Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

Episode: Richard Diamond, Private Detective – "The Man Who Hated Women" (07/16/1949)

Release Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Choice Classic Radio

Episode Overview

This episode features the popular postwar detective drama Richard Diamond, Private Detective. In "The Man Who Hated Women," Richard Diamond (voiced by Dick Powell) is drawn into a series of brutal murders targeting women. Under pressure from police and city officials, Diamond collaborates with his friend Lieutenant Walt Levinson to track down a deeply disturbed serial killer. The case blends hardboiled wit, grisly crime, and suspenseful investigation—a classic mix from the golden age of radio mysteries.

Key Discussion Points and Storyline Breakdown

1. Diamond’s Office: Heat, Humor, and a New Case

[01:18–04:09]

• Diamond opens with a trademark wisecrack about New York's extreme heat and his tendency to crack jokes even under uncomfortable circumstances.

• Background: Diamond is interacting with Helen Asher (his witty romantic interest), exchanging banter about his new hobby—knitting.

  • Quote:
    "I've dropped more stitches than the cross-eyed surgeon."
    — Richard Diamond [04:09]

• He’s soon called down to the Fifth Precinct by his police friend Walt Levinson for “something important.”

2. Police Headquarters: The Pressures Mount

[06:15–10:09]

• Diamond teases Sergeant Otis and Walt, displaying the show’s blend of humor and camaraderie.
• Walt reveals the gravity of the situation: a series of three brutal murders in three weeks, with no leads—every victim a woman, killed in a "gruesome" manner.
  • Quote:
    "Now, what about these killings? Each time they find some dame looking like the last of a hamburger sale."
    — Richard Diamond [08:50]
• The commissioner’s job is threatened if the murders aren't solved soon. Walt pleads with Rick Diamond for help.

3. Discovering the Latest Victim

[10:09–12:07]

• Diamond and Walt head to the latest crime scene on a rural road, where the body of a woman has been found.
• Local witnesses, Mac and Cody, recount discovering the body.
• They observe the crime scene, but it’s compromised by crowds and multiple cars obliterating any clues or footprints.
  • Quote:
    "Whoever the guy is that's pulling these murders is a complete lunatic."
    — Walt Levinson [10:47]
• Discussion: the killer likely used a car and is careful with his tracks.

4. Theorizing the Killer’s Pattern

[12:07–16:31]

• Back at the station, Diamond reviews the case files and starts connecting the sites of the killings on a map by drawing a circle.
  • This leads to a comically confusing exchange between Rick and Walt, showcasing their comedic chemistry.
  • Quote:
    "You lowlife. You conniving, dirty, underhanded louse. You always do this to me... Sit around and dream up little monstrosities to pull on the police force and use me as a guinea pig, right?"
    — Walt Levinson [13:31]
• Diamond realizes all the murders occur within a ten-mile radius, with a consistent timeframe around 3 a.m.
• They hypothesize the killer picks up women late at night, possibly from nightclubs or bars.

5. The Police Canvass and Diamond Investigates

[16:31–18:11]

• Police canvass every bar, café, and late-night spot within the zone, armed with pictures of the victims.

• Diamond himself covers venues on 46th–48th Street, ending up at a bowling alley lounge.

  • The bartender recognizes the photo of the latest victim, Martha Kirk, stating she frequented the place—often drunk, complaining about her family.
    • Quote:
      "Yeah, sure, I know this one. Comes in here about twice a week. Was in last night... Name's Kirk. Martha Kirk."
      — Bartender [18:11]

• He also recalls Martha leaving with a man the previous night around 2:15, a man known to pick up “strays.”

6. Setting the Trap

[19:20–21:12]

• Diamond calls Walt; they agree to stake out the bowling alley that night, waiting for the suspect to return.
• At 1 a.m., the bartender spots the same man enter, eyeing another vulnerable woman at the bar.
  • Quote:
    "Our big boy moved all right, right up to the seat next to the cute little girl. She was under full sail, didn't seem to mind at all. He landed at 1:15, 1:30. He'd established a firm beachhead and by 2:00 clock there was a flag raising."
    — Richard Diamond [21:12]
• Diamond insists they let the man attempt his pick-up, to catch him in the act rather than risk a technicality later.

7. Following the Suspect

[21:43–23:16]

• Diamond and Walt tail the man and his new companion to a parking lot.
• To prevent losing them, Diamond feigns drunkenness, distracts the couple, and arranges with the lot attendant to identify the killer’s car.
  • Diamond slips into the trunk to follow the couple, while Walt is to tail the car discreetly.

8. Climax: A Deadly Confrontation

[23:16–26:21]

• Hidden in the trunk, Diamond rides to an isolated spot as the suspect and the woman talk.
• The “big man” reveals growing hostility, blaming women for his problems and referencing his own wife.
  • Quote:
    "Women, that's what's funny. They're all the same, huh? Just like my wife."
    — The Killer [24:39]
• When the woman tries to escape, he chases her, knife in hand. Diamond intervenes just in time, drawing his weapon and stopping the attack.
  • Quote:
    "Drop the knife." — Richard Diamond [25:46]
    "I'll kill her. I'll kill her like the red one." — The Killer [25:56]
• The woman is traumatized but unharmed.
  • Quote:
    "You know something? ... I think that man was crazy."
    — Rescued Woman [26:21]

9. Denouement: Justice and Light-Hearted Relief

[26:44–28:46]

• The killer is apprehended. Walt receives official praise from the commissioner; Diamond is credited with the assist.
• Diamond visits Helen Asher to unwind, poking fun at her knitting hobby and sharing playful, affectionate banter.
  • Quote:
    "I need relaxing. You need relaxing? Oh, swell, Ricky. Come again. I know just a thing. No, come over here..."
    — Helen [27:42]
• Diamond serenades Helen with a soothing song ("Cruising Down the River"), returning the episode to its lighter, romantic tone.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Comic Bickering (Diamond & Walt):
  "You always do this to me. I think you sit around nights and pull the wings off flies."
  — Walt Levinson [13:31]
• High Stakes:
  "I've got to crack this case by next week or I'm out on my ear."
  — Walt Levinson [08:50]
• Defining the Killer's Mindset:
  "Whoever the guy is that's pulling these murders is a complete lunatic."
  — Walt Levinson [10:47]
• Cynical Wisdom:
  "A crime without motive is the toughest job in the world to crack."
  — Richard Diamond [08:18]
• Voice of Reason:
  "You know something? I think that man was crazy."
  — Rescued Woman [26:21]

Important Timestamps

• [01:18] – Diamond’s opening monologue; setting the scene and banter with Helen
• [06:15] – Initial consultation with Walt; pressure of the case revealed
• [10:09] – Arrival at latest murder scene; details of the discovery
• [12:34] – Diamond’s mapping theory and comic exchange with Walt
• [16:31] – Organization of police canvass; strategy discussion
• [18:11] – Bartender describes suspect and Martha Kirk’s last night
• [21:12] – Suspect observed making his move; Diamond’s plan
• [23:16] – Diamond in the trunk; trailing the suspect
• [24:37–25:46] – Confrontation in the woods; the attack and rescue
• [27:06] – Diamond’s post-case visit to Helen; affectionate banter and relaxation
• [28:46] – Soft musical close; return to romance

Summary

Richard Diamond, Private Detective delivers a mix of sharp wit, dark suspense, and classic detective action in "The Man Who Hated Women." The script balances gruesome crime and light-hearted repartee, with Dick Powell’s Diamond going undercover, risking his life, and finally saving a would-be victim. The episode showcases tight plotting and effective police work—woven with snappy dialogue and engaging character dynamics—offering a vivid slice of vintage radio detective storytelling.