Down These Mean Streets (Old Time Radio Detectives)
Episodes
Episode 436 – First Lady of Baker Street (New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
09 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Without Edith Meiser, Sherlock Holmes might never have found enduring success and popularity in the United States. It was Meiser, a writer and Broadwa...
Master of Other People's Minds
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Orson Welles was already a celebrated theatrical producer, director, and star by the late 1930s. He financed his productions in part from his earnings...
BONUS - Another Side of Orson (Jack Benny Program)
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Jack Benny came down with pneumonia in the spring of 1943 and he had to miss a month of shows, an unlikely guest host stepped in to fill his shoe...
A long time ago, on a radio far, far away...
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
May the Fourth Be With You! It's one of the biggest Star Wars days in recent memory, with the success of The Mandalorian and the promise of even more ...
Episode 435 – Medium Welles (Campbell Playhouse & Lives of Harry Lime)
02 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the first part of a birthday salute to the great Orson Welles, we'll hear him co-star with My Friend Irma leading lady Marie Wilson in a screwball...
BONUS - An Apple for the Teacher (Our Miss Brooks)
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The brilliant comedienne Eve Arden brought wit and charm to the role of Connie Brooks, Madison High School's favorite English teacher. She stood at th...
"Around Dodge City..."
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of radio's finest dramas rode into town on April 26, 1952 with the premiere broadcast of Gunsmoke. The series was created at the request of CBS p...
Episode 434 – Diamond on the Soles of Her Shoes (Richard Diamond, Private Detective)
25 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On April 24, 1949, radio fans met Dick Powell as Richard Diamond, Private Detective. The only radio gumshoe who wrapped up his case of the week with ...
"Countdown for blast off..."
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On April 24, 1955, X Minus One premiered on NBC and launched a new wave of adult science fiction stories on the air. A continuation of sorts of NBC'...
Diamond in the Rough
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"I was sitting in my office shooting paper clips at a King size horse fly. It was a little sadistic but he was bigger than I was. Well, about the time...
BONUS - Oscar Night (Lux Radio Theatre)
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the Academy Awards ceremony right around the corner, we'll hear a classic Hollywood comedy recreated for radio. My Man Godfrey picked up six Osc...
Episode 433 – Matrimonial Mayhem (Thin Man, Mr. and Mrs. North, & Adventures of the Abbotts)
18 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're joining three pairs of husband and wife sleuthing teams as they mix date nights with dead bodies. First, Nick and Nora Charles solve "The Case o...
Hi, Lois
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For multiple generations of kids - those who listened on radio and saw the theatrical cartoons and later those who tuned in for the Filmation TV serie...
BONUS - By Hook (Burns and Allen & My Friend Irma)
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hans Conried gave us one of the all-time great Disney villains as Captain Hook, and he was a memorable menace as Snidely Whiplash. But the greatest sh...
Out of the Fog
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The idea of the gentleman detective conjures up images of smoking jackets and walking sticks: characters like Philo Vance who were as handsome as th...
The Most Famous of All Manhunters
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Calling Nick Carter! Another case for Nick Carter, Master Detective. Yes, it's another case for that most famous of all manhunters, the detective...
Episode 432 – Out of This World (Dimension X & Dangerous Assignment)
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of radio's best anthologies of adult science fiction, Dimension X presented adaptations of stories from Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and more. We'...
"Count me out tonight, angel..."
10 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Some radio detectives originated in the pages of novels and short stories, while others transitioned from the big screen to the airwaves. In the cas...
Wolfe in Sheep's Clothing
10 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"I rarely leave my house. I do like it here. I would be an idiot to leave this chair, made to fit me." (Rex Stout, Before I Die) Nero Wolfe made his ...
Back to the Future
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Adventures in time and space…told in future tense!" Dimension X, one of radio's first and best "adult" science fiction programs, premiered on NBC o...
BONUS - Shades of Brown (My Friend Irma & Life of Riley)
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One of radio's most versatile and in-demand performers, John Brown could be heard in regular roles almost every night of the week through the 40s and ...
Episode 431 – Three Jacks (Pat Novak, Jeff Regan, & Pete Kelly's Blues)
04 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
He's best known for Dragnet and Joe Friday, but there was a lot more to Jack Webb's radio career than the groundbreaking police procedural. We'll hea...
Jack of All Trades
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is there anybody who doesn't know Dragnet? Even if you don't know the series or couldn't pick Sgt. Joe Friday out of a line-up, chances are you kno...
BONUS - Hey, Paula (Life of Riley)
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over a long radio career, Paula Winslowe effortlessly moved between dramas, thrillers, mysteries, and comedies. But her signature role came in one of ...
And the Oscar goes to...
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Academy Award, one of the more prestigious Hollywood radio programs, premiered on CBS on March 30, 1946. The series presented recreations of films tha...
Episode 430 – Treasury Map (Treasury Agent & T-Man)
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For much of its history, the US Treasury Department was extensively involved in law enforcement. The Coast Guard, the Bureau of Prohibition, the Secre...
BONUS - Still Smiling One Year Later (Jack Benny & Our Miss Brooks)
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We mark the first anniversary of our bonus comedy episodes with the shows that kicked off the series. First, Jack Benny and his gang try and solve a m...
Episode 429 – Let's Be Frank (Here Comes McBride, Escape, & Night Beat)
21 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Before his big screen turns in The Hitchhiker and In a Lonely Place, Frank Lovejoy made a name for himself on radio. His best known role was reporte...
BONUS - Nutty and Disorderly (Martin and Lewis)
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's a birthday salute to Jerry Lewis with a pair of shows from his radio comedy series with partner Dean Martin. The cool crooner and the goofball wi...
Episode 428 – Legal Eagles (Defense Attorney, Amazing Mr. Tutt, & Academy Award)
14 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're headed to court for three old time radio mysteries starring crusading counselors at law. First, Mercedes McCambridge finds clues and cross-exami...
BONUS - Stan, Stan, He's Our Man (Stan Freberg Show)
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with Stan Freberg and company for more from The Stan Freberg Show, The unique blend of satire and shenanigans was one of the last original...
Episode 427 – My Fair Rex (Private Files of Rex Saunders & Academy Award)
07 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Before he won a Tony and an Oscar as Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Rex Harrison had a brief stint as a radio private eye. We'll hear the st...
BONUS - Lou's on First (Abbott & Costello)
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's a birthday bash for Lou Costello in this week's bonus comedy show. We'll hear Costello and Bud Abbott trade barbs and backwards logic in a pair o...
Episode 426 – International Men of Mystery (Rocky Jordan, Mr. I.A. Moto, & Dangerous Assignment)
28 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's a trip around the world with three old time radio detectives who walked an international beat. First, Rocky Jordan investigates a killing in Cai...
"The lonesomest mile in the world..."
27 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Broadway is my beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle - the gaudiest, the most violent…the lonesomest mile in the world." On February 27, 1949,...
BONUS - Pops is Tops (Jack Benny Program & Jubilee)
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We'll close out our Black History Month series with music and comedy from Louis Armstrong. Satchmo teams up with Rochester in an episode of The Jack ...
Episode 425 – Change for a Dollar (Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar)
21 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seventy-two years ago this month, "the man with the action-packed expense account" made his two-fisted radio debut. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar ran u...
BONUS - Eddie Takes Your Order (Duffy's Tavern)
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eddie Green's signature radio role was as Eddie, the waiter at Duffy's Tavern. But before he joined the cast of the Ed Gardner comedy series, Green w...
Episode 424 – Ladies' Night (Meet Miss Sherlock, Sara's Private Caper, & Candy Matson)
14 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're saluting some of the women who solved crimes during the radio era. First, we'll Meet Miss Sherlock, a scatterbrained amateur detective (origin...
Strange Visitor from Another Planet...
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"It's a bird! It's a plane! It's SUPERMAN!" On February 12, 1940, two years after his debut in the pages of Action Comics, Superman took flight on ra...
Expense Account, First Page...
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On February 11, 1949, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar premiered on CBS and kicked off the career of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator."...
BONUS - Oh, Rochester (Jack Benny Program & Private Life of Rochester Van Jones)
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eddie Anderson, the vaudeville star and comedian with a trademark gravelly voice, made his first appearance on The Jack Benny Program in 1937. He'd b...
Episode 423 – Nigel the Bruce (Sherlock Holmes & Screen Guild Theatre)
07 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 14 films and hundreds of radio episodes, Nigel Bruce personified Dr. Watson for generations of Sherlock Holmes fans. The actor created a companion ...
Stories Start in Many Different Ways...
06 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On February 6, 1950, reporter Randy Stone took his first walk on the Night Beat. Frank Lovejoy starred as Randy, an intrepid newspaperman working at ...
BONUS - Maid in Hollywood (Beulah & Philco Radio Time)
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of Black History Month, we're saluting African American performers in old time radio comedies. Seven years after she became the first Black p...
"Frontier Gentleman" - Ten Great Episodes
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Frontier Gentleman, the story of an English reporter traveling the wild west, premiered on this day in 1958. Along with Gunsmoke, it's one of the best...
Episode 422 – Hard-Boiled Heroics (Philip Marlowe, Pat Novak, & Barrie Craig)
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Two-fisted action, tough guy narration, dangerous dames - the hard-boiled detective shows of the golden age of radio had it all. We'll hear three of t...
BONUS - AKA Archibald Leach (Burns and Allen & Mr. and Mrs. Blandings)
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's a belated birthday party for screen legend Cary Grant with a pair of old time radio showcases for his comedic talents. We'll hear him try to dodg...
Episode 421 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Let George Do It & Box 13)
24 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When the mail arrives for George Valentine and Dan Holiday, it means mystery and adventure are soon to follow. Both gumshoes find cases in the respons...
BONUS - Special Kaye (Danny Kaye Show)
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sing, dance, act, and make audiences howl with laughter - Danny Kaye could do it all, and he found a magnificent showcase for many of his talents in h...
Episode 420 – It Takes Some Thieves (Lone Wolf & Boston Blackie)
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Crime used to pay for our old time radio super sleuths this week, but Michael Lanyard (The Lone Wolf) and Boston Blackie left their criminal careers b...
BONUS - Bendix Birthday Bash (Life of Riley)
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's a party in this week's bonus comedy episode. We're celebrating the birthday of William Bendix and the anniversary of the debut of his radio sitco...
Episode 419 – Three Halos (The Saint)
10 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're saluting Simon Templar today, and we'll hear three of his radio adventures including the audition recording that kicked off the on-air career of...
BONUS - Wistful Vista Winter Wonderland (Fibber McGee and Molly)
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Snow is falling on Wistful Vista in this week's bonus comedy episode. Join Fibber McGee and Molly for a pair of stories about sleds, sleigh rides, and...
Episode 418 – Some Inspectors Call (Black Museum, Whitehall 1212, & Pursuit)
03 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The dogged detectives of Scotland Yard are on the case in three old time radio mysteries. First, Orson Welles narrates the story of "The Car Tire" and...
BONUS – Dropping the Ball (Alan Young Show & Our Miss Brooks)
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We sign off for the year with two New Year's comedies from the golden age of radio. First, Alan Young tries to keep the plans for a Rose Bowl parade f...
Episode 417- Cornered (Lux Radio Theatre)
27 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before the world loved Lucy, Lucille Ball starred as a tough noir heroine in The Dark Corner. She played a loyal secretary out to clear the name of ...
Christmas Crimes and Capers
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Holidays! As you wait for Santa's sleigh to touch down on your roof tonight, enjoy these yuletide adventures of some of our favorite old time ra...
BONUS - Bells on Benny Ring (Jack Benny Program)
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Department store sales clerks had a lot to face during the holiday season - crowds of last minute shoppers, long hours, and Jack Benny agonizing over ...
Episode 416 – A Very Casey Christmas (Casey, Crime Photographer)
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Criminals work on Christmas, but fortunately so do the ace crimesolvers of the golden age of radio! Staats Cotsworth stars as newshound and amateur sl...
BONUS - Holly Jolly (Burns and Allen & Fibber McGee and Molly)
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our comedy countdown to Christmas continues with two beloved radio couples and a Hollywood legend pinch hitting for the holidays. First, Jane Wyman st...
Episode 415 - Ever-Greenstreet (Nero Wolfe, Fred Allen, & Screen Guild Theatre)
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sydney Greenstreet was 61 years old when he made his screen debut as Kasper Gutman in The Maltese Falcon, and his larger than life villainous performa...
BONUS - Jingle All the Way (Our Miss Brooks & My Favorite Husband)
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The countdown to Christmas continues with more old time radio holiday comedies. First, Eve Arden hosts a Christmas party with yuletide magic in the ai...
Episode 414 - Sleight of Hand Sleuthing (Chandu the Magician, Blackstone the Magic Detective, & Lights Out)
06 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Say the magic word and join three old time radio detectives with something extra up their sleeves. Whether they used supernatural powers or just trick...
BONUS - Deck the Halls (Abbott and Costello & Phil Harris-Alice Faye)
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With Christmas right around the corner, we're launching a month of holiday comedies from the golden age of radio. First, Bud and Lou trim the tree and...
Episode 413 – We Like Mike (Michael Shayne)
29 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wally Maher and Jeff Chandler starred on radio as red-headed shamus Michael Shayne, and each actor brought his own style to the detective. Maher, alon...
Talking Turkey
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Thanksgiving! In honor of Turkey Day – and to keep you company while you're in the kitchen or waiting to eat – here are five old time radio ...
BONUS - Comedy Cranberry Sauce (My Friend Irma & Life with Luigi)
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before you dig in to your Thanksgiving dinner, enjoy a pair of Turkey Day comedies from the golden age of radio. First, My Friend Irma brings a live ...
Episode 412 – Father Knows Best (Big Guy)
22 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua Sharpe was a rarity in the world of radio private eyes. When he closed up his shop for the day, he headed home to his two kids who he raised as...
BONUS - Turkey Tales (Jack Benny & Fibber McGee and Molly)
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We kick off our Thanksgiving celebration with a pair of old time radio Turkey Day comedies. First, Jack Benny dreams he's the main course on the menu ...
Episode 411 – Say a Little Prayer (Father Brown & Bishop and the Gargoyle)
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our sleuths this week are men of the cloth as well as men of mystery. We'll hear Karl Swenson as G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown in "The Mystified Mind...
BONUS - Over There (Command Performance)
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of Veterans Day, we'll hear a pair of shows produced exclusively for our fighting men and women during World War II. Every week, the biggest ...
Episode 410 – Marlowe, My Sweet (Lux Radio Theatre)
08 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dick Powell reinvented himself and embarked on a new phase of his career when he starred as Philip Marlowe in Murder, My Sweet. The noir drama broke ...
BONUS - Vote for Comedy (Fibber McGee and Molly & Life with Luigi)
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Americans head to the polls tomorrow after a long and contentious election cycle, and to celebrate the casting of our ballots I've got a pair of old t...
Episode 409 – Candy Bag (Candy Matson)
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Candy Matson is on the case, so if you're a crook in San Francisco - beware! Natalie Masters stars as the glamorous and gritty private detective, one ...
BONUS – Bud and Lou Meet the Monsters (Abbott and Costello)
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We wrap up our month of Halloween comedies with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello hosting some of Hollywood's legends of horror. First, Peter Lorre offers C...
Episode 408 – Baker Street Trick or Treat (New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
25 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Halloween approaches, we'll hear Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson face off against supernatural foes - or at least foes who appear to be supernatural...
BONUS - Jack O'Lantern (Jack Benny Program)
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrate Halloween with Jack Benny and his gang - Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, Don Wilson, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Dennis Day - in a pair o...
Episode 407 - Please Mr. Postman (Box 13)
18 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Ladd is back as Dan Holiday, writer and solver of mysteries in Box 13. Holiday hires himself out as an adventurer - all to get story ideas - wit...
BONUS - Haunted and Hilarious (Life of Riley & Sealtest Variety Theatre)
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ghosts, ghouls, and grins are in the air with two more old time radio Halloween comedies. We'll hear William Bendix take a trip to a haunted house on ...
Episode 406 – Start Spreading the News (Rocky Fortune)
11 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As he reinvented his career with an Oscar-winning role and a new recording contract, Frank Sinatra came to radio in his own detective drama. Sinatra s...
BONUS - Tricks and Treats (Our Miss Brooks & Life with Luigi)
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our month of Halloween comedy kicks off with Eve Arden and J. Carrol Naish in a pair of trick-or-treating tales to keep you smiling like a jack-o-lant...
Episode 405 – Dollar Store (Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar)
04 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sixty-five years ago, Bob Bailey stepped into the role of "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator" and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar relaun...
BONUS - Gang's All Here (A Day in the Life of Dennis Day & Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show)
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jack Benny's supporting cast was one of the best in radio, so it was no surprise when two of his co-stars launched shows of their own. We'll hear A D...
Episode 404 – A Couple of Crimesolvers (Mr. and Mrs. North)
27 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For over ten years, Joseph Curtin and Alice Frost starred as Mr. and Mrs. North, radio's most popular married crimesolvers. No matter where the amateu...
BONUS - Happily and Hilariously Married (Burns and Allen)
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're catching up with radio's funniest couple in a pair of episodes starring George Burns and Gracie Allen. First, Gracie thinks George needs a break...
Episode 403 – Everybody Comes to Rocky's (Rocky Jordan)
20 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The streets of Cairo are full of intrigue and adventure, and neither is in short supply at the Cafe Tambourine run by Rocky Jordan. Jack Moyles stars...
BONUS - A Day for a Dark Knight (Adventures of Superman)
19 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Holy Batman Day! We're celebrating the Caped Crusader with a bonus podcast episode starring Batman, Robin, and Superman. The Dynamic Duo co-stars with...
BONUS - Stanning Freberg (Stan Freberg Show)
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's bonus comedy episode, we'll hear more satire and spoofs from The Stan Freberg Show. Freberg and his cast send up politics, music, and m...
Episode 402 – There's Nothing Like a Dame (Radio City Playhouse & Hercule Poirot)
13 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're celebrating the birthday of master of mystery Agatha Christie with a pair of old time radio shows. First, her story "Witness for the Prosecution...
BONUS - Silver Screen Spoofs (Jack Benny Program)
09 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
New movies are headed back to theaters, and while it isn't safe yet to grab a seat in a theater, you can enjoy a double feature of classic films prese...
Episode 401 - Compassionate Cop (Broadway is My Beat)
06 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Detective Danny Clover stands out from the crowd of radio detectives. He was introspective and insightful, and he only drew his gun as a last resort. ...
BONUS - Back to School (Our Miss Brooks)
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
School is back in session across the country, and this week we'll head to class at Madison High with Eve Arden in Our Miss Brooks. The faculty and stu...
Episode 400 - Fabulous Firsts
30 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's the 400th episode of "Down These Mean Streets!" To celebrate, I'm sharing the first detective shows I heard - the episodes that sparked my love o...
BONUS - Vacation Plans (Fibber McGee and Molly & Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show)
26 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Summer is winding down, and some of radio's comedy couples are planning a getaway! We'll hear Fibber McGee angle for Molly to join him on a two-week f...
Episode 399 – The Great Willard (Escape & The Whistler)
23 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Willard Waterman may be best known for his long and very funny run on radio as The Great Gildersleeve, but he showed off his serious side on some of t...
BONUS - Yabba Dabba Dude (My Friend Irma & Life with Luigi)
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before he moved to Bedrock and voiced Fred Flintstone, Alan Reed was a busy radio actor. He popped up on The Shadow, Philip Marlowe, and Sam Spade,...
Episode 398 – Man in Black (Have Gun – Will Travel)
16 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The man called Paladin - a gentleman gunfighter for hire in the west of 1875 - rode from television to radio in Have Gun - Will Travel. A rare radio ...
BONUS - Second Round of Stan (Stan Freberg Show)
12 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We'll hear more of The Stan Freberg Show - one of the most original and inspired comedies the radio era ever produced - in this week's bonus episode....
Episode 397 – Bless You (The Saint)
09 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vincent Price returns as "the Robin Hood of modern crime" in two old time radio adventures of The Saint. Simon Templar solves crimes with charm and s...