Philo Vance

Philo Vance is the detective created in the 1920's by S.S. Van Dine. In the novels Vance is an intellectual in the syle of P. G. Wodehouse.

The Radio Series uses only the name and makes Philo a pretty normal gumshoe. Jose Ferrer played Philo in 1945. From 1948-1950 Jackson Beck (Pictured Below) played him as very intelligent and extremely courteous.

Joan Alexander is Ellen Deering, Vance's secretary and right-hand woman.

Jackson Beck and Joan Alexander are better known for their work on The Adventures of Superman where he was the Announcer and she played Lois Lane.

The Philo Vance show features some of the greatest Organ music in Old Time Radio. The organist really gets into the action. This is good since there are virtually no sound effects on the show.

Philo Vance, the radio series, does pay homage to the original books in that both were, even in their own time, a bit out of date and stilted.

The Internet Archive has all available episodes of Philo Vance available for FREE download -

• Philo Vance (Opens in New Window)

Jackson Beck (left) and Joan Alexander with Bud Collyer on the set of Superman

Click Here to Return to the Home Page of Old Time Radio from Philo Vance