Old Time Radio Downloads > Crime > Calling All Cars

In a period that enjoyed old time radio classics geared to to more action-oriented themes, Calling All Cars was a smashing success.  This vintage old radio show ran from 1933 - 1939 and was considered a precursor to another popular police drama, Dragnet.  What set it apart from other crime serials was the fact that majority, if not all of their cases were based on true stories that the Los Angeles Police Department encountered.  The series’s main protagonists were partners Joe Friday and Ben Romero-- who was later replaced by Frank Smith.

Calling-All-Cars

Please enjoy these old time radio shows:

Air Date Title Synopsis
 1935-07-23  E087 Opium Den

Program #87. CBS Pacific net (Don Lee net). "The Opium Den". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil. Be on the lookout for suspicious Chinese. A narcotics raid has taken place in Chinatown. The last traditional "Opium Den" is closed in Los Angeles. Charles Frederick Lindsley (narrator).
 1935-07-30  E088 Gun Drunk

+ Program #89. CBS Pacific net (Don Lee net). "The Celestial Journey". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil (free issue of "Calling All Cars News"). An airplane filled with illegal Chinese crosses the border into California. Kermit Maynard (film star of B-westerns), Charles Frederick Lindsley (narrator). 
 1935-08-14  E090 Vegetable Market Murder

+ Program #90. CBS Pacific net (Don Lee net). "The Vegetable Market Murder". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil. A Japanese man has been murdered during a holdup.
 1935-08-21  E091 The Grinning Skull

+ Program #91. CBS Pacific net (Don Lee net). "The Grinning Skull". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil (free copy of "Calling All Cars News"). The torso of a blonde girl has been found in the Los Angeles river. A single human hair was the only clue to the identity of the victim. Charles Frederick Lindsley (narrator), Jesse Rosenquist (dispatcher).
 1935-08-28  E092 Bad Dope

+ Program #92. CBS Pacific net (Don Lee net). "The Bad Dope". Sponsored by: Rio Grande Oil. A Japanese man has been shot by an unknown assailant. James E. Davis (Los Angeles Police Department), Jesse Rosenquist (dispatcher), Charles Frederick Lindsley (narrator).  

Other Crime Shows you may enjoy:

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ABOUT OLD TIME RADIO

The buzz-term for Old Time Radio is "OTR". OTR usually means radio broadcasting from the golden age of radio, mostly before 1964. These shows from the pre-television age include adventure, comedies, mystery shows, western dramas and shows from World War II. These programs feature the best talent of the day and were broadcast nearly as widely as cable programs today. And just like TV today, families would gather around their crystal radio sets to enjoy the entertainment together.


WHO TODAY LISTENS TO THESE OLD TIME RADIO PROGRAMS?

Recently OTR was sold and traded, on records and cassettes, by people who had grown up during the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's who had grown up listening to these shows. With the internet and mp3s, new generations of listeners are discovering these delightful old time radio shows and to their surprise, enjoying them immensely. Some of the references and nuances are out of date, but it turns out that a well told story is a delight to young and old alike.


WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OTR?

If you have any questions about old time radio feel free to drop us a line. We will try to have the answer or know where to turn to find it. But to make them really happy, please send a request for particular old time radio programs and we should be able to find them for you.


WHO TODAY LISTENS TO THESE OLD TIME RADIO PROGRAMS?

Recently OTR was sold and traded, on records and cassettes, by people who had grown up during the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's who had grown up listening to these shows. With the internet and mp3s, a new generation of listeners are discovering these delightful old time radio shows and enjoying them immensely. Some of the references and nuances are out of date, but it turns out that a well told story is a delight to all ages of old time radio fans.


WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OTR?

If you have any questions about old time radio, send us an email. We will try to have the answer or know where to turn to find it!


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