Hypothetically, you have to spend a length of time with a radio detective. You are looking for someone who features outstanding powers of deduction, but would also like your detective to have a pleasant attitude.

Who would you choose?

Personally I'm leaning towards Johnny Dollar, but I would love to change my mind. Thoughts?

For me, there really isn't a favorite detective show as they all seem to follow the same plot. The only thing I dislike about Johnny Dollar is that it gets broadcast as a 5 part series on XM-148. Takes too long to tell the story. Like the 30 minute version better.
Regards,
Don

I can't decide between the hard-boiled Phillip Marlowe, and the smart-aleck Richard Diamond. And I like Johnny Dollar as well-but I agree, the 15 minute episodes drag the story out too long.

Ooo I need to take another look at Phillip Marlowe. Thank you for your replies!

You might like Pat Novak for Hire. Pretty snappy dialog.
Welcome to the forum!

Terry

Not in any sort of order ...

Richard Diamond
Johnny Dollar
Joe Friday

The Shadow count?

Hard to beat Johnny Dollar, Richard Diamond, Boston Blackie, and Joe Friday, but here are some lesser know ones that I've enjoyed recently (in no particular order):

Casey Crime Photographer (not really a detective, but he might as well be since he solves crimes)

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator

Danny Clover (Broadway Is My Beat)

Nick Carter

Simon Templar (The Saint)

Sherlock Holmes

The Shadow, if he counts

My favorite is quite a bit newer:

The Adventures of Harry Nile from Jim French Productions

I have nothing original but Marlowe, Homes, and Friday for me. I have all the shows on an iPod. And broadcast to all my radios from that or listen direct.

BTW, the modern mp3 players under $100 seem like junk. A better buy I thought was to rebuild an iPod classic (new drive, front panel, back panel, battery).

I like box 13 [Alan Ladd], but I also like the dialog of pat Novak.

Like ;; '' it's like stuffing a smoke ring into your pocket''

Dan in Calgary

thanks for Web's other series Pat Novak. I did a search just now and found he did even more: Johnny Madero, Pier 23, Pete Kelly's Blues. All of which will go to my iPod.

EDIT: I see now Jack Webb had just two episodes as part of Johnny Madero Pier 23.

https://archive.org/details/itotr-jeffr ... eradioshow

EDIT: I see further episodes than 2, all are listed here but the titles are unknown for many of them. I found 3 episodes online...

http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/DigitalDe ... er-23.html

Yes, Box 13 and Night Beat (Frank Lovejoy) are two of my favorite shows, but I wasn't sure they'd qualify as detectives, but they do a lot of detecting

If you like Jack Webb check out the Escape episode called Border Town. I'll have to check out Pat Novak.....

Phillip Marlowe, Box 13, and Sinatra's short-lived program Rocky Fortune.

Thanks, I just added that to my OTR collection.

I'm a YTJD guy also, would you count Night Beat? How about Drag net?

Check out Jeff Reagan P.I. (Jack Webb). "I get ten a day and expenses..."

http://www.otrrlibrary.org/j.html

I heard this for the first time recently. It was a bit more gritty than I am used to hearing on OTR. Was a suprisingly good difference.

Blackjack Justice on Decoder Ring Theater is one of my favorites.

https://decoderringtheatre.com/shows/bl ... k-justice/

Not originally an old time show. It's been done fairly recent, but in the old time radio style. It has the adventure as well as some bits of comedy into it. Took a show or two to get used to it, but really enjoyed it.

A quote from the web page...........

All-new hardboiled mysteries in the pulp detective tradition! Tough-as-nails private eye Jack Justice and his long-suffering partner Trixie Dixon, girl detective do their part for law, order and thirty-five dollars a day. When it comes to detective work, Jack and Trixie agree on the facts. Clients cry, clients lie, clients dicker over the bill. But if they can cut to the happy ending without cutting each other's throats, it'll be a miracle!