Richard Diamond, Private Detective: Kidnapped Policeman (old-time radio of 1950)

Original Airdate: Oct. 18, 1950.

Cast: Bill Johnstone (Captain Collins), Sidney Miller (Dean), Virginia Gregg (Mary Sinclair, waitress), Arthur Q. Bryan (Ed), John Stevenson (Lou Baxter), and Jay Novello (Amalo).

Rick Diamond finds himself in a race against time when the brother of an executed killer kidnaps Lt. Levinson and Sgt. Otis enlists the help of our famous whistling shamus.

After a brief run as detective Richard Rogue and a try at Johnny Dollar, Dick Powell found a welcome home here in Richard Diamond, Private Detective, a radio series that ran on NBC and ABC (and in reruns on CBS) from 1949 through 1952 and beyond. Regarding the popular series, Powell was quoted as saying: "We have a wonderful writer - Blake Edwards. His stuff is punchy, he doesn't waste words, and he comes up with some great smiles that don't sound like smiles at all." He added, "We have tried, also, to keep the cast from being the group that is heard on every other show. I think that alone makes a difference to the listeners who particularly enjoy detective stuff and hear 'em all."