Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

Episode 660 – Statues for the Sleuths: Rex Harrison

Release Date: March 15, 2026
Host: Mean Streets Podcasts

Overview

This episode pays tribute to Oscar-winning actors who portrayed radio detectives, spotlighting Rex Harrison, famed for both “My Fair Lady” and his lesser-known radio role as suave sleuth Rex Saunders in The Private Files of Rex Saunders. The host explores the show’s brief history and stylistic roots, then presents four complete Rex Saunders mysteries, giving listeners a rare chance to hear Harrison in peak form as a razor-witted investigator. The episode features a blend of origin stories, vintage performances, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse through a rehearsal recording, fully immersing listeners in the atmospheric world of golden age radio crime.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Context: Rex Harrison as Detective Rex Saunders

• Oscar Connection: In honor of the Academy Awards, the series spotlights radio detective actors who won Oscars (Rex Harrison, in this case, for My Fair Lady).
• About Rex Saunders:
  • A radio detective series aired on NBC, 1951.
  • Produced/directed by Hyman Brown, who also did Inner Sanctum Mysteries and Bulldog Drummond.
  • Stylistic similarities noted with Bulldog Drummond: foghorn intros, footsteps, sidekick structure (Denny/Alec).
  • Harrison’s “mellifluous voice” was well-suited to radio, but his stint was brief (May–August 1951).
  • RCA Victor was a sponsor, and the series had an East Coast cast recognizable from shows like Philo Vance and Boston Blackie.

“It’s too bad because he did a great job on the series, and it would have been nice to have heard more from him.”
(Host, 01:44)

2. Featured Episodes Breakdown

i. When You Play a Game with Death

• Plot: A high-stakes gambling ship, double-crosses, a mysterious gun, and a missing briefcase put Rex Saunders on the trail of a killer targeting Jerry Connell.
• Notable Details:
  • Rehearsal recording with directorial feedback from Hyman Brown – offers “a bonus peek into how these shows were made.”
• Key Moments:
  • Helen Carmel’s desperate ruse to get Saunders’ help.
  • Gambling ship intrigue—chips with the S.S. Lucky mark as a vital clue.
• Memorable Quote:

  “It’s only a temporary delay till we find out what this pistol hide and seek game’s about.”
  (Rex Saunders, 14:46)

• Twist: The murderer was not the expected villain Tony Marco, but instead, a betrayal from within the victim's circle.
• Resolution:

  “Oh, and by the way, Ms. Connell, the shock you receive at seeing me alive is nothing compared to the shock the state has in store for you.”
  (Rex Saunders, 35:49)

ii. The Lady with Hate in Her Heart (May 2, 1951)

• Plot: A mysterious ocean voyage, a courier delivering $200,000 in diamonds, a deadly imposter, and an elaborate frame-up involving murder and counterfeiting.
• Key Elements:
  • A woman posing as ‘Alison’ manipulates the case; a courier is murdered for more than jewels—a printing plate for counterfeit pounds is hidden in tire tubes.
  • Classic golden-age tropes: mistaken identities, femme fatale, criminal masterminds.
• Notable Dialogue:

  “A dying woman’s message… R O C, then the K. R-O-C-K. Rock. That was part of Ms. Peter’s message to us.”
  (Rex Saunders, 27:29)

• Conclusion: Saunders uses a staged “death” to force the villains’ hand and unravels a high-level counterfeiting ring.
• Atmosphere: The episode is marked by clever banter, as Saunders and his sidekick Alec dodge danger while unmasking a plot abroad.

iii. A Shocking Still Life (May 9, 1951)

• Plot: In Greenwich Village, an artist’s model is murdered, tied to a haunting portrait, acid burns, and a hidden Renoir painting.
• Distinctive Elements:
  • Noir mood with bohemian Manhattan as a backdrop.
  • The “Passing Over” painting is both a clue and a cover for a stolen masterpiece.
  • Multiple murders (model, artist, dealer) all traced back to an art underworld plot.
• Outstanding Quotes:

  “You really shouldn’t keep yourself cooped up like that. You’re much too young.”
  (Rex Saunders, 66:49)

• Twist Reveal: Secret of the painting, hidden Renoir revealed using a chemical solution.
• Justice Note: The episode wraps with the idea that “justice works with hard and bold strokes.” (87:36)

iv. Murder Deep in the Killer’s Mind (June 20, 1951)

• Plot: During Mardi Gras in New Orleans, an escaped convict is gunned down by a masked killer, sparking a tangle of revenge, false leads, and another murder as Saunders pursues the devil-costumed perpetrator.
• Plot Mechanics:
  • Disguises, Carnival chaos, and a critical clue: a public locker key.
  • A sidekick takes a risk in disguise to bait the killer.
  • The real villain, Eddie Ferris, frames Rocky Connors, nearly kills Kitty Miller, but is trapped by Saunders’ evidence.
• Key Exchange:

  “That knife was supposed to put you out of the pitching. That’s the only thing I messed up on.”
  (Eddie Ferris, 110:36) “We found the devil’s disguise in your apartment. What the well dressed murderer should wear.”
  (Rex Saunders, 111:20)

3. Behind-the-Scenes and Thematic Notes

• Occasional direction from Hyman Brown provides a “fly-on-the-wall” experience (see 18:38, 29:56).
• The show’s scripts confront classic noir subjects: greed, betrayal, the criminal underworld, treasure conceals (gambling chips, paintings, secret compartments).
• Recurring motif: the masquerade—be it in art, under Mardi Gras masks, or beneath a criminal’s alibi.
• Host frequently praises Harrison’s star quality and the lost potential for radio drama, linking OTR (Old Time Radio) mysteries to high culture (Oscars, classics).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Rex Saunders on the mystery’s misdirection:

  “These things always happen to us. Only a temporary delay till we find out what this pistol hide and seek game’s about.”
  (14:46)

• On gritty justice:

  “We’re determined to see it through. We’re going to bring the murderer to justice.”
  (26:47)

• Defining noir:

  “The look of death.”
  (66:25)

• On elaborate villainy:

  “Who’d ever think of looking inside the tire tubes of your car for counterfeit money?”
  (62:43)

• Theme of prejudice and justice:

  “A divided America with protestant set against catholic, Christian against Jew, or white against negro, could only play into the hands of those who seek to discredit us… Speak up against race and religious prejudice.”
  (116:54, 117:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:57 | Host intro, Rex Harrison & “Rex Saunders” series overview | | 06:37 | Rex Saunders program begins | | 08:45 | Episode one main case launches: Gambling ship, murder plot | | 39:51 | Episode two opens: Jewel courier on ocean liner | | 65:13 | Episode three opens: The mysterious art shop portrait | | 87:44 | Episode four opens: Mardi Gras, murder in New Orleans | | 116:05 | Host outro: Upcoming episodes, call for ratings, support | | 116:54 | Public service message on prejudice and unity (Vincent Price) |

Style, Tone & Host Commentary

The host maintains the program’s original vintage energy, channeling classic radio drama’s suspenseful and sophisticated vibe. Commentary is enthusiastic but respectful, laced with nostalgia and genuine admiration for the format and Rex Harrison’s performance:

“Whatever the origin of the show, it gave Harrison a chance to put his mellifluous voice to good work on radio.”
(01:30)

Regular reminders of the show’s ephemeral nature enrich the tribute atmosphere—e.g., noting how rare these “fine performances” are, and reflecting on what might have been had Harrison stayed longer in radio.

Conclusion

This episode of Down These Mean Streets delivers a first-class, immersive window into one of the Golden Age’s lesser-remembered radio detectives, celebrating Rex Harrison’s brief but dazzling run as Rex Saunders. Listeners are treated to noir-laden intrigue involving gambling ships, art theft, jewel couriers, and Mardi Gras murder, all supported by rich performances and sharp dialogue.

If you're a fan of film noir, detective fiction, or classic radio, this showcase not only entertains but captures a time when star power and sharp writing made sleuthing into high culture.