The Great Detectives Present the Man Called X (Old Time Radio) cover art

The Great Detectives Present the Man Called X (Old Time Radio)

The Great Detectives Present the Man Called X (Old Time Radio)

By: Adam Graham
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 Before there was James Bond, I Spy, or Danger Man, there was The Man Called X.

The Man Called X began during the latter part of World War II as the founding of the O.S.S. sparked public interest in espionage, spies, and secret missions. The series outlasted the war and starred Herbert Marshall as the Man Called X (aka Ken Thurston) traveling the world to troubleshoot threats to peace, the security of the U.S., and the world into the 1950s.

In his journeys, Thurston was joined by a criminal and conman Pegon Zellschmidt (Hans Conreid and then Leon Belasco) who would assist Thurston but also often would sell him out to the bad guys before eventually helping him in the end.

The series began as a summer replacement in 1944 over CBS and was picked up for 26 26-week run over the Blue Network (which later became ABC) in the fall of 1944. It was then brought back for summer runs over NBC in 1945 and 46, before landing back at CBS for a seventy-eight week run from 1947-48. After two years off the air, the series returned to NBC for its final two seasons where it aired along with the similar Dangerous Assignment. The concept was revived as a syndicated TV show starring Barry Sullivan in 1956.

Your host Adam Graham is your guide through all circulating episodes. This series originally aired as part of The Great Detectives of Old TIme Radio from 2020-2023Commentary Copyright 2020 Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • EP3347: Man Called X: One Sailor Died Twice

    EP3347: Man Called X: One Sailor Died Twice
    Jan 13 2021
    Pegon sees an old sailor friend who supposedly went down with a ship carrying medicine. Original Air Date: March 21, 1948 Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net Support the show on a one-time basis at http://supp Read more ...
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    26 mins
  • Man Called X: The Pickled Chemist

    Man Called X: The Pickled Chemist
    Sep 26 2025
    Original Release Date: January 6, 2021

    The Man Called X follows a lead that indicates a friend of Pegon may have sold useless pesticides to be used in South America.

    Original Air Date: March 14, 1948

    Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    GIve us a call at 208-991-4783

    Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Man Called X: On a Starlit Hill

    Man Called X: On a Starlit Hill
    Sep 18 2025
    Original Release Date: December 23, 2020

    While in the Middle East, Ken and Pegon crashed a plane. In the desert, Ken meets a young girl who says she doesn’t want to grow up.

    Original Air Date: December 21, 1947

    Support the show monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net

    Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net

    Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715

    GIve us a call at 208-991-4783

    Take the listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net

    Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
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