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Adventures in Broadcast

Presented by OTR Archives

Adventures in Broadcast is a vintage radio podcast that revisits the greatest old-time radio shows from the Golden Age of Broadcasting. Each episode explores classic dramas, mysteries, comedies, and adventure programs that once captivated millions through the power of sound alone. From iconic radio performances and legendary storytellers to forgotten gems that helped shape modern audio entertainment, Adventures in Broadcast celebrates the artistry, history, and cultural impact of classic radio. Listeners will rediscover suspenseful thrillers, gripping crime stories, sweeping adventures, and unforgettable characters—preserved and presented for a new generation. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of old-time radio or discovering it for the first time, this podcast offers a curated journey through radio’s most influential era. Step back in time, tune the dial, and experience the magic of broadcasting as it was meant to be heard.

305 episodes

33 Half Moon Street - SA - Hemp for the Hangman

Feb 21, 2025 · 27 min

The plot revolves around a mission to deliver a hangman's rope to Bernard Higgins, the assistant public hangman, who is to execute a British soldier in France. Michael James, an operative, is tasked with the delivery and makes his way to Paris with the suitcase containing the rope. Upon arrival, he encounters a series of complications, including being threatened by a criminal named Tiger and a woman at gunpoint. After some violent confrontations, James finds himself bound in a dingy room but manages to escape and resume his mission. Eventually, he learns that there is more at stake than just a simple delivery; the rope is part of a scheme involving drug smuggling led by Mrs. Nadelazar, a society woman in financial trouble. She used the guise of the hangman's rope to transport her narcotics. After a three-day undercover operation, James gathers enough evidence to expose her operation, leading to her apprehension. The story concludes with the revelation of her criminal activities and the true purpose behind the seemingly macabre delivery of the rope.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - The Moon and a Million

Feb 20, 2025 · 24 min

A man named Mr. Duke approaches an assignment company to arrange for the pickup of a panel van that broke down near Colchester. He expresses urgency because the van contains handbills he needs to protect from vandalism. After hiring Cannon from Assignments Unlimited, Cannon takes a train to Colchester, where he meets a young woman named Janet Dale, who is seeking a job as a lady's companion. Their train is suddenly held up by armed robbers, but Cannon remains focused on retrieving the van. Once they escape the train disruption, Janet persuades Cannon to help retrace the van's location using a map provided by Duke. Together, they traverse the countryside and successfully locate the van, which Cannon delivers to a local printer's yard. However, he soon learns from the printer that he is to take the van to Manchester with a delivery of handbills for an urgent job, making arrangements on the phone with Duke. Cannon's suspicions grow when he pieces together that Duke's smooth demeanor and the situation are suspect, culminating in a police setup as he finds himself in a plot involving a train robbery. The plan to transfer stolen money in the van leads to his realization that Janet was part of the scheme all along, exposing her as a con artist in a scheme that Duke has orchestrated. Cannon, recognizing the unfolding deception, ultimately informs the police, leading to their apprehension of the criminals involved.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Confidential Cargo

Feb 19, 2025 · 27 min

Two guards, Cannon and Carson, are hired to protect a small freighter, the Gascony, which is docked at Limehouse Pier with a confidential cargo. The guards discover that Curly Kleinman and a few Laskers are the only other crew aboard. After Cannon and Carson realize something suspicious is happening, they find a stowaway, Valda Mayende, who claims to be hiding from the ship's purser, Smith. Valda reveals that she was smuggled aboard from Taipei and that the cargo is not the expected tallow but something much more dangerous. Tension escalates when they discover Smith murdered in the ship’s galley, and Cannon suspects Kleinman is involved in a plot to dispose of Valda and exploit the cargo. With a raft to escape, Cannon seeks police assistance while uncovering the deeper conspiracy behind the freighter’s true purpose. As the plot unfolds, it becomes evident that not everything is as it seems, leading to revelations about the dangerous cargo and the real reasons behind the murders on board.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - A Widow in Black

Feb 18, 2025 · 24 min

Concerns arise over the security of a valuable consignment of animals from South Africa, including a rare grey reebuck, which a zoology professor, Mervyn Levers, is overseeing. After arranging for security during transportation to the London Zoo, Mervyn suddenly collapses and dies of a heart attack en route, leaving guard Gail Hamilton and driver Cannon to manage the situation. However, it soon becomes evident that Mervyn was murdered using a black widow spider, which was released from a capsule placed in his hat. Subsequent investigations reveal that a Professor Tobin, who was spotted near the scene, is actually a Russian agent planning to steal the rare buck as a gift for the Kremlin. The animals, except the grey reebuck, are eventually reported as released into the wild after Tobin's arrest, exposing a clever confidence trick and conspiracy behind Mervyn's untimely death.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Green for Danger

Feb 17, 2025 · 26 min

A woman named Marge Willis sneaks into an office to instruct a contact to meet her at 27 Needle Street the next morning to collect something of value. Cannon, who has taken on the role of a vendor selling shellfish, discovers that Marge's husband has recently died after being hit by a truck, which leads to suspicion about a potential cover-up involving stolen goods. When Cannon investigates, he finds that the shellfish—purchased at an inflated price—actually conceals diamonds. Marge had been using her husband's vegetable stall as a front for trafficking stolen jewelry, and following the police's arrival and investigation, she is arrested. The story unfolds around the themes of deception, trade, and the consequences of crime amid the backdrop of the local market scene.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - The Man who thought too Much

Feb 16, 2025 · 24 min

A distressed woman named Ruth Reynolds approaches a private investigator, Mr. Mason, seeking help for her husband, Ian, who is deeply depressed and threatening to kill himself and their three-year-old son, John. Ian, a Korean War veteran, struggles with the consequences of the war and believes it is best for John not to face the world. Mason sends Cannon, a man with a similar military background, to talk to Ian. After a tense exchange, Ian, armed and barricaded in their apartment, threatens violence. Cannon attempts to reason with him, emphasizing the importance of life and the innocence of children like John. Despite Cannon's efforts, Ian ultimately succumbs to his despair and shoots himself as Ruth and John leave the building, highlighting the tragic impact of war and mental illness.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Dive Deep for Death

Feb 15, 2025 · 25 min

Charles Alston and Alistair McPhee, businessmen who transformed a dredged area of the River Lee into a holiday resort lake, face a tragic decline in visitors after two skin divers drown under mysterious circumstances. McPhee believes deeper investigation is needed after the body of a diver surfaces and later, the outboard motor he sought is found dumped on shore. Private investigator Cannon, intrigued by reports of "monsters" in the lake, conducts his own dive and discovers strange phenomena, including human blood and the remains of a female head. Eventually, he confronts Alston, who reveals his plan to use a crippled diver to eliminate curious visitors and hide his dark secrets. Following a struggle, the crippled diver manages to pull Alston underwater, leading to their mutual demise. Resorting to supernatural superstition, the resort intrigues fades away, leaving unanswered questions about the murders and the lake's sinister past.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - The Reluctant Camel

Feb 14, 2025 · 25 min

A replica of a World War I Sopwith Camel plane becomes the center of intrigue when a series of fatal accidents occur during filming, leading to suspicions of sabotage. The main character, pilot Cannon, discovers a lucky horseshoe tied to the control stick of the aircraft, which is believed to have been intentionally tampered with, causing previous crashes. As the deadline for the film approaches, tensions rise between rival filmmakers, particularly between the director, David Sandler, and actress Valerie Thompson, who once shared a personal relationship with Cannon. Despite strict rules prohibiting unauthorized access to the plane, Cannon investigates the aircraft and its controls, only to be drawn into a web of deceit, where accusations of murder and betrayal emerge. The episode unravels the pressure of competition in filmmaking, highlighting the lengths individuals will go to secure success, culminating in a suspenseful confrontation where the truth behind the sabotaged planes is at stake.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Two sides to the Shamrock

Feb 13, 2025 · 25 min

A peculiar request from the War Office leads Cannon to become a model for a new bulletproof suit developed by General Sir Quentin Gray. Although resistant at first, Cannon reluctantly agrees after his superior pressures him by citing the importance of the assignment. The suit is tested under machine gun fire and electron bombardment. After the successful tests, Cannon is sent to Ireland for a supposed rest, but he is kidnapped by enemy agents seeking information about the suit. The kidnappers plan to torture him with a pet rat but are thwarted when General Gray and his team launch a rescue operation, revealing that Cannon was actually bait in a counterintelligence operation. Once rescued, Cannon continues his unintended holiday in Ireland, while it’s implied that he may have developed a romantic connection with one of his captors.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - The Short Term Ghost

Feb 12, 2025 · 25 min

Mason receives a call from Guy Laurent, a partner in an insurance firm in Switzerland, who seeks help with a series of mysterious and fatal car accidents occurring on the Grenoble Pass. These accidents happen exclusively at night and are rumored to be caused by a "ghost car" that forces drivers off the road. Skeptical but intrigued, Mason sends his associate, Cannon, to investigate. After driving the pass in daylight with no incident, Cannon attempts the drive at night. He nearly dies when a vehicle seems to push him into a crash, leading to severe injuries but no fatalities. Suspicion falls on Herr Muller, a manager at Laurent's firm, who has financial troubles and a motive for causing such accidents and serving revenge on the insurance company. Muller attempts to poison Cannon but fails, ultimately leading to his own downfall in an accident caused by his greed. The case reveals a dark plot surrounding the crashes, driven by revenge rather than mere accidents.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Food for the Dragon

Feb 11, 2025 · 27 min

A high priest from a Chinese temple in Lambeth enlists the help of a man called the Peddler to open a sealed dragon idol. The Peddler approaches a fixer named Mason, who sends his associate Cannon on the job, armed with tools and explosives. Upon arrival, Cannon encounters a young woman named Tunhua, who informs him that the dragon's mouth is jammed shut. After a brief attempt to open it manually, Cannon decides to use explosives. When the Dragon's mouth blows open, they discover a woman named Grace Dalton inside, who had been drugged and placed there by the high priest, Tong, to hide her while smuggling drugs inside the idols. As Cannon and Inspector Bottomley investigate, they realize they're trapped inside the temple when the dragon's mouth closes again. With time running out, Mason uncovers that Tong plans to escape through a hidden trapdoor, leading to a sewer. Mason and the police apprehend Tong, saving Dalton as Cannon and Bottomley exit the temple, cementing the tale of deception and smuggling in a web of intrigue.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - One is a Litter

Feb 10, 2025 · 25 min

Mrs. Lavery Manners hires Assignments Unlimited to provide a temporary dog walker for her greyhound, Tootsie, while her butler is incapacitated. Mr. Cannon, the assigned walker, and his colleague Miss Fairweather discover that the assignment is more complex than expected. After a strange encounter during the walk leads them to a darkened house where they find a dead man, they realize that the dead man was the butler who was potentially involved in something illicit regarding dog racing. They suspect that there are two dogs named Tootsie and deduce that Mrs. Manners is using her situation to run a dog racing scam, training multiple greyhounds under one name to manipulate betting odds. They follow the leads to a race where they confirm their suspicions, uncovering the larger criminal operation. In the end, Mrs. Manners is apprehended, revealing the dark side of her seemingly glamorous life.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Requiem for a Rat

Feb 9, 2025 · 29 min

Mortimer Carstairs faces a crisis when the stagehands refuse to work, jeopardizing the theater's performance that night. He enlists the help of Cannon, who recruits Gopy, a rough individual from the fringes of society, to fill in as a stagehand. Gopy is asked to perform as a butler in the first act but ultimately falls asleep during the performance. During the show, he is shot and killed, and the police suspect gang involvement due to Gopy’s criminal background. Cannon deduces the murder was accidental, linked to Sammy North, who had tipped off the assassin to avoid being discovered. As Cannon investigates further, he learns that Gopy's death was a part of a larger smuggling scheme, revealing that Sammy North had orchestrated the situation to cover his tracks, leading to chaos and a race to uncover the truth before the underworld's wrath unfolds.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Death of a Lifer

Feb 8, 2025 · 29 min

Percy Painton and a man named Cannon are involved in an unusual burial arrangement when they are tasked with transporting a coffin to West Ham Cemetery at midnight per the deceased's eccentric wishes. After completing the burial, Cannon and a companion later investigate the cemetery, only to discover that the grave is empty, indicating a grave robbery. They uncover that the coffin, believed to contain a body, was actually filled with banknotes, part of a heist orchestrated by a convict who died before being able to retrieve it. The scheme was masterminded by Harry Duckett, who had falsely set up a funeral parlor to cover their tracks, and now Percy and Cannon confront Percy about their plot as the police arrive. The story reveals themes of deception and eccentricity in the handling of death and burial customs.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Shannon and the Show Boat

Feb 7, 2025 · 29 min

Sir William Hedges, concerned about the fire hazard of a Mississippi showboat, engages Aubrey Mason's firm to provide a fire guard while the vessel, owned by the dubious Seamus Camber, begins operations on the Thames. Mason assigns an operator named Cannon to watch over the ship, where he soon encounters various characters, including Duke Delaney, who appears to be involved with the showboat's furnishings and is suspicious of Camber. Tensions rise as Camber, encouraged by Delaney, bets on reaching twenty knots, risking the old boat's integrity. Cannon uncovers a woman named Constance Maston hiding on board, who turns out to be an undercover Interpol agent tracking Delaney for using the showboat as a front for stealing valuable artworks. As the situation escalates, it becomes clear that Delaney has been manipulating events to make it appear as though Camber is at fault, but ultimately, his plans are thwarted when Maston reveals his true identity and intentions, ensuring that Delaney faces justice instead.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - No Bells for the Bride

Feb 6, 2025 · 27 min

A well-publicized wedding between June Peyton and Harold Tyson is set to take place, but on the day of the ceremony, June mysteriously disappears after driving away in her green sports car. As the wedding preparations are in chaos, Cannon, a bodyguard hired to protect June, embarks on a frantic search to find her, suspecting something is amiss. Harold, distressed about the absence of his fiancée, becomes increasingly agitated. Despite June's apparent wealth and privilege, she rebels against an arranged marriage and plans her own escape, leaving clues about her plans while casting doubt on her father’s intentions. Cannons' investigation reveals that June’s father has made no formal police complaints, complicating matters further. Ultimately, it becomes clear that June has designed her own path, leading Cannon through a series of twists as he attempts to uncover the truth behind her disappearance and ensure her safety.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - A Toll for the Ringer

Feb 5, 2025 · 27 min

A ringing sound from a church bell loft leads to the discovery of a broken stay, prompting the eccentric Reverend Parson Purley to request assistance from two operatives, Cannon and Gail Hamilton. They arrive at the remote church in Potter's Bar only to find an unsettling atmosphere heightened by strange occurrences, including a scream heard earlier. During their investigation, they encounter a body hanging from a bell rope, but it mysteriously disappears, raising suspicions about Purley's intentions. As they dig deeper, they uncover a plot involving black magic and blackmail, orchestrated by Purley, who uses the fake hanging to manipulate and threaten a local man, Timothy Cornish. Cannon and Gail narrowly avoid danger as they reveal Purley's deception, exposing his attempts to frighten them while covering up his nefarious activities. Ultimately, Purley is apprehended for his crimes, and Cornish's involvement in the dark rituals is brought to light, leaving both operatives to deal with the fallout of their eerie night of bell ringing and deception.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Climb to the Depths

Feb 4, 2025 · 28 min

Mabel Dixon, a young woman battling health issues, expresses a strong desire to climb Mount Snowden, prompting her brother Roger to initially decline to accompany her. Mabel decides to hire a guide from a specialized agency after providing details of her circumstances. Unbeknownst to her, the climbing committee has blacklisted Jack Hawthorne, a competent guide who was previously banned after an incident, thus making it difficult for her to find someone willing to take her on. Despite this, Mabel insists on making the climb. Roger follows her to the mountain under the pretense of caring for her safety and ends up offering to guide her himself. During the ascent, Mabel experiences danger when a rope snaps, leading to the revelation that someone may have deliberately sabotaged the equipment. The story unfolds to reveal motives surrounding finances and familial tensions, questioning whether Mabel's haphazard journey is tied to Roger's gambling issues or Jack's past with the committee. Ultimately, the characters navigate personal stakes and hidden dangers on the mountain, with a shocking twist regarding the attempted sabotage.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Triple Crossed

Feb 3, 2025 · 27 min

Aubrey Mason and his colleague Charlie Cannon get involved in a mysterious parcel when an eccentric American, Hiram Fraser, asks them to securely hold a valuable wedding present he picked up from a shabby address. Cannon retrieves the parcel from a landlady at 84 Pell Street and later encounters an attractive woman on the tube who seems to know about the parcel. Following a series of conversations, Inspector Bottomley reveals that the parcel is believed to contain narcotics but turns out to be filled with flour instead. As the investigation deepens, Cannon delivers the package to a man named Charlie Johnston, only to discover that the narcotics have gone missing, and Johnston is involved in a larger smuggling operation along with Captain Tager. The story unfolds with revelations of murder, deception, and a police trap leading to the arrest of Fraser and Johnston, leaving Cannon to realize he has been misled by multiple parties throughout the ordeal.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - A Room to View

Feb 2, 2025 · 25 min

A call is made to a detective about rescuing a kitten from a tree for Mrs. Maude Blanchard, a seemingly upstanding member of society. However, the rescue involves complications as another operative accompanies the detective, raising suspicions. The cat rescue ultimately leads to the discovery of a hidden box containing counterfeit banknote plates, meant for illegal currency production. The plan unravels when it's revealed that the plates were taken, potentially implicating young Kenneth Tracy, who unknowingly delivered the box. The detectives realize the gravity of the situation when they learn that the plans are connected to a communist scheme, obscured by the pretense of a harmless treasure hunt. With quick thinking, the detectives manage to thwart the operation, ensuring that the counterfeit plans are disrupted and that the young man is cleared of wrongdoing.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Overture for an Overcoat

Feb 1, 2025 · 27 min

Cannon, a private investigator, is tasked with attending the Silver Shoe nightclub to do nothing but look decorative while accompanied by his colleague, Miss Fairweather. After an uneventful evening, they notice odd behavior from a guest, Kabul Mashad, who expresses interest in Cannon's new mohair overcoat. Upon leaving the club, Cannon realizes they are being followed by the nightclub owner, Johnny Devereux, and Mashad. An accident ensues, leading to a confrontation where Cannon discovers that the coat contains stolen gems sewn into its lining. The pair realizes they were targeted due to the coat's hidden value, created by a mix-up when Cannon accidentally took the wrong overcoat during a previous visit. The story reveals an intricate scheme involving smuggling and deception, culminating in Cannon's realization of the coat's true worth.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - The Seal of Dorian

Jan 31, 2025 · 26 min

A theft occurs at the British Museum, specifically the seal of Darius, which has been taken without force, indicating insider knowledge of the museum's routine. Sir Henry Bower, an archaeologist in charge of an exhibition, seeks help from a private investigator, Mason, instead of notifying the police. Bower believes he knows where the seal is and suggests that Mason should help recover it discreetly. Mason discovers the connection between the theft and a Greek runner, Popylopedus, participating in an upcoming marathon, theorizing that the location of the seal ties to the race. During the marathon, the Greek runner mysteriously disappears, leading Mason and Bower to a boarding house where they find Popylopedus dead with the seal branded on his throat. They deduce that the theft is tied to a spy ring, with Bower as a mastermind who also attempted to eliminate Mason. Ultimately, Bower is apprehended by police, who find evidence linking him to espionage activities.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - Sammy Brodie's Magnum Opus

Jan 30, 2025 · 26 min

The story revolves around a series of entangled relationships involving the glamorous Meg Brody and her gangster husband, Sammy Brody. Meg seeks a male escort to attend an opera, engaging the services of Dirk Dyer, one of Aubrey Mason's operators. Meanwhile, Joan Darling, another woman associated with the criminal underworld, also expresses interest in Aubrey, complicating matters further. As the evening unfolds, it is revealed that both women are involved with men in the gangster world. Sammy Brody, who believes he is away in the Midlands, is unknowingly tied to a scheme involving his wife and her escort. Tension rises when Sammy confronts Meg and her date at a nightclub, leading to a chaotic scene. Ultimately, the story culminates in revelations of betrayal and a carefully orchestrated plot by Sammy to eliminate potential threats, culminating in the arrest of his adversaries, including the unpredictable Fingers Darling. The interconnectedness of these characters showcases the dangerous allure and duplicity within their lives.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - The Butcher who got the Chop

Jan 29, 2025 · 25 min

Jill Hargreaves is constantly fatigued and suspects something is wrong with her health, while her brother, John Hargreaves, has taken over the family’s meat business after their father's death. John uses hypnosis to manipulate Jill, convincing her to jump into a swimming pool while sleepwalking. Tony Lane, a swimming instructor hired by John, witnesses this incident and becomes concerned about Jill’s safety. After confirming with the two gardeners, Levy and Homer, that they rescued Jill, Tony confronts John about his control over her. Ultimately, it is revealed that John intended no harm; he hoped to convince Jill of her supposed mental instability to gain power over her share of the family business, leading him to abandon his hypnotic practices for karate instead.
33 Half Moon Street - SA - The Receiver of Death

Jan 28, 2025 · 25 min

A telephone call intended for Mabel Cornelius leads to the brutal murder of a woman at a bowling alley, triggering an investigation. Inspector Bottomley discovers a message left for Cornelius that prompts her to contact a detective agency. The investigation reveals a tangled web involving Danny Rushton, a con artist who preys on wealthy women, and Manning Redvers, who has a personal connection to Cornelius. It becomes evident that the victim was not the real Mrs. Cornelius, but rather her sister, who resembled her and was the target of a deadly scheme orchestrated by Rushton. The real motive behind the murder is tied to hidden documents that could alter control of the Cornelius shipping fortune. The case culminates in a tense confrontation where the true identity of the killer is revealed, along with their motives.