Kitty Keene

Kitty Keene, a former Ziegfeld Follies' showgirl, solved crime with an equal amount of toughness and purrfection.  This series ran for four years, beginning in September 1937.  Sponsored by Dreft, the show was part soap opera part detective mystery with a private "cat eye." 

Kitty was perhaps radio's only grandmother detective, with grown-up daughter Jill giving birth during the course of the serial.  Three actresses played Kitty during the run of the show including Beverly Younger, Gail Henshaw and Fran Carlon.  The role of daughter Jill was filled by Dorothy Gregory and Janet Logan.  Bob Bailey and Dick Wells filled the roll as hubby to the strong cat wife.  Writers include popular mystery writer Day Keene and Wally Norman.

There are over 44 known old time radio shows with female sleuths covered in Jack French's book, Private Eyelashes: Radio's Lady Detectives including: Phyl Coe; Candy Maston; Meet Miss Sherlock; Anne of the Airlines; Miss Marple; Sara's Private Caper; Carolyn Day, Detective; Lady in Blue; Miss Pinkerton; Police Woman; The Affairs of Ann Scotland; Ann Scotland; Susan Bright; Sara's Private Caper; Psychic Detective. 

Kitty Keene showed that in the 1930's a grandma female private eye could be both beautiful and force to reckon with.

(Please note that many of the rare recordings in this collection may be of inferior sound quality.)

This collection is also part of the Rare Soap Operas Collection. For more lady sleuths, tune in to Dame Detectives, Anne of the Airlines and Candy Matson. For more female detective action, see also: Dame Detectives - Rare Female Crimefighters.