Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)

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.