Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Episode 650: Leading Men of Mystery: Alan Ladd (Box 13 & Screen Director's Playhouse)
Release Date: January 4, 2026

Episode Overview

This special episode launches a month-long series celebrating “Leading Men of Mystery”—Hollywood stars who also voiced iconic radio detectives. The host begins the series with Alan Ladd, known for his hard-boiled film roles and as the voice of Dan Holliday in Box 13. The episode features two complete “Box 13” radio mysteries—“The Treasure of Hang Lee” and “Sealed Instructions”—with Alan Ladd in the lead, followed by a radio adaptation of the western Whispering Smith from the Screen Director's Playhouse, reuniting Ladd with his classic film character.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to Alan Ladd & Box 13

(Host, 00:59–03:00)

• Alan Ladd: Described as a “cool, tough customer” in noir films (This Gun for Hire, The Blue Dahlia, The Glass Key) and the legendary “Shane” in westerns.
• Box 13: Ladd’s radio persona, Dan Holliday, is a mystery writer who advertises for adventures. “Adventure wanted, will go anyplace, do anything, write box 13.”
• This episode features two Box 13 stories: "Treasure of Hang Lee" and "Sealed Instructions", plus a recreation of Whispering Smith from Screen Director's Playhouse.

Box 13: “The Treasure of Hang Lee”

(Begins at 06:41)

Set-up & Hook

• Dan Holliday receives a cryptic letter inviting him to buy a specific piece of jade from a Chinatown shop, following special instructions.
• Susie, his secretary, wonders: “Why should you reject the first two pieces?” (08:09)
• Holliday deduces it's a method of signaling the sender:

  “Well if I follow instructions, follow them exactly, I’ll be tipping myself to someone in the store.” – Dan Holliday (08:31)

The Jade Shop

• At Quan Hai’s Chinatown shop, Holliday follows the mysterious script, ultimately introduced to Mr. Kwan in a locked treasure-filled room.
• Mr. Kwan delivers philosophical wisdom on jade:

  “Confucius said that jade is like truth. It gives out a bright rainbow and it shows a pure spirit among the hills and streams.” – Mr. Kwan (13:05)

• The “Hang Lee” jade is not for sale—Kwan insists “the piece is yours” if asked for by name.

The Web Tightens

• Holliday is contacted by the letter writer—a woman named Greta Loring—who accuses him of murder, threatening him with a gun for the jade (17:33–19:04).
• She claims he killed her father for the jade, but Holliday maintains his innocence and notes “you said I seem to be much younger than you thought I’d be.” (19:16)
• Loring steals the jade and flees.

Murders & Revelations

• Holliday, tracking the mystery, finds himself amid more violence, a dead body, and further accusations. Mr. Kwan surfaces, revealing pursuit of his father’s killers for ten years.
• The plot anchors around a broken jade screen—three pieces needed to reveal a hidden treasure, each linked to a killing among former allies/traitors from China.

Climax

• All parties converge at Greta Loring’s apartment, with Mr. Kwan seeking justice for his murdered Taoist father and Benson (the true killer) trying to collect all jade pieces.
• Dramatic showdown: Benson is killed during a struggle, Mr. Kwan is fatally wounded, but the jade is finally united.

Conclusion

• The treasure turns out to be a proverb inscribed on the jade:

  “Happy is the man who is contented with his lot.” – Read from jade, (32:10)

• Holliday muses on the wisdom as Susie reflects:

  “I can’t think of anything silly to say.” – Susie (32:28)
  “That’s as it should be. Good night, Susie.” – Dan Holliday

Box 13: “Sealed Instructions”

(Begins at 33:31)

Set-up

• Holliday receives an urgent letter offering $10,000 for a mysterious assignment in the Philippines.
• Susie jokes about the sender: “I bet he’s an income tax invasion.” (35:02)

The Assignment

• The client, Joseph Krell, is paranoid, hiding behind locked doors. He wants Holliday to pick up something from Manila—vital to his survival—but gives no details ("Sealed instructions").
• Holliday accepts, more for adventure than for the money:

  “Oh, the money doesn’t interest me. […] I’m a writer. The stories I get in response to that box 13 ad you answered, well, they pay me amply for my efforts.” – Dan Holliday (38:28)

Manila Intrigue

• On arrival, Holliday’s contact has been murdered. He’s interrogated by a supposed “Lt. Keith”, who is soon revealed as an imposter and Krell’s double-crossing ex-partner.
• Key realization:

  “Ask him how he knew I came to Manila on a plane.” (45:14)

The Hunt for the Map

• The true Manila police (Lt. Marinos) discover Holliday carries half a treasure map; the murdered “Carlos” had the other half. The “treasure” is what Krell, a known collaborator and traitor from WWII, desperately wants.
• The police propose using Holliday as bait to catch Keith. He agrees:

  “Well, you’ve got yourself a piece of live bait. And I hope it stays that way.” (49:59)

Climax

• Keith holds Holliday at gunpoint for his half of the map, planning to kill him. Holliday narrowly escapes during a car ride, Marinos arrests Keith.
• Digging at the map’s coordinates, they uncover a half-million dollars—money Krell hid during the war.

Final Twist / Moral

• Back in the US, Holliday returns the iron box not with cash, but the Philippine Republic’s flag:

  “The flag of a people you betrayed.” (58:00)

• Krell, too ill to stand trial, is left with his disgrace; the police keep the money.

“I don’t think I really care about a man who would double cross his own country.” – Dan Holliday (59:22)

Screen Director’s Playhouse: Whispering Smith

(Begins at 60:37)

Introduction by Director Leslie Fenton

• Leslie Fenton introduces the radio adaptation:

  “Tonight, fortunately, we’re not concerned only with villains. Our story is fully equipped with a hero and all the other paraphernalia of a classic western.” (61:57)

Main Story:

Set in Wyoming, 1892—a railroad mystery of sabotage, greed, and divided loyalties.

Opening Action

• Alan Ladd as Luke “Whispering” Smith, railroad detective, targeted immediately by an ambush.

  “He talks quiet, but his guns talk big.” (63:49)

Cast of Characters

• Marion Sinclair: Old flame, married to Murray Sinclair.
• Murray Sinclair: Smith’s best friend, implicated in trouble.
• McLeod: New railroad superintendent.
• Barney Rebstock: Notorious local outlaw.

Unfolding Mystery

• A series of train wrecks and robberies link to local ranchers and Rebstock’s gang.

  “Only these aren’t accidents… This is something that’s all been figured out.” – Smith (70:34)

• Emotional tension: Marion fears for Murray, caught up with the wrong crowd.

Confrontation & Tragedy

• Smith tries to persuade Murray to leave the criminal gang. Murray refuses, accusations of betrayal and jealousy over Marion (73:05).
• The final showdown: Smith chases the robbers to Williams Canyon. Murray is mortally wounded, reconciles with Smith as he dies.
• Smith’s code:

  “If there’d been any other way, I’d have played it different…. The only cards I had were the ones you dealt me.” – Smith to Murray, dying friend (84:25)

Epilogue:

• Alan Ladd and Leslie Fenton share banter about “heroes and villains” in Hollywood:

  “How can a villain like you play such a fine hero, Alan?” – Fenton (87:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Confucius said that jade is like truth. It gives out a bright rainbow and it shows a pure spirit among the hills and streams." – Mr. Kwan, (13:05)
• "Happy is the man who is contented with his lot." – Inscription/Jade, (32:10)
• “Oh, the money doesn’t interest me... the stories pay me amply for my efforts.” – Dan Holliday (38:28)
• “I don’t think I really care about a man who would double cross his own country.” – Dan Holliday (59:22)
• “He talks quiet, but his guns talk big.” – (63:49, Whispering Smith)
• “If there’d been any other way, I’d have played it different... The only cards I had were the ones you dealt me.” – Smith to Murray (84:25)

Major Segment Timestamps

• Intro & Alan Ladd/Box 13 discussion: 00:59–03:00
• Box 13: Treasure of Hang Lee: 06:41–32:45
• Box 13: Sealed Instructions: 33:31–59:35
• Screen Directors Playhouse: Whispering Smith: 60:37–85:04
• Epilogue, Alan Ladd & Leslie Fenton: 86:54–87:42

Language & Tone

• The tone is classic hard-boiled: witty, understated, and brisk, especially in Holliday’s repartee with Dames and Dames and Dangerous Men (and jade dealers).
• Alan Ladd’s delivery: cool, laconic, hinting at an inner warmth beneath the world-weary exterior.

For New Listeners

This episode is a lively crash course in both old-time radio detective style and the star power that made Alan Ladd a noir icon. The mysteries are intricate but satisfying, with a strong sense of period atmosphere, moral ambiguity, and clever twist endings. The Western finale is a treat, letting Ladd flex a more somber, melancholic heroism.

A classic double-feature: two Box 13 mysteries—one philosophical, one globe-trotting—and a western loaded with action and pathos, all brought to life by Alan Ladd’s iconic voice.