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
Listen for free

About this listen

 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
  • Man Called X: Delta Concerto

    Man Called X: Delta Concerto
    Sep 30 2020
    Original Release Date: September 30, 2020

    The Man Called X travels to Columbia to foil a plot to destabilize the country and all of Latin America.

    Original Air Date: December 14, 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
    24 mins
  • Man Called X: Shipment Condemned|International Intrigue

    Man Called X: Shipment Condemned|International Intrigue
    Jun 20 2025
    Original Release Date: September 23, 2020

    The Man Called X goes to Uruguay when a friend is murdered while investigating an entire shipment of meat that was found to be bad by a meat inspector…by the name of Pegon Zellschmidt.

    Original Air Date: December 7, 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
    28 mins
  • Man Called X: Checkmate in Tahiti

    Man Called X: Checkmate in Tahiti
    Jun 13 2025
    Original Release Date: September 16, 2020

    Ken Thurston travels to Tahiti to investigate a series of “accidents” occurring at a large phosphate mine in Tahiti that’s taken the life of a prominent man who reached out to him for help.

    Original Air Date: November 30, 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
    27 mins

What listeners say about The Great Detectives Present the Man Called X (Old Time Radio)

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.