Theater of the Mind

Mr. District Attorney

119 episodes · 1939–1953 · NBC, Mutual, Armed Forces Radio Service · Detective

Play Mr. District Attorney on Radio Days

Mr. District Attorney fought crime from the prosecutor's office, an idea drawn from Thomas E. Dewey's early career as a New York racket-buster. Phillips H. Lord helped develop it and named it, and Ed Byron wrote and produced it, studying crime statistics to keep the scripts current. It ran on NBC and ABC from April 3, 1939, to June 13, 1952, for Bristol-Myers. Jay Jostyn played the D.A. from 1940, with Len Doyle as investigator Harrington and Vicki Vola as Miss Miller.

Sources: Mr. District Attorney, Wikipedia

Episodes

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

19392 episodes

The Milano Brothers April 3, 1939 · NBC · 14 min
The first show: the D.A. goes after protection racketeers, starting a continuing story. From the 15-minute days.
The Case of the Ohio Kid April 4, 1939 · NBC · 16 min
A racket is squeezing the city's restaurant owners. One owner will testify, and a gunman called the Ohio Kid is hired to stop him. From the show's early 15-minute days.

19412 episodes

The Man from Alcatraz February 12, 1941 · NBC · 25 min
A broken-down gangster on the run, with only a pal and a pet marmoset, asks the D.A. for protection from a killer.
The Case of the Museum Mystery December 10, 1941 · NBC · 29 min
A burglar stuffs the museum's night watchman into a mummy case but leaves a priceless Egyptian miniature behind.

19421 episode

The Case of the Hijacked Worker August 19, 1942 · NBC · 31 min
Wartime labor piracy: a shady operator offers a war plant a hundred skilled workers, for a price.

19432 episodes

Case of the Backstage Murder February 3, 1943 · 25 min
The Case of the Barnyard Bandit March 17, 1943 · NBC · 29 min
A black marketeer from the city comes to a farm town to buy up dairy cows during the meat shortage.

19442 episodes

The Case of the Curious Undertaker August 2, 1944 · 31 min
Intimidaed Jury August 23, 1944 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “Stanley Rigged Jury Case.”

19453 episodes

The Case of the Hospital Homicide February 7, 1945 · Armed Forces Radio Service · 26 min
A gang steals heating oil from public buildings and sells it back to hospitals.
Stolen Slot Machines February 14, 1945 · 30 min
Out-of-Town Thief December 5, 1945 · 32 min

19462 episodes

The Case of the Deadly Train March 13, 1946 · NBC · 30 min
The D.A. brings a witness back East to testify, and a hired gunman and his girl plan to kill him on the train.
The Case of Baby, Cradle and All June 5, 1946 · NBC · 32 min
A rich mother is sure her son's manicurist girlfriend is after his eight-million-dollar trust.

19471 episode

The Case of One Slip Meant Death May 7, 1947 · NBC · 29 min
The D.A. sees a tiger trainer slip and die at the circus. The widow is soon in love with a younger man, and his girlfriend is murdered.

19485 episodes

The Case of Murder in Rhythm and Rhyme March 17, 1948 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Sinister Cinema May 5, 1948 · NBC · 30 min
A con man talks a small-town banker into letting him shoot a movie inside the bank.
The Case of Spring Fever May 19, 1948 · NBC · 30 min
A young man drifts into crime while his girlfriend begs him to stop.
The Case of the Deadly Snowflake May 26, 1948 · NBC · 29 min
A blind safecracker plans a job with a getaway by boat, but there's no honor among thieves.
The Case of the Unknown Source August 25, 1948 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.

19493 episodes

The Case of Murder a la Carte March 9, 1949 · NBC · 30 min
A restaurant headwaiter runs a robbery racket on the side.
The Case of Charity Never Began October 12, 1949 · NBC · 28 min
A rotten couple turns an old folks' home into a house of horrors.
Free Play November 23, 1949 · 28 min

19501 episode

The Case of Deadly Devotion May 17, 1950 · NBC · 27 min
A fugitive from St. Louis muscles in on a local racket and kills a rich widow for her money.

19511 episode

The Case of the Money Machine April 11, 1951 · NBC · 31 min
A former mental-hospital worker kidnaps a patient who's a math genius and puts him in a carnival act. The first Honorary Mr. D.A. is named.

195239 episodes

Hijacked Killer June 13, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Supermarker Killer June 20, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Man on the Ledge June 27, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Year Old Trail July 4, 1952 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Joy Ride Murder July 11, 1952 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Hijack Killer August 10, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on June 13, 1952.
Case of the Supermarket Killer August 17, 1952 · 26 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on June 20, 1952.
Staircase Killer August 22, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Man on the Ledge August 24, 1952 · 26 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on June 27, 1952.
Charity Killer August 29, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the 15 Year Old Trail August 31, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on July 4, 1952.
Hit and Run Killer September 5, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Joy Ride Murder September 7, 1952 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on July 11, 1952.
Desert Killer September 12, 1952 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Murderous Hitchhiker September 14, 1952 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on July 18, 1952.
Missing Corpse September 19, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Bank Killer (September 1952) September 26, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Knifing in the Park October 3, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Man who Confessed October 17, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists a broadcast on this date but gives no title.
Case of the Staircase Killer October 19, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on August 22, 1952.
Hot-Rod Killer October 24, 1952 · 33 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Charity Killer October 26, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on August 29, 1952.
Vanishing Runner October 31, 1952 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Hit and Run Killer November 2, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on September 5, 1952.
Murder Syndicate November 7, 1952 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists this date as “B.”
Case of the Desert Killer November 9, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on September 12, 1952.
Lady Gamblers November 14, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Blood Harvest November 21, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Bank Killer (November 1952) November 23, 1952 · 28 min
Motorcycle Club Killer November 28, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Knifing in the Park November 30, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on October 3, 1952.
Man with the Golden Teeth December 5, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Case of the Hungry Hobo December 7, 1952 · NBC · 27 min
A hobo shoots his brother-in-law, robs the diner's register and is caught right away.
Death by Adoption December 12, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Man Who Confessed December 14, 1952 · 27 min
Cop Killer December 19, 1952 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Hot Rod Killer December 21, 1952 · 26 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on October 24, 1952.
Blackmail Murder December 26, 1952 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Vanishing Runner December 28, 1952 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on October 31, 1952.

195355 episodes

Frying Pan Murder January 2, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
The Murder Syndicate January 4, 1953 · 27 min
Murderous Junkman January 9, 1953 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Lady Gamblers January 11, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on November 14, 1952.
Lover's Lane Killing January 16, 1953 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Blood Harvest January 18, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on November 21, 1952.
Case of the Motorcycle Club Killer January 25, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on November 28, 1952.
Case of the Man with the Gold Teeth February 1, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on December 5, 1952.
Dead Reporter February 6, 1953 · 26 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of Death by Adoption February 8, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on December 12, 1952.
Wounded Killer February 13, 1953 · 26 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Cop Killer February 15, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on December 19, 1952.
Murderous Good Samaritan February 20, 1953 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Blackmail Murder February 22, 1953 · 28 min
Silent Killer February 27, 1953 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Frying Pan Murder March 1, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on January 2, 1953.
Murder by Amateurs March 6, 1953 · 26 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Murderous Junkman March 8, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on January 9, 1953.
Assassin in the Dark March 13, 1953 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Lover's Lane Killing March 15, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on January 16, 1953.
Murder in the Park March 20, 1953 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Moving Van Murders March 27, 1953 · 25 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Bridle Path Murders April 3, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Dead Reporter April 5, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on February 6, 1953.
Canned Death April 10, 1953 · 30 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Wounded Killer April 12, 1953 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on February 13, 1953.
Preview Murder April 17, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Murderous Good Samaritans April 19, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on February 20, 1953.
Country Club Murder April 24, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Silent Killer April 26, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on February 27, 1953.
Case of the Murder by Amateurs May 3, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on March 6, 1953.
Hungry Killer May 8, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Assassin in the Dark AFRTS May 10, 1953 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on March 13, 1953.
Body on the Freight Train May 15, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Park Murders May 17, 1953 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on March 20, 1953.
Land Swindle Murder May 22, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Moving Van Murders May 24, 1953 · 23 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on March 27, 1953.
Living Dead Man May 29, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Bridal Path Murders May 31, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on April 3, 1953.
Pyromaniac Murder June 5, 1953 · 29 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs lists the same title on this date.
Case of the Canned Death June 7, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on April 10, 1953.
Case of the Preview Murder June 14, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on April 17, 1953.
Case of the Country Club Murder June 21, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on April 24, 1953.
Case of the Perfect Alibi June 28, 1953 · 24 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on May 1, 1953.
Case of the Hungry Killer July 5, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on May 8, 1953.
Case of the Body on the Freight Train July 12, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on May 15, 1953.
Case of the Land Swindle Murder July 19, 1953 · 27 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on May 22, 1953.
Case of the Living Dead Man July 26, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on May 29, 1953.
Case of the Pyromaniac Murder August 4, 1953 · 28 min
Jerry Haendiges' Vintage Radio Logs doesn't list this date, but lists the same title on June 5, 1953.
Set-Up for Re-Entry October 11, 1953 · Mutual · 31 min
A racketeer slips back into the country and murders the D.A.'s friend.
The Case of the Jury Killer October 18, 1953 · Mutual · 31 min
An ex-convict sets out to kill the judge and jury who sent him away. A few studio outtakes follow the show.
Case of the Forgery Proof Note November 1, 1953 · 30 min
Living Corpses November 22, 1953 · 29 min
Mother's Helper December 20, 1953 · 32 min
Forgery-Proof Note December 30, 1953 · 32 min