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

The story you were 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 our midweek bonus episode of down these mean streets.

Our countdown to Christmas continues today with two more old-time radio comedies

each starring a beloved radio couple although one of the duos has a pinch hitter filling in.

As George Burns explains at the top of the show, Gracie Allen came down with a case of the

flu which left her unable to go on, and left no time

for the writers to devise a new script for the Christmas show.

So in this episode, originally aired on NBC on December 25th,

1947, Gracie is played by Academy Award winner Jane Wyman.

It wasn't unprecedented. Guest hosts filled in for Jack Benny,

Bud Abbott, and Jimmy Durranti among others. But this is a rare instance where a lead character was recast.

Not only a lead character, but a central part of the show, and a real person to boot.

And it sounds odd when you first hear the idea

that one of radio zanius stars could be replaced,

but Jane Wyman does a really good job.

She wisely didn't try to imitate Gracie Allen.

Instead, she brought her own style to the character.

...