Casey, Crime Photographer

English · Radio

Casey, Crime Photographer was adapted from the pulp novels of George Harmon Coxe. The series began in July 1943 with the name Flashgun Casey, Press Photographer, then changed to Casey, Press Photographer, and for the balance of its run was known as Crime Photographer. Listeners, the press, and old time radio collectors almost always refer to it as Casey, Crime Photographer.

The best years of the series were from August 1946 to March 1948 when it had a big budget from its sponsor, glassware manufacturer Anchor Hocking. The series was set in a city that was a hybrid of Boston and New York, with a key location being the Blue Note Cafe, where Ethelbert the bartender provided malapropisms, puns, and philosophical whimsy to help Casey solve the week's crime.

Highly regarded stage and radio actor Staats Cotsworth played the part of Casey starting in September 1943. Ethelbert was portrayed by John Gibson, while Ann Williams was most often played by Jan Miner. The series was not well-liked by radio critics, but it was always a top-rated program loved by listeners for its playful banter and quirky characters.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.