Philo Vance
from archive.org
Philo Vance was the detective creation of S. S. Van Dine first published in the mid 1920s. Vance, in the original books, is an intellectual so highly refined he seems he might be ghostwritten by P. G. Wodehouse. Take this quote from The Benson Murder Case, 1924, as Vance pontificates in his inimitable way: "That's your fundamental error, don't y' know. Every crime is witnessed by outsiders, just as is every work of art. The fact that no one sees the criminal, or the artist, actu'lly at work, is wholly incons'quential."
Thankfully, the radio series uses only the name, and makes Philo a pretty normal, though very intelligent and extremely courteous gumshoe. Jose Ferrer played him in 1945. From 1948-1950, the fine radio actor Jackson Beck makes Vance as good as he gets. George Petrie plays Vance's constantly impressed public servant, District Attorney Markham. Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman.
The organist for the show is really working those ivories, and fans of old time radio organ will especially enjoy this series. Perhaps one reason the organist "pulls out all the stops" is because there seems to be little, if any, sound effects on the show.
Philo Vance, the radio series, does pay homage to the original books in that both were, even in their own time, a bit out of date and stilted.
- The Case of the Cellini Cup (27.1Mb)
- The Girl Who Came Back (5.3Mb)
- The Case of the Strange Music (6.6Mb)
- The Eagle Murder Case (12.1Mb)
- The Merry Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- The Poetic Murder Case (24.2Mb)
- The Coachman Murder Case (23.8Mb)
- The Midget Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- The Blue Lady Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- The Backstage Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- The Argus Murder Case (15.5Mb)
- The Bulletin Murder Case (24.6Mb)
- The Cover Girl Murder Case (24.4Mb)
- Heavyweight Murder Case (11.9Mb)
- Tree Trunk Murder Case (11.9Mb)
- Blackjack Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Star Studded Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Murdock Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Vanilla Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Rhumba Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Magic Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Idol Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Golden Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Flying Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Butler Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Herringbone Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Listless Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Curtain Call Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Million Dollar Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- White Willow Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- High Hat Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Movie Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Green Girls Murder Case (15.5Mb)
- Cardinal Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Cipher Murder Case (15.4Mb)
- Masters Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Meanest Man Murder Case (12.8Mb)
- Butterfly Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Hurdy Gurdy Murder (15.3Mb)
- Red Duck Murder (15.3Mb)
- Mistletoe Murder (15.2Mb)
- Combination Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Peacock Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Motor Murder Case (12.2Mb)
- White Murder Case (12.8Mb)
- One Cent Murder Case (8Mb)
- Racket Murder Case (12.9Mb)
- Cheesecake Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Tick Tock Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Deep Sea Murder Case (7.6Mb)
- Johnny a Murder Case (7.8Mb)
- Blue Penny Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Brotherly Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Oxford Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Checkerboard Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- The Penny Ante Murder Case (partial) (12.4Mb)
- The Shoeless Murder Case (partial) (12Mb)
- Black Gold Murder Case (12.1Mb)
- Tea Cup Murder Case (5.6Mb)
- Meeker Murder Case aka Necktie Murder Case (12.4Mb)
- Deathless Murder Case (12.6Mb)
- Little Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Nightmare Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Thundering Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Birdcage Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Grey Glove Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Chop Suey Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Identical Murder Case (6.1Mb)
- Tip Top Murder Case (6.2Mb)
- Left Handed Murder Case (24.4Mb)
- Talking Corpse Murder Case aka Catty Corpse Murder Case (24.5Mb)
- Music Box Murder Case (24.4Mb)
- Sterling Murder Case (24.5Mb)
- Chicken Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Scarface Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- The Psychic Murder Case (partial) (12.3Mb)
- The Big Nick Murder Case (partial) (12.3Mb)
- Church Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Mathematical Murder Case (15.2Mb)
- Jackpot Murder Case (5.7Mb)
- Ivory Murder Case (12Mb)
- Mimic Murder Case (6.3Mb)
- Nylon Murder Case (6.4Mb)
- Golden Key Murder Case (15.1Mb)
- Shower Bath Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- Rooftop Murder Case (5.7Mb)
- Whistling Murder Case (5.6Mb)
- The Manicure Murder Case (15.3Mb)
- The Money Machine Murder Case (12.1Mb)
- The Whirlaround Murder Case (5.6Mb)
- The Alibi Murder Case (5.8Mb)
- Full Dress Murder Case (5.8Mb)
- Prize Ring Murder Case (5.6Mb)
- Argyle Murder Case (6Mb)
- Muddy Murder Case (6Mb)
MP3 files hosted by archive.org.