Philo Vance Detective

A gang of conmen is selling machines that they say can manufacture genuine $1 bills. It's a neat scam, but it leads to murder! How did the traveling monogram illusion work? Frank Kent, an inmate of the state hospital has been broken out. The hospital is actually a mental institution. Frank was there because his mind is permanently in another world. But, the reason somebody wants him, is because he is a mathematical genius, he can add, subtract, multiply or divide any figure, in only a matter of seconds. And the kidnapper wants to use him as a money making freak show.

The Argyle Murder Case opened with the finding of the body of a man dressed in brand new clothing with the exception of a pair of argyle socks. Vance, with only this meagre clue to work on, identifies the body and manages to interview three people, Roger Star owner and feature performer in a theater company, Lila Martin, an actress, and Milton Talbot, publisher of a theatrical newspaper.

The Full Dress Murder Case opened with the finding of the knifed body of Boxcar Charlie, derelict. When discovered Charlie's body was clothed in full evening dress, which led Philo Vance to announce that he knew where to start looking for the killer.

John Green is murdered while on the telephone to the district attorney. The obvious killer has a good alibi; the D.A. is then shot. As Philo Vance and District Attorney Markam were looking through the apartment of John Green who had been murdered the day before, Markham was shot. Both of their suspects, Mrs. Green and a man named Edward Lee, have alibis for around eleven o’clock, the time they believe the murder of John Green was committed.

A scientist named Edgar Wilson has been shot and is dying. But first, he stops for a manicure! The Miller brothers, who killed Professor Wilson, are blown to pieces when they try to get Experiment X. The Manicure Murder Case opened when professor Edgar Wilson, scientist, died in a barber shop after insisting the girl manicure his nails even though he was dying.

As the killer whistles, Comin' Through The Rye, a husband and wife are shot after being blackmailed. Evidence points to the neer-do-well son of a banker. The Stuarts’ Butler told Philo Vance and DA Markham that he heard someone whistle and then shots. He was on the third floor and by the time he came down to the library Mr. Stuart was dead and Mrs. Stuart lived only long enough to say that the killer wanted $100,000.

The Muddy Murder Case began with the shooting of Johnny Williams, racketeer. Although his house was completely surrounded by mud and Williams was killed at close range, there were no footprints in the mud and nobody but Williams' housekeeper was in his home. Philo Vance and DA Markham suspect a racketeer named Foster, especially since they think he killed another former ally.

Lou talks about Aunt May and Uncle Mike. Lou and Susan had a date last night. Susan's father does not approve of Lou. They talk about June weddings. Abott and Costello get a report on their ratings. They say 12 million people listen to their show. They decide to take their own radio poll. They say there are 400 listeners in the audience.

Vance uses a torn stocking to run in a gang of three vicious ladies. The case they’re working on concerns a series of robberies in wealthy homes done they believe by a group of women. Philo Vance is working on the case, but his only result so far is a description he has of one of the members of the gang, a description he obtained from a ripped nylon stocking.

Created by S. S. Van Dine, Philo Vance was quite popular in books, movies, and on radio. He was portrayed as a stylish, very intelligent, and cultured private detective-an Americanized Sherlock Holmes-working out of New York. In the movies, William Powell, Warren William, Paul Lukas, and Basil Rathbone starred as Vance. On radio, he was voiced by José Ferrer, John Emery, and Jackson Beck. Not that Vance needed any help solving a crime, he did work closely with his secretary and right-hand woman, Ellen Deering and his pal John Markham, New York County District Attorney. First heard for a brief time on NBC radio in 1945-46, Philo Vance, Detective enjoyed success in syndication beginning in 1948 starring Jackson Beck. Sixteen episodes are included in this volume: 12/28/48 - "The Rhumba Murder Case" 1/4/49 - "The Magic Murder Case" 1/25/49 - "The Idol Murder Case" 2/1/49 - "The Golden Murder Case" 2/8/49 - "The Flying Murder Case" 2/15/49 - "The Butler Murder Case" 2/22/49 - "The Herring Bone Murder Case" 3/1/49 - "The Listless Murder Case" 3/8/49 - "The Curtain Call Murder Case" 3/15/49 - "The Million Dollar Murder Case" 3/22/49 - "The White Willow Murder Case" 3/29/49 - "The High-Hat Murder Case" 11/15/49 - "The Little Murder Case" 11/22/49 - "The Nightmare Murder Case" 11/29/49 - "The Thundering Murder Case" 12/6/49 - "The Birdcage Murder Case"

Exceptionally entertaining, soft-boiled Detective Philo Vance solves murders with his wits. His brain is a match for the Great Sherlock Holmes, and so is his superior attitude. This radio series pays homage to the original detective novels of Van Dine first published in the mid-1920s.

Philo Vance is a fictional character featured in numerous crime novels written by S. S. Van Dine published in the 1920s and 1930s, and who was later revived on radio and in film and television. During that time, Vance was immensely popular. He was portrayed as a stylish, even foppish, dandy, a New York bon vivant with a highly intellectual bent-America's Sherlock Holmes. He worked closely with his secretary and right-hand woman, Ellen Deering, and his pal John Markham, New York County district attorney-not that Vance needed any help solving a crime. Episodes included: "The Back-Stage Murder Case," "The Argus Murder Case," "The Bulletin Murder Case," "The Cover-Girl Murder Case," "The Black-Jack Murder Case," "The Star-Studded Murder Case," "The Murdock Murder Case," "The Vanilla Murder Case," "The Tea Cup Murder Case," "The Jackpot Murder Case," "The Ivory Murder Case," and "The Mimic Murder Case."

A dead man found in the Alamo Motel was killed by ranch owner Bolan, but he's also the corpse!