Download or Listen to Advert-free Old-time Radio Shows
starring
Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce
plus shows starring
Nigel Bruce & John Conway — John Stanley & Alfred Shirley — John Stanley & Ian Martin
John Stanley & Wendell Holmes — Ben Wright & Eric Snowden
The original Old-time Radio shows
include lengthy advertisements that interrupt the story at the start, middle, and again at the end. These commercial breaks add up to about five minutes per show and soon become nettlesome once you've listened to one or two stories. I've edited out these intrusions from all of the 169 shows in my possession — but I have kept portions of the introductions, the good-byes, and the to-and-fro between Dr. Watson and the host in order to conserve the natural flow of the storytelling.
I used to sell the ad-free shows on CD but after many years I have discontinued due to large increases in costs, changes in technology, and a change in lifestyle for yours truly. However… instead of charging for CDs, I have put all the advert-free shows in my possession online for FREE instead. They're also available to listen to in your browser, so please download as many as you wish.
On a technical note, I've equalised the volume on all of the shows, tidied up the mp3 tags, and added a jpeg so that they look good on the audio device of your choosing. Enjoy!
Remember, the shows are FREE to download, but if you feel the urge to donate a small amount as a token of thanks then please do so below…
The original, and the best. Well, not really the original but still the best! Rathbone and Bruce were the quintessential Holmes & Watson on screen, and proved equally popular on the radio. Their shows lasted from 1939 to 1946, but unfortunately for us, very few of the recordings survive from before 1945 and the ones that do are of a poorer quality.
This series features some adaptations of original Conan-Doyle stories, and a few tales from the pen of Edith Meiser, who left as writer in 1943 after a disagreement with the sponsor regarding the amount of violence in the shows. Gawd only knows what she would make of modern crime drama…
The Hound of the Baskervilles - Part V only (final third missing) º
09 | 02
| 1941
6
The Mystery of Mrs. Warren's Key †
07 | 12
| 1941
7
The Cardboard Box †
(partial episode)
27 | 08
| 1943
8
The Adventure of the Superfluous Pearl º
22 | 05
| 1944
9
The Book of
Tobit
26 | 03
| 1945
10
The Amateur
Mendicant Society
02 | 04
| 1945
11
The Viennese
Strangler
09 | 04
| 1945
12
The Notorious
Canary Trainer
23 | 04
| 1945
13
The Unfortunate
Tobacconist
30 | 04
| 1945
14
The Purloined
Ruby
07 |
05 | 1945
15
In Flanders
Field
14 | 05
| 1945
16
The Missing
Bloodstains º
15
| 05 | 1945
17
The Paradol
Chamber
21
| 05 | 1945
18
The Limping
Ghost
03
| 09 | 1945
19
The Story of
Colonel Warburton's Madness
10
| 09 | 1945
20
The Case of the Out of Date
Murder
17
| 09 | 1945
21
The Eyes of
Mr. Leyton
24
| 09 | 1945
22
The Problem
of Thor Bridge
10 | 01
| 1945
23
The Mystery
of the Vanishing White Elephant
08
| 10 | 1945
24
The Manor House
Case
15
| 10 | 1945
25
The Great Gandolfo
22
| 10 | 1945
26
Murder by Moonlight
29
| 10 | 1945
27
The Gunpowder
Plot
05
| 11 | 1945
28
The Speckled Band
12
| 11 | 1945
29
The Case of the Double Zero
19
| 11 | 1945
30
The Case of the Accidental
Murderess
26
| 11 | 1945
31
Murder in The
Casbah
03
| 12 | 1945
32
A Scandal in
Bohemia
10
| 12 | 1945
33
The Second
Generation
17 | 12 | 1945
34
The Night Before
Christmas
24 | 12 | 1945
35
The Strange Case of the Iron Box
31 | 12 | 1945
36
The Strange Case of the Murder In Wax
07
| 01 | 1946
37
Murder
Beyond Mountains
15
| 01 | 1946
38
The Telltale Pigeon Feathers
21
| 01 | 1946
39
The Strange Case of the
Demon Barber
28
| 01 | 1946
40
The Indiscretion of Mr.
Edwards
04
| 02 | 1946
41
The
Guileless Gypsy
11
| 02 | 1946
42
The Camberwell
Poisoners
18
| 02 | 1946
43
The Terrifying
Cats with Eric Snowden as Dr. Watson
25
| 02 | 1946
44
The Submarine
Caves
04
| 03 | 1946
45
The Adventure
of the Living Doll
11
| 03 | 1946
46
The Adventure of the Blarney Stone
18
| 03 | 1946
47
The Girl with the Gazelle
25
| 03 | 1946
48
April Fools' Day Adventure
01
| 04 | 1946
49
The Adventure of the Disappearing
Scientists
08 | 04 | 1946
50
The Mystery of the Headless
Monk
15
| 04 | 1946
51
The Tankerville
Club Scandal
22
| 04 | 1946
52
The Waltz of
Death
29
| 04 | 1946
53
The Man with the Twisted Lip
06
| 05 | 1946
54
The Strange Adventure of the Uneasy Easy Chair
13
| 05 | 1946
55
The Haunting of Sherlock Holmes with Joseph Kearns as Dr. Watson
20
| 05 | 1946
56
The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher
27
| 05 | 1946
Bulk download of all Rathbone & Bruce shows
1939 – 1946
Nigel Bruce & Tom Conway Shows
When Basil Rathbone left the series in 1946 he was replaced by Tom Conway as Sherlock Holmes, with Nigel Bruce continuing on as Dr. Watson. This series had 39 episodes, 38 of which are currently in circulation. Tom Conway is good in the role and had a voice similar to Rathbone, and Bruce is fabulous playing Watson as per usual. This series features two adaptations of original Conan-Doyle stories, The Adventure of the Devil's Foot, and The Speckled Band.
No.
Title
Broadcast Date
Download
Listen Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1
The Adventure of the Stuttering Ghost
12 | 10 | 1946
2
The Adventure of the Black Angus
19 | 10
| 1946
3
The Clue of the Hungry Cat
26 | 10
| 1946
4
The Adventure of the Original Hamlet
02 | 11
| 1946
5
The Singular Adventure of the Dying Schoolboys
09 | 11
| 1946
6
The Adventure of the Genuine Guarnarius
16 | 11
| 1946
7
The Adventure of the Sally Martin
23 | 11
| 1946
8
Death of Mrs Abernathy º
30 | 11
| 1946
9
The Case of the Coptic Compass º
07 | 12
| 1946
10
The Adventure of the Elusive Emerald
14 | 12
| 1946
11
The Adventure of the Grand Old Man
21 | 12
| 1946
12
The Singular Affair of the White Cockerel
28 | 12
| 1946
13
The Darlington Substitution Case º
04 | 01
| 1947
14
The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot
13 | 01
| 1947
15
The Singular Affair of the Babbling Butler
27 | 01
| 1947
16
The Adventure of the the Dying Detective
03 | 02 | 1947
17
The Strange Case of the Persecuted Millionaire
10 | 02 | 1947
18
The Adventure of the Haunted Bagpipes
17 | 02
| 1947
19
The Horseless Carriage
24 | 02
| 1947
20
Queue for Murder
03 | 03
| 1947
21
The Singular Affair of the Egyptian Curse with Ben Wright as Holmes
10 | 03
| 1947
22
The Adventure of the Creeping Man
17 | 03
| 1947
23
The Adventure of the Scarlet Worm
24 | 03
| 1947
24
The Adventure of Maltree Abbey
31 | 03
| 1947
25
The Tolling Bell
07 | 04
| 1947
26
The Adventure of the Carpathian Horror
14 | 04
| 1947
27
The Lion's Mane
21 | 04
| 1947
28
The Island of Death
28 | 04
| 1947
29
The Remarkable Affair of the Pointless Robbery
05 | 05
| 1947
30
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge
12 | 05
| 1947
31
The Harley Street Murders
19 | 05
| 1947
32
The Adventure of the Submerged Baronet
26 | 05
| 1947
33
The Red Headed League
02 | 06 | 1947
34
Murder in the Locked Room
09 | 06
| 1947
35
Death in the North Sea
16 | 06
| 1947
36
Adventure of the Speckled Band
23 | 06
| 1947
37
The Adventure of the Innocent Murderess
30 | 06
| 1947
38
The Adventure of the Iron Maiden
07 | 07
| 1947
Bulk download of all Bruce & Conway shows
1946 – 1947
John Stanley & Alfred Shirley Shows
Nigel Bruce retired from the role of Dr. John H. Watson in 1947, thus a notable date in the history of Sherlock Holmes adaptations. Unfortunately, Tom Conway's portrayal of Holmes proved unpopular with the public, possibly because of his somewhat clipped delivery, and he also left the series in 1947.
The very capable British actor John Stanley took up the role of Sherlock Holmes, whilst fellow Brit Alfred Shirley played Dr. Watson. Audience figures were dwindling due to the rise of television, and regrettably this pairing lasted just one series running for a mere nine months. However I like this series and listen a few of the episodes often, and it feautures seven adaptations of Conan-Doyle original stories including The Mazarin Stone, and The Case of Shoshcombe Old Place.
Title
Broadcast Date
Download
Listen Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1
The Case of the Dog Who Changed His Mind
28 | 09 | 1947
2
The Case of the Missing Heiress
05 | 10
| 1947
3
The Case of the Red-Headed League
12 | 10
| 1947
4
The Affair of the Politician, the Lighthouse and the Trained Cormorant
19 | 10
| 1947
5
The Laughing Lemur of High Tower Heath
26 | 10
| 1947
6
The Case of the Copper Beeches
02 | 11
| 1947
7
The Cadaver in the Roman Toga
09 | 11
| 1947
8
The Case of the Well-Staged Murder
16 | 11
| 1947
9
The Case of the Stolen Naval Treaty
23 | 11
| 1947
10
The Case of the Cradle That Rocked Itself
30 | 11
| 1947
11
Professor Moriarty and the Diamond Jubilee
07 | 12
| 1947
12
The Sussex Vampire
14 | 12
| 1947
13
The Adventure of the Christmas Bride
21 | 12
| 1947
14
New Year's Eve Off the Scilly Isles
28 | 12
| 1947
15
The Mazarin Stone
04 | 01
| 1948
16
The Case of Sudden Senility
11 | 01 | 1948
17
The Case of the Lucky Shilling
18 | 01 | 1948
18
The Case of the Engineer's Thumb
25 | 01
| 1948
19
The Case of the Avenging Blade
01 | 02
| 1948
20
The Case of the Sanguine Spectre
08 | 02
| 1948
21
The Case of Shoscombe Old Place
15 | 02
| 1948
22
The Adventure of the Wooden Claw
22 | 02
| 1948
23
The Case of King Philip's Golden Salver
29 | 02
| 1948
24
The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
07 | 03
| 1948
25
The Adventure of the Serpent God
14 | 03
| 1948
26
Death is a Golden Arrow
21 | 03
| 1948
27
The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax
28 | 03
| 1948
28
Lady Waverly's Imitation Pearls
04 | 04
| 1948
29
The Empty House
11 | 04
| 1948
30
The Case of the Very Best Butter
18 | 04
| 1948
31
The Return of the Jack of Diamonds
25 | 04
| 1948
32
The Sinister Crate of Cabbages
02 | 05
| 1948
33
The Illustrious Client
09 | 05
| 1948
34
The Case of the Everblooming Roses
16 | 05 | 1948
35
The Case of the Accommodating Valise
23 | 05
| 1948
36
The Case of Identity
30 | 05
| 1948
37
The Complicated Poisoning of Eel Pie Island
06 | 06
| 1948
38
The Bleeding Chandelier
13 | 06
| 1948
39
The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
20 | 06
| 1948
Bulk download of all Stanley & Shirley shows
1947 – 1948
John Stanley & Ian Martin Shows
In 1948 Alfred Shirley left the series and was replaced by Ian Martin in the role of Dr. Watson. Alas, it was for just four episodes. The reason as to why or under what circumstances Martin left, I can not ascertain.
This series of The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and until the end of its run in 1950, has each episode begin with a particularly dramatic but short preview of the recording, e.g. "I regret using my hunting crop on your hand, sir, but you were rather obstinate. You are wanted for murder!". A trivial but interesting development in the style of popular entertainment, continuing a shift from mellow to melodramatic. These four entertaining stories include an enjoyable adaptation of the classic original Conan-Doyle story The Bruce-Partington Plans.
No.
Title
Broadcast Date
Download
Listen Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1
The Case of the Unwelcome Ambassador
12 | 09 | 1948
2
The Black Guardsman of Braddock Castle
19 | 09
| 1948
3
The Bruce-Partington Plans
26 | 09
| 1948
4
The Case of the Frightened Bookkeeper
03 | 10
| 1948
Bulk download of all Stanley & Martin shows
1948
John Stanley & Wendell Holmes Shows
Ian Martin gave up the part of Dr. Watson in 1948 and the American actor Wendell Holmes took over. These shows are enjoyable and a nice addition to anyone's collection. The story-telling is fast-paced but with a reduced running time – just over twenty minutes with the adverts removed – and the plots are a tad thinner and more outlandish than in previous series. This partnership features another version of the original Conan-Doyle story, The Adventure of the Devil's Foot.
No.
Title
Broadcast Date
Download
Listen Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1
The Adventure of the Guy Fawkes Society
10 | 10 | 1948
2
The Adventure of the Black Peter
17 | 10
| 1948
3
The Fabulous Windmill
24 | 10
| 1948
4
The Adventure of the Uddington Witch
31 | 10
| 1948
5
The Logic of Murder
07 | 11
| 1948
6
The Adventure of the Ancient Queen
14 | 11
| 1948
7
The Discordant Bells
21 | 11
| 1948
8
The Case of the Well-Advertised Murder
16 | 11
| 1948
9
The Island of the Dead
05 | 12
| 1948
10
The Adventure of London Tower
12 | 12
| 1948
11
The Speckled Band
19 | 12
| 1948
12
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
26 | 12
| 1948
13
The Adventure of the Malicious Moor
03 | 01
| 1949
14
The Knife of Vengeance
10 | 01
| 1949
15
The Adventure of the Fabulous Celebrities
17 | 01
| 1949
16
The Adventure of the Bloomsbury Ballad
24 | 01
| 1949
17
The Adventure of the Devil's Foot
31 | 01 | 1949
18
The Adventure of the Bloodstained Goddess
07 | 02 | 1949
19
The Guest in the Coffin
14 | 02
| 1949
20
The Adventure of the Hangman and the Book
21 | 02
| 1949
21
The Adventure of the Eastend Strangler
28 | 02
| 1949
22
Murder on a Wager
07 | 03
| 1949
23
The Adventure of the Unfortunate Valet
14 | 03
| 1949
24
The Adventure of the Elusive Agent
04 | 04
| 1949
25
The Mad Miners of Cardiff
11 | 04
| 1949
26
The Case of the Burmese Goddess
18 | 04
| 1949
27
The Adventure of the Golden Pince-nez
25 | 04
| 1949
28
The Adventure of the Blood-Soaked Wagon
02 | 05
| 1949
29
The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
09 | 05
| 1949
30
The Adventure of the Grey Pasha
16 | 05
| 1949
31
The Adventure of Dr. Wintrop's Notorious Carriage
23 | 05
| 1949
32
The Adventure of the Curious Crypt
30 | 05
| 1949
33
The Adventure of the Red Death
06 | 06
| 1949
Bulk download of all Stanley & Holmes shows
1948 – 1949
Ben Wright & Eric Snowden Show
In 1949 the final series of The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes began, with Ben Wight and Eric Snowden taking over as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Wright had already appeared in the Rathbone & Bruce series as a stand-in Holmes in The Singular Affair of the Egyptian Curse, whilst Snowden played Dr. Watson in The Terrifying
Cats when Nigel Bruce was unavailable.
Alas, only one of the Wright & Snowden shows has survived the ravages of time, and 19 of them have unknown titles. The single remaining episode is The Duke of Hollywell, a tale of blackmail amongst the aristocracy which runs at just under two-and-twenty minutes – after the adverts have been expunged. So, enjoy this last surviving story of the Old-time Radio series The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.