Radio shows they shoulda placed on TV
PAT NOVAK: Jack Webb's best pre Dragnet shamus. Yeah, I know "Joe Friday" was on the radio before he went to the telly. But, how can you top a really surly, hard boiled, down at the heels chump, who was called "Patsy"?
And those voice overs: "The sky was as dark as a bruised crow." "The street was as deserted as an empty bottle of beer." "Jocko started chasing a jigger of beer with a glass of whiskey." "I had as much chance as a pound of liver at a cat show." "When he hit me I went down like the price of winter wheat."
Novak could be more than a bit snide. To detective Hellman (Raymond Burr): "Wash your hands Hellman, the green still shows!" Then his descriptions:
"I talked to a fat waitress who looked like she should be wearing a harness instead of slacks." Obviously no Phil Marlowe sort; what a guy!