Old Time Radio Downloads

+ NBC net origination, AFRS #124 rebroadcast. "The Case Of The Girl Who Came Back". A girl appears at a rich man's house and insists she's the man's daughter. The man says he's never seen her before, but Vance believes the girl! AFRS program name: "Mystery Playhouse." Jose Ferrer, Frances Robinson, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Bob Shaw (writer). 

+ Program #1. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Eagle Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A case of murder in an ambulance. This is first show of the series that featured Jackson Beck and Joan Alexander. The first 26 programs of the series were heard on Mutual on the dates indicated and then were syndicated by Frederick W. Ziv. It's not know whether Ziv recorded the programs and then sold a package of the first 26 shows to Mutual, or simply bought the rights to the first 26 shows after they had been broadcast on Mutual. There's even the possibility that Ziv produced the shows as they were being broadcast on Mutual and kept the rights for later syndication. There is no indication that Ziv was involved in actually producing the first 26 shows, so even though he might have been involved, he's not listed as the producer until program #27. Starting with program #27 and continuing through program #104 (the last known show of the series), the programs were syndicated and were therefore heard on many different stations on many different dates and in many different sequences. Since the cast members were all New York based, and all known to have been associated with WOR-Mutual, it would have seem more economical to have had the programs recorded-as-they-were-broadcast on a New York City station (possibly WOR), but they may have been been assembled in a recording studio (possibly at WOR), pressed to transcriptions directly and then syndicated. Program #27 through #33 are dated based on a run of the programs known to have been heard on KGO, San Francisco. Program #33 through #100 are based on a second run of the program heard in New York City (possibly on WOR) that began on July 13, 1948. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #7. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Poetic Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Two drama critics are murdered, with a poem knifed to each of their chests. A third critic is then killed, and the main suspect is, "Longfellow!" Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #9. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Midget Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A short killing, with the solution leading to a big problem. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #11. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Backstage Murder Case". Commercials added locally. After a theatre has been robbed, the star receives a threatening letter and her understudy is murdered. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #13. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Bulletin Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A lady reporter on "The Bulletin" is assigned to interview Philo Vance, but is murdered! Then, the cab driver who discovered the body is bumped off! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #21. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Blackjack Murder Case". Commercials added locally. When the guard at a private sanitarium is murdered, Joan Wescott pleads with Vance not to take the case, which of course has the opposite effect with Philo Vance! The only clues available to Vance are the three black hairs in the corpse's hands. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #23. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Murdock Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A horse trainer is murdered and a jockey answers questions on a radio quiz show. An exercise boy is then killed as Vance is determined that the killer doesn't win, place or show. While talking to the District Attorney, Vance says "Just a moment while I answer the phone," and THEN the phone rings! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #24. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Vanilla Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A soda jerk is killed with a syrup pump! Vance decides that this is the last straw, and solves the case! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #25. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Rhumba Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A Latin dance instructor named Rosita Ortega is murdered in her studio. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #26. Mutual net origination, Ziv syndication. "The Magic Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A thoroughly nasty magician is found knifed in the back in a locked and bolted room. A neat trick! A retired magician practically admits the crime to Vance and challenges him to prove his guilt! A good story! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #29. ZIV Syndication. "The Idol Murder Case. Commercials added locally. A murder at the museum. Three different collectors want the "Bongee," a 1000-year-old copper statue, badly enough to kill for it. A good mystery, you'll never guess whodunit. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #31. ZIV Syndication. "The Flying Murder Case". Commercials added locally. An airline pilot named Gregory Allen has been murdered. The co-pilot and one of the passengers have an excellent motive. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #33. ZIV Syndication. "The Herringbone Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Edith Payne, the owner of a successful dress shop, is killed by a truck. What's wrong with the suit of the man in the photo? Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #35. ZIV Syndication. "The Curtain Call Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Actor Richard West has been murdered. He was one of those universally hated guys, almost everyone had a motive! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #37. ZIV Syndication. "The White Willow Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A stockbroker is murdered while giving bad advice and romancing a gangster's girlfriend. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #39. ZIV Syndication. "The Movie Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Movie star Art Ingraham is thrown off his horse and drops dead on the set, while a ring disappears off his finger! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Henry Sylvern (organist).

+ Program #41. ZIV Syndication. "The Cardinal Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Tony Cardinal's girlfriend has been murdered. A British car and an English butler figure in the solution to the case. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #43. ZIV Syndication. "The Masters Murder Case". Commercials added locally. The District Attorney realizes that the defendant has been framed for murder. A pearl-handled automatic is involved in the case. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #45. ZIV Syndication. "The Butterfly Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Josie Daniels, "The Broadway Butterfly," is a nightclub singer that dabbles in blackmail! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #47. ZIV Syndication. "The Red Duck Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Noticing blood on the feet of some ducks while playing golf, by super-sleuthing, Philo breaks up a counterfeit ring and catches a killer! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #49. ZIV Syndication. "The Combination Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Joyce Dixon, the owner of a gambling operation, reports to the cops that she's about to be murdered! However, her gardener and ex-fiance are the ones who get killed! Watch out for that sandwich! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Henry Sylvern (organist). 

+ Program #51. ZIV Syndication. "The Motor Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Who killed racing driver Duke Wilson? Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #53. ZIV Syndication. "The One-Cent Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Al Baker, owner of a penny arcade and blackmailer, is killed. Keep your eye on that penny, and on the new desk set! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Henry Sylvern (organist).

+ Program #55. ZIV Syndication. "The Cheesecake Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A photographer of leg art has been killed. The murderer crashes his getaway car and is found dead behind the wheel. Vance suspects the corpse was not the killer, and he investigates a different kind of cheesecake. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #57. ZIV Syndication. "The Deep Sea Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Millard Case plans to catch a large tuna and won't take "No" for an answer. After two murders, Vance reels in a killer. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer).

+ Program #59. ZIV Syndication. "The Blue Penny Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Edith Allen has been murdered; no motive has been discovered. The clues lie in the sheet music business, and who printed the song, "The Blue Penny." Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer).

+ Program #61. ZIV Syndication. "The Oxford Murder Case". Commercials added locally. An old lady in the park needs help, but is unwilling to accept any. Wealthy Mr. Richard Oxford has been robbed and killed, and the butler has disappeared. He's the special friend of the lady in the park. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer).

+ Program #65. ZIV Syndication. "The Black Gold Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Mrs. Willoughby spends $10,000 to buy a machine that makes $1 dollar bills...but only after she makes sure it really works! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #67. ZIV Syndication. "The Meeker Murder Case". Commercials added locally. John Meeker has been murdered. The suspect is David Worth. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #71. ZIV Syndication. "The Little Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A busienssman's safe is robbed after the combination has been changed. He's been shot and killed by the robber. The clue is in a cab ride to nowhere. Jackson Beck, Edwin Jerome, George Petrie, Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organ), Joan Alexander, Frederick W. Ziv (producer), S. S. Van Dine (creator). 

+ Program #73. ZIV Syndication. "The Thundering Murder Case". Commercials added locally. David Wilkins is on the phone during a thunderstorm. He says, "What a night for murder," whereupon he is shot. Jackson Beck, Humphrey Davis (triples), Larry Haines, Bryna Raeburn, Frederick W. Ziv (producer), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organ), George Petrie. 

+ Program #75. ZIV Syndication. "The Gray Glove Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A locked-room murder takes place. A man is choked to death by a man wearing a gray glove. There's no body attached to the glove! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, George Petrie, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #77. ZIV Syndication. "The Identical Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Tommy Orchid has killed a man who looked like Philo Vance and Tommy Orchid doesn't tolerate mistakes! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #79. ZIV Syndication. "The Left-Handed Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A gangster trying to quit the mob is killed shortly after asking Vance for protection. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #81. ZIV Syndication. "The Music Box Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A bride-to-be wants to help her future husband succeed in business...as a murderer! Two wealthy men have been killed with a rope, their safes have been robbed, and their music boxes taken. Jackson Beck misreads a line near the end of the show, nearly cracking up George Petrie. Jackson Beck, George Petrie, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #83. ZIV Syndication. "The Chicken Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Tommy Morrow is moving in on Frankie Stacy's operations. "Chick" Lewis is sent to peck him death, but is shot himself! Real chicken blood is found on the body! Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #87. ZIV Syndication. "The Church Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A practical joker who loves exploding cigars and whoopee cushions is murdered, and the suspect is obviously the killer. Jackson Beck, George Petrie, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #89. ZIV Syndication. "The Jackpot Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A gangster involved with slot machines murders a stool pigeon, a morgue attendant and two others. Vance lets himself be beat up to put the killer behind the three bars. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, George Petrie, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #91. ZIV Syndication. "The Mimic Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A gangster kidnaps Vance and hires a nightclub mimic to imitate his voice. The crook uses this scheme to get the criminal charges against him dropped. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #93. ZIV Syndication. "The Golden Key Murder Case". Commercials added locally. After Vance receives a mysterious key in the mail, he discovers a dead man sitting at his desk...with an identical golden key in his hand. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer).

+ Program #95. ZIV Syndication. "The Rooftop Murder Case". Commercials added locally. Joe Somer has committed suicide by jumping off the roof. The suicide note he left behind is legit, but Vance suspects that the case is a murder. Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer). 

+ Program #97. ZIV Syndication. "The Manicure Murder Case". Commercials added locally. A scientist named Edgar Wilson has been shot and is dying. But first, he stops for a manicure! The Miller brothers, who killed Professor Wilson, are blown to pieces when they try to get "Experiment X." Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, S. S. Van Dine (creator), Jeanne K. Harrison (director), Henry Sylvern (organist), Frederick W. Ziv (producer).