Brett’s Old Time Radio Show

By: Brett Orchard
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  • Summary

  • Let’s sit back, dim the lights and journey to the amazing old time radio shows of yesterday. Join me whilst we listen to some of the great shows from our radio archives right here on the South Coast of the UK. Outside it’s cold and dark, the waves are crashing on the rocks below but we’re sitting in front of a roaring fire with a hot drink, and I have some fantastic stories to share.
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Episodes
  • Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 855, The Man Called X, Dope Smuggling

    Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 855, The Man Called X, Dope Smuggling
    Mar 9 2025

    🎙️ Welcome to Brett’s Old Time Radio Show! 📻

    Good evening, and a warm welcome back to the show! I hope you’ve had a fantastic day and that you're ready to unwind with another journey into the golden age of radio.

    I’m Brett, your host for this evening, speaking to you from my home by the beautiful Lyme Bay. It’s a perfect night looking out of my studio window across the bay, and I hope the week is treating you kindly wherever you’re tuning in from.

    Tonight, we’re once again dusting off the old studio archives to bring you another classic gem from the world of Old Time Radio. So sit back, relax, and let’s step into a world of adventure, mystery, and timeless storytelling.

    📍 Find all my links at www.linktr.ee/brettsoldtimeradioshow 📸 Follow me on Instagram & YouTube: Brett’s Old Time Radio Show 📩 Send your feedback: brett@tourdate.co.uk

    Now, let’s turn the dial back in time and enjoy the show!

    #OldTimeRadio #Podcast #RadioDrama #ClassicMystery #RelaxAndListen #GoldenAgeOfRadio

    #TheManCalledX 🎙️🔎

    A thrilling #espionage radio drama (1944–1952) turned TV series (1956–1957). Agent Ken Thurston, aka "Mr. X" (played by #HerbertMarshall), tackled global threats with his comedic sidekick #PegonZellschmidt.

    🔹 #CBS & #NBC Radio 🔹 #BarrySullivan starred in the TV adaptation 🔹 Produced by #WilliamNRobson, written by #StephenLongstreet 🔹 39 episodes of spy action & intrigue!

    #ClassicRadio #OldHollywood #SpyThriller #TVHistory 🎭📡

    📻 The Golden Age of Radio: When the Airwaves Ruled Entertainment 🎙️

    Before television took center stage, the Golden Age of Radio (1920s–1950s) was the heartbeat of home entertainment. Families gathered around their radios each evening, transported into worlds of adventure, drama, mystery, and laughter. From thrilling detective tales and spine-chilling mysteries to heartfelt soap operas and lively variety shows, radio became the world’s first true mass media platform—uniting millions through sound alone.

    Innovations in broadcasting gave rise to legendary networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, and Mutual, shaping entertainment for generations to come. The immediacy of live performances, the magic of sound effects, and the power of storytelling made radio an immersive experience unlike any other.

    Though television eventually took the spotlight, the spirit of Old Time Radio lives on, reminding us of an era when voices, music, and imagination painted vivid pictures in the minds of listeners.

    #GoldenAgeOfRadio #OldTimeRadio #ClassicBroadcasting #RadioDrama #OTR #HistoryOfRadio
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    31 mins
  • Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 854, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, The Terrified Taun Matter

    Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 854, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, The Terrified Taun Matter
    Mar 8 2025
    Good evening and a huge welcome back to the show, I hope you’ve had a great day and you’re ready to kick back and relax with another episode of Brett’s old time radio show. Hello, I’m Brett your host for this evening and welcome to my home in beautiful Lyme Bay where it’s lovely December night. I hope it’s just as nice where you are. You'll find all of my links at www.linktr.ee/brettsoldtimeradioshow A huge thankyou for joining me once again for our regular late night visit to those dusty studio archives of Old Time radio shows right here at my home in the united kingdom. Don’t forget I have an Instagram page and YouTube channel both called Brett’s old time radio show and I’d love it if you could follow me. Feel free to send me some feedback on this and the other shows if you get a moment, brett@tourdate.co.uk Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar – The Man with the Action-Packed Expense Account For over a decade, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar reigned as one of the greatest detective dramas of radio’s golden age, captivating audiences with thrilling investigations, sharp wit, and a unique storytelling style. From its debut in 1949 to its final broadcast in 1962, it followed the adventures of Johnny Dollar—America’s “fabulous freelance insurance investigator”—as he tackled high-stakes fraud, mysterious disappearances, and deadly deceptions, all while meticulously documenting his expenses. Johnny wasn’t your typical gumshoe. He didn’t work for the police or a detective agency—his cases came straight from the world of insurance claims. Whether it was a suspicious death, a missing person, or a million-dollar con, Johnny took the case, traveling across the country—and sometimes around the world—armed with little more than his wits, a badge of credibility from his employer, and a knack for getting into trouble. The show’s signature format set it apart. Each story was told through Johnny’s first-person narration as he recounted his cases via his expense account. Every episode was peppered with dry humor and clever scene transitions: “Item seven, $1.25 – Lunch. It should’ve been steak, but something about the guy across the table made me lose my appetite.” These little details gave Johnny a personality beyond the typical hardboiled detective—he was a man who could be tough when needed but was also introspective, sarcastic, and at times, deeply human. Over its 12-year run, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar saw multiple actors bring the character to life. The early versions, played by Charles Russell, Edmond O’Brien, and John Lund, followed the standard private-eye formula. But the show hit its stride in 1955 when it was revived with Bob Bailey in the lead role. Under writer-director Jack Johnstone, the series adopted a serialized format, stretching cases across five gripping episodes each week. The extra time allowed for richer storytelling, deeper character development, and some of the finest radio drama ever produced. Fans widely regard Bailey’s portrayal as the definitive Johnny Dollar—equal parts tough, charming, and emotionally complex. Despite format changes and cast shifts, Johnny Dollar remained a staple of CBS Radio until its final episode on September 30, 1962—marking the end of the golden age of radio drama. Though other shows would attempt to revive radio storytelling in the years that followed, Johnny Dollar’s final expense report closed the book on an era of entertainment unlike any other. Even today, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar stands as a masterclass in detective fiction, blending action, intrigue, and a touch of humor with one unforgettable character at its center. 🎙 Podcast & Radio-Related Tags #Podcast #Podcasting #Podcasts #PodcastShow #PodcastAddict #PodcastLife #NewPodcast #PodcastEpisode #PodcastHost #PodcastLover #PodcastCommunity #PodcastRecommendations #PodcastDiscovery #ListenToThis #RadioDrama #OldTimeRadio #ClassicRadio #VintageRadio #RadioMystery #DetectiveRadio #GreatDetectives #RadioShow #AudioStorytelling #TrueCrimePodcast #HistoryPodcast 🔎 Detective & Crime Fiction Themes #JohnnyDollar #SherlockHolmes #TheSaint #GreatDetectivesOfOldTimeRadio #MysteryPodcast #CrimePodcast #RadioDetectives #OldTimeDetectives #FictionPodcast #TrueCrime #CrimeMystery #ClassicMystery #DetectiveSeries #RetroCrime #WhoDunIt 😴 Relaxation & Nighttime Listening #SleepPodcast #InsomniaRelief #RelaxingSounds #BedtimePodcast #ChillVibes #NighttimeListening #FallAsleepFast #Unwind #SleepBetter #SleepAid #RestfulSleep #SleepSounds #BackgroundNoise 🎭 Comedy & Classic Entertainment #ComedyPodcast #ClassicComedy #TonyHancock #HancocksHalfHour #SteptoeAndSon #BBCComedy #RetroEntertainment #VintageHumor #BritishComedy #GoldenAgeOfRadio #Devon #Seaton #Colyton #LymeRegis #EastDevon #UKPodcast #BritishPodcast #Bristol #SouthWestEngland #SpotifyPodcasts #ApplePodcasts #AmazonPodcasts #GooglePodcasts #BBCSounds #iHeartRadio #Radio4Extra #...
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    31 mins
  • Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 853, Philo Vance, The Case of the Cellini Cup

    Brett's Old Time Radio Show Episode 853, Philo Vance, The Case of the Cellini Cup
    Mar 7 2025

    Good evening and a huge welcome back to the show, I hope you’ve had a great day and you’re ready to kick back and relax with another episode of Brett’s old time radio show.

    Hello, I’m Brett your host for this evening and welcome to my home in beautiful Lyme Bay where it’s lovely December night.

    I hope it’s just as nice where you are.

    You'll find all of my links at www.linktr.ee/brettsoldtimeradioshow

    A huge thankyou for joining me once again for our regular late night visit to those dusty studio archives of Old Time radio shows right here at my home in the united kingdom.

    Don’t forget I have an Instagram page and YouTube channel both called Brett’s old time radio show and I’d love it if you could follow me.

    Feel free to send me some feedback on this and the other shows if you get a moment, brett@tourdate.co.uk

    #sleep #insomnia #relax #chill #night #nighttime #bed #bedtime #oldtimeradio #drama #comedy #radio #talkradio #hancock #tonyhancock #hancockshalfhour #sherlock #sherlockholmes #radiodrama #popular #viral #viralpodcast #podcast #podcasting #podcasts #podtok #podcastclip #podcastclips #podcasttrailer #podcastteaser #newpodcastepisode #newpodcast #videopodcast #upcomingpodcast #audiogram #audiograms #truecrimepodcast #historypodcast #truecrime #podcaster #viral #popular #viralpodcast #number1 #instagram #youtube #facebook #johnnydollar #crime #fiction #unwind #devon #texas #texasranger #beer #seaton #seaside #smuggler #colyton #devon #seaton #beer #branscombe #lymebay #lymeregis #brett #brettorchard #orchard #greatdetectives #greatdetectivesofoldtimeradio #detectives #johnnydollar #thesaint #steptoe #texasrangers

    Philo Vance: The Aristocratic Sleuth of the Airwaves

    Step into the world of high society, intricate mysteries, and razor-sharp deductions with Philo Vance, the brilliant and erudite detective who captivated radio audiences with his refined intellect and unrelenting pursuit of justice.

    Created by S.S. Van Dine, Philo Vance first appeared in The Benson Murder Case (1925) as a wealthy dilettante whose keen mind and extensive knowledge made him an indispensable crime solver. His friend, District Attorney Markham, relied on his unconventional methods, while the gruff Sergeant Heath barely concealed his exasperation. Vance was equal parts scholar, art connoisseur, and detective—a man whose cultured demeanor masked an unyielding resolve to untangle the most perplexing crimes.

    Vance’s popularity surged on the silver screen, where he was played by luminaries such as William Powell, Basil Rathbone, and Warren William. But it was on radio that his voice truly came to life. From 1943 to 1945, John Emery first gave voice to the suave sleuth. In 1945, the legendary José Ferrer brought his commanding presence to the role in an NBC summer series. Then, beginning in 1946, the masterful Jackson Beck took over, starring in over 100 syndicated episodes produced by Frederic Ziv, ensuring Vance’s legacy endured on the airwaves.

    The Voices Behind the Mystery 🎭 José Ferrer (1912–1992) – A titan of stage and screen, Ferrer’s performance as Cyrano de Bergerac earned him a Tony Award (1947) and an Oscar (1950), making him the first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award. He was a commanding presence in films like The Caine Mutiny and Lawrence of Arabia and left an indelible mark on radio with his portrayal of Philo Vance.

    🎙 Jackson Beck (1912–2004) – One of radio’s most recognizable voices, Beck’s rich baritone brought gravitas to Vance. He was best known as the announcer for Adventures of Superman, delivering the iconic introduction, and was the first voice of Batman’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth. His prolific career spanned decades, with appearances on Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, The CBS Mystery Theater, and many other radio dramas.

    With its mix of sophisticated deduction, high-stakes intrigue, and stellar performances, Philo Vance remains a golden-age radio treasure—an enduring symbol of intellect triumphing over crime.
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    32 mins

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