Get this and get it straight. Crime is a suckers road and those who travel it wind up in the gut of the prison of the grave.

The story you are about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

The Adventures of Sam Spade Detective.

The Adventures of the Saints starring Vincent Prize

Bob Bailey in the exciting adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account

America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator.

Yours truly, Johnny Deller. And the Hello and welcome to another bonus episode of down these mean streets with a midweek

dose of old-time radio comedy. We're celebrating a pair of dates this week. first the January 14th birthday of actor William Bendix

and the January 16th anniversary of the premiere of his classic radio sitcom The Life of Riley.

Today we'll hear William Bendix in a pair of episodes as Chester A Riley,

the lovable lunghead and patriarch prone to misadventures at home and at work.

Up first is an episode originally aired on NBC on September 7th, 1946.

Riley is happy to usher in a new era of prosperity for his family

when he receives news of a promotion at work.

Unfortunately, it isn't his promotion but it takes him a while to catch on.

Then in an episode from February 8th, 1947, it's almost Riley's birthday, but he's afraid his family forgot the occasion.

He decides he'll drop some hints, along with some money that he hopes they'll use to buy a birthday present.

The supporting cast includes Paula Winslow as Riley's wife Peg, Tommy Cook as son junior,

and Barbara Eiler as daughter Babs.

Dink Trout is neighbor Waldo Benny and actor John Brown does double duty.

He plays Riley's pal Gillis and the show's breakout character

Digby O'Dell, the friendly undertaker with a fondness for morbid puns.

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