnes...


Apr 2, 2014

In honor of Batman's 75th anniversary, we present a bonus podcast featuring some of the Caped Crusader's radio adventures.  We'll hear Batman and Robin co-starring on The Adventures of Superman, as they team up with the Man of Steel to save Lois Lane from a murder charge.  It all happens in the thrilling conclusion to...