The Adventures of Philip Marlowe was a radio series featuring Raymond Chandler's private eye, Philip Marlowe. Robert C. Reinehr and Jon D. Swartz, in their book, The A to Z of Old Time Radio, noted that the program differed from most others in its genre: "It was a more hard-boiled program than many of the other private detective shows of the time, containing few quips or quaint characters."

"The Tail of the Mermaid" & "The Open Window"

Philip Marlowe is pulled into a strange case involving a nightclub dancer known as "The Mermaid," whose shimmering act hides a dangerous secret. When a valuable item disappears and bodies begin to fall, Marlowe must navigate a world of backstage rivalries, jealous lovers, and a killer who uses misdirection as skillfully as any performer. The deeper Marlowe digs, the clearer it becomes that the Mermaid's "tail" is only the beginning of a much darker story.

• Marlowe is hired to recover a missing item tied to a nightclub performer.

• Backstage tensions reveal grudges, hidden relationships, and a motive for murder.

• A suspicious "accident" pushes Marlowe to dig deeper into the dancer's past.

• Clues point to a setup involving jealousy, greed, and a carefully planned double‑cross.

• Marlowe confronts the killer in a tense showdown that exposes the truth behind the Mermaid's glittering façade.

• The danger behind glamour and performance

• How jealousy can twist into violence

• Marlowe's ability to see through illusion and uncover the truth

A quiet evening turns deadly when Marlowe witnesses a murder through an open window — or so it seems. What follows is a tightly wound mystery involving a missing woman, a staged crime scene, and a cast of suspects who all have something to hide. As Marlowe pieces together the fragments of the case, he discovers that the "open window" is both a clue and a trap, designed to mislead anyone who looks too quickly. Only Marlowe's persistence and sharp instincts can reveal what really happened that night.

I 1948, the series moved to CBS, where it was called The Adventure of Philip Marlowe, with Gerald Mohr playing Marlowe. This series also began with an adaptation of "Red Wind", using a script different from the NBC adaptation. By 1949, it had the largest audience in radio. The CBS version ran for 114 episodes. That series ran 26 September 1948 – 29 September 1950..

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In "The Archeologist Matter," Johnny Dollar is sent to investigate the disappearance of a respected archeologist working at a remote excavation site. What begins as a routine insurance inquiry quickly turns into a tense journey into rugged country, academic rivalries, and a dig that may have uncovered something far more valuable — or far more dangerous — than anyone expected.

Dollar finds himself dealing with nervous colleagues, conflicting stories, and a few too many people who seem eager to keep him away from the truth. As he follows the trail, he uncovers motives buried as deeply as the artifacts the team was digging for.

With sharp dialogue, atmospheric tension, and Johnny's trademark persistence, this episode delivers a classic blend of mystery and danger — proving once again that the past can be deadly when someone wants it left undisturbed.

In "The Bodyguard of Robert W. Perry Matter," Johnny Dollar takes on an assignment he'd rather avoid — protecting a man who insists he doesn't need protection. Robert W. Perry is wealthy, influential, and stubborn, and he's convinced the threats against him are exaggerated. The insurance company disagrees, and Dollar is caught in the middle.

What starts as a simple bodyguard job quickly becomes a twisting case involving hidden enemies, old grudges, and a few dangerous individuals who would prefer Perry — and Dollar — out of the way. As Johnny digs deeper, he finds that the threats are very real, and the motives behind them are far more tangled than anyone has admitted.

With rising tension, sharp exchanges, and a race to uncover who's behind the danger, this episode showcases Johnny Dollar at his best: skeptical, sharp‑witted, and determined to keep his client alive — even when the client won't cooperate.

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