Get this and get it straight. Crime is a suckers road and those who travel it would 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 Down These Mean Streets a weekly roundup of

detectives and crime fighters from the golden age of radio.

It takes a thief to catch a thief, as the saying goes, and our sleuth this week proves that

old adage to be true.

Boston Blackie began his career as a safe cracker and jewel thief

before he turned over a new leaf and put his sharp mind

to work catching criminals. Blackie's crime solving exploits began in short stories

penned by Jack Boyle, a real life convict whose writing career began when he was still

behind bars. The character came to the

big and small screens and in a pair of radio shows. The second of those shows was

a syndicated production starring actor and Broadway producer Richard Kalmer as Blackie and today will hear three of those old time radio adventures.

Up first from August 20th, 1947 is the John Austin Murder, a baffling case where a man

is found dead in the middle of a field with only his footprints on display.

His killer left no trace and it's up to Blackie to figure out the clever method of murder.

Then from November 19th, 1947, it's the armored car murder case, where Blackie has to clear his name after he's implicated in the hijacking and robbery of an armored car full of currency.

Finally, from April 28th, 1948, it's the Joe Ingalls bombing murder,

...