As usual, the detective show ends with Dick Powell, as Richard Diamond, at the piano in his girlfriend’s penthouse at 975 Park Avenue, to sing her a song; usually, a standard, popular song of the day or showtune from Powell’s repertoire. This time however, the tune is a new 1949 Christmas song recently introduced by former Spokane crooner Bing Crosby … “Mele Kalikimaka (the Hawaiian Merry Christmas).”
If you’re at an age that you can easily recall lying on the living room floor in front of the family’s floor model radio, with your eyes closed to enhance your imagination as you listened to your favorite program, then, here is a chance for you to recapture some of that magic. If you’ve never had that experience, then take the 30 plus minutes required to enjoy this clever contemporary adaptation of a Christmas classic, “A Christmas Carol,” with Richard Diamond, Private Detective. The program’s opening theme song, “Leave It To Love,” features the whistling talents of the show’s star Dick Powell. Oh yes, remember once the program begins, be sure to close your eyes!
And so, as Tiny Tim observed, “God bless us everyone.”
Richard Diamond, Private Detective ~ Christmas Eve 1949. Time: 30:16
In researching Richard Diamond (to make sure my recollections were correct) the fascinating thing I’d forgotten about and then rediscovered was that it was created & mainly written by Blake Edwards (nee: William Blake Crump). This is the same Blake Edwards who began as an actor, but eventually evolved into a tremendously successful writer-director. Wrote scripts for another radio detective series, “Johnny Dollar” and he wrote scripts and directed the television series “Peter Gunn”. Was involved as a director with “The Pink Panther” films. He directed the Jack Lemmon film “Days of Wine & Roses” and the film classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. The list really does go on and on. Included in his accomplishments … he married Julie Andrews in 1969 and, among other things, they collaborated on the film “Victor-Victoria” as director & star. They were married until his death in Dec. 15, 2010 at 88 yrs. old.
I just find it interesting that among his very early accomplishments was this radio detective series, “Richard Diamond, Private Detective”.
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The show ran on the radio networks for a mere 3 years, but was a great fan favorite. David Janssen starred in the tv version from 1957-1960.
I will give the show a listen. Not heard that character before
I enjoy Old Time Radio drama and comedy more than tv. I listen several times a week. This is a good one. I have always liked the Richard Diamond type detective stories. KIXI and the BBC still run OTR shows.