Richard Diamond, Private Detective

The Joe Hehn Memorial Collection

(4.6 stars; 15 reviews)

Richard Diamond starred singer and actor Dick Powell in a marvelously scripted program that played to Powell's talent and wit, and took the audience along for a happy ride. Most of the series was written and directed by Blake Edwards. He would have his most popular success in the movies with The Pink Panther franchise. Powell was known as a singer, and made a career change by playing Philip Marlowe in the highly successful movie Murder, My Sweet . Powell's new direction continued with the radio detective drama Rogue's Gallery . It was one of the better of the detective genre, and had occasional light moments, especially when Rogue would be knocked unconscious and he would have a conversation with "Eugor" ("Rogue" backwards). These kinds of entertaining scenes that led to Richard Diamond where the full range of Powell's abilities would be realized. After listening to a few programs it becomes clear that the writing and casting are superb and they are all enjoying it greatly, especially Powell... and he gets to sing a little bit, too, in his weekly attempt to woo his girlfriend, Helen Asher. Just prior to the Diamond series, Powell auditioned for Yours, Truly, Lloyd London , which would soon become Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar without him. The Diamond  opportunity came knocking, and it was a perfect match. Powell would become very successful in television as a producer, with one of his projects bringing Richard Diamond to television, starring David Janssen. * * * These recordings are part of the Joe Hehn Memorial Collection. Mr. Hehn (1931-2020) was a pioneering collector of radio recordings when the hobby emerged in the 1960s. Digitizing his collection of reel tapes and discs is the effort of a wide range of North American volunteers, and includes assistance of some international collectors. The groups supporting this effort with their funds, time, technology and skills are the Old Time Radio Researchers and a small group of transcription disc preservationists who refer to themselves as the "The Knights of the Turning Table."

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.