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True Detective Mysteries

1937–1959 · 13 episodes · 28 listens

True Detective Mysteries was a popular old-time radio series that aired from 1929 to 1958. It was a crime drama anthology series that featured dramatized true stories of famous criminal cases and unsolved mysteries. The show was known for its gripping narratives, realistic sound effects, and suspenseful atmosphere. Each episode would delve into a different case, often based on real-life events, and would take listeners on a journey through the investigation and resolution of the crime. The series covered a wide range of criminal activities, from murder and robbery to kidnapping and espionage. True Detective Mysteries was one of the longest-running and most successful crime drama programs of the golden age of radio.

The Stars

True Detective Mysteries did not have any regular cast members. Instead, each episode featured a different set of actors who would portray the various characters involved in the case being dramatized. The show relied on a pool of talented radio actors who were able to bring the stories to life with their skilled performances. While there were no consistent stars, the series was known for its high-quality acting and its ability to create a sense of realism and suspense that captivated listeners.

Key Dates

  • True Detective Mysteries debuted on the air on May 16th, 1929.
  • Its final episode aired on June 2nd, 1958.

Other Information

During its run, the series underwent several changes in its production and distribution. It was initially produced by the Macfadden Publications and aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System. In 1935, the show was taken over by the True Detective Magazine and moved to the Mutual-Don Lee network. The series continued to air on various networks and stations throughout its run, including the Blue Network and the Mutual-Don Lee network.

Many of the stories dramatized on the radio program were based on cases that had been featured in the True Detective magazine, which was a popular true crime publication at the time. This cross-promotion helped to build the show’s reputation and attract a loyal audience.

True Detective Mysteries was known for its attention to detail and its commitment to authenticity. The show’s producers worked closely with law enforcement agencies and crime experts to ensure that the stories were as accurate and realistic as possible. This attention to detail helped to create a sense of realism that was highly valued by listeners.

In addition to its success on the radio, True Detective Mysteries also spawned a number of spin-off products, including a series of pulp novels and a comic book adaptation. These additional media formats helped to further expand the reach and popularity of the franchise.

Overall, True Detective Mysteries was a groundbreaking and influential old-time radio series that captivated audiences with its gripping true crime stories and its commitment to authenticity. Its legacy continues to be felt in the world of crime drama and true crime storytelling.

Ratings & reviews

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Episodes

Apr 1, 1937 · 25:23
From the pages of the October True Detective Mysteries the Black Legion, secrets never told before as revealed…
Apr 15, 1937 · 25:52
The true inside crime story New Jersey Girl In The Iron Mask as revealed personally by the honourable Robert Peacock…
Apr 22, 1937 · 24:41
Helen Clevenger is travelling with her uncle, professor Clevenger when she is discovered murdered in her hotel room.…
Apr 29, 1937 · 26:05
Red Ryan was the most dangerous and misleading criminal in Canada who escaped from prison in 1923 while serving a…
Apr 8, 1937 · 26:18
In March 1929 Frank Waldo Anderson died from an accidental overdose of chloroform, which he took at night to help him…
Dec 28, 1947 · 25:00
Richard Lauber under the name of Joseph Stratter wined and dined Gertrude Schmidt in New York’s swankiest restaurants…
Jul 24, 1937 · 24:56
An honest young farmer is found murdered, shot 12 times. His wife of only one-month seems to take his death rather…
Jun 8, 1958 · 23:00
The case history you are about to hear is the actual report of an actual crime. Mary Anne Webster tells the story from…
Mar 25, 1937 · 24:54
Horror In The Hospital Ward is a true story of love and jealousy leading to a murder in a ward of St Mary’s hospital in…
Mar 8, 1937 · 25:03
The story taken from True Detectives Magazine begins on the night of August 5th 1935 out side of Los Angeles,…
May 6, 1937 · 26:04
And now the true inside story Death In Step-Ins who killed the girl on the rock, from the pages of True Detective…
Oct 14, 1957 · 20:53
The case history you are about to hear is the actual report of an actual crime. Every evening hundreds of servicemen…
Oct 7, 1959 · 20:20
After six years of marriage to her drunken cruel husband she knew it had to end but she never knew it would end in…
Ned, your old-time-radio guide
Ned · your guide to the archive

Ned here. Forty-odd years I've spent with these old shows — and if you took to True Detective Mysteries, I'd wager my last valve you'll love this lot.

Gangbusters
Both dramatise real criminal cases with an explicit moral framework and semi-documentary authenticity
Crime Does Not Pay
Both use real criminal case material to deliver a clear moral message about crime and punishment
Confession
Both present crime from inside the criminal's perspective, using confession and remorse as dramatic devices
Calling All Cars
Both draw on authentic law-enforcement case material to dramatise real criminal investigations
Dragnet
Both share a semi-documentary, factual approach to presenting real or realistic criminal cases