The Casebook of Gregory Hood began as a summer replacement series for The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on the Mutual network beginning on June 3, 1946. It was created and written by Anthony Boucher and Denis Green, who had scripted the Sherlock Holmes series; due to difficulties between Mutual and the Conan Doyle estate, the show continued to be aired that fall. (Sherlock Holmes eventually moved to another network.) Gregory Hood moved to ABC Radio in 1949, and continued (with some interruptions) until the end of August 1950. More than 150 episodes were made but less than twenty now exist.
The show itself was plagued by lackluster support from its producers, as well as a rapidly changing cast. The first person to play Gregory Hood was Gale Gordon. Others cast as Hood include Elliott Lewis, Jackson Beck, Paul McGrath, Martin Gabel. and George Petrie. Hood's sidekick Sanderson Taylor was played variously by Art Gilmore, Carl Harbord, William Bakewell, and Howard McNear. According to Jeffrey Marks, "Boucher grew increasingly annoyed with the lack of support for the series," eventually refusing to write a Gregory Hood short story when suggested.
Who was Gregory Hood? A San Francisco importer in rare antiquities who traveled the world seeking items for his import house, Hood appeared to be an expert in everything -- a forensics expert, an expert in ancient and modern armament, fluent in a number of languages, an accomplished pianist and composer, a wine expert, an expert in oriental tapestry, and a former military intelligence officer. Had it existed back then, I'm sure he would have been a world champion Wordle player. Naturally, every place he traveled, he met with mystery and intrigue.
In "The Murder of Gregory Hood," our hero receives a number of death threats. following one close encounter he decides to play dead while he solves his own murder.
This episode, written by Boucher and Green, features Gale Gordon and Art Gilmore. Also in the cast were Bob Bruce, Jeff Corey, Gloria Blondell, Carl Harbord, Garnet Marks, Anne Stone, and Bob Bruce. Harry Bartell was the announcer.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqThhuR5CM4
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