5 Minute Mysteries

Extremely short mystery plots.

Five Minute Mysteries were produced and syndicated to individual local radio stations as what is still known as a "barter/trade" program. In other words, they were used to sell advertising to local merchants or trade the advertising announcements for goods, services or premiums such as the prizes awarded to listeners in the radio station's contests or promotions. To facilitate personalizing the shows to the individuals stations and insert the local ads, the producers inserted musical interludes in the shows where time is left for a local announcer to introduce the episode, present the advertiser's message and wrap things up with other local information.

The shows themselves are "mini" mysteries. Similar to the Ellery Queen Mysteries, you listen to the story, evaluate the clues, and at the conclusion, you match wits with the sleuth to correctly identify the suspect.

For other short programs, see also Strange Adventure, Incredible But True, Ripley's One Minute Shorts, Word Detective with Basil Rathbone, and Ellery Queen Minute Mysteries.