Showing results by author "Jackson Beck" in All Categories

A gang of conmen is selling machines that they say can manufacture genuine $1 bills. It's a neat scam, but it leads to murder! How did the traveling monogram illusion work? Frank Kent, an inmate of the state hospital, has been broken out. The hospital is actually a mental institution. Frank was there because his mind is permanently in another world. But the reason somebody wants him is because he is a mathematical genius.

Vance uses a torn stocking to run in a gang of three vicious ladies. The case they’re working on concerns a series of robberies in wealthy homes done they believe by a group of women. Philo Vance is working on the case, but his only result so far is a description he has of one of the members of the gang, a description he obtained from a ripped nylon stocking.

As the killer whistles, "Comin' Through The Rye", a husband and wife are shot after being blackmailed. Evidence points to the neer-do-well son of a banker. The Stuarts’ Butler told Philo Vance and DA Markham that he heard someone whistle and then shots. He was on the third floor and by the time he came down to the library, Mr. Stuart was dead and Mrs. Stuart lived only long enough to say that the killer wanted $100,000.

The Argyle Murder Case opened with the finding of the body of a man dressed in brand new clothing with the exception of a pair of argyle socks. Vance, with only this meagre clue to work on, identifies the body and manages to interview three people - Roger Star owner and feature performer in a theater company; Lila Martin, an actress; and Milton Talbot, publisher of a theatrical newspaper.

Lou talks about Aunt May and Uncle Mike. Lou and Susan had a date last night. Susan's father does not approve of Lou. They talk about June weddings. Abott and Costello get a report on their ratings. They say 12 million people listen to their show. They decide to take their own radio poll. They say there are 400 listeners in the audience.

The Full Dress Murder Case opened with the finding of the knifed body of Boxcar Charlie, derelict. When discovered, Charlie’s body was clothed in full evening dress, which led Philo Vance to announce that he knew where to start looking for the killer.

John Green is murdered while on the telephone to the district attorney. The obvious killer has a good alibi; the DA is then shot. As Philo Vance and District Attorney Markam were looking through the apartment of John Green, who had been murdered the day before, Markham was shot. Both of their suspects, Mrs Green and a man named Edward Lee, have alibis for around eleven o’clock, the time they believe the murder of John Green was committed.

A scientist named Edgar Wilson has been shot and is dying. But first, he stops for a manicure! The Miller brothers, who killed Professor Wilson, are blown to pieces when they try to get Experiment X. The Manicure Murder Case opened when professor Edgar Wilson, scientist, died in a barber shop after insisting the girl manicure his nails, even though he was dying.

The Muddy Murder Case began with the shooting of Johnny Williams, racketeer. Although his house was completely surrounded by mud and Williams was killed at close range, there were no footprints in the mud and nobody but Williams' housekeeper was in his home. Philo Vance and DA Markham suspect a racketeer named Foster, especially since they think he killed another former ally.

A dead man found in the Alamo Motel was killed by ranch owner Bolan, but he's also the corpse!

Exceptionally entertaining, soft-boiled Detective Philo Vance solves murders with his wits. His brain is a match for the great Sherlock Holmes, and so is his superior attitude. This radio series pays homage to the original detective novels of Van Dine first published in the mid-1920s.