I Love A Mystery

No job too tough. No adventure too baffling.

I Love A Mystery

I Love A Mystery (1939-1952) was a weekly OTR adventure serial about three friends who form a detective agency after World War II, mostly as an excuse to continue the lives they enjoyed as solders of fortune. They travel the world looking for adventure and excitement, both of which they found aplenty. Episodes straddled the borders between mystery, horror, humor, supernatural, and mysticism. I Love A Mystery is significant because stories were told in a continuous narrative arc, usually in 15-20 weekly episodes, with individual episodes (chapters) seamlessly flowing one to another.

Episodes

Totals

Total Episodes: 1,777 (alleged)
Surviving Episodes: 100 (approximate)
Three complete stories survive: "The Thing That Cried in the Night," "Bury Your Dead, Arizona," and "Fear That Creeps Like a Cat"
Inventory of episodes

Exemplary Episodes

But Grandma, What Big Teeth You Have
Episode 00a, Series Audition, 21 May 1945

X

Episode Inventory

Totals

Total Episodes: 1,777 (alleged)
Surviving Episodes: 100 (approximate)
Three complete stories survive: "The Thing That Cried in the Night," "Bury Your Dead, Arizona," and "Fear That Creeps Like a Cat."

National Broadcasting Corporation, West Coast network only

16 January - 22 September 1939
Weekdays on NBC's local Pacific Coast network
Fifteen minute episodes

  • The Case of the Roxy Mob
    16 January-2 February 1939; 14 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Trouble at Sea 3-20 February 1939; 12 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Case of the Nevada Man Killer
    21 February-27 March 1939; 25 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Turn of the Wheel
    29 March-25 April 1939; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Whose Body Got Buried?
    26 April-16 May 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Escapade of the Desert Hog
    17 May-6 June 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Blood on the Border
    7-27 June 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Flight To Death
    28 June-18 July 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Murder Hollywood Style
    19 July-8 August 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Incident Concerning Death
    9-29 August 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Battle of the Century
    30 August-22 September 1939; 18 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC local West Coast; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
National Broadcasting Corporation, national network

2 October 1939 - 6 May 1940
Weeknights on NBC's nationwide network
Fifteen minute episodes

  • Blue Phantom
    2-20 October 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Fear That Crept Like a Cat
    23 October-17 November 1939; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays; complete series available
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Thing That Cried in the Night
    20 November-8 December 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays; complete series available
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Bury Your Dead, Arizona
    11-29 December 1939; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays; complete series available
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • San Diego Murders
    1-19 January 1940; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Temple of Vampires
    22 January-16 February 1940; 15 episodes: 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Brooks Kidnapping
    19 February-8 March 1940; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Murder in Turquoise Pass
    11-29 March 1940; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Snake with the Diamond Eyes
    1 April-6 May 1940; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Walter Paterson as Reggie Yorke, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
National Broadcasting Corporation, Blue network

30 September 1940 - 6 July 1942
Twice weekly, 8:00 PM, NBC Blue Network
Thirty minute episodes

  • The Tropics Don't Call It Murder
    30 September-26 December 1940; 20 episodes; 30:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
    Note: Show now twice weekly; 30 minutes in length
  • The Case of the Transplanted Castle
    6 January-6 March 1941; 18 episodes; 30:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Murder on February Island
    10 March-8 May 1941; 18 episodes; 30:00 each episodes
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Eight Kinds of Murder
    12 May-30 June 1941; 8 episodes; 30:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Monster in the Mansion
    6 October-27 November 1941; 16 episodes; 30:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Secret Passage to Death
    1 December 1941-5 February 1942; 20 episodes; 30:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Terror of Frozen Corpse Lodge
    9 February-9 April 1942; 18 episodes; 30:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Pirate Loot of the Island of Skulls
    13 April-6 July 1942; 26 episodes; 30:00 each episode
    NBC nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
Columbia Broadcasting System

22 March 1943 - 29 December 1944
Weeknights on CBS, 7:00 PM
Fifteen minute episodes

  • The Girl in the Gilded Cage
    22 March 1943-9 April 1943; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Blood of the Cat
    12 April-7 May 1943; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Killer of Circle M
    10 May-4 June 1943; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Stairway to the Sun
    7 June-16 July 1943; 30 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Graves of Whamperjaw, Texas
    19 July-6 August 1943; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Murder Is the Word For It
    9-27 August 1943; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Decapitation of Jefferson Monk
    30 August-1 October 1943; 25 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • My Beloved Is A Vampire
    4 October-5 November 1943; 25 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Hermet of San Felipe Atabapo
    8 November-3 December 1943; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Deadly Sin of Richard Coyle
    6-24 December 1943; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Twenty Traders of Timbuktu
    27 December 1943-24 February 1944; 44 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The African Jungle Mystery
    28 February-24 March 1944; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Widow with the Amputation
    27 March-21 April 1944; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • I Am the Destroyer of Women
    24 Aprill-12 May 1944; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • You Can't Pin A Murder on Nevada
    14 May-2 June 1944; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Corpse in Compartment C, Car 75
    5-9 June 1944; 5 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Thing That Wouldn't Die
    12 June-7 July 1944; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Case of the Terrified Comedian
    10 July-7 August 1944; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Man Who Hated To Shave
    8-21 August 1944; 10 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Temple of Vampires
    22 August-18 September 1944; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Bride of the Werewolf
    19 September-9 October 1944; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • The Monster in the Mansion
    10 October-9 November 1944; 23 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Portrait Of A Murderess
    16 November-13 December 1944; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
  • Find Elsa Holberg, Dead or Alive
    14-29 December 1944; 12 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    CBS nationwide; weekdays
    Michael Raffetto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, Gloria Blondell as Jerry Booker
    Note: Last episodes broadcast from Hollywood by CBS; show off the iar for five years; moves to New York; broadcast on Mutual Broadcasting System with new cast.

25 April - 18 July 1948
I Love Adventure
Jack, Doc, and Reggie return as partners in the Twenty-One Old Men of 10 Gramercy Park in London, a powerful extra-government organization
Thirteen episodes
Michael Raffeto as Jack Packard, Barton Yarborough as Doc Long, and Tom Collins as Reggie Yorke

Mutual Broadcasting System

3 October 1949 - 26 December 1952
I Love a Mystery revived; Production moved from Hollywood, California, to New York
Weeknights on Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS), 7:00 PM (1949-1950) and 10:15 PM (1950-1952)
Fifteen minute episodes
Episodes re-created from the original scripts written by Morse for the earlier NBC series.

  • The Fear That Creeps Like a Cat
    3-28 October 1949; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
    Note: Show is now produced in New York; new cast; new network; repeats scripts from earlier NBC run.
  • The Thing That Cries in the Night
    31 October-18 November 1949; 15 episodes; 11:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Bury Your Dead, Arizona
    21 November-9 December 1949; 15 episodes; 12:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Million Dollar Curse
    12-30 December 1949; 15 episodes; 13:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Temple of Vampires
    2-27 January 1950; 20 episodes; 13:00/15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Battle of the Century
    30 January-22 February 1950; 18 episodes; 12:00-15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Tropics Don't Call in Murder
    23 February-30 March 1950; 26 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Case of the Navada Man Killer
    31 March-4 May 1950; 25 episodes, 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Turn of the Wheel
    5 May-1 June 1950; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Blue Phantom Murders
    2-22 June 1950; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Snake with the Diamond Eyes
    23 June-28 July 1950; 26 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Flight To Death
    31 July-18 August 1950; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Murder in Turquoise Pass
    21 August-8 September 1950; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Whose Body Got Buried?
    11-29 September 1950; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Escape of the Desert Hog
    2-20 October 1950; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Blood on the Border
    23 October-10 November 1950; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Trouble at Sea
    13-28 November 1950; 12 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Incident Concerning Death
    29 November-19 December 1950; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Case of the Roxy Mob
    20 December 1950-8 January 1951; 14 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Case of the Transplanted Castle
    9 January-1 February 1951; 18 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Murder of February Island
    2-27 February 1951; 18 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Monster in the Mansion
    28 February-30 March 1951; 23 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Eight Kinds of Murder
    2-23 April 1951; 16 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Secret Passage To Death
    24 April-21 May 1951; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Terror of Frozen Corpse Lodge 22 May-14 June 1951; 18 episodes; 15:00 each episode MBS nationwide; weeknights Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Pirate Loot of the Island of Skulls
    15 June-20 July 1951; 26 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Brooks Kidnapping
    23 July-10 August 1951; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Murder Hollywood Style
    13-31 August 1951; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Girl in the Gilded Cage
    3-21 September 1951; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Blood on the Cat
    24 September-19 October 1951; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Case of the Terrified Comedian
    22 October-16 November 1951; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Killer of the Circle M
    19 November-14 December 1951; 20 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Murder Is the Word for It
    17 December 1951-4 January 1952; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Stairway to the Sun
    7 January-15 February 1952; 30 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Graves of Whamperjaw, Texas
    18 February-7 March 1952; 15 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Decapitation of Jefferson Monk
    10 March-11 April 1952; 25 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • My Beloved Is A Vampire
    14 April-16 May 1952; 25 episodes; 15:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Hermit of San Felipe Atabapo
    19 May-13 June 1952; 20 episodes; 10:00-12:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Deadly Sin of Sir Richard Coyle
    16 June-4 July 1952; 15 episodes
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Man Who Hated To Shave
    7-18 July 1952; 10 episodes
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The African Jungle Mystery
    21 July-15 August 1952; 20 episodes
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Cobra King Strikes Back
    1-26 September 1952; 20 episodes
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Widow with the Amputation
    30 September-27 October 1952; 20 episodes
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • I Am the Destroyer of Women
    28 October-19 November 1952; 15 episodes; 13:00 each episode
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • The Bride of the Werewolf
    20 November-10 December 1952; 15 episodes
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles
  • Find Elsa Holberg, Dead or Alive
    11-26 December 1952; 12 episodes
    MBS nationwide; weeknights
    Russell Thorson as Jack Packard, Jim Boles as Doc Long, Tony Randall as Reggie Yorke, Mercedes McCambridge as Jerry Booker and other female roles

Background

16 January 1939-26 December 1952
Fifteen or thirty minute episodes
National Broadcast Corporation (NBC), Columbia Broadcasting Corporation (CBS), and Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS)

I Love a Mystery was a unique weekly action-adventure series with stories told in a continuous narrative arc, individual episodes (chapters) seamlessly flowing one to another. Each story was usually concluded over fifteen to twenty episodes. Then a new story began.

Each episode was written by Carlton E. Morse, noted for his successful radio drama One Man's Family. Often, Morse's scripts are over the top, but this adds to the appeal of the series, which is often called the best OTR action-adventure series ever.

Recurring cast included
Jack Packard (Russell Thorson)
Doc Long (Jim Bales)
Reggie Yorke (Tony Randall)
Jeri Booker (Athena Lord)
Multiple female roles (Mercedes McCambridge)
Writer, producer, director (Carlton E. Morse)
Organist (Rex Koury)

Jack Packard, Doc Long, and Reggie Yorke met during the war between China and Japan fighting as mercenary soldiers for China. After the war they formed the A-1 Detective Agency in San Francisco, California. Their motto: "No job too tough, no adventure too baffling."

Jack is edgy, possibly hiding from problems with women in his youth. Doc is a boastful, hard-fighting, high-spirited character from Texas who loves women and gambling at poker. Reggie, an Englishman of great strength, prim and proper, also shies away from women, but can be depended on when the fighting starts. Their strengths make them heroes, their failings make them humans.

Valse Triste by Jean Sibelius was the program's theme music. During the Mutual Broadcasting System years, each episode began with the sound of a train approaching a crossing, sounding its whistle.

Resources

Episodes available at Internet Archive.
I Love a Mystery Radio Logs at Jerry Haendiges Vintage Radio Logs website