Welcome to Down These Mean Streets, bringing you the best of a great detective from old time radio.

Today we'll hear Alan Ladd, an actor better known for his film work starring in Box 13.

In this syndicated series, Ladd played journalist-turned- Mystery writer Dan Holiday.

In search of story ideas, he took out an ad in his old newspaper, The Star Times, which read, Adventure Wanted, will go anywhere,

do anything, Box 13. Letters came in seeking his aid and Holiday often found himself in the middle of trouble acting as detective as much as a creator of detective fiction.

He traveled the country and the world in response to letters and always found an adventure.

It may not have been the most airtight premise,

and Holiday always seemed a bit off by not charging a fee for his services,

but it led to a fine series.

The series was created and syndicated by Alan Ladd's company, Mayfair Productions, named for an

old line of restaurants, Ladd Ran, and the series aired for 52 episodes.

Sylvia Picker co-starred as Susie, Dan Hollidays, Scatterbrain, Secretary,

and the show featured great supporting actors, including Lorraine Tuttle, Betty Lu

Gerson, Alan Reed, and Frank Lovejoy. Maybe because this was Lad's first

go at a radio series he made sure to surround himself with top talent both behind and in front of the microphones.

The decision paid off.

Box 13 holds up today as an exciting mystery adventure show and it's anchored by Ladd's

performance at the center. Now let's listen to

Alan Ladd in Speed to Burn from Box 13 where Dan Holliday finds himself in the

middle of a stolen car ring.

Directed by Richard Sandville and written by Albert Wagner,

the episode features Sylvia Picker, Larry Dobkin, and Gerald Moore. Box 13 with the star of Paramount Pictures Alan Ladd as Dan Holliday.

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