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X Minus One presents “The Man in the Moon,” episode 6, originally broadcast on May 29, 1955. This NBC science-fiction drama was written by George Lefferts and directed by Fred Weihe, and remade an earlier Dimension X story of the same title. At the Federal Bureau of Missing Persons, a routine bulletin is interrupted by an SOS apparently coming from the Moon. Records custodian Henry Timpkin, played by Luis Van Rooten, recognizes a name in the transmission—and as reports of vanished scientific specialists mount, he and his skeptical chief, Mr. Wade, follow a deeply unsettling trail. Santos Ortega co-stars as Wade. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:53 Original Broadcast 29:01 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Dragnet presents “Max Tyler - Escaped Convict,” episode 32, originally broadcast on NBC on January 5, 1950. Jack Webb stars as Sergeant Joe Friday, with Barton Yarborough as his regular partner, Sergeant Ben Romero. The episode is also cataloged under the alternate title “The Big Escape.” Working the LAPD robbery detail in Los Angeles, Friday and Romero investigate a series of armed holdups targeting major jewelry stores. The case becomes especially difficult when Friday discovers a personal connection to Max Tyler, an old friend from his Army days. Directed by Jack Webb and sponsored by Fatima Cigarettes, this early Dragnet installment brings the series’ clipped procedural style to a tense robbery investigation. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:44 Original Broadcast 30:02 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Gunsmoke, “Another Man’s Poison,” originally broadcast on CBS on September 29, 1957. This is episode 286, written by Les Crutchfield and produced by Norman Macdonnell, with William Conrad as Marshal Matt Dillon. In Dodge City, a woman’s settled life is thrown into turmoil when a husband believed lost at sea unexpectedly returns. As tensions rise between the people involved, Dillon is drawn into an emotional and potentially dangerous domestic conflict. Parley Baer, Georgia Ellis, and Howard McNear also star. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned and mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:55 Original Broadcast 23:58 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Suspense presents “Golden Years,” originally broadcast on CBS on September 16, 1962. Often cataloged as episode 943 (with some logs listing it as #942), this late-series drama was written by William N. Robson and features Peter Fernandez, Rosemary Rice, and Ivor Francis. Teenager Buddy Birdwell’s anger toward his adoptive stepfather escalates after he is denied use of the family car. His girlfriend Sue initially tries to dismiss his talk as youthful frustration, but unsettling signs leave her wondering whether the adults around Buddy will recognize the danger before it is too late. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:53 Original Broadcast 25:47 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Lux Radio Theatre presents “The Kiss of Death,” originally broadcast on CBS on January 12, 1948. Episode 598 adapts the 1947 20th Century-Fox film noir, based on a story by Eleazar Lipsky. Victor Mature, Coleen Gray, and Richard Widmark reprise their screen roles. In New York City, ex-convict Nick Bianco faces an impossible choice after a jewelry-store robbery: accept the consequences himself or cooperate with authorities against the dangerous criminal world he knows. This tense drama explores loyalty, family, and the risks faced by an informer. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 01:02 Original Broadcast 01:00:49 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

The Whistler presents “Stranger in the House,” originally broadcast on CBS on June 2, 1948. This is episode 314 of the suspense anthology series, sponsored by Signal Oil Company, and features Virginia Gregg and Gerald Mohr, with Marvin Miller as announcer. Helen Van Norton has waited nearly seven years for news of her foster brother Ted, missing since a prewar government mission to the Far East. When a cablegram announces his arrival in Seattle, Helen goes to meet him—but the man stepping off the ship raises unsettling questions about identity, family, and a valuable estate. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:40 Original Broadcast 30:11 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Escape presents “A Matter of Conscience - 1,” originally broadcast on CBS on January 18, 1953. Episode 166 is an Antony Ellis drama directed by Norman Macdonnell, with Parley Baer, Ben Wright, John Dehner, and others. In colonial-era Bali, a Dutch resident and Captain Logan face a fast-growing crisis after three English visitors offend a sacred temple. As anger spreads, cultural misunderstanding and personal responsibility threaten to turn a diplomatic incident into violence. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:51 Original Broadcast 29:21 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Inner Sanctum Mysteries presents “Birdsong for a Murderer,” originally broadcast on June 22, 1952. Episode 512 of the CBS series stars Boris Karloff and features a story by Louis Vittes. Carl Warner finds comfort in a room filled with singing canaries—until a stormy-night visitor from Crag Mount asylum brings troubling knowledge and a demand for money. As suspicion grows, Lieutenant Greg follows a disturbing clue involving a canary and its cage in this compact mystery of blackmail, secrets, and unease. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:49 Original Broadcast 22:30 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Gunsmoke, “Legal Revenge” (episode 200), originally broadcast on CBS on February 5, 1956. William Conrad stars as Marshal Matt Dillon, with Parley Baer as Chester and Howard McNear as Doc Adams. The episode was written by John Meston and produced by Norman Macdonnell. When Doc Adams reports a troubling situation at an isolated homestead outside Dodge City, Matt and Chester investigate under the guise of prospective settlers. A wounded man, a guarded woman, and a ready six-gun turn a medical concern into a tense question of danger, identity, and frontier justice. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:49 Original Broadcast 25:40 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Suspense presents “Nightmare,” episode 348, originally broadcast on CBS on September 1, 1949. Gregory Peck stars in this opening broadcast of the 1949–50 season, with Lurene Tuttle and Alan Reed; the drama was written by Sam Blas and produced by William Spier. During a family fishing trip in the mountains, Ben leaves his stalled car to seek help at a nearby gas station. When he returns, his wife and young son have vanished from the roadside, setting off a harrowing search shadowed by danger, grief, and the possibility of revenge. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:51 Original Broadcast 30:47 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Lux Radio Theatre presents “Vivacious Lady,” episode 289, originally broadcast on CBS on January 6, 1941. Sponsored by Lux, this radio adaptation stars Alice Faye and Don Ameche. A reserved college botany professor impulsively marries a lively New York nightclub singer, then faces the challenge of bringing her into his conservative college-town world. Adapted from the 1938 RKO romantic comedy based on I. A. R. Wylie’s story, the comedy plays Manhattan glamour against small-town respectability. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:46 Original Broadcast 01:00:17 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Dragnet, “The Big Border,” originally broadcast on March 20, 1952, is episode 145 of the NBC police drama. Jack Webb stars as Los Angeles robbery detective Sergeant Joe Friday, with Barney Phillips as Sergeant Ed Jacobs; the episode was written by Jim Moser. Friday and Jacobs are assigned to track two armed convicts who have escaped from San Quentin and may be heading for Los Angeles. Following leads tied to one fugitive’s former fiancée, the detectives coordinate with fellow officers as the search pushes south toward the Mexican border. As was customary for Dragnet, the drama presents itself as drawn from official police files with Los Angeles Police Department technical advice. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:54 Original Broadcast 30:24 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

Escape presents “Ancient Sorceries,” episode 28, originally broadcast nationally on CBS on February 15, 1948. This sustaining production was adapted from Algernon Blackwood’s supernatural short story, written for radio by Les Crutchfield and directed by William N. Robson. The cast includes Paul Frees, William Conrad, Jeff Corey, and Ramsay Hill. A traveler pauses overnight in an isolated Welsh town, only to find that its quiet, watchful residents seem to know him—and that the village exerts an unsettling pull he cannot easily explain. What begins as an ordinary stopover becomes an increasingly eerie encounter with the unknown. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:57 Original Broadcast 30:27 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

X Minus One presents “The Martian Death March,” episode 17, originally broadcast on NBC on September 8, 1955. Written by Ernest Kinoy, this production remakes a script first heard on Dimension X in 1951. On Mars in 1997, an Earthman recalls meeting John, a man sympathetic to the Martians confined to reservations, and Cantalcar, a displaced Martian Highlander. When Martians begin a dangerous desert journey toward their ancestral northern mountains, the story becomes a powerful science-fiction allegory of conquest, prejudice, and the meaning of home. Norman Rose narrates. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:59 Original Broadcast 24:25 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio

The Whistler, “Murder in Haste,” originally broadcast December 17, 1947, is episode 290. In this CBS Pacific Network presentation, sponsored by Signal Oil, Bill Forman stars as the ominous Whistler. After a wealthy Miami woman dies, her husband Albert Taylor heads north by train under the watchful eye of a suspicious detective. Desperate to leave his past behind, Taylor glimpses a dangerous chance to take on the identity of a celebrated mystery writer. Written by Eleanor Beeson, this tense tale was a remake of a 1946 Whistler episode of the same title. The 50 Greatest Old Time Radio Shows presents the original broadcast with a newly produced contextual introduction, a short closing announcement, and gently cleaned/mastered audio for a more consistent listening experience. Chapters: 00:00 Victor Sterling Introduction 00:44 Original Broadcast 30:17 Closing Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-50-greatest-old-time-radio-shows-old-time-radio--7218119/support. Support Old Time Retro Radio at https://www.patreon.com/oldtimeretroradio