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. the Hello and welcome to down these mean streets and more old-time radio

detectives and crime fighters.

This week we're saluting actor William Gargan,

who played several gum shoes on radio,

as well as the big and small screens.

Around here, we know him best as Barry Craig, confidential investigator.

But Gargan also logged time as Ellery Queen and Martin Kane. He even popped up as a homicide

cop in the Abbott and Costello Murder Mystery comedy, Who Done It? Before he got

into acting, Gargon had a series of odd jobs, including selling

bootleg whiskey to speakies during prohibition, as well as a stint as a private detective where he failed to distinguish himself.

Fortunately for him and for us, Gargan was better at playing a detective than he was at solving crimes in real life.

He was particularly good playing hard-boiled detectives with wry senses of humor.

Gargon excelled at playing both tough and tongue-in-cheek.

For my money he was second only to Howard Duff Sam Spade in that department.

Today in honor of his July 17th Spade in that department.

Today, in honor of his July 17th birthday,

...