The Cover-Up Murders: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (November 22, 1950)

“The Cover-Up Murders” is an episode of Richard Diamond, Private Detective, the old-time radio show, first broadcast November 22, 1950. Listen free on Stupid Potato.

Listen to Richard Diamond, Private Detective free, live around the clock: every episode, in the order it first aired. No sign-up.

What happens

A mysterious killer phones Lieutenant Levinson promising to murder someone at eight o'clock that evening. True to his word, a man is stabbed to death on Broadway at precisely that hour. The killer calls again threatening another murder the same time the next night, and then a third victim falls at eight o'clock. Detective Rick Diamond and Lieutenant Levinson must uncover the madman's motive and identity before he strikes again.

New York City, including Broadway, Madison Square Garden, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, police precinct, and the Reeves house

Characters: Richard Diamond, private detective, Lieutenant Levinson, Sergeant Otis, Walt (Rick's friend at the precinct), Mrs. Louise Weiss (widow), Martin Weiss (brother of victim), Abraham Weiss (first victim), Leon Ellis (second victim, fight manager)

Listen for: The killer's menacing phone calls with his distinctive voice; the clever detective work revealing a personal motive hidden behind apparent random murders; the crucial tape recording that catches a crucial contradiction in testimony

Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.