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 down these mean streets where today our old-time radio detective roundup takes us under the cold

glaring lights of the lineup. One of radio's finest cop dramas, the lineup followed Lieutenant Ben Guthrie and his men as they

chase down thieves and killers in a great American city. Now Dragnet may rule the

roost when it comes to radio police

procedurals, but for my money the lineup is a better show,

one that sacrifices documentary style by the book

accuracy for better stories and well-rounded characters.

Lieutenant Guthrie was played by Bill Johnstone, an actor who may be best known for his run as the Shadow. He succeeded Orson Wells in the role and played

the Invisible Hero from 1939 until 1943. Outside of the Shadow's Shadow, Johnstone was a busy radio actor.

He was heard regularly on escapes, suspense, and the Whistler,

and he played Inspector Kramer opposite Sydney Green Streets, Nero Wolf.

For much of the run of the lineup, Johnstone was supported by another veteran radio character actor,

Wally Mayer, who played Sergeant Matt Greve, Guthrie's right-hand man.

Mayor had previously played Private Eye Michael Shane on radio.

He was another voice regularly heard on the top anthology and drama shows of the day.

It was Mayer's character who introduced the lineup of suspects that opened each show.

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