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Pat Novak for Hire

One of Jack Webb's earliest successful attempts at crime drama with enough hard-boiled metaphors to sink a ship!

Pat Novak for Hire

25 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 12 hours, 23 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
13 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from March 27, 1949:

"Joe Candono Blackmail"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

"Down in the waterfront, in San Francisco, you always bite off more than
you can chew. It's tough on your windpipe, but you don't go hungry."

Jack WebbPat Novak for Hire is one of Jack Webb's earliest successful attempts at the genre for which he is best know: crime drama.  Unlike Dragnet, in Pat Novak for Hire is a gritty hardboiled detective-type

The character Pat Novack is based in San Francisco, CA and owned a boat repair/rental shop on the pier during the day and fought crime during the night, but still had time for clever quips:

Inspector Hellman is played by Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) who often arrests Pat Novak for the crime in each episode.  Sidekick, former doctor, and drunk Jocko is called in to help Pat Novak not only prove his innocence but find the guilty party. 

The conversation between characters is archetypical hardboiled detective dialogue with enough metaphors to sink a ship!  The show is well written with plenty of memorable one-liners and gritty dialogue:

"She stood leaning there for a minute, sort of a girl who moves when she stands still. She had blonde hair. She was kind of pretty, except you could see somebody had used her badly, like a dictionary in a stupid family." 

Ben Morris also appeared in the role of Pat Novack several episodes. The show has a strikingly similar premise to Johnny Modero, Pier 23 also starring Jack Webb as a boat shop owner.  The cast of Johnny Modero, Pier 23 includes two radio giants: Gale Gordon as Father Leahy and William Conrad as Officer Warchek.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    22
    21     1


    COMMENTS

    The HardBoiled Detectives mail-out today: I already have the OTR "Harry Lime" series, and "Nightbeat", "Pat Novak For Hire", and "Phillip Marlowe". But "Pat Novak" simply MUST be the Most Abused Shamus on Radio! [He gets his ass kicked = "knocked out" = 'Concussion' in Almost EVERY EPISODE! Now Dassa Tough Guy!]

    David Verified Purchase

    The dialogue is so over the top! I wish I could rattle off the wicked repartee like Jack Webb. And the exchanges between Jack and Raymond Burr are priceless.

    Dave Verified Purchase

    The noir rapartee in this series is pure poetry.

    David Verified Purchase

    I look forward to that show like an out of work alcoholic lusts after a free shot of amber colored whiskey.

    Jim Verified Purchase

    One of my greatest favorite OTR series, Jack Webb is a master of the deadpan one-liner.

    Shelly Verified Purchase

    All the time! And I love Tudor Owen as his barfly friend, Jocko: "Patsy! What're you doing out of the electric chair?"

    Dave

    “She stood leaning there for a minute, sort of a girl who moves when she stands still. She had blonde hair. She was kind of pretty, except you could see somebody had used her badly, like a dictionary in a stupid family.”

    Jim Verified Purchase

    My favorite line: "She had legs that would make a silkworm sit-up and take notice."

    Harvey Verified Purchase

    "She was wearing a slacks suit without much slack to it."

    Julie Verified Purchase

    The show is both good as an action show while being LOL for the hard boiled patter.

    Bob

    The writer was from Chicago, and I always picture honky tonk N. Clark Street where all the bars had "Conventioneers Welcome" painted on their windows.

    Phil Verified Purchase

    After reading the comments in this thread, I listened to a few episodes of Pat Novak today. OMG. I'd estimate that at least 80 percent of the dialogue is snappy patter, sarcasm and one-liners. Far, far more than any other OTR detective show that I can think of -- including plenty of clever descriptions of women of all types. (In fact, a few commenters are convinced that the show might have been intended as "over the top" -- almost a parody of OTR detective shows). Some things I noticed, besides the dialogue: Raymond Burr occasionally did double (or triple duty), on some episodes, as the voice of characters other than Hellman the cop. There are at least two episodes that were (apparently) pilot or audition episodes, because Jack Webb is not the voice of Pat Novak on those. Some of the fast humor includes references to (then) current events, celebrities and politicians. Occasionally, the jokes are even somewhat sophisticated (e.g., somebody tells Pat: Hey, don't let some political hack scare you. He responds: "That's what they told Trotsky")

    Jim

    Forget about the plot, which often needs to be quickly explained at the show's end. This show is all about the dialogue, with great lines coming so quickly by the time the show is over I can't remember most of them. Jack Webb's delivery is perfect. Great fun!

    Mark Verified Purchase

    Dragnet a 10 in sound quality. Johnny Dollar Pat Novak for Hire I would give an 8 in sound quality. The Ronald Reagan collection had excellent sound quality. When you do upgrades in sound quality with your old-time-radio collection I am never disappointed . Keep up the good work. I’ve been a satisfied customer for many years. And for the price, the product overall is excellent.

    Syl Verified Purchase

    Really good when Jack Webb is Pat Novak, good, but not as good, when someone else is. As stated several time above, the dialogue is so good.

    Kevin Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    25 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 12 hours, 23 min
    25 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 12 hours, 23 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 25 shows - total playtime 12 hours 23 minutes
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 461013 09 John St. John.mp3
    3. Pat Novak For Hire 461124 15 Dixie Gillian.mp3
    4. Pat Novak For Hire 470803 51 Johnny Brown Gambling Ring.mp3
    5. Pat Novak For Hire 470810 52 Mysterious Set Of Books.mp3
    6. Pat Novak For Hire 471123 66 Lydia Reynolds Case.mp3
    7. Pat Novak For Hire 471130 67 Death In Herald Square.mp3
    8. Pat Novak For Hire 490220 02 Jack Of Clubs Better Encode.mp3
    9. Pat Novak For Hire 490220 02 Jack of Clubs.mp3
    10. Pat Novak For Hire 490227 03 Dont Tell Hilda.mp3
    11. Pat Novak For Hire 490306 04 Fleet Lady.mp3
    12. Pat Novak For Hire 490313 05 Rubin Callaways Pictures.mp3
    13. Pat Novak For Hire 490320 06 Rory Malone.mp3
    14. Pat Novak For Hire 490327 07 Joe Candono Blackmail Pictures.mp3
    15. Pat Novak For Hire 490402 08 Father Leahy Joe Feldman.mp3
    16. Pat Novak For Hire 490409 09 Sam Tolliver.mp3
    17. Pat Novak For Hire 490416 10 Go Away Dixie Gillian.mp3
    18. Pat Novak For Hire 490423 11 Rita Malloy.mp3
    19. Pat Novak For Hire 490430 12 Wendy Morris.mp3
    20. Pat Novak For Hire 490507 13 Shirt Mixup At Laundry.mp3
    21. Pat Novak For Hire 490514 14 Geranium Plant.mp3
    22. Pat Novak For Hire 490521 15 Give Envelope To John St John.mp3
    23. Pat Novak For Hire 490604 17 Agnes Bolton.mp3
    24. Pat Novak For Hire 490611 18 Georgie Lampson.mp3
    25. Pat Novak For Hire 490618 19 Only Way Make Friends Die.mp3
    26. Pat Novak For Hire 490625 20 Little Jake Siegel.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    25 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 12 hours, 23 min
    25 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 12 hours, 23 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 25 shows - total playtime 12 hours 23 minutes
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 461013 09 John St. John.mp3
    3. Pat Novak For Hire 461124 15 Dixie Gillian.mp3
    4. Pat Novak For Hire 470803 51 Johnny Brown Gambling Ring.mp3
    5. Pat Novak For Hire 470810 52 Mysterious Set Of Books.mp3
    6. Pat Novak For Hire 471123 66 Lydia Reynolds Case.mp3
    7. Pat Novak For Hire 471130 67 Death In Herald Square.mp3
    8. Pat Novak For Hire 490220 02 Jack Of Clubs Better Encode.mp3
    9. Pat Novak For Hire 490220 02 Jack of Clubs.mp3
    10. Pat Novak For Hire 490227 03 Dont Tell Hilda.mp3
    11. Pat Novak For Hire 490306 04 Fleet Lady.mp3
    12. Pat Novak For Hire 490313 05 Rubin Callaways Pictures.mp3
    13. Pat Novak For Hire 490320 06 Rory Malone.mp3
    14. Pat Novak For Hire 490327 07 Joe Candono Blackmail Pictures.mp3
    15. Pat Novak For Hire 490402 08 Father Leahy Joe Feldman.mp3
    16. Pat Novak For Hire 490409 09 Sam Tolliver.mp3
    17. Pat Novak For Hire 490416 10 Go Away Dixie Gillian.mp3
    18. Pat Novak For Hire 490423 11 Rita Malloy.mp3
    19. Pat Novak For Hire 490430 12 Wendy Morris.mp3
    20. Pat Novak For Hire 490507 13 Shirt Mixup At Laundry.mp3
    21. Pat Novak For Hire 490514 14 Geranium Plant.mp3
    22. Pat Novak For Hire 490521 15 Give Envelope To John St John.mp3
    23. Pat Novak For Hire 490604 17 Agnes Bolton.mp3
    24. Pat Novak For Hire 490611 18 Georgie Lampson.mp3
    25. Pat Novak For Hire 490618 19 Only Way Make Friends Die.mp3
    26. Pat Novak For Hire 490625 20 Little Jake Siegel.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    25 recordings on 13 Audio CDs. Total playtime 12 hours, 23 min
    25 recordings on 13 Audio CDs
    total playtime 12 hours, 23 min

    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A001

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 461013 09 John St. John
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 461124 15 Dixie Gillian

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A002

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 470803 51 Johnny Brown Gambling Ring
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 470810 52 Mysterious Set Of Books

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A003

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 471123 66 Lydia Reynolds Case
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 471130 67 Death In Herald Square

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A004

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490220 02 Jack Of Clubs Better Encode
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490220 02 Jack of Clubs

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A005

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490227 03 Dont Tell Hilda
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490306 04 Fleet Lady

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A006

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490313 05 Rubin Callaways Pictures
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490320 06 Rory Malone

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A007

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490327 07 Joe Candono Blackmail Pictures
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490402 08 Father Leahy Joe Feldman

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A008

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490409 09 Sam Tolliver
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490416 10 Go Away Dixie Gillian

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A009

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490423 11 Rita Malloy
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490430 12 Wendy Morris

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A010

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490507 13 Shirt Mixup At Laundry
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490514 14 Geranium Plant

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A011

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490521 15 Give Envelope To John St John
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490604 17 Agnes Bolton

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A012

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490611 18 Georgie Lampson
    2. Pat Novak For Hire 490618 19 Only Way Make Friends Die

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Pat Novak for Hire Disc A013

    1. Pat Novak For Hire 490625 20 Little Jake Siegel

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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