Episode 649 - Great White Way Christmas (Damon Runyon Theatre, The Whistler, & Broadway is My Beat)

Christmas is only a few days away, and we're celebrating with a trio of holiday tales from Broadway - not the world of footlights, chorus lines, and matinee performances, but the seedier side of the street. Our first two tales come from the pen of Damon Runyon. A man is marked for death on Christmas Eve in "Dancing Dan's Christmas" from The Damon Runyon Theatre, and a trio of crooks hunting for lost loot finds a lot more in "Three Wise Guys" from The Whistler (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1950). Then we'll hear a holiday mystery starring Detective Danny Clover in Broadway is My Beat (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1949).

Christmas is only a week away and we've got a pair of old time radio mysteries for stocking stuffers. Charles Russell stars in a yuletide adventure of Johnny Dollar - "Small Time Swindles of Big Time Department Stores - Or How I Played Santa Claus and Almost Got Left Holding the Sack" (originally aired on CBS on December 24, 1949) - and Sydney Greenstreet tries to save St. Nick in "The Case of the Slaughtered Santas" from The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1950).

Our two-part series on The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe wraps up with the final three actors to play Archie Goodwin opposite Sydney Greenstreet's gargantuan gourmet. Larry Dobkin - who you may know best as Louie, cab driver sidekick of The Saint - is Archie in "The Case of the Deadly Sellout" (originally aired on NBC on January 5, 1951). Gerald Mohr - the voice of Philip Marlowe - stars in "The Case of the Calculated Risk" (originally aired on NBC on January 19, 1951). And Harry Bartell - announcer and actor - plays Goodwin in "The Case of the Final Page" (originally aired on NBC on March 23, 1951).

Our countdown to Christmas continues with Vincent Price and Frank Sinatra both donning the red suit of Santa Claus! Simon Templar proves "Santa Claus is No Saint" (originally aired on NBC on December 24, 1950) and Rocky Fortune's new gig as a department store St. Nick is anything but merry in "The Plot to Murder Santa Claus" (originally aired on NBC on December 22, 1953).

We kick off a two-part series spotlighting The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe in celebration of two December birthdays - Rex Stout, the creator of the gargantuan gourmet, and Sydney Greenstreet, the Oscar-nominated actor who brought the sleuth to radio life. The show ran for just one season but six different actors played Wolfe's loyal assistant Archie Goodwin in those 26 episodes. The series and its star could never settle on a supporting actor, but the unusual revolving door allowed some of radio's best performers to take a stab at the character. We'll hear the first three Messrs Goodwin - Wally Maher in "Stamped for Murder" (originally aired on NBC on October 20, 1950); Lamont Johnson in "The Case of the Careworn Cuff" (originally aired on NBC on October 27, 1950); and Herb Ellis in "The Case of the Dear Dead Lady" (originally aired on NBC on November 3, 1950).

We're celebrating the holidays with a month of seasonal sleuthing! Tune in Wednesdays throughout December for Christmas stories starring some of our favorite old time radio detectives. First up, the ace crimesolving cameraman spots a pickpocket and breaks a murder case in "Christmas Shopping" from Casey, Crime Photographer (originally aired on CBS on December 19, 1946). Then, Boston Blackie solves a jewel theft with a strange connection to a sidewalk Santa in a syndicated holiday mystery.

Harry Bartell worked all over the dial during the Golden Age of Radio, both as an actor in shows like Gunsmoke, Escape, and Johnny Dollar and as an announcer for The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Casebook of Gregory Hood. We'll celebrate his November 29th birthday with some of his work. First, he's on a voyage where a fellow passenger is a deadly snake in "A Shipment of Mute Fate" from Escape (originally aired on CBS on March 28, 1948). Then, he plays Frank Smith, the new partner for Sgt. Friday on "The Big Safe" from Dragnet (originally aired on NBC on May 1, 1952). Next, he's Archie Goodwin to Sydney Greenstreet's Nero Wolfe in two mysteries: "The Case of the Midnight Ride" (originally aired on NBC on March 16, 1951) and "The Case of the Tell-Tale Ribbon" (originally aired on NBC on March 30, 1951). Finally, he plays Lieutenant Seiberts opposite Raymond Chandler in "Shavetail," a western drama from Fort Laramie (originally aired on CBS on March 3, 1956).

Hit those big deals (and/or dig into some Thanksgiving leftovers) with this bonus episode for Black Friday starring Joe Friday. We'll hear Jack Webb as the star sergeant of the LAPD in three Dragnet radio mysteries: "The Big Press" (originally aired on NBC on June 15, 1950), "The Big Couple" (originally aired on NBC on February 22, 1951), and "The Big Number" (originally aired on NBC on October 26, 1952).

Happy Thanksgiving! As we head into what I hope is a fun and restful weekend for everyone, here's an encore of our annual Turkey Day special - a five-course meal of radio mysteries set around the holiday. Casey, Crime Photographer stars in a pair of stories: "After Turkey, the Bill" (originally aired on CBS on November 27, 1947), and "Holiday" (originally aired on CBS on November 25, 1948). As Jeff Regan, Jack Webb meets modern-day Miles Standish and finds a turkey shoot where it isn't a bird who catches the bullet in "The Pilgrim's Progress" from Jeff Regan, Investigator (originally aired on CBS on November 13, 1948). George Valentine comes to the aid of a boy in trouble in "Cause for Thanksgiving" from Let George Do It (originally aired on Mutual on November 20, 1950), and Steve Dunne stars as Sam Spade, who's hired by a Tom Turkey in "The Terrified Turkey Caper" (originally aired on NBC on November 24, 1950). Plus, keep an ear out for some music and comedy for the holiday from some old time radio favorites!

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, we're joining Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for some mysteries set around the dinner table. First, Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce are Holmes and Watson in "The Strange Case of Mrs. Abernetty" (originally aired on ABC on November 30, 1946). Then, it's a pair of mysteries starring John Stanley and Alfred Shirley - "The Case of King Phillip's Golden Salver" (originally aired on Mutual on February 29, 1948) and "The Case of the Very Best Butter" (originally aired on Mutual on April 18, 1948).