Theater of the Mind

Gang Busters

90 episodes · 1940–1955 · ABC, CBS, Blue Network, NBC Blue · Detective

Radio Hall of Fame inductee. (Wikipedia)

Phillips H. Lord's crime show began as G-Men in 1935 and as Gang Busters ran from January 15, 1936, to November 27, 1957, on CBS, the Blue Network, ABC and Mutual. Its opening of police whistles, marching convicts, sirens and machine guns gave us the phrase "came on like gangbusters." Each show told a real case and ended with clues about wanted criminals. Former police chiefs Norman Schwarzkopf Sr. and then Lewis J. Valentine introduced the stories.

Sources: Gang Busters, Wikipedia

Episodes

Tap a year to see its episodes, then a title to play it on Radio Days.

19401 episode

The Ape Bandit November 1, 1940 · Blue Network · 31 min
A college athlete turns to robbery and murder.

19413 episodes

The Nickel and Dime Bandits March 28, 1941 · NBC Blue · 28 min
Two small-timers and their girl terrorize Chattanooga, sure they'll get away with it because they only steal small change. With the nationwide clues.
The Case of the Missing Corpse April 4, 1941 · Blue Network · 29 min
A witness to a bombing survives two bullets to the head and still won't be scared off.
New York's Safe and Lock Squad December 26, 1941 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

19423 episodes

The Case of the Black Bottom Bandit March 20, 1942 · Blue Network · 24 min
A young Southern bank robber who carried a machine gun and played the clarinet.
The Case of Clyde William Buchanan October 23, 1942 · Blue Network · 29 min
An escaped prisoner moves through the countryside without being recognized, in the story of the Trailer Gang.
The Case of the Wolverine October 30, 1942 · NBC Blue · 28 min
A strange criminal terrorizes small Michigan towns in a blizzard.

19442 episodes

The Case of the Unknown Killers June 9, 1944 · Blue Network · 30 min
A policeman is killed in a Coney Island holdup, and the hunt ends in a shootout in a hotel.
Matson, Barry & Grant July 14, 1944 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

19457 episodes

The Case of Harry "Red" Bever September 15, 1945 · ABC · 29 min
Lewis J. Valentine's first show as narrator, the day after he resigned as New York's police commissioner: an Army deserter with a quick trigger finger.
The Case of the Red Evening Dress September 22, 1945 · ABC · 30 min
A woman who wanted a red dress very badly leads a gang of ex-convicts into a string of crimes.
John K Giles September 29, 1945 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of Bielaski and Tillotson October 27, 1945 · ABC · 22 min
Two robbers pass themselves off as society swells in New England.
The Case of Matthew Kozera November 24, 1945 · ABC · 30 min
A meek-looking but very dangerous gunman terrorizes Pittsburgh.
Blackie Thompson December 8, 1945 · 21 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Al Simeone December 22, 1945 · 22 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

19466 episodes

The Rumbolt Vault Robbery January 5, 1946 · 22 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Chicago Horror Bandits January 26, 1946 · ABC · 29 min
Two bank robbers trade their guns for fire extinguishers loaded with poison gas. Part one of two.
The Case of the Horror Bandits February 2, 1946 · ABC · 28 min
The Poison Gas Gang story concludes. The opening is cut short.
The Case of the Death Mask Killer March 16, 1946 · ABC · 27 min
A killer is caught because a boy in Philadelphia buys a newspaper, and there's an attempted prison break.
The Case of Joe McCann and the West Side Syndicate, Part 1 March 23, 1946 · ABC · 30 min
Three crooks steal four million dollars, and it turns out to be mutilated currency. Part one.
The Battle of Alcatraz May 11, 1946 · ABC · 27 min
The Alcatraz prison riot, dramatized just nine days after it happened.

194710 episodes

The Costumed Killer May 24, 1947 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Case of the Crime Teacher.”
The Kidnapped Paymaster October 4, 1947 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Bugs Moran - Part 1 October 11, 1947 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Devil and the Syndicate Part 1.”
Bugs Moran - Part 2 October 18, 1947 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Devil and the Syndicate Part 2.”
Bugs Moran - Part 3 October 25, 1947 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Devil and the Syndicate Part 3.”
The Jersey Butcher Bandits November 8, 1947 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Supersonic Safecrackers December 6, 1947 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the New Jersey Counterfeiters December 13, 1947 · ABC · 29 min
A printing-press mechanic gets mixed up with a gang of counterfeiters.
The Tennessee Valley Killer December 20, 1947 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Triple Threat Bandit December 27, 1947 · ABC · 24 min

194824 episodes

Joe Fletcher January 24, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Case of the Horse Race Hijakers.”
The Oliver Brothers January 31, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Grzelak & Constantine February 21, 1948 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
John Frederick Benson February 28, 1948 · 22 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Mound City Safecrackers March 13, 1948 · 22 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Broadway Bandits March 20, 1948 · ABC · 30 min
A New York gang pulls a holdup every night, and the small change adds up.
The Cumberland Safecracker March 27, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The New York Narcotics King April 3, 1948 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The High School Hotshots April 10, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Quincy Killers April 24, 1948 · ABC · 24 min
A father and son in the business of kidnapping, theft and murder. The music is played on a melodeon instead of the usual organ.
The Case of the Park Avenue Pilferers June 12, 1948 · ABC · 25 min
The "King and Queen" of burglars loot the apartments of rich New Yorkers.
The Case of Craig and Motes June 19, 1948 · ABC · 26 min
Two kidnappers and bank robbers are given away by what's in their car's glove compartment.
The Mysterious Rooming House July 24, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Carnival Caper July 31, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Golf Course Murder August 7, 1948 · ABC · 24 min
The head of a car-theft ring moves on to murder. The commercials have been cut from this copy.
The Cowboy Killers August 28, 1948 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Collector Who Robbed Supermarkets September 4, 1948 · 30 min
The Archive copy has no date; Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this title on September 4, 1948, the date used here.
The Cincinnati Narcotics Ring September 25, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Chicago Tunnel Gang October 2, 1948 · 21 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Incorrigible Killer October 9, 1948 · 29 min
The Archive copy has no date; Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this title on October 9, 1948, the date used here.
The Case of the Twenty-Four Hour Twins October 23, 1948 · ABC · 26 min
A new kind of stickup is broken with help from a brave New York cab driver and a crossword puzzle. The real cab driver appears on the show.
The Greedy Gunman November 27, 1948 · 26 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Throneberry Brothers December 11, 1948 · ABC · 24 min
Two brothers in the bank-robbing business. The Nationwide Clues have been cut from this copy.
The Appointment with Death December 18, 1948 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

194910 episodes

The Case of the Surprised Safecrackers January 8, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
The first show back on CBS, on the program's thirteenth anniversary: New York's Safe and Loft Squad watches a safecracker plan his job.
The Case of the Masquerading Gunmen, Part 1 January 15, 1949 · CBS · 30 min
A gang dressed in full western costume robs an Oregon bank during Pioneer Days. Part one of two.
The Counterfeit Combine January 29, 1949 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Appointment with Death aka the Date with Death June 4, 1949 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Laughing Bandit June 11, 1949 · CBS · 28 min
An escaped convict goes back to his horse-playing girlfriend.
The Case of the Bandit Brothers June 18, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
Two brothers move their armed robberies from Colorado to Texas.
The Metropolitian Motor Mob July 2, 1949 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Red Hot Readers September 10, 1949 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Elusive Leader October 22, 1949 · CBS · 29 min
The Hooker gang is caught, and then their leader escapes and has to be caught all over again.
The Hue and Cry November 26, 1949 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

19505 episodes

The Golden Touch January 7, 1950 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Four Feathers January 21, 1950 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Inside Track June 10, 1950 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of Medos-Carter-Henderson September 23, 1950 · CBS · 24 min
A petty thief out of jail is turned in by his girlfriend, the lady in the leopard-skin coat.
The Temperate Thief September 30, 1950 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

19521 episode

The Case of John Economos August 16, 1952 · CBS · 24 min
A Los Angeles policeman follows a murderer to Chicago, where a diamond ring and a jar of onions give him away.

19535 episodes

Carlos Lajoya is Shot and Killed June 13, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “The Case of Fred Whittaker - Part 1.”
A Thief to Catch A Thief August 8, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Well Traveled Ring September 26, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of Reese-Wren-Reid October 3, 1953 · CBS · 29 min
A St. Louis gang is caught robbing its third jewelry company.
The Case of the Smoke Ring October 10, 1953 · CBS · 28 min
A pants presser who wants in with the big-time crooks hijacks a truckload of cigarettes, and the double-crosses lead to murder.

19547 episodes

The Case of the Winter's Chase July 5, 1954 · CBS · 24 min
A man stopped for a minor traffic offense in Cleveland kills a policeman.
The Battle on the Staircase July 12, 1954 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Manhattan Rampage July 19, 1954 · CBS · 24 min
Two robbers hit a small Brooklyn factory, beat up a policeman and kidnap the cashier.
The Case of the Kansas Collectors July 26, 1954 · CBS · 23 min
The Larry Oakes gang uses a different method for every robbery. The opening is cut short.
The Kewpie Doll Champ (Interference 1st min of show) August 2, 1954 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Half-Lemon August 9, 1954 · CBS · 24 min
Two robbers kill a farmer on a stormy night.
The Amateur Horseplayer November 27, 1954 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

19556 episodes

The Case of the Lost Gun February 5, 1955 · CBS · 27 min
A laundryman takes part in a 1954 bank robbery in Danville, Virginia.
The Case of the Mistreated Lady April 2, 1955 · CBS · 30 min
The Case of the Punchdrunk Soldier April 16, 1955 · CBS · 26 min
A man dying of a gunshot warns of "the Soldier," and the trail leads to a payroll robbery, a boxer and a second murder.
The Case of the Missing Detective April 30, 1955 · CBS · 26 min
A detective poses as a hired killer to get inside a Chicago numbers gang.
The Case of the Tapped Telephone May 14, 1955 · CBS · 30 min
The Torture Trio December 28, 1955 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.