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Gentlemen Detectives of Old Time Radio

Gentlemen Detectives of Old Time Radio

By: Adam Graham
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About this listen

 The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio presents the adventures of several amateur gentleman detectives who solve crimes with their wits and for the thrill of it.

A Life In Your Hands

The forgotten, underrated Erle Stanley Gardener-created radio series A Life in Your Hands remains a diamond in the rough. It was a summer replacement for NBC in four different seasons with three different actors playing the lead role.

In many ways, it was a legal fantasy. Jonathan Kegg, a wealthy lawyer who was allowed to enter cases as amicus curiae, a friend of the court. He would enter the courtroom representing neither prosecution nor defense and would cross-examine witnesses in order to determine what really happened. He’d never take a fee and never had a client other than truth.

While Gardner didn’t write the scripts, it reflected his high ideals. In real life, he and some colleagues worked for The Court of Last Resort, which would come to the aid of people who they believed may have been wrongfully accused. They would use all of their resources to uncover injustices, and if they found new evidence to suggest innocence, they’d fight to clear the innocent. .

Over four summers, A Life in Your Hands was an interesting, stimulating, and educational mystery program that’s well worth listening to for radio fans today.

The Casebook of Gregory Hood:

The Casebook of Gregory Hood began as a summer replacement for Sherlock Holmes over Mutual written by Sherlock Holmes writers Denis Green and Anthony Boucher. When Sherlock Holmes didn’t return, the series continued to air through the whole 1946-47 season and would return in 1948 with Elliot Lewis in the lead before moving to ABC and continuing to air episodes into the 1950s.

The series followed the adventures of Gregory Hood, a suave San Francisco importer who also found himself often constantly involved in homicides. He’s aided in his adventure by aide the more down-to-earth company attorney Sanderson Taylor.

The Private Files of Rex Saunders:

Rex Harrison was a popular actor in the 1950s (though he’s most remembered for his work in the 1960s) and so NBC gave him his own radio series, as they did to many well-known stars during the first few years of the 1950s.

In many ways, the series bore a strong similarity to the previous Bulldog Drummond series as Rex Saunders travels works with an assistant helping out damsels in distress. Rex Saunders even has the same foghorn opening. as Bulldog DrummondThe series lasted fourteen weeks and ended abruptly with the final episode announcing details of a fifteenth-week program that would never be aired. The strength of the series is Harrison’s charisma and a few clever writing touches.

Also featured in this feed are rare episodes featuring detective adventures with characters such as the Lone Wolf (Michael Lanyard) and A.J. Raffles as well as an audition for a series starring John Dehner as a crime-solving ex-judge.

Adam Graham hosts these old time radio episodes and they were originally released as part of The Great Detectives of Old TIme Radio podcast.2013-2020 Commentary Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • The Casebook of Gregory Hood: Murder in Celluloid

    The Casebook of Gregory Hood: Murder in Celluloid
    May 23 2025
    Release Date: February 11, 2014

    Gregory investigates a young actresses’ missing imaginary map and finds himself looking into murder and espionage.

    Original Air Date: July 1, 1946


    Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    GIve us a call at 208-991-4783

    Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Check out all our social media links and connect with us at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show more Show less
    31 mins
  • The Casebook of Gregory Hood: The Adventure of the Beeswax Candle

    The Casebook of Gregory Hood: The Adventure of the Beeswax Candle
    Feb 4 2014
    Release Date: February 04, 2014

    Sandy Taylor’s wife Mary disappears on a foggy night without a trace.

    Original Air Date: June 24, 1946


    Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    GIve us a call at 208-991-4783

    Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Check out all our social media links and connect with us at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show more Show less
    33 mins
  • The Casebook of Gregory Hood: The Murder of Gregory Hood

    The Casebook of Gregory Hood: The Murder of Gregory Hood
    May 9 2025
    Release Date: January 28, 2014

    Gregory Hood receives multiple death threats and after one close call, he decides to play dead while he solves his own murder.

    Original Air Date: June 17, 1946

    Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    Give us a call at 208-991-4783

    Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show more Show less
    32 mins
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I enjoyed the storyline however the music was grating on my ears and took up took much of the time aloted. I had to fast forward through all the numerous times music came on. Won't listen to any of this grouping of stories again.

Music

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Nice mix of analysis and the shows. Adam is the best at this because he cares!

Adam appreciates the art of OTR

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