The The end of World War II and the rise of the Cold War paved the way for a new breed of radio detective,

the globetroading secret agent or Soldier of Fortune.

There was Herbert Marshall, as the man called X, Brian Don Levy is Steve Mitchell

on dangerous assignment, and in a 1949 syndicated series, Frank Race,

a wartime spy-turned-private detective,

Frank Race circled the globe to investigate fraud, threats, and murder.

As the announcer explained at the top of every episode, Frank Race gave up his career as

an attorney to join the OSS, that's the Office of Strategic Services,

the wartime precursor to the CIA.

At the end of World War II, race re-entered civilian life, but he didn't go back to practicing law.

He formed his own investigation agency, specializing in insurance and corporate matters all around the world.

Race was similar to another radio gum shoe,

International Insurance Investigator Johnny Dollar.

The big difference between the two was race's background and intelligence and espionage,

skills that gave him an edge in his adventures.

This trait lumped race in with some other radio detectives who were veterans of the war, George

Valentine of Let George do it, and Richard Diamond whose own backstory included a

stint with the OSS. The Adventures of Frank Grace was a syndicated production of the

Broadcaster's program syndicate. Created by Bruce Elles, it was one of several companies

providing syndicated content to stations alongside Frederick W. Ziv, who gave us Boston Blackie and Philovance, and Mayfair productions, responsible for the Damon Runyon Theater and Box 13.

Tom Collins was the first actor to star as Frank Race.

At the time Collins was also starring on radio as another international adventurer

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