Best Classictv Podcasts (2025)

1
Garbage Chute Murders 35:26

10h ago35:26

35:26

Original Release Date: July 14, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for a killer with an unusual method of entry Original Air Date: December 15, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715…

1
James DuMont of Unit 234 12:04

1h ago12:04

12:04

TVC 690.1: Ed welcomes back film and television actor James DuMont (The Righteous Gemstones, American Sports Story, The Butler). One of the busiest performers in and out of Hollywood, James can currently be seen opposite Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman, and Jack Huston in Unit 234, the new thriller directed by Andy Tennant that is currently available…

1
James DuMont of The Righteous Gemstones 22:44

1h ago22:44

22:44

TVC 690.2: James DuMont talks to Ed about working opposite Don Johnson in the new action thriller Unit 234; his approach to playing the detective who prosecuted fallen NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez in American Sports Story; and the joy of working alongside his son, actor Kelton DuMont, on The Righteous Gemstones. Unit 234 is now available for viewi…

1
The Story of American Television 20:24

1h ago20:24

20:24

TVC 690.3: Ed welcomes back Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik, co-authors of Watching TV: American Television Season by Season, a sweeping look at the history of television from 1944 through the present day, from its early inception as a passive activity to its current form as a multi-tiered experience. Recently updated and re-released as a fo…

1
Jack Gould, Michael Nesmith, and the early influencers of TV 17:37

2h ago17:37

17:37

TVC 690.4: Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik, co-authors of Watching TV: American Television Season by Season, talk to Ed about how the phenomenon of “time shifting” for TV viewers began long before the era of streaming; why Jack Gould, television critic for the New York Times during the 1950s and ’60s, can be considered one of the first “infl…

1
Jade Thumb Rings 33:19

4d ago33:19

33:19

Original Release Date: July 7, 2007 A Chinese man is beaten after buying two jade thumb rings. Joe and Ben must find the thief and their only witness is a six year old with an overactive imagination. Original Air Date: December 8, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.gre…

1
James Vickers 34:40

6d ago34:40

34:40

Original Release Date: July 2, 2007 Joe and Ben are on the trail of a gang of criminals and need to catch them before they kill again. Original Air Date: September 17, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 1591…

1
The Death of Kate Manx 21:52

8d ago21:52

21:52

TVC 689.1: Part 2 of a conversation that began two programs ago with Dore Page, author of Leslie Stevens Goes to Hollywood: Daystar Productions, Kate Manx and the Making of Private Property, a deep dive into the life and career of the maverick television writer and producer best known as the creator of The Outer Limits that particularly focuses on …

1
Leslie Stevens, Stoney Burke, and Quinn Martin Productions 19:20

7d ago19:20

19:20

TVC 689.2: Dore Page, author of Leslie Stevens Goes to Hollywood: Daystar Productions, Kate Manx and the Making of Private Property, talks to Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter about Stoney Burke (ABC, 1962-1963), the “art house” look at the lives of 20th-century rodeo riders starring Jack Lord, Bruce Dern, and Warren Oates and produced by Leslie St…

1
Happy Birthday, Ruta Lee 22:14

7d ago22:14

22:14

TVC 689.3: Ed welcomes back singer, actress, and philanthropist Ruta Lee (High Rollers, Witness for the Prosecution, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Consider Your Ass Kissed). Ruta will celebrate her ninetieth birthday this coming Friday, May 30 with an evening of song and stories at the Debbie Reynolds Main Stage at the historic El Portal Theatre…

1
Ruta Lee, The Rat Pack, and Witness for the Prosecution 27:28

7d ago27:28

27:28

TVC 689.4: Entertainment legend Ruta Lee talks to Ed about how she landed her role in Witness for the Prosecution after producer Arthur Hornblow Jr. spotted her in the audience at a Frank Sinatra concert; why it’s important to recognize those moments in life when a benefit happens, and to be grateful for that benefit; the story of Dean Martin’s pla…

1
The Spring Street Gang 31:15

10d ago31:15

31:15

Original Release Date: June 30, 2007 Joe and Ben try and tie down a gang of youth to a series of thefts and robberies, while a shady soda fountain owner comes under suspicion as a fence for the stolen merchandise. Original Air Date: December 1, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http…

1
Mother-In-Law Murder 34:43

13d ago34:43

34:43

Original Release Date: June 23, 2007 A clear cut case of a woman murdering her mother-in-law to hide an affair falls apart, leaving Joe and Ben to search for the real killer. Original Air Date: November 24, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail …

1
Why Wink Martindale was a "never give up" guy 23:08

14d ago23:08

23:08

TVC 688.1: TV Confidential remembers longtime radio host, author, recording artist, and game show legend Wink Martindale (Gambit, Debt, Tic Tac Dough, Winking at Life, “Deck of Cards”) with a special program-length tribute to the man who became synonymous with the words “emcee” and “host.” Wink Martindale passed away on Tuesday, Apr. 15, 2025 at th…

1
Wink Martindale and the Longevity of Tic Tac Dough 21:57

14d ago21:57

21:57

TVC 688.2: Steve Beverly, retired professor of broadcast journalism at Union University in Jackson, TN (the hometown of Wink Martindale), game show historian, and the host of Steve Beverly’s TV Classics, talks to Ed about how Wink never lost sights of his roots in Jackson, TN; how the success of the Martindale version of Tic Tac Dough in the 1970s …

1
The "performance energy" of Wink Martindale 13:15

15d ago13:15

13:15

TVC 688.3: Longtime television announcer Randy West joins Ed as TV Confidential continues its special program-length tribute to game show legend Wink Martindale. Randy was Wink’s announcer on five game shows for the Family Channel, including Trivial Pursuit, Boggle, and Jumble. Among other topics in this segment, Randy mentions what he believes are…

1
Why Wink Martindale was a great orator 24:34

15d ago24:34

24:34

TVC 688.4: Randy West, Wink Martindale’s announcer on five game shows for the Family Channel, talks to Ed about Wink’s career as a spoken-word recording artists (including “Deck of Cards,” “Heavenly Child,” and “I Stand for Everyone”). He also shares a funny story about Wink and Mary Steck, the cue card lady on Trivial Pursuit, that gives you a win…

1
Wink Martindale, "Deck of Cards," and Tic Tac Dough 20:45

15d ago20:45

20:45

TV Confidential continues its program-length tribute to Wink Martindale by bringing you an encore presentation of Wink's appearance on our program in December 2018. Topics this segment include how Wink taught himself how to become an announcer when he was a kid by reading ads from Life magazine aloud; the back story of "Deck of Cards," the spoken w…

1
Wink Martindale on meeting Elvis for the first time in 1954 17:10

14d ago17:10

17:10

From December 2018: Wink Martindale talks to Ed about why game shows remain a popular form of entertainment on television; the importance of matching the right host with the right game format; how Wink happened to be at radio station WHBQ in Memphis, TN on the night of July 8, 1954, when deejay Dewey Phillips played an Elvis Presley record ("That's…

1
Truck Hijackers 34:35

17d ago34:35

34:35

Original Release Date: June 16, 2007 Friday and Romero are on the trail of hijackers who have made off with more than $80,000 in merchandise. Original Air Date: October 1, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box …

1
Brick Bat Slayer 34:00

20d ago34:00

34:00

Original Release Date: June 9, 2007 Joe and Ben are on the trail of a killer who uses red bricks to kill his victims. Original Air Date: September 24, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 8…

1
Dore Page, author of Leslie Stevens Goes to Hollywood 16:16

22d ago16:16

16:16

TVC 687.1: Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter welcome Dore Page, author of Leslie Stevens Goes to Hollywood: Daystar Productions, Kate Manx and the Making of Private Property, a deep dive into the life and career of Leslie Stevens—the maverick television writer and producer whom most of us know best as the creator of The Outer Limits—that particular…

1
The Tragic Life of Kate Manx 17:18

21d ago17:18

17:18

TVC 687.2: Dore Page, author of Leslie Stevens Goes to Hollywood: Daystar Productions, Kate Manx and the Making of Private Property, talks to Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter about the fragile mix of ambition, frustration, and insecurity that comprised the psyche of actress Kate Manx, and the extent to which depression may have factored into the c…

1
Why Glenn Ford enjoyed starring in Cade's County 22:35

21d ago22:35

22:35

TVC 687.3: Peter Ford, son of screen legends Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell and the author of Glenn Ford: A Life, talks to Ed about how his dad used his star power to hire directors and actors on Cade’s County (CBS, 1971-1972) with whom he’d worked before, including George Marshall, Leo Penn, Edgar Buchanan, Barbara Rush, and Broderick Crawford; how…

1
The Sullivan Kidnapping 35:08

25d ago35:08

35:08

Original Release Date: May 27, 2007 Joe and Ben try and catch a kidnapper known as The Wolf. Dedicated to the memory of Sgt. Lee Newbill of the Moscow (ID) Police Department who died in the line of duty: May 19, 2007. Original Air Date: September 10, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis a…

1
Myra the Redhead 34:14

28d ago34:14

34:14

Original Release Date: May 20, 2007 Joe and Ben try to get to the root of a car theft ring that’s pulled off more than 250 jobs in the past few months. Original Air Date: September 1, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Gra…

1
The Timeless Charm of March of The Wooden Soldiers 25:00

28d ago25:00

25:00

TVC 686.1: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Laurel and Hardy historian Randy Skretvedt. Chuck Harter co-hosts. Topics this segment include what first sparked Randy's interest in Laurel and Hardy; Randy’s favorite scene in March of the Wooden Soldiers; and why Wooden Soldiers remains so popular, more than ninety years after its ori…

1
Glenn Ford, Peter Ford, and Rock Around the Clock 20:38

29d ago20:38

20:38

TVC 686.2: Peter Ford, son of screen legends Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell, helps Ed celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the release of Blackboard Jungle, the iconic film from 1955 that not only starred Glenn Ford as a young English teacher in an inner-city high school, but which prominently featured the song “Rock Around the Clock” in its soun…

1
Peter Ford, Bobby Sherman, and The Dating Game 11:33

28d ago11:33

11:33

TVC 686.3: Peter Ford, son of screen legends Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell and the author of Glenn Ford: A Life, talks to Ed about working with his dad and Edgar Buchanan on Cade’s County (CBS, 1971-1972), including the back story for why the series did not last more than one season; how Peter became a reserve deputy for the Los Angeles County Sher…

1
Police Academy 31:54

1M ago31:54

31:54

Original Release Date: May 14, 2007 Joe and Ben search for a gang of robbers while of Joe’s Army buddies joins the police force. Original Air Date: August 25, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise,…

1
The Mysterious Death of Jeffrey Hunter 19:02

1M ago19:02

19:02

From August 2014: Authors Paul Green and Mary Ann Anderson join Ed for a look back at the life and career of Jeffrey Hunter. Paul’s book Jeffrey Hunter: The Film, Television, Radio and Stage Performances is a comprehensive look at the actor best known for his starring roles as Martin Pawley in The Searchers, Christopher Pike in the original pilot e…

1
16 Jewelry Thefts 34:43

1M ago34:43

34:43

Original Release Date: May 6, 2007 Friday and Romero search for a jewel thief’s hidden loot. Original Air Date: August 18, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715 Take the listener surve…

1
The Amazing Story of March of the Wooden Soldiers 21:37

1M ago21:37

21:37

TVC 685.1: Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter welcome author, voice artist, radio host, and Laurel and Hardy historian Randy Skretvedt. Randy's latest book, March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy's Babes in Toyland, is a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at the making of March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934), the adaptation o…

1
Laurel and Hardy Behind the Scenes 20:54

1M ago20:54

20:54

TVC 685.2: Laurel and Hardy historian Randy Skretvedt, author of March of the Wooden Soldiers: The Amazing Story of Laurel & Hardy's Babes in Toyland, talks to Ed and guest co-host Chuck Harter about how Stan Laurel not only acted as the de facto director on many of the comedy team's films, but closely oversaw the editing of their films, and how Ol…

1
Michelle Danner, The Italians, and Miranda's Victim 15:41

1M ago15:41

15:41

TVC 685.3: Ed welcomes renowned actress, teacher, and independent filmmaker Michelle Danner (Hello Herman, The Runner, Bad Impulse). Michelle’s latest film, The Italians, is an ensemble comedy-drama about an idiosyncratic Italian-American family that drive each other crazy, but who pull themselves together upon learning that the matriarch (Michelle…

1
Woman Murdered and Mutilated 34:12

1M ago34:12

34:12

Original Release Date: April 28, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero are on the trail of a psychotic serial killer. Original Air Date: August 11, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715 Take …

1
Benny Trounsel 35:05

1M ago35:05

35:05

Original Release Date: April 21, 2007 Joe Friday and Ben Romero search for the murderer of an informant as they delve into the Narcotics culture of the 1940s. Guest Commentator: David Oatney. Original Air Date: August 4, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectiv…

1
Nelson Aspen, author of Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale 25:57

1M ago25:57

25:57

TVC 684.1: Ed welcomes Nelson Aspen, award-winning entertainment reporter, one of the leading authorities on the subject of the sinking of the Titanic on Apr. 15, 1912, and the author of Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale. Inspired by Nelson’s personal experiences, Kindred Spirits not only spans the time between the night when the Titanic met her trag…

1
Nelson Aspen, Carol Lynley, and A Night to Remember 13:02

1M ago13:02

13:02

TVC 684.2: Nelson Aspen, author of Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale, tells Ed the back story of his decades-long friendship with actress Carol Lynley, plus he recommends some film adaptations of the Titanic story, including A Night to Remember, the 1958 film starring Kenneth More that is based on Walter Lord’s book of the same name. (Nelson wrote th…

1
Hank Garrett, Peter Falk, and Buddy Hackett 10:38

1M ago10:38

10:38

TVC 684.2a: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Hank Garrett, the actor known around the world as Officer Nicholson on Car 54, Where Are You? and one of the most accomplished voice artists in the entertainment industry. In this segment Hank shares a few memories of working with Peter Falk on Columbo: Undercover and with Buddy Hackett…

1
Hank Garrett, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren 17:05

1M ago17:05

17:05

TVC 684.3: Hank Garrett talks to Ed, Tony, and Donna about working with Sophia Loren in the 1979 thriller Firepower; the night Hank once escorted Audrey Hepburn for a Hollywood event; and the generosity that Tony Bennett showed Hank when he opened for Bennett at the Copa Cabana. Hank’s memoir, From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood Heavyweight, is availa…

1
The Big Missing 35:08

2M ago35:08

35:08

Original Release Date: April 15, 2007 A woman from Utah stops writing to her mother and disappers. Joe and Ben follow several blind alleys. Will they find her in time for a Christmas reunion? Original Air Date: July 28, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetective…

1
City Hall Bombing 33:11

2M ago33:11

33:11

Original Release Date: April 9, 2007 A man with a package threatens to blow up city hall if the police don’t release his brother. Friday and Romero have to get the bomb away before it is too late. Original Air Date: July 21, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdete…

1
Music photographer David Arnoff 20:42

2M ago20:42

20:42

TVC 683.1: Ed welcomes back David Arnoff, one of the best music photographers of his generation. David’s book Shot in the Dark is a collection of photos featuring Patti Smith, The Clash, Devo, Blondie, Lydia Lunch, The Cramps, The Ramones, David Johanson, Misfits, Nick Cave, Siouxsee and the Banshees, Joan Jett, Elvis Costello, and other music arti…

1
David Arnoff, Elvis Costello, and Lou Reed 16:20

2M ago16:20

16:20

TVC 683.2: Music photographer David Arnoff discusses some of the photographs that appear in his book Shot in the Dark, including the ones of Lou Reed, Elvis Costello, and The Kramps. Other topics this segment include what first sparked David’s interest in photography, why he is particularly drawn to “journalistic photography” (i.e., photos that cap…

1
Hank Garrett, Sid Caesar, and Al Lewis 21:05

2M ago21:05

21:05

TVC 683.5: Ed, Tony, and Donna welcome back Hank Garrett, the actor known around the world as Officer Nicholson on Car 54, Where Are You? and one of the most accomplished voice artists in the entertainment industry. Topics this segment include how Hank first developed his skill for dialects after watching Sid Caesar rehearse for Your Show of Shows.…

1
Hank Garrett, Elvis Presley, and James Earl Jones 13:50

2M ago13:50

13:50

TVC 683.6: Hank Garrett talks to Ed, Tony, and Donna about competing against Sammy Davis Jr. in a “quick draw” competition, sparring with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas, and co-starring opposite James Earl Jones on Paris (CBS, 1979-1980). Hank’s memoir, From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood Heavyweight, is available through Briton Publishing, Amazon.com, an…

1
The Red Light Bandit 35:05

2M ago35:05

35:05

Original Release Date: March 31, 2007 A man disguises himself as a police officer and goes on a crime spree. Friday and Romero must bring him in. Original Air Date: July 14, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘ Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Bo…

1
Steel Club Helen Cord 32:56

2M ago32:56

32:56

Original Release Date: March 24, 2007 Ben Romero and Joe Friday hunt down the killer of a well-liked woman with no enemies down a perplexing trail of false leads in search of the truth. Original Air Date: June 7, 1949 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.‘…

1
Elva Green, author of The Jeffersons: A Fresh Look Back 26:39

2M ago26:39

26:39

TVC 682.1: Ed welcomes Elva Green, author of The Jeffersons: A fresh look back at The Jeffersons (CBS, 1975-1985), Norman Lear’s longest-running sitcom, starring Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, an Marla Gibbs, and Eddie Green: The Rise of an Early 1900s Black American Entertainment Pioneer. Chuck Harter co-hosts. Topics this segment include how, w…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Classictv Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen