In the early days of radio, producers, directors and scriptwriters were well aware of the listening public’s fascination with subject matter tinged with wrongdoing. Stories of right and wrong, crime and punishment, and law and order kept audiences of every age hooked for more than thirty years.
This work covers 300+ syndicated radio mystery and adventure serials that aired in the early or middle twentieth century. To be included, a series must have had one or more regularly appearing characters who fought against espionage, theft, murder and other crimes. Each entry includes series name, air dates, sponsor, extant episodes, cast information and synopsis.

Jim Cox, a leading radio historian, is an award-winning author of numerous books on the subject. A retired college professor, he lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

Jim Cox
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 333
Bibliographic Info: photos, appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010 [2002]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4324-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1227-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments     vii

Preface     1

The Series     5

Appendix: Series Grouped by Character and Genre Types<     283

Annotated Bibliography     289

Index     295

“recommended…indispensable…user friendly”—Midwest Book Review; “the wealth of information couched in a well-organized and easy-to-read volume makes [this book] another highly recommended entry in the growing list of OTR reference works”—Radio Recall; “consistently informative…invariably entertaining…another fine contribution…well-worth reading”—Air Check; “excellent compilation…probably the definitive work on the subject…a heck of a lot of fun…witty, breezy and informative without being pretentious…may be enjoyed on several levels…highly recommended”—ARSC Journal; “there is a lot here…useful…great fun”—Communication Booknotes Quarterly; “useful…necessary…addictive reading…excellent”—Classic Images; “an excellent annotated bibliography…[Cox] is a true scholar in the area of Old Time Radio…very thorough…a must…enjoyable…heartily recommend[ed]”—The Illustrated Press; “a true feast…splendid…a marvelous amount of information…really wonderful…will be savored…greatly recommend[ed]”—Chattanooga Airwaves .