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The Fat Man

Although he is a product of pulp-writer Dashiel Hammett, it is hard to say whether The Fat Man is a hardboiled or softboiled detective. Either way, his stories make for some delicious mysteries.

Fat Man

47 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 21 hours, 3032 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
24 Audio CDs


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"Murder Sends A Christmas Card"



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

Fat Man
Detective Drama,
based on a character
created by Dashiel Hammett (1946 - 51)

There he goes into that drugstore …
he's stepping on the scale.
Weight? …
two hundred thirty-seven pounds ...
fortune - DANGER!
Whooooooo is it?
The Fat Mannnnn ….

The Fat Man character was Brad Runyan, played by Jack Scott Smart who gave an excellent lighthearted performance. The series made good use of author Dashiel Hammett's name (see also Thin Man), although the author had little to do with the radio series. The name The Fat Man was the title of a chapter in the book A Maltese Falcon.

The series was later adapted in the mid-1950s. The other Fat Man was played possibly by Lloyd Berrell. Pepto Bismol comically sponsored the show for an upset stomach and to help digestion after over eating. Although the lead character Brad Runyan weighed 237 pounds, he was popular with the ladies. The cast also included Betty Garde, Paul Stewart, Linda Watkins, Mary Patton as Lila North and Vicki Vola, Dan Ocko, Rolly Bester, and Robert Dryden. The success of the old time radio series led to a movie, The Fat Man, directed by William Castle in 1951.

Jack Scott Smart also appeared in other old time radio programs including The March Of Time, the Theater Guild On The Air, Blondie, Fred Allen Show, and Jack Benny Program. For other large protagonists, see also: Down Our Way, Nero Wolfe, Big Guy, Scattergood Baines, and Nero Wolfe

These recordings are also included in the Dashiell Hammett Collection.

See also:  Nero Wolfe, The Big Guy, and Fat and Dieting in OTR.

The Fat Man

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

    34
    26     8


    COMMENTS

    That opening makes me laugh a bit... today 237 pounds isn't that "big" anymore. In 50 years they’ll be calling him the Thin Man.

    John Verified Purchase

    Reply
    No it's not. I out weigh 'The Fat Man'. I guess it also depends how tall you are.

    Bill Verified Purchase

    Reply
    You would have to explain to the younger generation why they had a weight scale in the drugstore...the kind that dispensed a card with your fortune on one side and a movie star photo on the other....alson 237 lbs was a lot heavier then than now.

    Mike Verified Purchase

    Reply
    There was another OTR show, with the same concept, THE BIG GUY, but unfortunately, very few episodes survive. A twist was that this P.I. was a widower with kids. The beginning and end of each episode were always framed around this fact.

    Jim Verified Purchase

    Reply
    The lack of sound FX in these stories makes for some shallow staging. Too much of the dialogue is exposition, and the voice work by the actors is not uniformly great. Mr. Scott's voice doesn't really fit his character. I hope I'm not being too critical.

    Jack Verified Purchase

    Reply
    I was born in 1939, and OTR was a big part of my growing up. I like to remember the shows by looking at your site. I had forgotten the Fat Man until today, but I have vivid memories of many of the other shows.

    Skip Verified Purchase

    Reply
    “There he goes, into that drugstore. Stepping on the scale. Weight? 237 pounds. Fortune? Danger. Whoooooo is it? THE FAT MAN!”

    Dave Verified Purchase

    Reply
    A great series! And the inspiration for TV's Cannon, starring William Conrad - already an old hand at radio, especially as Matt Dillon, in radio's Gunsmoke.

    Vince Verified Purchase

    Reply
    I love The Fat Man. I bought a CD of the radio shows several years ago. And I love 'Cannon' too. Did you know ... I own a copy of the script of the pilot episode for 'Cannon'. The script shows that the original title for the pilot was ... 'The Fat Man'.

    Keith

    Reply
    OTR CAT never disappoints,

    Vollie

    Reply
    I received disc one and it had 2 episodes : Murder squares the triangle, and Murder plays the horses. They were entertaining. Unfortunately, there were no commercials. Also, I believe these episodes were from the South African version of the Fat Man. Speaking of weighty detectives, I think Nero Wolfe outweighed the Fat Man.

    Dan Verified Purchase

    Reply
    When I saw the film, I was surprised at soft appearance of J Scott Smart. I have little doubt that TV's Canon owed his fondness for gourmet dining to The Fat Man.

    John Verified Purchase

    Reply
    OTRCAT is an old time radio enthusiast dream. I bought the fat man after hearing a couple of episodes on a podcast. I really think the fact that he is really fat adds to this series. The humor and the delivery is further enhanced cause he is fat. It is worth going to the otrcat main page and explore the other offering

    Robert Verified Purchase

    Reply

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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.



    47 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 21 hours, 3032 min
    47 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 21 hours, 3032 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart
    Print
    1. 47 shows – total playtime 21 hours, 50 minutes
    2. Fat Man 460121 001 The Nineteenth Pearl.mp3
    3. Fat Man 460211 004 Twice Told Secret.mp3
    4. Fat Man 460708 025 The Black Angel.mp3
    5. Fat Man 460909 034 The Crooked Horse.mp3
    6. Fat Man 471003 090 A Window For Murder.mp3
    7. Fat Man 480102 103 Murder Plays Hide And Seek.mp3
    8. Fat Man 480409 117 Murder Rents A Flat.mp3
    9. Fat Man 490401 168 Murder Wins The Draw.mp3
    10. Fat Man 490722 184 Murder Is The Medium.mp3
    11. Fat Man 510117 253 The Nightmare Murder.mp3
    12. Fat Man 510523 271 Order For Murder.mp3
    13. Fat Man 540819 AUS01 Murder Squares The Triangle.mp3
    14. Fat Man 540826 AUS02 Murder Plays The Horses.mp3
    15. Fat Man 540902 AUS03 Murder Sends A Christmas Card.mp3
    16. Fat Man 540909 AUS04 Murder Runs A Want Ad.mp3
    17. Fat Man 540916 AUS05 Murder Wears A False Face.mp3
    18. Fat Man 540923 AUS06 Murder Stalks The Dead.mp3
    19. Fat Man 541028 AUS11 Murder Through A Crystal.mp3
    20. Fat Man 541104 AUS12 Murder Makes A Ham.mp3
    21. Fat Man 541125 AUS15 Murder And The Peacock.mp3
    22. Fat Man 541202 AUS16 Murder Calls The Undertaker.mp3
    23. Fat Man 541209 AUS17 Murder Seeks A Lost Penny.mp3
    24. Fat Man 541216 AUS18 Murder Makes A Statue.mp3
    25. Fat Man 550106 AUS21 Murder Rings The Bell.mp3
    26. Fat Man 550113 AUS22 Murder Repeats Itself.mp3
    27. Fat Man 550120 AUS23 Murder Rides A Wheelchair.mp3
    28. Fat Man 550127 AUS24 Murder Finds A Coffin.mp3
    29. Fat Man 550203 AUS25 Murder For Sale.mp3
    30. Fat Man 550210 AUS26 Murder By Mail.mp3
    31. Fat Man 550303 AUS29 Murder Shows An Unfamiliar Face.mp3
    32. Fat Man 550310 AUS30 Murder Makes The Kings Coffin.mp3
    33. Fat Man 550331 AUS33 Murder Makes A Black Moon.mp3
    34. Fat Man 550407 AUS34 Murder Shows A Phantom Face.mp3
    35. Fat Man 550414 AUS35 Murder Makes A Silent Partner.mp3
    36. Fat Man 550421 AUS36 Murder Makes Music.mp3
    37. Fat Man 550428 AUS37 Murder Writes A Story.mp3
    38. Fat Man 550505 AUS38 Murder Meets An Uncertain Lady.mp3
    39. Fat Man 550512 AUS39 Murder Shows A Card.mp3
    40. Fat Man 550519 AUS40 Murder Makes The Pay-Off.mp3
    41. Fat Man 550623 AUS45 Murder In The Dark.mp3
    42. Fat Man 550630 AUS46 Murder Shows Eyes In The Dark.mp3
    43. Fat Man 550707 AUS47 Murder Shows A Stolen Heart.mp3
    44. Fat Man 550714 AUS48 Murder Pays Dividends.mp3
    45. Fat Man 550721 AUS49 Murder Appears Out Of The Past.mp3
    46. Fat Man 550728 AUS50 Murder Made Stylish.mp3
    47. Fat Man 550804 AUS51 Murder Takes A Picture.mp3
    48. Fat Man 550811 AUS52 Murder Forecasts Death.mp3

  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    47 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 21 hours, 3032 min
    47 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    600 MB – total playtime 21 hours, 50 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart
    Print
    1. 47 shows – 600 MB – total playtime 21 hours, 50 minutes
    2. Fat Man 460121 001 The Nineteenth Pearl.mp3
    3. Fat Man 460211 004 Twice Told Secret.mp3
    4. Fat Man 460708 025 The Black Angel.mp3
    5. Fat Man 460909 034 The Crooked Horse.mp3
    6. Fat Man 471003 090 A Window For Murder.mp3
    7. Fat Man 480102 103 Murder Plays Hide And Seek.mp3
    8. Fat Man 480409 117 Murder Rents A Flat.mp3
    9. Fat Man 490401 168 Murder Wins The Draw.mp3
    10. Fat Man 490722 184 Murder Is The Medium.mp3
    11. Fat Man 510117 253 The Nightmare Murder.mp3
    12. Fat Man 510523 271 Order For Murder.mp3
    13. Fat Man 540819 AUS01 Murder Squares The Triangle.mp3
    14. Fat Man 540826 AUS02 Murder Plays The Horses.mp3
    15. Fat Man 540902 AUS03 Murder Sends A Christmas Card.mp3
    16. Fat Man 540909 AUS04 Murder Runs A Want Ad.mp3
    17. Fat Man 540916 AUS05 Murder Wears A False Face.mp3
    18. Fat Man 540923 AUS06 Murder Stalks The Dead.mp3
    19. Fat Man 541028 AUS11 Murder Through A Crystal.mp3
    20. Fat Man 541104 AUS12 Murder Makes A Ham.mp3
    21. Fat Man 541125 AUS15 Murder And The Peacock.mp3
    22. Fat Man 541202 AUS16 Murder Calls The Undertaker.mp3
    23. Fat Man 541209 AUS17 Murder Seeks A Lost Penny.mp3
    24. Fat Man 541216 AUS18 Murder Makes A Statue.mp3
    25. Fat Man 550106 AUS21 Murder Rings The Bell.mp3
    26. Fat Man 550113 AUS22 Murder Repeats Itself.mp3
    27. Fat Man 550120 AUS23 Murder Rides A Wheelchair.mp3
    28. Fat Man 550127 AUS24 Murder Finds A Coffin.mp3
    29. Fat Man 550203 AUS25 Murder For Sale.mp3
    30. Fat Man 550210 AUS26 Murder By Mail.mp3
    31. Fat Man 550303 AUS29 Murder Shows An Unfamiliar Face.mp3
    32. Fat Man 550310 AUS30 Murder Makes The Kings Coffin.mp3
    33. Fat Man 550331 AUS33 Murder Makes A Black Moon.mp3
    34. Fat Man 550407 AUS34 Murder Shows A Phantom Face.mp3
    35. Fat Man 550414 AUS35 Murder Makes A Silent Partner.mp3
    36. Fat Man 550421 AUS36 Murder Makes Music.mp3
    37. Fat Man 550428 AUS37 Murder Writes A Story.mp3
    38. Fat Man 550505 AUS38 Murder Meets An Uncertain Lady.mp3
    39. Fat Man 550512 AUS39 Murder Shows A Card.mp3
    40. Fat Man 550519 AUS40 Murder Makes The Pay-Off.mp3
    41. Fat Man 550623 AUS45 Murder In The Dark.mp3
    42. Fat Man 550630 AUS46 Murder Shows Eyes In The Dark.mp3
    43. Fat Man 550707 AUS47 Murder Shows A Stolen Heart.mp3
    44. Fat Man 550714 AUS48 Murder Pays Dividends.mp3
    45. Fat Man 550721 AUS49 Murder Appears Out Of The Past.mp3
    46. Fat Man 550728 AUS50 Murder Made Stylish.mp3
    47. Fat Man 550804 AUS51 Murder Takes A Picture.mp3
    48. Fat Man 550811 AUS52 Murder Forecasts Death.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



    47 recordings on 24 Audio CDs. Total playtime 21 hours, 50 min
    47 recordings on 24 Audio CDs
    total playtime 21 hours, 50 min
    Add Collection on Audio CD to Cart
    47 recordings on 24 Audio CDs
    $120.00

    Or buy individual audio CDs below:

    Fat Man Disc A001

    1. Fat Man 460121 001 The Nineteenth Pearl
    2. Fat Man 460211 004 Twice Told Secret
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A002

    1. Fat Man 460708 025 The Black Angel
    2. Fat Man 460909 034 The Crooked Horse
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A003

    1. Fat Man 471003 090 A Window For Murder
    2. Fat Man 480102 103 Murder Plays Hide And Seek
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A004

    1. Fat Man 480409 117 Murder Rents A Flat
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A005

    1. Fat Man 490401 168 Murder Wins The Draw
    2. Fat Man 490722 184 Murder Is The Medium
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A006

    1. Fat Man 510117 253 The Nightmare Murder
    2. Fat Man 510523 271 Order For Murder
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A007

    1. Fat Man 540819 AUS01 Murder Squares The Triangle
    2. Fat Man 540826 AUS02 Murder Plays The Horses
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A008

    1. Fat Man 540902 AUS03 Murder Sends A Christmas Card
    2. Fat Man 540909 AUS04 Murder Runs A Want Ad
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A009

    1. Fat Man 540916 AUS05 Murder Wears A False Face
    2. Fat Man 540923 AUS06 Murder Stalks The Dead
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A010

    1. Fat Man 541028 AUS11 Murder Through A Crystal
    2. Fat Man 541104 AUS12 Murder Makes A Ham
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A011

    1. Fat Man 541125 AUS15 Murder And The Peacock
    2. Fat Man 541202 AUS16 Murder Calls The Undertaker
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A012

    1. Fat Man 541209 AUS17 Murder Seeks A Lost Penny
    2. Fat Man 541216 AUS18 Murder Makes A Statue
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A013

    1. Fat Man 550106 AUS21 Murder Rings The Bell
    2. Fat Man 550113 AUS22 Murder Repeats Itself
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A014

    1. Fat Man 550120 AUS23 Murder Rides A Wheelchair
    2. Fat Man 550127 AUS24 Murder Finds A Coffin
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A015

    1. Fat Man 550203 AUS25 Murder For Sale
    2. Fat Man 550210 AUS26 Murder By Mail
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A016

    1. Fat Man 550303 AUS29 Murder Shows An Unfamiliar Face
    2. Fat Man 550310 AUS30 Murder Makes The Kings Coffin
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A017

    1. Fat Man 550331 AUS33 Murder Makes A Black Moon
    2. Fat Man 550407 AUS34 Murder Shows A Phantom Face
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A018

    1. Fat Man 550414 AUS35 Murder Makes A Silent Partner
    2. Fat Man 550421 AUS36 Murder Makes Music
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A019

    1. Fat Man 550428 AUS37 Murder Writes A Story
    2. Fat Man 550505 AUS38 Murder Meets An Uncertain Lady
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A020

    1. Fat Man 550512 AUS39 Murder Shows A Card
    2. Fat Man 550519 AUS40 Murder Makes The Pay-Off
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A021

    1. Fat Man 550623 AUS45 Murder In The Dark
    2. Fat Man 550630 AUS46 Murder Shows Eyes In The Dark
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A022

    1. Fat Man 550707 AUS47 Murder Shows A Stolen Heart
    2. Fat Man 550714 AUS48 Murder Pays Dividends
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A023

    1. Fat Man 550721 AUS49 Murder Appears Out Of The Past
    2. Fat Man 550728 AUS50 Murder Made Stylish
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Fat Man Disc A024

    1. Fat Man 550804 AUS51 Murder Takes A Picture
    2. Fat Man 550811 AUS52 Murder Forecasts Death
    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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