Podcast
1001 Radio Crime Solvers
Hosted by Host Jon Hagadorn. All stories in public domain. · EN
Welcome to 1001 Radio Crime Solvers - where you can enjoy the best radio detective stories from the golden age of radio. This was a time when TV was still in its infancy and radio was in its creative heyday- using top writers and top talent to capture huge audiences, and shows featuring hard boiled detectives like Sam Spade, Richard Diamond, Philip Marlowe, and Johnny Dollar competed for prime time with mental sleuths like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown, and Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. And here you'll find standouts -like Dragnet's Joe Friday, Vincent Price's 'The Saint', and Michael Waring's free-lance troubleshooting investigator 'The Falcon'- to name a few. We release new episodes every Sunday at 5pm ET.
We're a proud part of 1001 Stories Network. www.1001storiespodcast.com.
158episodes
Episodes
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MURDER MISMANAGEMENT and DEATH IN THE DARK MR. AND MRS. NORTH
2d ago00:49:48Summary ready🎙️ SHOW NOTES — Mr. and Mrs. North: "Murder Mismanagement" 1001 Radio Crime Solvers Podcast In "Murder Mismanagement," Pam and Jerry North stumble into a case where confusion, crossed signals, and one very poorly planned crime create a mystery that only the Norths could possibly untangle. What begins as a simple social visit quickly turns into a tangle of mistaken identities, suspicious behavior, and a murder that seems to have been handled with astonishing incompetence. Pam's sharp instincts and Jerry's steady reasoning guide them through a maze of misdirection as they try to determine who is lying, who is panicking, and who is trying to cover up a crime that was bungled from the start. The charm of the Norths shines through as they navigate the chaos with humor, curiosity, and their trademark knack for being in the wrong place at exactly the right time. This episode is a lively blend of comedy and suspense — a reminder of why Mr. and Mrs. North became one of radio's most beloved light‑mystery series. 🎙️ SHOW NOTES — Mr. and Mrs. North: "Death in the Dark" 1001 Radio Crime Solvers Podcast "Death in the Dark" opens with a chilling premise: a crime committed in total darkness, leaving behind a room full of witnesses who saw nothing at all. Pam and Jerry North are drawn into the investigation when a seemingly ordinary evening turns deadly, and the clues point toward a killer who used darkness as both weapon and cover. As the Norths piece together the fragments of the night, they uncover hidden tensions, secret motives, and the unsettling truth that the darkness may have concealed more than just the crime itself. Pam's intuition and Jerry's calm logic make for a compelling investigation as they work to illuminate the truth — and expose a murderer who thought the dark would keep their secret. Atmospheric, clever, and tightly paced, this episode showcases the series at its suspenseful best. ⭐ Key Actors Alice Frost as Pam North — warm, witty, and endlessly curious, she brought the perfect blend of charm and intelligence to the role. Joseph Curtin as Jerry North — steady, good‑natured, and the ideal counterbalance to Pam's spirited energy. Together, they created one of radio's most memorable husband‑and‑wife detective teams. ⭐ How Popular Was Mr. and Mrs. North? The show was one of the most successful light‑mystery programs of the 1940s and early '50s. Its mix of humor, domestic charm, and clever crime solving earned it a devoted national audience. The popularity of the radio series helped launch a Broadway play, a long‑running book series, and a television adaptation — proof of just how beloved the Norths were across multiple generations. ❤️ THANK YOU TO OUR LISTENERS To all of you tuning in to 1001 Radio Crime Solvers, thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for these classic radio mysteries. Your loyalty keeps these stories alive and helps us bring new episodes to the microphone every week. Stay close — another great mystery is already on the way.
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THE CASE OF THE HEAVENLY BODY and DON'T CRY WOLF MR. AND MRS. NORTH
3d ago00:51:31Summary ready🎙️ SHOW NOTES — Mr. and Mrs. North: "The Case of the Heavenly Body" at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers Podcast In "The Case of the Heavenly Body," Pam and Jerry North find themselves drawn into a mystery that begins with a glamorous nightclub performer and ends with a very real crime. What starts as a lighthearted evening quickly turns serious when a star entertainer becomes the center of a dangerous situation involving jealousy, hidden motives, and a trail of clues that only the Norths seem able to untangle. Pam's curiosity and Jerry's steady logic make for a lively investigation as they navigate backstage rivalries, suspicious characters, and a puzzle that grows more complicated with every step. The charm of the Norths is on full display here — witty, observant, and always in the right place at the wrong time. This episode blends humor and suspense in the classic Mr. and Mrs. North style, reminding listeners why this husband‑and‑wife detective team became one of radio's most beloved crime‑solving duos. 🎙️ SHOW NOTES — Mr. and Mrs. North: "Don't Cry Wolf" at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers Podcast "Don't Cry Wolf" opens with a frantic plea for help — but as Pam and Jerry soon discover, not every cry for danger is what it seems. When a man insists he's being threatened, the Norths step in to help, only to find themselves caught between exaggeration, paranoia, and a very real threat lurking beneath the surface. As the story unfolds, Pam's instincts and Jerry's calm reasoning guide them through a maze of conflicting stories and suspicious behavior. What begins as a case of a man who may be "crying wolf" turns into a genuine mystery with stakes higher than anyone expected. This episode showcases the series' signature blend of light comedy and sharp detective work, with Pam and Jerry once again proving that teamwork — and a little intuition — can crack even the most tangled case. ⭐ Key Actors Alice Frost (Pam North) — brought warmth, humor, and quick wit to the role, making Pam one of radio's most endearing amateur sleuths. Joseph Curtin (Jerry North) — provided the perfect balance with his calm, good‑natured delivery and steady presence. Together, they created one of radio's most charming and believable married detective teams. ⭐ How Popular Was Mr. and Mrs. North? Mr. and Mrs. North was one of the most successful light‑mystery programs of the 1940s and early '50s. Based on the popular novels and Broadway play, the radio series ran for years and built a loyal audience who loved its mix of humor, domestic charm, and clever crime solving. Its success led to a long‑running book series, a hit Broadway production, and even a television adaptation — a testament to how beloved the Norths were across multiple generations. ❤️ THANK YOU TO OUR LISTENERS To all of you tuning in to 1001 Radio Crime Solvers, thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for these classic radio mysteries. Your loyalty keeps these stories alive and helps us bring new episodes to the microphone every week. Stay close — another great mystery is already on the way.
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THE BIG PRESENT and THE BIG ODD DRAGNET
5d ago00:53:35Summary ready🎙️ SHOW NOTES — Dragnet at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers Episode: "The Big Present" In this episode, Friday and Smith investigate what begins as a small‑scale holiday‑season theft — a missing gift that should have been an open‑and‑shut case. But as they interview witnesses and compare stories, the detectives discover that the circumstances surrounding the "present" don't add up. What looks like a simple act of petty dishonesty turns into a study in motive, pressure, and the lengths people will go when they feel cornered. Friday and Smith work the case with their usual steady precision, peeling back the layers until the truth emerges from beneath the sentiment and excuses. Tone: Human‑centered, understated, classic Dragnet realism Why it works: A reminder that even small crimes can reveal big truths about the people involved. Episode: "The Big Odd" This one opens with a crime that's anything but minor: a furniture truck hijacked, its driver kidnapped, assaulted, and left shaken, and the entire load stolen. Friday and Smith step into a case that's part robbery, part abduction, and all business. The detectives follow a trail built on careful interviews, physical evidence, and the kind of methodical legwork that defined Dragnet's style. As they reconstruct the truck's route and the driver's ordeal, a pattern begins to emerge — one that points toward a crew who know exactly what they're doing. The case builds steadily toward a clean, satisfying payoff as Friday and Smith close in on the thieves through solid police work rather than luck or theatrics. It's Dragnet at its best: procedural, grounded, and driven by the quiet persistence of two detectives who don't quit. Tone: Gritty, procedural, tense Why it works: A strong example of Dragnet's commitment to realism — showing how patience, detail, and teamwork bring down a dangerous crew.
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THE BIG KID and THE BIG FIGHT DRAGNET
1w ago00:49:10Summary ready⭐ "The Big Kid" — Summary DRAGNET at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers In "The Big Kid," Friday and Smith are pulled into a case that begins with a juvenile offender — a boy who seems too young to be causing the kind of trouble he's linked to. What starts as a routine pickup quickly reveals a deeper pattern of theft, manipulation, and a young suspect who may be far more cunning than his age suggests. As the detectives dig in, they uncover a troubling dynamic: a child caught between poor influences, bad decisions, and a growing criminal confidence that threatens to spiral into something far more serious. Friday and Smith must navigate the delicate balance between enforcing the law and understanding the pressures shaping the boy's behavior. The episode blends Dragnet's trademark procedural detail with a thoughtful look at juvenile crime — how it starts, how it grows, and how hard it can be to stop once a kid decides he's smarter than the system. ⭐ "The Big Flight" — Summary "The Big Flight" opens with a frantic call and a suspect on the run — a man who bolts the moment police try to question him, triggering a city‑wide chase that raises more questions than answers. Friday and Smith soon discover that the fugitive isn't just running from the law; he's running from a secret that could unravel a much larger crime. The investigation leads the detectives through tense interviews, conflicting witness accounts, and a trail of evidence that shifts every time they think they've pinned it down. As the chase intensifies, Friday and Smith must determine whether the suspect is a hardened criminal, a desperate man in over his head, or something in between. With its mix of suspense, methodical police work, and Dragnet's signature realism, "The Big Flight" delivers a gripping look at what happens when fear, guilt, and bad decisions collide — and how quickly a man can lose control once he starts running. ENJOY ALL OUR SHOWS AND EPISODES AT WWW.BESTOF1001STORIES.COM
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THE TOM WAXMAN BOMBING CASE and THE BLOODY HAT CASE RICHARD DIAMOND, P.D.
1w ago01:00:57Summary ready🎙️ SHOW NOTES — "The Tom Waxman Bombing Case" at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers A Labor Dispute Turns Deadly — and Diamond Follows a Trail Built on Fear and Fire "The Tom Waxman Bombing Case" opens with a blast — literally. A bomb detonates in the middle of a tense labor dispute, killing Tom Waxman, a man caught between union pressures and powerful enemies. Richard Diamond is pulled into a case where violence, intimidation, and political tension swirl together, and where every witness seems afraid to talk. Diamond's investigation takes him through union halls, back‑alley meetings, and the smoky corners of the city where deals are made in whispers. The deeper he digs, the more he realizes the bombing wasn't random — it was targeted, calculated, and meant to send a message. With his trademark mix of wisecracks and razor‑sharp instincts, Diamond pieces together a motive buried beneath fear, loyalty, and the dangerous politics of organized labor. Atmosphere: gritty, tense, industrial Themes: intimidation, corruption, the cost of standing up to power 🎙️ SHOW NOTES — "The Bloody Hat Case" A Hat Left Behind, a Trail of Blood, and a Case Where Every Clue Cuts Deep In "The Bloody Hat Case," Diamond is handed a single, chilling clue: a hat soaked in blood, found at the scene of a violent crime. There's no body, no witnesses, and no clear motive — just a grisly calling card that sends Diamond into a maze of false leads, frightened suspects, and a mystery that refuses to sit still. As Diamond interviews those connected to the missing man, he uncovers a web of jealousy, desperation, and long‑simmering grudges. Each clue pushes the case in a new direction, and the hat — mute, stained, and strangely personal — becomes the key to unraveling the truth. Dick Powell starred in the Richard Diamond, Private Detective radio series as a wisecracking former police officer turned private detective. Episodes typically open with a potential client calling on Diamond's cash-strapped office and agreeing to his fee of $100 a day plus expenses, or Diamond taking on a case for a former friend or partner. The show made it successfully to tv and Get all of our shows at one website: www.bestof1001stories.com REVIEWS NEEDED . My email works as well for comments: 1001storiespodcast@gmail.com SUPPORT OUR SHOW BY BECOMING A PATRON! https://.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork. Its time I started asking for support! Thank you. Its a few dollars a month OR a one time. (Any amount is appreciated). YOUR REVIEWS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS AT APPLE/ITUNES AND ALL ANDROID HOSTS ARE NEEDED AND APPRECIATED! LINKS BELOW.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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THE GIBSON MURDER CASE and THE BOGERS BILK CASE RICHARD DIAMOIND PRIVATE DETECTIVE
2w ago01:00:54Summary ready🎙️ SHOW NOTES — "The Gibson Murder Case" A High‑Society Murder, a Nervous Widow, and a Case That Turns on One Small Detail In "The Gibson Murder Case," Richard Diamond is pulled into the elegant but uneasy world of New York high society when a wealthy man turns up dead under suspicious circumstances. The Gibson household is full of polished manners and polite smiles — but Diamond quickly senses the tension humming beneath the surface. The widow is frightened, the relatives are evasive, and the servants know more than they're willing to say. As Diamond digs deeper, he uncovers a tangle of family resentments, financial motives, and carefully hidden relationships that all point toward murder. With his trademark mix of wisecracks and razor‑sharp intuition, Diamond follows a trail of subtle clues that lead him to a truth no one in the Gibson mansion wants to face. Atmosphere: elegant, tense, filled with quiet suspicion Themes: family secrets, greed, the danger of appearances 🎙️ SHOW NOTES — "The Boger's Bilk Case" A Smooth Con Man, a Trail of Swindled Victims, and a Chase That Moves Fast "The Boger's Bilk Case" throws Diamond into pursuit of a slick operator who's been running a clever confidence scheme across the city. The victims are embarrassed, the police are frustrated, and the con man — Boger — seems to stay just far enough ahead to make the chase interesting. Diamond's investigation takes him through cheap hotels, smoky bars, and back‑alley offices, each stop revealing another layer of Boger's elaborate bilking operation. The case becomes a battle of wits as Diamond tries to anticipate the next move of a criminal who prides himself on being smarter than everyone else in the room. With humor, grit, and a few close calls, Diamond closes in on a man who's been playing the long game — and playing it well. Dick Powell starred in the Richard Diamond, Private Detective radio series as a wisecracking former police officer turned private detective. Episodes typically open with a potential client calling on Diamond's cash-strapped office and agreeing to his fee of $100 a day plus expenses, or Diamond taking on a case for a former friend or partner. The show made it successfully to tv and David Janssen played Diamond- and if you can ever catch these shows they are pretty good- but so are the radio versions here! Get all of our shows at one website: www.bestof1001stories.com REVIEWS NEEDED . My email works as well for comments: 1001storiespodcast@gmail.com SUPPORT OUR SHOW BY BECOMING A PATRON! https://.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork. Its time I started asking for support! Thank you. Its a few dollars a month OR a one time. (Any amount is appreciated). YOUR REVIEWS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS AT APPLE/ITUNES AND ALL ANDROID HOSTS ARE NEEDED AND APPRECIATED! LINKS BELOW.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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THE CHARLES WILDE MURDER and THE PREMATURE CORPSE MR.AND MRS. NORTH
2w ago00:50:04Summary ready🎙️ SHOW NOTES — A Mr. and Mrs. North Adventure: "The Charles Wilde Murder" at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers Podcast A Literary Lion, a Deadly Secret, and a Case Built on Ego and Envy In "The Charles Wilde Murder," Pam and Jerry North find themselves entangled in the world of highbrow literature — a world where sharp tongues and sharper rivalries simmer just beneath the surface. When celebrated author Charles Wilde turns up dead, the Norths quickly discover that Wilde's brilliance came packaged with a long list of enemies, bruised egos, and people who wouldn't mind seeing him silenced. Pam's curiosity leads the way as she and Jerry navigate a circle of critics, protégés, and jealous colleagues, each with a motive that sounds more convincing than the last. The clues point in multiple directions, and the truth hides behind polished manners and literary pretensions. This episode blends sophisticated banter, intellectual intrigue, and classic whodunit tension, all anchored by Pam's sharp instincts and Jerry's steady logic. Atmosphere: urbane, witty, filled with artistic rivalries Themes: jealousy, ambition, the hidden grudges behind public success 🎙️ SHOW NOTES — "The Premature Corpse" A Man Who Should Be Dead, a Wife Who Isn't Talking, and a Mystery That Refuses to Stay Buried "The Premature Corpse" opens with a startling twist: a man reported dead… who may not be dead at all. When Pam and Jerry stumble into a case involving a supposed corpse that refuses to stay conveniently in the grave, they're drawn into a web of identity confusion, marital secrets, and a scheme that grows stranger with every turn. Pam's intuition kicks into high gear as she senses that the widow's story doesn't quite hold together. Jerry, ever the voice of reason, tries to keep the investigation grounded — but the clues keep slipping sideways, leading the Norths into a mystery where nothing is what it seems. The episode mixes dark humor, suspense, and clever misdirection
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THE BATON SINISTER and THE FATTED CALF ADVENTURES OF PHILIP MARLOWE
2w ago01:01:35Summary ready🎙️ "The Baton Sinister" A Philip Marlowe adventure at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers Podcast Podcast Show Notes (Noir‑Atmospheric, Spoiler‑Safe) A late‑night visitor brings Marlowe a strange request involving a family crest — a heraldic symbol known as the baton sinister, long associated with illegitimacy and old secrets. What should have been a simple inquiry quickly turns into a case soaked in family tension, hidden motives, and a past someone is desperate to rewrite. Marlowe's search leads him through dimly lit mansions, smoky bars, and the brittle world of people who have far more money than honesty. Every conversation adds another crack to the story he's being told, and every clue points toward a truth someone is willing to kill to protect. The case hinges on Marlowe's ability to read people as sharply as he reads evidence — and on recognizing that the past, no matter how deeply buried, has a way of clawing itself back into the present. A classic Marlowe blend of old secrets, sharp dialogue, and danger waiting just outside the pool of lamplight. 🎙️ "The Fatted Calf" Podcast Show Notes (Hard‑Boiled, Character‑Driven, Spoiler‑Safe) Marlowe is hired to track down a missing young man — a drifter with a troubled past and a knack for finding the wrong kind of company. What begins as a routine missing‑person job soon reveals a trail of desperation, betrayal, and a family trying to buy redemption with money instead of truth. As Marlowe follows leads through cheap hotels, back‑alley hangouts, and the darker corners of Los Angeles, he uncovers a pattern of behavior that suggests the missing man may be both victim and culprit. The deeper Marlowe digs, the more he realizes the case is really about guilt, forgiveness, and the price of bringing someone back into the fold. The turning point comes when Marlowe spots a detail everyone else overlooked — a clue that exposes the real danger behind the disappearance and the emotional stakes driving it. The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler's private eye, Philip Marlowe. Robert C. Reinehr and Jon D. Swartz, in their book, The A to Z of Old Time Radio, noted that the program differed from most others in its genre: "It was a more hard-boiled program than many of the other private detective shows of the time, containing few quips or quaint characters." In 1948, the series moved to CBS, where it was called The Adventure of Philip Marlowe, with Gerald Mohr playing Marlowe. This series also began with an adaptation of "Red Wind", using a script different from the NBC adaptation. By 1949, it had the largest audience in radio. The CBS version ran for 114 episodes. That series ran 26 September 1948 – 29 September 1950.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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THE CASE OF THE DEAR DEAD LADY THE NEW ADVENTURES OF NERO WOLFE
3w ago00:31:33Summary ready🎙️ "The Case of the Dear Dead Lady" Podcast Show Notes (Atmospheric, Character‑Driven, Spoiler‑Safe) A grieving husband walks into the brownstone with a strange request: he wants Nero Wolfe to stop his late wife's funeral. Not because he doubts her death — but because he's convinced someone murdered her, and he refuses to let her be buried before the truth comes out. Wolfe, intrigued despite himself, sends Archie Goodwin into a world of quiet resentments, hidden relationships, and a family that seems far too eager to move on. What begins as a simple question about a woman's final hours quickly turns into a tangle of motives: jealousy, inheritance, and secrets the "dear dead lady" may have carried to her grave. As Archie interviews friends, relatives, and the people who knew her best, contradictions pile up. Wolfe, from his chair in the brownstone, pieces together the truth from the smallest of details — a pattern no one else noticed. The case builds toward a classic Wolfe confrontation, where a single overlooked clue exposes the real cause of death and the person who had the most to gain from it. New Twitter address- @1001podcast Follow Us! Get all of our shows at one website: www.bestof1001stories.com REVIEWS NEEDED . My email works as well for comments: 1001storiespodcast@gmail.com SUPPORT OUR SHOW BY BECOMING A PATRON! https://.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork. Its time I started asking for support! Thank you. Its a few dollars a month OR a one time. (Any amount is apprecia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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MASQUERADE and RUNAWAY FROM MURDER MR. AND MRS. NORTH
3w ago00:50:23Summary ready🎙️ Episode Summary — "Masquerade" A festive masquerade party turns ominous when a guest's disappearance hints at something far more serious than a social faux pas. Pam's curiosity kicks in the moment she senses that the masks are hiding more than faces — they're hiding motives. As the Norths dig into the tangled relationships behind the party, they uncover jealousies, mistaken identities, and a secret someone is desperate to keep buried. A lively setting becomes the backdrop for a mystery where nothing — and no one — is quite what they seem. 🎙️ Episode Summary — "Runaway from Murder" at 1001 Radio Crime Solvers A frantic young woman on the run crosses paths with Pam and Jerry, pulling them into a case filled with fear, confusion, and unanswered questions. She insists she's fleeing danger — but from whom, and why, she can't fully explain. The Norths soon find themselves navigating a trail of half‑truths, suspicious characters, and a threat that grows sharper with every step. What begins as a plea for help becomes a race to uncover the truth before the danger catches up.
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