OTR Newspaper Advert

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Download or Listen to Advert-free Old-time Radio Shows

starring
Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce

OTR Newspaper Advert

plus shows starring
Nigel Bruce & John Conway — John Stanley & Alfred Shirley — John Stanley & Ian Martin — John Stanley & Wendell Holmes

The original Old-time Radio shows include lengthy advertisements that interrupt the story at the start, middle, and again at the end. These commercial breaks add up to about five minutes per show and soon become nettlesome once you've listened to one or two stories. I've edited out these intrusions from all of the 169 shows in my possession — but I have kept portions of the introductions, the good-byes, and the to-and-fro between Dr. Watson and the host in order to conserve the natural flow of the storytelling.

I used to sell the ad-free shows on CD but after many years I have discontinued due to large increases in costs, changes in technology, and a change in lifestyle for yours truly.

However... instead of charging for CDs, I've put all the advert-free shows in my possession online for FREE instead. They're also available to listen to in your browser, or download as many as you wish at no cost,

All the advert-free shows are listed below with links to listen and download. There are five acting partnerships who starred as Holmes & Watson in this OTR collection, spanning from 1939 to 1949 — they are:
Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce, John Conway & Nigel Bruce, John Stanley & Alfred Shirley, John Stanley & Ian Martin, and John Stanley & Wendell Holmes.
I genuinely believe you will not find another such depository of ad-free OTR shows anywhere else on the web, a bold claim maybe but I stand by it until proven otherwise!

On a technical note, I've equalised the volume on all of the shows, tidied up the mp3 tags, and added a jpeg so that they look good on the audio device of your choosing. Enjoy!

The shows are FREE to download, but if you feel the urge to donate a small amount as a token of thanks then please do so below...

Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce Shows

º = poor quality recording     † = very poor quality recording

No. Title Broadcast
Date
Download
Listen
Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1 The Bruce Partington Plans º 06 | 11 | 1939 Download
2 The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual
SCRIPT ONLY (pdf)
11 | 12 | 1939 Download SCRIPT ONLY (pdf)
3 The Retired Colourman º 11 | 03 | 1940 Download
4 The Copper Beeches º 08 | 10 | 1940 Download
5 The Hound of the Baskervilles - Part V only
(final third missing) º
09 | 02 | 1941 Download
6 The Mystery of Mrs. Warren's Key 07 | 12 | 1941 Download
7 The Cardboard Box
(partial episode)
27 | 08 | 1943 Download
8 The Adventure of the Superfluous Pearl º 22 | 05 | 1944 Download
9 The Book of Tobit 26 | 03 | 1945 Download
10 The Amateur Mendicant Society 02 | 04 | 1945 Download
11 The Viennese Strangler 09 | 04 | 1945 Download
12 The Notorious Canary Trainer 23 | 04 | 1945 Download
13 The Unfortunate Tobacconist 30 | 04 | 1945 Download
14 The Purloined Ruby 07 | 05 | 1945 Download
15 In Flanders Field 14 | 05 | 1945 Download
16 The Missing Bloodstains º 15 | 05 | 1945 Download
17 The Paradol Chamber 21 | 05 | 1945 Download
18 The Limping Ghost 03 | 09 | 1945 Download
19 The Story of Colonel Warburton's Madness 10 | 09 | 1945 Download
20 The Case of the Out of Date Murder 17 | 09 | 1945 Download
21 The Eyes of Mr. Leyton 24 | 09 | 1945 Download
22 The Problem of Thor Bridge 10 | 01 | 1945 Download
23 The Mystery of the Vanishing White Elephant 08 | 10 | 1945 Download
24 The Manor House Case 15 | 10 | 1945 Download
25 The Great Gandolfo 22 | 10 | 1945 Download
26 Murder by Moonlight 29 | 10 | 1945 Download
27 The Gunpowder Plot 05 | 11 | 1945 Download
28 The Speckled Band 12 | 11 | 1945 Download
29 The Case of the Double Zero 19 | 11 | 1945 Download
30 The Case of the Accidental Murderess 26 | 11 | 1945 Download
31 Murder in The Casbah 03 | 12 | 1945 Download
32 A Scandal in Bohemia 10 | 12 | 1945 Download
33 The Second Generation 17 | 12 | 1945 Download
34 The Night Before Christmas 24 | 12 | 1945 Download
35 The Strange Case of the Iron Box 31 | 12 | 1945 Download
36 The Strange Case of the Murder In Wax 07 | 01 | 1946 Download
37 Murder Beyond Mountains 15 | 01 | 1946 Download
38 The Telltale Pigeon Feathers 21 | 01 | 1946 Download
39 The Strange Case of the Demon Barber 28 | 01 | 1946 Download
40 The Indiscretion of Mr. Edwards 04 | 02 | 1946 Download
41 The Guileless Gypsy 11 | 02 | 1946 Download
42 The Camberwell Poisoners 18 | 02 | 1946 Download
43 The Terrifying Cats
with Eric Snowden as Dr. Watson
25 | 02 | 1946 Download
44 The Submarine Caves 04 | 03 | 1946 Download
45 The Adventure of the Living Doll 11 | 03 | 1946 Download
46 The Adventure of the Blarney Stone 18 | 03 | 1946 Download
47 The Girl with the Gazelle 25 | 03 | 1946 Download
48 April Fools' Day Adventure 01 | 04 | 1946 Download
49 The Adventure of the Disappearing Scientists 08 | 04 | 1946 Download
50 The Mystery of the Headless Monk 15 | 04 | 1946 Download
51 The Tankerville Club Scandal 22 | 04 | 1946 Download
52 The Waltz of Death 29 | 04 | 1946 Download
53 The Man with the Twisted Lip 06 | 05 | 1946 Download
54 The Strange Adventure of the Uneasy Easy Chair 13 | 05 | 1946 Download
55 The Haunting of Sherlock Holmes
with Joseph Kearns as Dr. Watson
20 | 05 | 1946 Download
56 The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher 27 | 05 | 1946 Download
  Bulk download of all Rathbone & Bruce shows 1939 – 1946 Download  

Nigel Bruce & Tom Conway Shows

When Basil Rathbone left the series in 1946 he was replaced by Tom Conway as Sherlock Holmes, with Nigel Bruce continuing on as Dr. Watson. This series had 39 episodes, 38 of which are currently in circulation. Tom Conway is good in the role and had a voice similar to Rathbone, and Bruce is fabulous playing Watson as per usual.

No. Title Broadcast Date Download Listen
Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1 The Adventure of the Stuttering Ghost 12 | 10 | 1946 Download
2 The Adventure of the Black Angus 19 | 10 | 1946 Download
3 The Clue of the Hungry Cat 26 | 10 | 1946 Download
4 The Adventure of the Original Hamlet 02 | 11 | 1946 Download
5 The Singular Adventure of the Dying Schoolboys 09 | 11 | 1946 Download
6 The Adventure of the Genuine Guarnarius 16 | 11 | 1946 Download
7 The Adventure of the Sally Martin 23 | 11 | 1946 Download
8 Death of Mrs Abernathy º 30 | 11 | 1946 Download
9 The Case of the Coptic Compass º 07 | 12 | 1946 Download
10 The Adventure of the Elusive Emerald 14 | 12 | 1946 Download
11 The Adventure of the Grand Old Man 21 | 12 | 1946 Download
12 The Singular Affair of the White Cockerel 28 | 12 | 1946 Download
13 The Darlington Substitution Case º 04 | 01 | 1947 Download
14 The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot 13 | 01 | 1947 Download
15 The Singular Affair of the Babbling Butler 27 | 01 | 1947 Download
16 The Adventure of the the Dying Detective 03 | 02 | 1947 Download
17 The Strange Case of the Persecuted Millionaire 10 | 02 | 1947 Download
18 The Adventure of the Haunted Bagpipes 17 | 02 | 1947 Download
19 The Horseless Carriage 24 | 02 | 1947 Download
20 Queue for Murder 03 | 03 | 1947 Download
21 The Singular Affair of the Egyptian Curse
with Ben Wright as Holmes
10 | 03 | 1947 Download
22 The Adventure of the Creeping Man 17 | 03 | 1947 Download
23 The Adventure of the Scarlet Worm 24 | 03 | 1947 Download
24 The Adventure of Maltree Abbey 31 | 03 | 1947 Download
25 The Tolling Bell 07 | 04 | 1947 Download
26 The Adventure of the Carpathian Horror 14 | 04 | 1947 Download
27 The Lion's Mane 21 | 04 | 1947 Download
28 The Island of Death 28 | 04 | 1947 Download
29 The Remarkable Affair of the Pointless Robbery 05 | 05 | 1947 Download
30 The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge 12 | 05 | 1947 Download
31 The Harley Street Murders 19 | 05 | 1947 Download
32 The Adventure of the Submerged Baronet 26 | 05 | 1947 Download
33 The Red Headed League 02 | 06 | 1947 Download
34 Murder in the Locked Room 09 | 06 | 1947 Download
35 Death in the North Sea 16 | 06 | 1947 Download
36 Adventure of the Speckled Band 23 | 06 | 1947 Download
37 The Adventure of the Innocent Murderess 30 | 06 | 1947 Download
38 The Adventure of the Iron Maiden 07 | 07 | 1947 Download
  Bulk download of all Bruce & Conway shows 1946 – 1947 Download  

John Stanley & Alfred Shirley Shows

Nigel Bruce retired from the role of Dr. John H. Watson in 1947, and Tom Conway's portrayal of Holmes proved unpopular with the public, so he also left the series in 1947. The very capable British actor John Stanley took up the role of Sherlock Holmes whilst fellow Brit Alfred Shirley played of Dr. Watson. Audience figures were dwindling due to the rise of television, and this pairing lasted just nine months.

  Title Broadcast Date Download Listen
Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1 The Case of the Dog Who Changed His Mind 28 | 09 | 1947 Download
2 The Case of the Missing Heiress 05 | 10 | 1947 Download
3 The Case of the Red-Headed League 12 | 10 | 1947 Download
4 The Affair of the Politician 19 | 10 | 1947 Download
5 The Laughing Lemur of High Tower Heath 26 | 10 | 1947 Download
6 The Case of the Copper Beeches 02 | 11 | 1947 Download
7 The Cadaver in the Roman Toga 09 | 11 | 1947 Download
8 The Case of the Well-Staged Murder 16 | 11 | 1947 Download
9 The Case of the Stolen Naval Treaty 23 | 11 | 1947 Download
10 The Case of the Cradle That Rocked Itself 30 | 11 | 1947 Download
11 Professor Moriarty and the Diamond Jubilee 07 | 12 | 1947 Download
12 The Sussex Vampire 14 | 12 | 1947 Download
13 The Adventure of the Christmas Bride 21 | 12 | 1947 Download
14 New Year's Eve Off the Scilly Isles 28 | 12 | 1947 Download
15 The Mazarin Stone 04 | 01 | 1948 Download
16 The Case of Sudden Senility 11 | 01 | 1948 Download
17 The Case of the Lucky Shilling 18 | 01 | 1948 Download
18 The Case of the Engineer's Thumb 25 | 01 | 1948 Download
19 The Case of the Avenging Blade 01 | 02 | 1948 Download
20 The Case of the Sanguine Spectre 08 | 02 | 1948 Download
21 The Case of Shoscombe Old Place 15 | 02 | 1948 Download
22 The Adventure of the Wooden Claw 22 | 02 | 1948 Download
23 The Case of King Philip's Golden Salver 29 | 02 | 1948 Download
24 The Adventure of the Six Napoleons 07 | 03 | 1948 Download
25 The Adventure of the Serpent God 14 | 03 | 1948 Download
26 Death is a Golden Arrow 21 | 03 | 1948 Download
27 The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax 28 | 03 | 1948 Download
28 Lady Waverly's Imitation Pearls 04 | 04 | 1948 Download
29 The Empty House 11 | 04 | 1948 Download
30 The Case of the Very Best Butter 18 | 04 | 1948 Download
31 The Sinister Crate of Cabbages 02 | 05 | 1948 Download
32 The Illustrious Client 09 | 05 | 1948 Download
33 The Case of the Everblooming Roses 16 | 05 | 1948 Download
34 The Case of the Accommodating Valise 23 | 05 | 1948 Download
35 The Case of Identity 30 | 05 | 1948 Download
36 The Complicated Poisoning of Eel Pie Island 06 | 06 | 1948 Download
37 The Bleeding Chandelier 13 | 06 | 1948 Download
38 The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger 20 | 06 | 1948 Download
  Bulk download of all Stanley & Shirley shows 1947 – 1948 Download  

John Stanley & Ian Martin Shows

In 1948 Alfred Shirley left the series and he was replaced as Dr. Watson by Ian Martin for just four episodes, including an adaptation of the classic original Conan-Doyle story The Bruce-Partington Plans.

No. Title Broadcast Date Download Listen
Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1 The Case of the Unwelcome Ambassador 12 | 09 | 1948 Download
2 The Black Guardsman of Braddock Castle 19 | 09 | 1948 Download
3 The Bruce-Partington Plans 26 | 09 | 1948 Download
4 The Case of the Frightened Bookkeeper 03 | 10 | 1948 Download
  Bulk download of all Stanley & Martin shows 1948 Download  

John Stanley & Wendell Holmes Shows

Ian Martin gave up the part of Dr. Watson in 1948, and Wendell Holmes took over. These shows are enjoyable and a nice addition to anyone's collection, the story-telling is fast-paced, although the plots are a tad thinner than in earlier series.

No. Title Broadcast Date Download Listen
Arrow keys for volume and to navigate
1 The Adventure of the Guy Fawkes Society 10 | 10 | 1948 Download
2 The Adventure of the Black Peter 17 | 10 | 1948 Download
3 The Fabulous Windmill 24 | 10 | 1948 Download
4 The Adventure of the Uddington Witch 31 | 10 | 1948 Download
5 The Logic of Murder 07 | 11 | 1948 Download
6 The Adventure of the Ancient Queen 14 | 11 | 1948 Download
7 The Discordant Bells 21 | 11 | 1948 Download
8 The Case of the Well-Advertised Murder 16 | 11 | 1948 Download
9 The Island of the Dead 05 | 12 | 1948 Download
10 The Adventure of London Tower 12 | 12 | 1948 Download
11 The Speckled Band 19 | 12 | 1948 Download
12 The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle 26 | 12 | 1948 Download
13 The Adventure of the Malicious Moor 03 | 01 | 1949 Download
14 The Knife of Vengeance 10 | 01 | 1949 Download
15 The Adventure of the Fabulous Celebrity 17 | 01 | 1949 Download
16 The Adventure of the Bloomsbury Ballad 24 | 01 | 1949 Download
17 The Adventure of the Devil's Foot 31 | 01 | 1949 Download
18 The Adventure of the Bloodstained Goddess 07 | 02 | 1949 Download
19 The Guest in the Coffin 14 | 02 | 1949 Download
20 The Adventure of the Hangman and the Book 21 | 02 | 1949 Download
21 The Adventure of the Eastend Strangler 28 | 02 | 1949 Download
22 Murder on a Wager 07 | 03 | 1949 Download
23 The Adventure of the Unfortunate Valet 14 | 03 | 1949 Download
24 The Adventure of the Elusive Agent 04 | 04 | 1949 Download
25 The Mad Miners of Cardiff 11 | 04 | 1949 Download
26 The Case of the Burmese Goddess 18 | 04 | 1949 Download
27 The Adventure of the Golden Pince-nez 25 | 04 | 1949 Download
28 The Adventure of the Blood-Soaked Wagon 02 | 05 | 1949 Download
29 The Adventure of the Three Garridebs 09 | 05 | 1949 Download
30 The Adventure of the Grey Pasha 16 | 05 | 1949 Download
31 The Adventure of Dr. Wintrop's Notorious Carriage 23 | 05 | 1949 Download
32 The Adventure of the Curious Crypt 30 | 05 | 1949 Download
33 The Adventure of the Red Death 06 | 06 | 1949 Download
  Bulk download of all Stanley & Holmes shows 1948 – 1949 Download  
Top

top