Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator - Single Episodes

(4.5 stars; 100 reviews)

Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator features William Gargan as the voice of New York private investigator Barrie Craig, with Ralph Bell portraying his associate, Lt. Travis Rogers. Set in an office on Madison Avenue, Craig's adventures follow the classic PI narrative, where he works alone, solves cases efficiently, and maintains a strict code of confidentiality.

This series is notable for having different spellings of the main character's name over the years, starting as 'Barry Crane' before settling on 'Barrie Craig'. Originally produced by NBC in New York from 1951 to 1954, it later moved to Hollywood, airing from 1954 to 1955. Despite its intriguing premise, the show often struggled with sponsorship, typically operating as a sustainer.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

License

Chapters

The Judge and the Champ	29:57
Microfilm in the Fishtank	29:29
Corpse on Delivery	28:04
The Case of the Borrowed Knife	29:41
Dead on Arrival	28:24
Murder in Wax	28:17
The Case of the Naughty Necklace	28:20
The Paper Bullets	29:35
Death and the Purple Cow	29:36
Ghost of a Chance	29:15
Song of Death	28:17
Death of a Private Eye	29:08
Murder Island	29:27
Fatal Appointment	29:36
The Deadly Fight	29:37
A Very Odd Job	29:36
Diary of Death	29:37
A Time to Kill	29:37
Motive for Murder	29:22
The Long Way Home	28:58
Murder By Threes	29:26
Dead Loss	29:11
Crimson Queen	29:40
The Girl on The Doorstep	26:50
Behold a Corpse	26:38
Beware the Walking Dog	29:35
The Lost Lady	27:33
Scream for Murder	29:36
The Thirteenth Guest	28:41
Kitchens Come with Knives	29:22
Fog Over Murder	29:18
The Lonely Corner	29:27
Strange Vision	28:44
Zero Hour	29:23
The Embezzler	29:28
The Schemers	29:27
The Corpse Who Was Wrong	29:20
The Tough Guy	29:37
Murder by Error	29:29
Death Buys a Bedroom	29:38
For Love of Murder	29:24
Death's Bargain Basement	29:03
Mid-Summer Lunacy	29:23
Blood Money	29:09
Hay Is for Homicide	29:19
Ghosts Don't Die in Bed	29:27
Life Line	26:07
The Sneak Assassin	29:28
Dead Bull in a China Shop	27:59
Angel of Death	24:50
Nobody Lives There Anymore	25:07
Target	25:03
Sweet Larceny	24:58
Corpse on the Town	23:44
Never Murder a Mummy	24:52
Never Murder a Mummy	24:50
Visitor at Midnight	24:53
Sucker Bait	24:37
Two Dead Men	25:00

Reviews

More of a loner than Sam Spade or Frank Race, but he's solid.

(5 stars)

Den NC USA

If you're just finding out about all these great shows on INTERNET ARCHIVE, this is a worthy listen. If you want a good example, try #12 Death of an Investigator. It's a tale of New York City in the winter, getting over to Staten Island, even, and though you might want to hear it twice to follow the plot, it's got some great characters (in the sense of realism) and gives a good sense of what Barrie Craig was all about. As other fans have said, well-produced, good scripts and although the music is more repititious than Sam Spade's, it never gets in the way of the action. Enjoy, and watch yourself. NYC is a tough place.

The MUTEL Cues in Barrie Craig

(4 stars)

Max Reiner

This series is the only one I know of that makes full use of the MUTEL production library, which is a favorite of mine. There are some real gems of cues. I put the show on a bedtime and it gives me the most amazing dreams. The audio levels are quite consistent compared to other Archive shows. The only objection I have is in the original mix where the micing is muffled. Why were the highs attenuated. I thought it was in the transfer. But that can't be the case because the music cues come through very bright. Thanks for a wonderful show.

William Gargan Great as "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator"

(5 stars)

porterville

This is an excellent program with William Gargan in great form as detective "Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator." The plots are similar to other detective programs of the time. William Gargan's delivery is low-key and pleasant.

Excellent show

(5 stars)

ge

One of the best radio detective shoes, well written, well acted, well directed. Highly recommended.

TOO CONFIDENTIAL

harron68

Barry Craig slipped under the radar of old time radio. Rarely heard, this pretty well plotted and acted series deserves better now that it's available. If William Gargan isn't the big name actor as with some shows and hasn't a gimmick, it doesn't tarnish what is evident in listening to these clear well produced programs. His movie career was extensive, and earned him an Oscar nom. After losing his larynx to cancer from smoking, he did work to fight smoking and cancer. In all, this series reflects professional work and good pacing. 3.5 stars

Is "Mellow-boiled" a thing yet?

(5 stars)

The True Brain Pimp

He's got no gimmick. The closest thing to a sidekick is an aged elevator man. Comic relief is provided by Willie of The Lunch wagon. He hardly ever gets the girl. And he only gets an edge when its cutting time. Barry Craig is similiar to Richard Diamond in that they were kings of screw-boiled" noir of the early fifties. Just about the best re-listen series in the detective genre. Does ANYBODY know the name of the theme song?

(5 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

I absolutely love this radio "noir" drama! I have to smile/laugh at some of the venicular being used for this type of genre. The voice acting is spot on. I would definitely recommend this to others.

Fifties private detective series

(3.5 stars)

plathrop

Classic noir text. Dated but tight scripts. Womanizing protagonist. Cinematic orchestration. Deadpan wit. Don Pardo announcing. I listened to every episode. Only one track had audio issues. I forget which one.