Detective drama (1951 - 55)

Your man when you can't go to the cops... Confidentiality a specialty...

Running from 1951 through 1955, Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator is about a New York private eye. Produced in New York from 1951 to 1954 and then moved it to Hollywood where it aired from 1954 to 1955.  This entertaining old time radio series originally titled "Barry Crane" was later renamed "Barrie Craig." 

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The series starred William Gargan (also played detective Martin Kane) as Barrie Craig, the lone private detective, who worked and solved cases from his Madison Avenue office.  Gargan actually worked in as a private detective, collecting agent; his duties ranged from doing stakeouts to working as a bodyguard.  He was shot while on the investigating a deadbeat customer.  This life experience surely added to the depth of his characterization of Barrie Craig, Ellery Queen (three films) and Martin Kane.

While most detectives at the time were no nonsense hardboiled types, Barrie Craig is extraordinary due to his laid back personality.  He rarely gets worried even in life threatening situations, it takes a lot to ruffle his feathers.  Craig narrates the story much like Joe Friday in Dragnet and Sam Spade.

See also Broadway is My Beat, Dragnet, Jack Webb Collection, Johnny Dollar, Nero Wolfe, and Pat Novak for Hire.